Hi there ill be doing my first full season with Hottrax racing in 2014. i raced the last round in 2013 my first ever race 1999 R6 . I qualified 11th out of 24, 4th in my class. I got a good start 3 laps to go 2nd in class high sided and took a trip to the hospital . Bloody loved it (racing not high side) . i have purchased a 2005 (2003 model B1H) to race in the supersport EVO class. Bike is being stripped and getting ready for next year so ill add more pics when i have them.
Brands hatch indy – round 1 testing - friday 21 march racing saturday/sunday 22/23 march all classes, 3 hr endurance plus 3/4 races per class Race 1 3rd in class wet race Race 2 4th in class 11 overall Race 3 got master cylinder knocked around by rider behind me the prick straight off the grid aswell . No brakes into paddock hill stayed aboard had to pull off . Race 4 was really up for it got a good start but my master cylinder must be damaged lever coming back to bar tried to stay out but was getting dangerous not knowing if I was going to get a brake at end of straights so had to pull off a bloody gain grrrrrr. Roll on cadwell
Cadwell park – round 2 testing – easter friday 18 april racing - saturday/sunday 19/20 april all classes, 3 hr endurance plus 3/4 races per class Well mine not be too fancy as I'm rushed off my bloody feet lol but like to keep page updated even though Cadwell didn't go to plan. TEST DAY I was so up for cadwell after being there 5-6 times on the blade and i can shove the blade round there so well. I knew straight away the little zx6r wasn't pulling as well as id like but thought I'm used to the blade here get with it had a few good sessions everything going ok. A chap looked at bike and set the gearing is all wrong on that mate i was running a 14-42 which he said rear needs to be around 45 to get it punching in the higher rev range i borrowed a 44 tooth sprocket which made the bike a bit better. swapped tyres for the dunlop d212gp for qualifying. went out for our 15 min stint and was getting blasted on the straights by everything so i was trying so hard in there corners but didn't have the grunt to even stay close . Qualy was 20th there were big grids for the modern classics but still pissed off . Race 1 6 laps. DRY gotta work on my starts and switch off from track day mode i followed a bloke round for a lap then a r6 come past both of us and woke me up a bit and i went back past the both of them on the next corner but id lost the group by then and didn't have the time to reel them in but still had a good few laps and was trying to get my head round the zx636 . p18 5th in class. Race 2 . WET I got a cracking start on this one and going round the outside into first left which set me up nice for charlies 1 i was actually with the pack (the front 4 dicko wagstaff sam osbouane and evans are gone not to be seen by anyone they running 1:37s on 1999 r6s ) Visor was misting up so i was lifting it holding my breath it was my new carbon helmet fresh out the box no anti fog or anything i was kicking myself at one point with the spray and mist i could only see a flash of orange on someones leathers . I was going to rip the visor off but glad i didn't as someone got black flagged for having his visor up all the way round. NOTE TO SELF your a div... this is the race I'm really pissed off about because i actually felt comfy. Race 3 WET NO DRY NO WET GRRRRR. Mixed conditions for race 3 and i stuck with wets and i got into holding area everyone bar 2 of us on wets wrong choice i knew i should of changed to the drys kicking myself . But i went out decent start i have never rode wets on a dry track before and i seriously thought i had a flat front tyre feeling is horrible but been told after its just grip moving about they will stick but i pulled in brand new wets and only 6 lap race can't see the point of chucking 300 quid down the drain. Race 4 12 laps. I was up for this not as angry as yorkshire tyke lol but i got a decent start and 3 guys who i had been battling with straight round the outside into turn 1 and didn't see them again but i got behind middle group and they left me on the straights easily pulling a second a lap on the 2 long straights over 12 laps so i settled into just trying to ring what the zx6r was doing and i didn't get overtook and i manage to catch 1 more rider and just got past . Really hard on my wrists after breaking them in november and separating my thumb they are still hurting now. Need to get some exercise to build them up a bit . p17 4th in class. Summary. Gotta build my confidence on the zx636 and get back to my old ways before hurting back and arms. i was a lot quicker but i suppose well everyone keeps telling me it will take time after big crashes to build up again i hope it comes soon lol. Bike going for Dyno Monday get a map set for new exhaust as i didn't have time before Cadwell see if we can get a few more ponies out of her Cheers everyone I had such a cracking time with yorkshire tyke paul good laugh and decent enough racing . View attachment 11900_306479822843125_4130199637805614026_n.jpg View attachment 11900_306479822843125_4130199637805614026_n.jpg
Race weekend was wet but again paddock banter and all the people are class gonna be a long 4 weeks to snett now . Test day was wet wet and a bit more wet couldn't really remember which way it went so I went out and braved it as I'm not to keen on the wet yet but had 4 good sessions . Saturday qualifying was dry ish with slight drizzle we went out with us and the superbikes I qualified 20th out of 42 and 12th on our grid and was really happy with that . We had 1 race on the Saturday and 3 on Sunday it was a wet race and in my head was just to get this one done as I had a few people coming Sunday so wanted to keep bike on 1 piece ha ha 3rd in class so good enough . Race 2 on the Sunday sun was out new tyres on and a dry track got a good start but trying to get my head round the dry track and knew I could be loads quicker rode the laps out and got 4th in class . My clutch seems to be slipping in 5th-6th so have to get that checked out before snett. Race 3 the heavens opened it was chucking it down got a decent start but it was tip toe as bikes were going down everywhere . Last lap jack bleakley and a r6 were having a good battle which allowed me to take jack on the hairpin and the r6 on the last corner which got me a 2nd in class really enjoyed this race. Last race of the day 5:30 I was knackered and we were on the grid with the superbikes which I usually like but in the wet I didn't fancy it but cracked on and just rode it out and thought about taking bike to snett in 1 piece still a 4th in class . 2nd overall in class Really really happy with weekend bike was brilliant except for slipping clutch I'm starting to get a tad more confidence back with not thinking I'm gonna highside every corner .
Well a cracking weekend with YT and the fellow members that came to watch Friday test day wet wet wet wet so sucked it up banged wets on this is my first proper time on wets after 1 session at cadwell and I binned it . Me and tyke in same group what a laugh Anglesey Is either really grippy in the wet or my tyres were nailed to track me and tyke stuck together all the way around 5 sessions we got quicker and quicker and both knees down in the wet amazed totally thanks to YT for dragging me around ..... Oh I can't forget thanks for putting me on the grass yes I did shite myself YT ha ha .. Saturday qualifying drying track so whacked the d212 on and was looking forward to it started to rain 5 mins before my session oh shite but had to go out done a sort of sighting lap and all weekend there were 2 rivers running across corner 1 so thought stand bike up no throttle run through it which was fine come into 2nd corner heavy banking broke lost front then lost rear so foot down fully expecting bike to slide away but my left boot got stuck on peg or something and dragged me so stretched my leg hurting my groin not bad but but pulled in qualy 23rd . 1st race 8 laps wet tyres got a decent start but got to work on them more settled in and passed a few and was really enjoying it P13 2nd in class ...... Happy 2nd race 8 laps wet/drying Same as first race really but got a better start so sort of got to the back of the first pack I have still gotta get out the trackday mode and toughen up a bit more but race went well and was happy 3rd in class .... Happy again Sunday the sun came out went out for warm up damp patches and the 2 rivers still there so tootled round pulled in as out race wasn't until 11:48 . 3rd race dry 12 laps Decent start but that far back in the grid with poor qualy I just went as well as I could and thought start getting a feel for the zx6r found a few places and had a good battle with the norton and a R1 but my wrists are really giving me some grief after 10 laps or so a red flag came out so race finished . 3rd in class ..... Happy and sore 4th race dry 12 laps . Got probably my poorest start and couldn't get into a rhythm I was fooked ha ha so just thought finish race finish off a cracking weekend 4th in class Overall 3rd in class over weekend well happy Now I'm getting a feel for the bike gotta work on getting my lap times down they did drop all weekend and got better but need to get them down more . My confidence is building more and more Thanks to the forum boys for coming down to support me and YT Thanks to YT and Rob for having such a laugh gonna be a top runner our mark is cracking rider Anglesey coastal – round 4 testing - friday 23 may racing – saturday/sunday 24/25 may
Race weekend was wet but again paddock banter and all the people are class gonna be a long 4 weeks to snett now . Test day was wet wet and a bit more wet couldn't really remember which way it went so I went out and braved it as I'm not to keen on the wet yet but had 4 good sessions . Saturday qualifying was dry ish with slight drizzle we went out with us and the superbikes I qualified 20th out of 42 and 12th on our grid and was really happy with that . We had 1 race on the Saturday and 3 on Sunday it was a wet race and in my head was just to get this one done as I had a few people coming Sunday so wanted to keep bike on 1 piece ha ha 3rd in class so good enough . Race 2 on the Sunday sun was out new tyres on and a dry track got a good start but trying to get my head round the dry track and knew I could be loads quicker rode the laps out and got 4th in class . My clutch seems to be slipping in 5th-6th so have to get that checked out before snett. Race 3 the heavens opened it was chucking it down got a decent start but it was tip toe as bikes were going down everywhere . Last lap jack bleakley and a r6 were having a good battle which allowed me to take jack on the hairpin and the r6 on the last corner which got me a 2nd in class really enjoyed this race. Last race of the day 5:30 I was knackered and we were on the grid with the superbikes which I usually like but in the wet I didn't fancy it but cracked on and just rode it out and thought about taking bike to snett in 1 piece still a 4th in class . 2nd overall in class Really really happy with weekend bike was brilliant except for slipping clutch I'm starting to get a tad more confidence back with not thinking I'm gonna highside every corner .
Snetterton – round 6 testing – friday 25 july racing – saturday/sunday 26/27 july all classes, 3 hr endurance plus 3/4 races per class Well Snettereton Round 6 i think ha ha . Got there and set up with Mark as usual then cracking some tinnies and relaxed in the guess what sun couldnt believe it no wets all weeknd. Went out for test day and tried to remember what way the track went around . i never really push on test day i dont wanna bin it before the racing but was getting there but was out with all the modern 600s that Mark races with they bloody shift along 1:55 on a 600 . Went out for qualy we had a combines grid so 39 of us out from 400cc to 1000cc bikes of all ages but there is 2 zx10rs and 2 gsxr1000k3 so some newer stuff really . I kept getting caught in traffic on qualy so tried to back off only to get overtook by slower riders i was a bit frustrated as a 10 min qualy around Snett isnt a long time . I qualy 23rd out of 39 bikes so it wasnt as bad as i expected. Race 1 got a decent start and from the off i was suffering on the straights it just didnt have the grunt of other bikes so was making lkoads of mistakes trying to brake way to late into corners and not being smooth . i finished 18th overall and 5th in class . Race 2 going into the big first right hander fast 4 th gear i tapped handlebars with someone which run us wide but it sort of got the anger in me and i rode a lot better finshing 14th overall 4th in class. Race 3 Got my best start i reckon i was easily top 10 come into the first hairpin i heard the noise of scraping bike on tarmac guess who it collected yup me well my leg and boot dragged me and bike onto grass on near i was still upright on bike balls squashed on tank . I had to wait for the bike to stop and ride around it and i was close to the back of the grid and had a good but sore time for 12 laps coming through the pack but my leg knee ankle was getting worse so i plodded along i was going to pull in but points are points 5th in class dont know overall. Race 4 I sort of chucked everything at this one which i should do from start and was keeping with the front pack . Crash on lap 8 i was fooked drained need to work on my fitness bike had dropped oil right on apex of corner across to the gravel. Our race was a full restart with 1 warm up lap and 5 laps . I didnt have it in me to push i was totally drained with some luck i got 3rd in class and 11th overall . Really good weekend with Tyke Rob John Dunc and all the hottrax paddock
KNOCKHILL – ROUND 7 (Championship Options Event) TEST DAY – FRIDAY 8 AUGUST (12PM to 8PM) RACING – SATURDAY/SUNDAY 9/10 AUGUST ALL CLASSES, 3 HR ENDURANCE PLUS 3/4 RACES PER CLASS
Oulton park – round 8 test morning – friday 12 september racing – friday afternoon/saturday 13 september all classes, 3 hr endurance plus 2 races per class Well oulton park WOW what a track but wish I would of had some time there never being there and how technical it is I struggled but I had a goal to get under a 2:00 min lap first time there . Qualy was manic didn't really get a clear lap in but wasn't too worried I got 24th out of 39 so not too bad but well back couldn't see start lights ha ha . First race I got a 7th in class lost 2 places last lap after missing gears and getting a false neutral gutted 2nd race I got a really good start went though middle of pack and followed Owen round for 3 laps until and felt really good missed a gear at hilltop couldn't get into gear didn't want to get in the way so took the chicane about 8-9 bikes went past I found a gear carried on but over 10k clutch was slipping so just short shifting and kicking myself Feel a bit dissapointed but got a 1:56 and think I would of gone a tad quicker if I didn't have issues but a cracking weekend with all my hottrax boys and girls thanks too many to mention but you know who you are your brill . Thanks to all my friends and family for coming I really appreciate it love you all My partner Mark Thompson you done really well mate a bit if bad luck but you were pushing kidda proud of ya Rob Herbert cheers for help even with your dodgy digits Cheers Dave Wedge dad for taking camper back and you and mums help xxx Thanks to all my sponsors top stuff
Croft – round 9 test day – friday 3 october racing – saturday/sunday 4/5 october all classes, 3 hr endurance plus 3/4 races per class double points for all races
Ha ha skippy it is a options round so I'll do pembrey . You can either do pembrey or knockhill but only take 1 set of points so not actually missing a round woooooo
