Morning warm up.

It's an interesting project - the moto 450 concept of taking a motor cross bike and adapting it for road racing.

Mark has done a great job, but we both still see it as a work in progress.

It's definately fun to ride, and it would be fantastic racing if there were 20 of the bikes on track.

Just thinking about some alterations for the first race today.

Race two - trying more stuff out.

Our main problem in the field is that the bigger bikes are baulking our corner speed.

On direct orders from the bike owner Mark Hanna I deliberately jumped the start to try and get a clear run at the front to test how the different profile of the 160 rear felt.

Something is still not quite right though, too much juddering, pulled in before the race finish.

Thinking of stuff for tomorrow now.

First race.

Well Sabina has had her race debut.

In just 10 laps we managed with our 52bhp to finish 7th on the same tyre that we started with yesterday morning!

Not changed much in anticipation of second race later today - still want to just ride her, get lots of laps and assess things...

Moto 450 qualifying session.

The wind direction had changed for this morning so now things are different again.

For the race we are going to take the air box off and change the gearing.

Did a 1,05.174 - we are mixed in with mini twins, street fighters and junior powerbikes.

I'm 13th on the grid and looking forward to a good race with my old friend Steve Tomes.

Moto 450 - good test day.

Sabina was all in all very good from the off; there were really very few modifications to do to make her track worthy.

Everyone is now looking forward to being in the thick of competition tomorrow.

More twiddling and tweaking...

She's going really well but we want to try stuff.

So today is all about experimenting and trying things out as its the first time on track for Sabina.

Something we tried that didnt work was a 5" rim with a 165 slick tyre.

The increase in grip caused all sorts of problems and chatter so we have quite happily gone back to a 4.5" and a 150 road tyre.

Super Single - 2nd session.

Did about 10 laps and then it seemed as though the clutch was locked solid.

Mark is just pulling it down for a look.

He's not found anything yet.

Sabina's first run out - Suzuki moto 450.

Well, I've just done the first ever track session on 'Sabina'.

I have to say Mark Hanna has done an excellent job with his moto 450 conversion.

We are going to change the gearing alter the handle bar position and a couple of other tweaks for the next session.

Packed up and off...

This great action shot is by Pete Wileman - 'Frank' is loaded in the van - we are taking him with us to Pembrey, as we are travelling straight on to Snetterton Sunday evening, for Monday, doing some tuition.
It won't hurt him to meet up with 'Sabina', who I'm going to ride for the very first time tomorrow, in anticipation of competing on her this weekend in the ThundersportGB Championship.

Check back here for my regular updates.

Ducati 1198s Action Shots Oulton Park Superstock 1000

Paul and Linda Jones of PLJPhoto.com have kindly sent me these action shots from the weekend - I just love zooming in on the spray droplets from the front as well as the rear!

When it's wet I wear a neoprene waistcoat over my leathers - supplied by: Held

And as you can see - it was a bit wet...

Cold and miserable.

Decided not to race, the bike is not right and it’s not worth the risk in these conditions with the limited testing we have done so far.

The 1198 is a superb machine and has huge potential, the motor is a monster, massive power everywhere in the power band, it jumps out of the corners whatever gear you are in.

I'm sure if we can get another few practices under our belt we will be able to make the breakthrough we are looking for.

There are loads of ‘toys’ to play with too like traction control, lap timers and GPS data recording built in!

Met up with some Throttle Monkeys, Too Tall, Bongo and Lily.

Morning warm up.

The bike is no better.
A bit worse in the wet in fact.
Had a couple of big moments trying stuff out, 12th fastest.

Best laid plans...

Woken up this morning to rain; so that has ruined the plan to try out the forks and rear shock changes in the ten minutes of morning warm up.

Now it will be all different as we put the wets in.

Bu$$er!

Ducati Data ...

Richard and I are finding it really interesting comparing the data from both our bikes.

Following some information from Scott Smart's team we have dropped the forks and are trying a harder spring.

I want to make some drastic changes to just try and get some sort of effect for morning warm up.

Sunday qualifying.

Just done today's session.
Handling is still not right.

Even with some mid session tweaks.
Gone slightly faster, just 0.3 of a second but still lousy, can not open the throttle like I want to without fear of being chucked off!

Not good.

First Qualifying

Well we have gone faster than this morning.

But the handling is still far from right.

I have qualified 29th with a 1,44.97 Richard knocked three seconds off his practice time to go his best time ever round here with a 1,47.57.

Thats all for today.

Off to see the suspension chap.

Free practice.

Richard and I have done free practice.

We are not really happy.
The bikes are not doing what we want.

Going to do some suspension adjustments and hope that will do the trick for qualifying this afternoon.

Bright and early.

Here we are at Oulton Park.

Getting sorted.

We are just sorting out the body work, graphics, and getting ready for morning practice.

Oulton Park BSB - National Superstock 1000.

Photo: Ryan, BritishSportPhotography.com

I've known Roy Armstrong for years - we've raced together in the Battle of the Twins in the 90s.
Roy is a great sponsor for Richard Fogg, who I've also ridden with, in the Supermono championship.

Roy has asked me to support Richard in his National Superstock Championship events, and supplied me with a Ducati 1198 to do it on. Nice!

There is no pressure, I'm not going with anything to prove - Richard is the no.1 rider in the team - I'm simply there in a mentoring / coaching role, and Roy says I can do the race if I fancy it.
Getting through qualifying would be a start!

It will be interesting to ride the bike, work with Richard and Roy to set it up, and just see how we all get on.

Great time.

The weather is still fabulous.

Blu and Yoda are wanting a refund as they are wearing their tyres out!

'Frank' has been going really well, I think he's ready for some new boots - on their 3rd track day now I think the Avon VP2s are ready for a change - oh, and I think he needs some new brake pads too...

Monkey time!

'Frank' and I are back here at Cadwell Park with my V2Pro on track training scheme.

The weather is glorious, and the pace is hot.

Coaching a couple of Throttle Monkeys, Blu and Yoda.
They are really 'on it'.

It's just SO fast!

I can't believe how fast the bike is.
Just working on trying to get the set up how I like it.

Oh what a wonderful day...

...the weather is rubbish though.

Naked Sabina!!

Mark Hanna has just sent me these couple of photos to prove to me that he's still working on Sabina!

The good news is that she should be ready to get out in time for Pembrey Friday practice for the ThunderSportGB round there.

I best get on and see if I can get an entry...

Britishsportphotography.co.uk action shot

Nice gloves... now who could they possibly belong to?





Great action shot from my day at Cadwell Park.

Very quiet, so very busy.

The track day is quiet, probably only about 14 riders in the advanced group.

So we are getting lots done and loads of track time.

Avon VP2

Really happy with these Avon tyres I'm evaluating.

Seem to be working well - did half a day at Oulton last week and now half a day here.

Will carry on and see just how much track work I can get out of them.

Tuesday - must be Cadwell.

Lovely sunny day.
'Frank' and I are here at Cadwell Park doing some 1to1 track work.
I recognised the bike, used to be Sarah Jordan's and then it belonged to 'Chunks'.

Good day out.

It was great to meet Nige, an extremely competent rider and I have to say, a pleasure to coach.

We've had a good day out all in all.
Six sessions provided us with plenty of laps.

Warming up

And drying out nicely.
The BSB Suzuki team are here with Syl Guintoli learning the track.

More importantly, Mark Hanna is here with him, pretending to be a mechanic - and I've actually seen the drawings for Sabina's head stock bearings at last.

Mark just has to get them made now!

Not this morning.

Thunder, lightning and pouring rain this morning mean that I will probably be keeping the Avons until it dries up...

Tyre evaluation - Avon VP2.

As it looks like I'm going to be on track with 'Frank' quite a lot this year, I'm going to have a go at evaluating lots of tyres, and let you know what I think is a good tyre for track day use.

Graham Matcham from Avon has sent me a pair of their perfomance tyres VP2 to check out, in respect of grip and longevity.

Off to Oulton Park in the morning, with a Client, so I've put them on 'Frank' to see what he thinks of them.

You can check out the website here: Avon Tyres

Action shot - Donington Park.

The weather and greasy track conditions meant that it was a bit of a difficult day - but Neil Jones from focusedevents.com managed to get some good photos.

As it was getting more and more tricky keeping up with the fast lads that request coaching, on 'Bill', I'm a bit sad to say he has gone back to BMW.
I'll miss the heated grips and mirrors; but change must come.

So - please meet 'Frank'.

New Phase.

Phil has bought one of last year's Phase One bikes.
He is looking forward to getting to grips with it; planning to be doing some of the Hottrax Endurance events on it.

Greasy morning.

Nothing new here at Donington, still as slippy as anything and its not even raining!

V2Pro - training machine.

I've got so much tuition booked for this season, that I've had to acquire a machine to do it on.
Here it is - as yet un-named.
First day out tomorrow at Donington - hmmn, weather forecast: rain, rain, rain and more rain with a bit of wind thrown in - nice...

Video overview of MT125 Test

Cadwell - MT125 - testing reviewed.

All in all, we had a great day out - the weather was unbelivable - warm and sunny.

I learnt a lot about the bikes, they really are unique.
Jerry thinks nothing about just whipping the head off to check the fuelling.

Riding Marina hard I noticed under full power in the higher gears she seemed to be holding back, as if it was about to seize or run out of fuel.

We jetted down, and tried it again, however there was no particular improvement.

Jerry went away to think about it, a few days later he rang to say he thinks it might have been the new exhausts we were using.

Busy day.

Done quite a few sessions now on Marina. Something is not quite right though.
Don't know if it is fuelling or something as simple as needing a new spark plug.
Jerry is taking her home to hopefully to find a solution.

Up and running.

Marina is finding it a bit intimidating being out in the ACU group.
But we are having a good time and not everyone is having it their own way through Hall Bends...

Marina's a bit too noisy.

MSV rules say only 105db and Marina's putting out 109 so we have set Steve to work already.

Arrived at Cadwell.

Got here lovely day. Marina was too noisy at first.

Off for a run on the 'maggot'

Steve McNic called round on his 'maggot' to give me a lift to our local bikers place - Squires Cafe at Sherburn in Elmet.
I went to leave some posters and leaflets - the place was absolutely packed out.
Shows what a bit of sunshine does for you!
Click here to visit their website:
Squires Cafe

You're magic to me, a beautiful mystery...

Been to see Jerry today, and he's generously offered one of his stable of Honda MT125 machines to race this season.

Well here she is - going to be riding her next Saturday if all goes well.
So just taking her to meet Steve and Harry, and throughout this week we're going to give her the 'once' over before we set off for the track.

Looking at the colour, she really is going to have to be called, Marina, as in 'Aqua Marina' - remembering the gorgeous mermaid - for all you Stingray fans.

Sponsors and Supporters Club

It looks like I'll need about £10,000 to cover the costs of everything that I would like to try and do this season.
I know it's a very difficult time to try and raise cash, but if you can help out, you can click here to see the details of my Sponsors & Supporters Club

Nice new specs...

Just been and had some new spectacles fitted at C&J Nixon Opticians by Chris and Martin; but in fact everyone there is extremely professional and friendly - I can certainly recommend them!

Current press - BikeSportNews

Had a great career review in the BikeSportNews!

The offset front sprockets have arrived and have cured the chain alignment, plus now we will have the right gearing for most circuits now.

The gear linkage also has been revised moving the quick shifter to a most secure location.

Loverrrllly new wheel...

When discussing things with Mark after Christmas, we were unsure of the 5.0" rear wheel for 'Sabina', I sugested the first thing we use was 4.5" rim to help cure the chain run problem.

A bonus is it will help the bike change direction too!

I got this photo, and comment from him the other day:

"...new 4.5 rear wheel, specially made for the old girl by marchassini in italy..."

I don't think Mark knows how to spell Marchenisi - he will once the invoice arrives though!