Rockingham coaching.

What a lovely surprise today to be re united with my European GSX R Cup bike.

Mark bought the one I rode in the championship a few years ago and has brought it to meet "Frank" at Rockingham.

'Frank' is busy.

Frank is going to be busy over the next couple of months, and I'm pleased to be able to announce that I've been pleased enough with the performance and endurance of the Avon VP2 Xtreme that I'm going to continue to use and evaluate them, providing direct feedback to AVON.

I think they're excellent for use as a performance track day tyre, I've even got some wets to try - click here for more information: VP2Xtreme

Thanks go of course, to Roy Armstrong of Italsport, Bury, who kindly let me have some of the partworns from the Ducati 1198 to use earlier.

Hadleigh Honda 750

Chris also let me have a run round on his other 'pride and joy'.

Thanks Chris.

It was raining, and the track was damp, but hey, I didn't mind taking my time... who would give up the chance of riding a works KR 750?

Rode to the finish.

The bike was smoking, the chain was jumping the sprocket and for the last two laps I had no front brake as the pads were down to nothing but we managed to get to the end.

Crossing the line I had ridden us up to 12th.

The entire race had been wet and it was so slippy I just slowly plugged away at passing people and the bike held together long enough.

Great result!

In the thick of it.

Well we are in the middle of the race now.

Raining again.

Maria has just done her stint I think we are mid 30s.

I am riding to the end or until the bike stops.

Whichever comes first!

Good crowds.

Well we managed to finish last nights race, which is better than some.

Not sure where yet as not seen an official sheet.

Having a run round on some of Chris' other bikes this morning before the 2nd part of the race this afternoon.

Great start!

It did rain as predicted.
So wet race.
Got a flyer.
From 32nd on the grid, first time round I was up to 6th. By the second lap I was up to 3rd.

Third lap round there was a good group of us having a decent race amongst ourselves for 3rd.

Disaster then struck with loads of niggles, a bizarre mis fire and the chain trying to jump the sprocket! Come in to try and sort it out.

Time for a scooby snack.

The first part of the race is not until 7.30pm so plenty of time to savour the local delicacies.

Bad news is there are definately dark clouds on the horizon.

What a great start to the day.

Chris is letting me have a run round on his works KR 750.

Nice.

Race strategy.

So thats night practice concluded.

Just got to work on a strategy for the race tomorrow.

Chris has kindly said I can ride some of his other bikes tomorrow, check back for the photos as some of them are really special.

Just in case...

you were wondering what it looked like naked...

Second sessions.

We have messed about with the forks and a couple of things but to be honest the bike is such a weird thing I don't really know where to go next.

Maria unfortunately had her session cancelled due to an earlier accident, but I managed to improve a bit and ultimately qualified 21st from 71 riders.

There is the night session to do in a couple of hours.

First sessions completed.

Well both Maria and I have completed our first sessions on the beast.

I have to say we have a couple of things to sort out.

More later.

All hands on deck.

We are busy busy busy this morning getting the Offenstadt Kawasaki ready for the track.

It's dry at the moment but the air feels damp and thats never a good sign here.

Look carefully in the background and you can see Roy from Slipstream, he was just accidently 'in the area' on holiday!

What a fantastic sight.

Well here we are at Spa.

The place looks good!
Its packed!
Crammed full of weird and wonderfull exotica.

Many fantastic bikes from so many manufacturers from all over the world.

Looking forward to a fantastic weekend...

I've been kindly invited by Chris Wilson to join Maria Costello MBE and race at Spa Francorchamps, in their team 'Equipe Rosbif' for the four hour endurance this weekend in the famous "Bikers Classics".
Click here to visit the site: Bikers Classics Spa and read on the entry and parade list, a veritable who's who of racing...
... Steve Baker, Will Hartog, Didier de Radigues, Piero Laverda ... all my heroes, just can't wait.

Event overview of a great weekend!

Have a watch, you can see what a great time we had over the weekend, getting our pole position, and taking the two wins!
Fantastic.

Spa Francorchamps - onboard video

It looks like I'll be racing at Spa this weekend, so thought I had better remind myself of the way round! I did this video in the morning warm up, before the 24hr there.

More news on the weekend later.

Another bike coming!

I spoke to Mark today and with luck Sabina will have a sister or brother in the not too distant future!
He has bought another RMZ450 and has started work on a 'mark 2' machine.

It will be built to the same high standards as Sabina, but bearing in mind the cost for the lucky purchaser no fancy dashboard, hi-tech wiring harness etc.

We've learnt a lot building Sabina and she is now very close to being 100%, this was the objective for her as Mark didn't want to build anymore machines until we had a proven formula that worked.

There would be little point in producing a bike that didn't work and would it would reflect badly on Mark; however Sabina is testament to Mark's ability to build a machine or rather, machines that can win races.
Details to follow over the next week or so - if you would be interested in buying one, please contact Mark on 07718858155.

Onboard footage - moto 450 - Oulton Park

We had our first try with the VholdR ContourHD camera - I've got them to go on 'Frank' for recording the coaching footage - this is not bad, considering it was just a 'quick stick it on the tank and go' test.

Oulton Actions shot - in the damp...

This great photo is by PLJPHOTO.com
click on it to see the fantastic detail.

2nd Win!

Steve Tomes and I came home top two in the whole field.
A good advert for the moto 450s!


It was great to score another win for Mark and the team.

First race - WON!

Still pouring with rain.

Actually got a jump start penalty.

Luckily I crossed the line leading the whole field with enough of a margin to still take the win!

Pole in qualifying!

Sabina likes it here.

Twenty minutes of qualifying and she's fastest overall from a full field.

Next on the grid is Rob Elsmere on the 550 Aprilia 0.809 back.

Steve Tomes is 6th.

Wet, wet, wet

Good morning from a torrentially raining Oulton Park.
Just as well we had a good day yesterday.


Going out in qualifying to just basically go as fast as I can and see where that gets us.

Morning sessions

Done a few sessions.
The bike is extremely good.

But as you know, there is always a little something else...

Going to try some other things this afternoon.

Good morning from Oulton Park.

So far the weather is gorgeous.
Had the first session on track.
After fighting with the Ducati last time here, its weird to be riding 'flat out' over Deers Leap on Sabina.

A few more tweaks and it will be 'flat out' everywhere!

Noise police...

Got the whisper that the heavy duty, environmental 'noise police' will be at Oulton, and that they are very strict - so just this afternoon Mark has come up with some decibel killers...

Donington BSB - Ducati 1198 overview.

Sabina's last minute nip and tucks...

Mark has just sent me this photo - apparently Sabina has just been having some final preparations to getting herself ready for the next round of the ThundersportGB Championship, at Oulton Park this Saturday.