Holed Frank's radiator so that's it for us now.
Nothing I can do about it so will concentrate on helping Ben and Nige in the garage for today.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Stone stops play.
Holed Frank's radiator so that's it for us now.
Nothing I can do about it so will concentrate on helping Ben and Nige in the garage for today.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Plenty to do.
It was a bit damp this morning but that gave me and Ben a good chance to just dawdle round and learn the track. Now it's dried up and we can start to enjoy ourselves!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Bit of Spanish sunshine.
Just on the road to Almeria; with Nige and Ben Rea. Hopefully we are going to have some track fun in the sun!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Epic bike battles - Eurosport feature.
I am proud to have been included in a festive series of programmes being screened by Eurosport.Titled "Best Battles - Bikes", Sunday 26th December, Boxing Day, at 7pm on British Eurosport, will be a feature of the epic battle between me and Phil McCallen at the 1995 Macau Grand Prix.
This photo by Ng Chi Ho, is taken during the race - both Phil and I were on full factory GP 500 bikes; and as someone pointed out the other day, there was no traction control or other electronic trickery in those days...
If you get chance, tune in and watch a good race...
Friday, December 10, 2010
Calendar time!
Just sitting down to send out desk calendars. Thanks to everyone who donated something towards the production.
If you'd like one I'll happily send it if you can offer a small contribution towards the postage and packing. Details on how to donate something are in my eshop on my website at www.mike-edwards.net
If you'd like one I'll happily send it if you can offer a small contribution towards the postage and packing. Details on how to donate something are in my eshop on my website at www.mike-edwards.net
Monday, December 6, 2010
Flat out for the last week...
Been busy, busy, busy for the last week or so.
I really enjoy it - except the 4am starts!
Looks like the worst of it is over now, as we are taking the ploughs off, and getting back to just gritting.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
2011 desk calendar - ideal stocking filler...
2011 desk calendar – ideal stocking filler – available for a small donation to help towards production and p&p.
You can donate any amount securely via my website: Mike Edwards E-shop
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Trophy haul.
From left to right. Gav Lupton, Dan Linfoot, Jason Dobson and me, all with our trophies presented by the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club this evening.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Visit to Damien at 'Scrubbers'
First met Damien about 10 years ago - he offers a great service for about £40 he takes your stinky, dirty and crispy leathers and hands you back a great suit that's just like new, clean soft and sweet smelling.
Scrubbers Leathers
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Battled on.
I knew something was wrong with the front brake as I rode to the holding area for the race. Pushed back to the garage but no one could see anything wrong. Went out and did the race on a real wing and a prayer, pumping and feathering the brake, never sure whether it would be there and only ever working about 50% at the best of times. Hung on in there but couldn't safely mix it with the 250s or 400s for fun. I just did what I had to do - enough to win the moto450 class. Turns out the front disc is warped and it spent its time throughout the race pushing the pads back!
Qualifying race.
Done the first race today. Drawn from a random ballot I was placed 19th grid. Mixed in with Formula 400s and open 250s - eight laps later I crossed the line in 5th first moto450 by 20 seconds. Just having some fitness food before the trophy race where I get to go off the grid in 5th.
Practice session.
Got about 5 laps in to the ten minute session and the chain came off. Trouble is it sheared a front sproket guard bolt so Steve 'monkey hands' McNichol is in charge of sorting it out.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Sabina gets new numbers.
Here we are at Silverstone to help promote the moto450 concept. There are seven of us racing tomorrow with the Formula 400s.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Great October day.
I can't belive it, here at Donington and the weather is fantastic. Better than some of the wet miserable 'summer' days I've had coaching this year!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Full report and photos
The race report and more photos from Anglesey are now on my main website under the 'latest news' heading.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Cup of tea and flapjack.
Here at Oulton enjoying a brew and lovely dry warm day out coaching with Brian.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Race one done but going home early.
There is not really any point putting more wear and tear on Mark's bike. It's ridiculous to put the 450 singles and twins in the same class and call them equal. I don't mind riding hard on any day but it pi$$es me off to be ridden away from on the straights by something that is supposed to be equally matched, I reckon the speed differential at the end of the straight something like 20mph more for the twins. Should really have entered 'Sabina' in the supermono class as mixing the 450s does not work for me. Not even bothering with today's second race.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
First race - second.
I could not believe it when the rain started an hour before the race. I got away well and led for about the first ten laps in the wet. Then Matt Davies on one of the Aprilia rent-a-bikes and I swapped the lead for the next few laps, I could pass and out ride him on the twiddly bits but simply couldn't match his horsepower on the straights. Matt ultimately took the win by just 0.263 - Ben's gear lever fell off and Nige pulled in as he didn't have confidence in the rear grip. Going to give Gordon a different shock for tomorrow.
Oh my goodness.
Spent the start of qualifying with Ben on track following him and then led for a lap before doing my own thing. Only managed to get a few decent laps in before the session was red flagged for someone who blew up. I didn't get near my best practice time of 1.13.1 from yesterday. Only managing a 14.26 that puts me 7th. Trouble in the awning though as Ben is 0.029 sec faster than Nige.
All ready and raring to go.
Ben has gone off to the Aprilia tent to get on his bike while his Dad Nige and I get 'Gordon' and 'Sabina' started for qualifying. It must be great for Father and Son to be out on track together.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Bright spark.
Last practice session did not even make one complete lap. Lots of head scratching back in the awning. Steve McNick was the person that ultimately found the missing spark. Only problem was, by time he found it the practice day was over. Will have to wait till tomorrows qualifying to see if it works!
Sabina's playing up now!
As if she is in sympathy with Gordon not being able to get out and play Sabina has now developed a mystery cut out problem. At first I thought she might have touched a valve so pulled the clutch. But not so. Then she lasted just five laps in the next session before cutting out completely.
Sprocket carrier.
Gordons has collapsed and broken up. It is such a model specific part we have no idea where to find a replacement. Yamaha SZR 660. Any ideas?
Bit of practice.
Doing the practice day so that we can introduce Nige and Gordon to each other properly. It also means I am here on hand to help out with stuff.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
working hard...
...to get 'Gordon' back looking gorgeous ready for his outing next weekend in the supermono race at Anglesey with Nige Rea on board.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Got 2nd in championship.
Got a bit mixed up with Alex and James Webb at the start and that let Jeremy get away. I had some real hair'm scare'm moments trying to chase him down. One big near do over the mountain don't know how I saved it. But I did, shook 'the kids' off and chased Jeremy over the line to finish 2nd. Again.
All over.
Was leading the race from Jeremy when it was stopped due to Tillotson. For the five lap restart I was determined to get to the front again. Unfortunately it all went wrong when the gear lever broke off! I tried to reach down and select gears with my hand but then I kept knocking the kill switch with my head so I had to call it a day gifting the championship overall to Jeremy.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
At last!
I won! Jeremy 2nd and Torquil 3rd. I think I even got the fastest race lap too. Next race at 10.50am.
Qualifying session.
As luck would have it rain was intermittent all morning. So for qualifying the track was wet with a dry line just starting. Jeremy was a bit hesitant at the start giving me pole for quite a lot of the session. But then off course he found his feet and pushed me into 2nd on the grid by 0.168sec. James Webb completes the front row, Guy Martin is 8th and Glen is 18th.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
First Practice.
Got another couple of Harley newbies. Guy Martin and 'Dangerous' Bruce Wilson. I did not finish practice as the bike sprung an oil leak after 8 laps Jeremy finished up fastest, James Webb 2nd and then me. Off now to find the oil leak.
Number 19...
... gets another new pilot. Phil has put Glen English on the other bike for this weekend. Two cloud bursts so far today with bright sunshine in between. Untimed practice is at twenty minutes at 5.30pm.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Red sky at night.
Gorgeous sunset here at Cadwell this evening. I hope its a good omen for the weather this weekend. Practice on the Harley tomorrow last thing in the afternoon.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Almost home.
We've just clocked 1,500 miles with only 100 more to go.
Those bits of duster zip tied to the mirrors have kept them clean all the way whilst driving through the most horrendous weather.
Top tip!
Those bits of duster zip tied to the mirrors have kept them clean all the way whilst driving through the most horrendous weather.
Top tip!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
First race over, and out!
I was leading the race in the rain and slipped off on some oil. Both me and the bike were fine I was even planning to get back on. Then David Legalle came sliding towards us at speed and unable to avoid it, totalled the bike. It just exploded on impact. Luckily David is okay though.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Really european
There are 40 competitors from 8 different countries. One German competitor Andreas Woditsch is riding a regular SZR and has expressed an interest to ride Gordon in one of the races tomorrow. So he might get a run out after all.
Friday, August 13, 2010
2nd qualifying.
No. That spring wasn't any better. I just can't make the most of my strengths out on track, late braking, entry to and corner speed. With the smaller bikes this is what you have to capitalise on. Valter has put in a blistering pole time of 1.35.7. I am a couple of seconds back on the second row in 7th. Not sure what to try next. Nothing tomorrow and straight in to the first race Sunday at 9am. I'm praying for rain...
1st qualifying
As we are trying to develop the bike as best we can I thought we should try a different spring for comparison. I was a bit disappointed though it didn't work the way I wanted and although we tried different settings I just couldn't make it work. Valter is fastest as expected but then Henk, Stefan and I are all within 0.5 second of him. Making another spring change for the next session. Fingers crossed.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Stormy weather.
We have put 'Jurgen' in the van as very bad weather is forecast for tonight. Luckily we have 'Gordon' with us as a spare bike and anchor weight for Gottfried's tent.
2nd free practice.
The weather was mixed again. I went out on wets alongside Valter Bartolini we both shook our heads at the first corner as it was dry so only did one lap and came in to change to slicks. Tried lots of things in the session to get the feel of the bike. Ended up at the top of the sheet with a 1.40.8 with Valter and Stefan next. A couple of things to change now before the two qualifying sessions tomorrow.
First practice.
It's wet, I don't like the handle bar position, the seat angle is all wrong, I can't get down behind the screen and there is something peculiar happening with the throttle position sensor. However, I quite like it and even though it's only practice and not everyone was out, we set the pole time by over 4 seconds from Stefan Meiners. More practice in about three hours.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
It fits!
Just arrived, and trying the little fella out for size. One or two things I've already noticed. Plenty of time to do stuff in the morning before we have first practice.
More wets!
On the way to Oschersleben to ride Gottfried Michael's Rotax 450 minimono in the Euro supermono races at German Speedweek. If you read this Gottfried, "bring more wets!"
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday Race.
Jeremy and I were swapping front places at the start. Lea lost his gear lever, Alex crashed and Dijon popped his motor. Tried really hard to get the better of Jeremy setting the fastest lap but he took the win.
morning warm up.
Ran with a camera for the session. Out on my own really so it might be boring footage. Came across Roland Sands who is a guest rider this weekend tapped my seat hump and gave him a tow round.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Reduced race.
The rain started mid superbike race. It was so wet that we were postponed to last race of the day giving the track chance to dry as we have a single tyre rule with no wets. Running out of time the race was reduced to six laps with two warm ups so we could see where the water was. Dijon got a flyer and passed me and Jeremy but did not last long. Then Lea passed us both and ran wide. After an excursion on the grass I got past Jeremy and made a dash for the line on the last lap only to realise I had made the basic mistake of getting the laps wrong and there was another to go! Jeremy took the win. Another race tomorrow.
Plenty of time.
To get other jobs done today before the race at 4.55pm. Just working on my daughter Jodie's folding bike.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Suits you.
Sarah popped by after qualifying to try out an XR1200 for size. The session had been fun with me and Jeremy swapping pole position throughout. We finished up the only two in the 38s but he pipped me to the top spot and the last couple of minutes. Carl unfortunately crashed at Sheene's, he is okay but there is some work to do to the bike. Alex Gault did not manage to get out. Dijon is in 3rd with Lea behind him. No warm up tomorrow straight in to the race about 5pm.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Not the best of days.
Here at Cadwell with Bernie. Weather has been so lousy, and with no wets allowed for the Harleys, we did not even get out till after Lunch. Only did two short sessions and the rain came again. Bu$$er!
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