| Round 1/2 | 19th-20th March | Brands Hatch |
| Round 5/6 | 21st-22nd May | Silverstone |
| Round 7/8 | 2nd-3rd July | |
| BEMSEE | 4th Sept | Brands Hatch |
| BEMSEE | 24th - 25th Sept | Lydden Hill |
| Round 15/16 | 15th-16th October | Brands Hatch |
Well March has come round again so I thought I'd better sling me leg over the Kwaka that had been resting in the garage over Winter.
Before Brands I thought I'd better blow the cobwebs out, I instruct for No Limits Track Days. A week before Brands I journeyed up to Oulton Park in Cheshire for a day of instructing and the odd respectable lap of my own.
Brands Hatch
It was nice to be at Brands Hatch for the first round of the MRO Series, God smiled upon us all giving all the racers good weather, in fact on Saturday it was like a warm summers day.
Team Imberg Racing arrived late on Friday Night, Hanson/Flitwick Motorcycles saved us a space which was good of them so after a pint it was off to bed.
Qualifying Day
The new look MRO now has Saturday qualifying for the Powerbike class and two races on Sunday, I had not changed much on the bike from last year but new Callipers by Pretech and some outside help from Stamford Superbikes had been greatly received. RMSI DATA, GLF ACCESSORIES,BB PLASTICS,MOTORCYCLE HQ,MHP ZORSTS,NO LIMITS & FLITWICK MOTORCYCLES had already pledged some support so thanks to them.
Warm Up
I journeyed out to the warm up area after sticking on some new Bridgestones tyres that I was gonna try for the first time.
After 2 laps scrubbing in my tyres I managed to bring the pace up following old sponsor Keith Webster around and dialling in to the swoops and curves of Brands Hatch.
Qualifying 1
I was happy with the feel of the Bridgestones so I thought we'd give them a try for the day, after 2 laps getting my eye in I tried to get a fast time in, Dad was on the signboard and registered a 49.8 so I thought I'd push a little harder. Bemsee had allowed 51 riders on the grid to try and qualify so a fast time was a lottery. On lap 8 I managed to get a bit of space and slotted a 49.3 in before yellow flags came out to help 2 fallen riders at Druids. The bike was running o.k. but I had some front patter into Surtees corner plus the bump out of Clearways always made for an exiting ride onto the start finish straight.
After the first 15 mins the chequered flag came out and I'd qualified in 5th place.
We had a chat to the Bridgestone man after the qualifying session and I decided to up the rear compression a couple of clicks.
Qualifying 2
I felt under some pressure to try and reduce the lap times by a couple of tenths, I went out in qualifying with a purpose but started to ride a bit ragged. The traffic this time was diabolical and I was frustrated, in the end my best lap was only a 49.7 and the qualifying session was red flagged when Neil Faulkner high sided out of Druids injuring himself and sidelining him from the event.
Once back to the truck I had only dropped one place to sixth, we changed to a new rear Bridgestone as stability had suffered with the rear tyre starting to overheat a touch.
I decided that the suspension adjustments had not worked so reverted back to the start of the day, also I softened the front forks1 click as the chatter into Surtees was still causing a problem.
Race 1
I lined up on row 2 with an empty slot in front of me where Neil Faulkner was meant to be. I managed a great start and was 3rd into the first corner. Jonti Hobday pissed off in front and left me to fight for Second Place with Carl Hunton. On lap 5 Kenny Everest on his new Yamaha managed to pass me into Paddock Hill only for me to return the compliment at Graham Hill after he tried to high side on the exit.
Kenny got me again 4 Laps later into Paddock Hill (must try harder
Dan) then managed to get past Carl. On the last lap I tried to pass Carl for 3rd position but could not quite do it.
I was pretty pleased with 4th place and my fastest lap was 48.9 which was the quickest I'd been round Brands on the Kawasaki ZX10R.
Race 2
Another good start this time, second into the first corner only for the race to be restarted after my old sparring partner Luke Palmer binned it at Paddock.
On the restart I managed third into the first corner only to be pushed wide into Druids demoting me to 4th place.
On lap three Zak Barry on his turbo Suzuki squeezed past and managed after a few laps to pull on me. Zak was riding well even though he's sometimes not to happy just with rumble strip he needs the grass as well!
On lap 7 Carl Hunton crept by which is what I needed as my rythmn was not good up to that point. On the penultimate lap I outbraked Carl into Druids and got me head down, the last lap was eventful as Carl barged through at Druids letting Pete Baker overtake me as well, I managed to get Pete straight back and held on to 6th place to the finish.
MRO combine the results from both races and I ended up in fifth place.
Overall I am pleased with this and hope this bodes well for the season.
Must thanks a few souls this weekend, me Dad for his help, Mark Hill for his leathers on Sat (long story best untold) Cuz Chris, John, Nick and the boys, Uncle Brian, Malcolm and friends, Ratty and the crew from Flitwick Motorcycles.
Special thanks must go to the other half for bringing my leathers down, at Kells.
PS Well done Ollie never thought you'd do it.
After what seemed a long lay off since Brands Hatch i decided to get ass across to Silverstone for the MRO Round( 3).
I had taken the choice to miss Croft for two reasons, i do not like the circuit and had some work pressure so combine the two it was better not to go, and the weather is always crap there!
Saturday
Practice went o.k albeit that it was wet, yep sploshy wet at that, i had a pair or Michelin pilot wet's so used them but swopped over to Bridgestone for the Qualifying sessions.
Not much to be learned in these conditions so i took it easy!
Qualifying Session 1
The team and I spoke at length, we decided that we really needed to put a banker of a lap in but seeing as the conditions were really bad we would save ourselves a bit for the final session.
I put three laps in on this session , the rain had been so heavy that we had surface water on most of the corners. On my final lap the bike span up at Becketts corner and placed me out of the seat, i decided to end the session after that lap to find that i had qualified in 7th place.
Qualifying Session 2
It was still wet but the sun was shining, as i journied out on the first lap it started to piss down again, David Wood and I both came out of the chicane together but unfortunatly Dave must of put the power down on a puddle as the bike highsided him through the start and finish. On the back straight the deluge of rain became enourmous and was actually hurting me in my leathers so i came in.
On lap 2 of this qualifying session one of the hospitality building blew into the track!!!! Nearly killing a few riders i should think in the process.
That was the end of Saturday, qualifying session 2 was cancelled along with the rest of the day.
Sunday
I only live 30 mins away from Silverstone so i went home for the night which was much nicer that being in the van!
The weather had improved on Sunday and before the 5 minute warm up the track was drying.
I decided to go out on slicks to scrub them in for the race, i led the warm up out which is not normally me and on lap 2 into Luffield a couple of guys came past into a damp corner. I realised there must be a bit more grip than i thought into there so tagged onto Faulkner and Buckle, going into Luffield on lap 3 Faulkner and Buckle had a big moment closley followed by me 3 feet in the air and rising, yep i highsided it coming out of Luffield on the damp bit of track, i landed on my Head (new helmet pls) and shoulder but was not injured just had a little headache!!!
Race 1
Well we had to fix the Kwaka , so we straightened out the brake pedal, i'd snapped the brake lever so A&R provided a new one of a Yamaha R1 (well it fitted) and then the ignition case was slightly weeping so a bit of chemical metal stopped that (Ta Steve Flitwick M/C) I placed on my old screen and put my spare helmet on.
We got the bike up and running and scutineered with 5 mins to go, so thanks to the team Dad, Malcolm, UncBrian& Chris for there work.
I journied out for the race with cold tyres and a lot on my mind.
I got an o.k start but was not hard enough on the first two or three laps. Once i got myself into gear the bike was not revving out along the back straight and i was in between gears for Luffield 2 and the Chicane.
I held 6th place until 2 laps from the end when Pete Baker came past and managed to squeeze a backmarker between himself and me, by this time i was hanging on a bit and feeling a bit worn out and nautious.
I finished 7th which was o.k!
Race 2
We had changed the gearing and after a sit down and some lunch i felt stronger. The rear was sliding a lot on the first race and Mark from Holbeach Tyres set the pressures (hot) for this one.
I was ready for this race, we changed the gearing as well to try and top out down the staright, last race my best lap was only a 1min 5.3 which is 0 .4 secs off my lst years time.
I got good initial start then the bike fell out of second gear so i was about 9th pace into the first corner, the biked then peaked out 100yrds early down the back staright which was annoying.
The first few laps were crap Carl Hunton did a bit of a do or die into Luffield and Damien Haywood and Neil Faulkner both whistled past on the straight. On lap 4 i got my head together past Damien and a Suzuki then set my sights on Michael Walker, two laps later i outbreaked Michael into Luffield and started to progress on Carl Hunton (this was more like it). On lap 8 i set a lap of 1 minute 4.7 secs (2/10ths faster than last year even with the bike hitting the rev limiter) and the Bridgestone tyres were mega.
On lap10 i did Carl into the chicane, on lap 11 there were waved yellows everywhere, into Becketts the rain had started causing leader Jonti Hobday to crash, the race was red flagged just as i started to catch Neil Faulkner and Peter Baker!
I finished a creditable 6th place which was o.k in the circumstanced and lapped faster than the guy in 2nd position and overall was best Kawasaki.
The new Pretech Calipers were wonderfully consistant throughout the racers and they are a must buy for anyone with the ZX10R.
Conclusion
Well it was definatley a tough weekend, i would like to thank all the helpers that came along, i was pleased to see Olie Linsdell get his first pole and win in the SS400 class.
Monday was full of aches and pains but i still love to race and that's why we do it.
Psssst it's a secret
Snetterton MRO
Well I had been looking forward to Snetterton for a few weeks, Barry from BB Plastics called me 2 weeks ago to ask me if I would ride the Kawasaki 400 as well.
I tested the 400 at Donnington the Tuesday before Snetterton (thanks No
LIMITS) and everything looked good.
On the big bike I had placed some crash bungs on it and put a new chain on as well.
Sat
First out was un-timed practice on the 400cc Kawasaki, everything went o.k. bike seemed slow compared to the ZX10R, but saying that I was passing a lot of the other 400 bikes out there so it must be good.
Next out was the ZX10R everything again went o.k. and gearing was spot on.
Qualifying
I was first out on the big bike, I managed to hold on to after scrubbing in some new Bridgestone’s Phil Bevan and Silverstone winner John Anderton, the times went immediately into the 1min 10 the on lap 6 I managed a 1 min 10.2 which would have been faster in Phil had not mucked up the last corner leaving me to try and avoid him on the exit of Russell’s. This placed me in 7th position which I held to the end.
My bike was the quickest through the speed trap which was on the braking marker at the end of the back straight which I was chuffed about, the Pretech calipers give the bike a lot of feel on the brakes as well as a brave rider (me).
400 Qualifying
I was quite well up for this, after 2 laps heating the tyres up I managed to bring the times down from 1min 20 to 1min 18, I then started upping the ante and got down to a 1min 17, on my last lap I followed Leighton Walker on his RGV250 and placed in a 1 min 16.9 which was good enough for 3rd on the grid just 3 tenths behind Championship leader and old codger Andy Sprake.
We decided this was quick enough and I would cool it to the race. I was pleased to be in front of local (to me) hotshot Ollie Linsdell but he had some bike problems so we did not manage a head to head.
400 Race 1
I lined up on the front row, my Dad and I had decided that 3rd was good enough and maybe we were not quite ready to challenge for the lead yet, my start was very average (6th into first corner) then 5th by the end of the first lap. On lap 2 I managed to draught (o.k. power) past another Kawasaki and into 4th place, the leaders had not got away and into the last corner (Russell’s) I decided to make an effort to get in their tow for the start and finish straight. I was late on the brakes for Russell’s but as I applied them the back wheel endo'd and I had to release the brake a bit, in the chicane I flicked the bike right to left but the front tyre tucked and spat me off. I landed on the rumble strip and could not breathe. In the medical centre they decided to transfer me to Norwich Hospital where after X-Rays it transpired I had cracked three ribs and bruised a lung.
This curtailed the meeting for me and I was discharged the day after with some good pain killers.
Review
Well, disappointment in all, Barry’s (BB PLASTICS) bike is o.k. and was not badly damaged but I messed up a potentially good weekend, I do try and ride as quickly and safely as possible but sometimes you do crash!
At least I know and everyone knows the 2 Kawasaki's are very competitive.
A quick shout the guys and girls at Norwich Hospital whose care was first class.
As Arnie says "I'll be back"
Brands Hatch 4th Sept
Well after my last painful episode it took a while to get to full fitness. I could have come back for the Cadwell Park round but as I'd blown any championship hopes I decided to make sure I healed properly.
Barry Booth of BB Plastics again offered me the 400cc Kawasaki to ride and to try and prove it as well. A new fairing and oil cooler had been fitted but other than that crash damage was minimal from Snetterton.
I decided to enter a Bemsee club race to try the bike again before the MRO Brands round in October.
I could only enter the Sunday races due to work commitments so Bemsee warned me that I would be starting off the back row of the grid (great eh)
Practice
This consisted of 3 laps of Brands Indy circuit, so I learnt nothing but the gearing was too tall.
Race 1
On row 7 for this one which means I was closer to Clearways than the start, anyway the green light flashed and I got a mediocre start, Paddock corner was a busy one but I managed about 7 places in the first few corners then slowly tried to get through the pack. My braking markers were a bit early as I've ridden powerbikes for too long so these need adjusting. On lap 6 I was caught in the dice for 13 th position, the 2 Kawasaki's in front where going hell for leather and slowing each other down, to there credit they braked late but were shit thru the corners holding me up.
I eventually got passed and my last few laps closed me in about 3 secs to the dice for 5th - 11th place.
I couldn't quite get to them so I finished 11th after some dude went grass tracking at Surtees.
I fetched my lap times to see on the last lap I was second fastest in the race so not bad!
Race 2
The third row beaconed this time (hurrah) and I was not gonna be beaten by a girl this time (well done Deb Cartwright 5th in first race the piss taking I got for this was unreal but hey if your quick your quick don't matter about the sex you are)
We had changed the gearing for this one and hardened rear and front suspension as the bike was a bit bedspringy thru Surtees.
Got an o.k start about 10th into first corner, got with Deb Cartwright on lap1 and into her slipstream thru start and finish but too my horrors the bike revved out by the start and finish in top (bollox) well Barry and I had flucked up properly and it was gonna be a long 9 laps.
On lap 3 I passed Deb only for her to pass me straight back when I ran a touch wide next lap I was not a gentleman and poked it up the inside at Graham Hill and stopped it mid corner ruining the person's drive behind, also her bike was breathing a bit heavy as well so I needed to pass before it blew up!
The next 3 laps I reeled in 2 bods on Kawasaki 400's managing to stick it up the inside of Greville into Clearways and hold it to the finish for 8th.
Best lap was a 52.6 bout 3rd quickest in race but not as good as race 1 which was a 52.4.
When we brought the bike back it transpired the chain had stretched nearly falling off and we had a little misfire going on thru the race as well.
Review
Good little test session for the Kawasaki even if we did not have a top 5 result in the second leg, if the gearing was correct maybe we could have done it but looking at the chain it was a wonder we finished the second leg at all.
Quite happy with the times though as it was very warm which slows em down a touch
Want to be really to be in the 51's when we return so it better not rain!
Thanks to my supporters who came down firstly Barry the owner then Unc Brian, Chris, Malc,Ollie and Barry's grandson & bird and bloke in van next to us who supplied power when the genny blew up!
See you all at Lydden Hill on the last weekend in Sept for the lord on the zx10r.
Lydden Hill (Lord of Lydden)
24-25th September
Time to take the ZX10R out again as it was feeling lonely after being last raced in June.
After my little ride at Brands Hatch on the 400cc Kawasaki I felt ready and race fit.
Saturday
We had geared the bike tight for Lydden so the bike would be lively as Lydden Hill is about a mile long with no discernable straights to speak of so a 250Gp bike or 600cc Proddy bike would be as quick as a Powerbike round Lydden Hill.
Qualifying.
The bike would not hold a proper line round the drift so I took it relatively easy stuck in a few quickish laps which ended up 7th quickest 0.4 off pole.
Race 1
I decided to leave the bike as it was, new slicks were scrubbed in and as I had the whole of Saturday to play with the bike I felt like we needed to race test me and the bike.
I got an o.k. start finishing the first lap in 4th place, unfortunately for local favourites Reckless Rob Elsemere and Steve Mercer they got tangled up and both went down into Paddock corner , I passed a John Butler on lap3 on his Honda CBR600 and got my head down. On the last few laps I started to catch Sam Bishop on his Yamaha (Valvoline R6) but missed out by half a second at the flag and finished 3 rd.
Chris Bishop (no relation to Sam) won the race on his 250cc Gp Honda which is the tool you need round Lydden.
Race 2
Before race 2 I was conscience that I was losing a lot of time round Chessons Drift as the bike would not turn, we raised the ride height 2 threads to improve this but this may sacrifice rear grip but we needed to play a bit to find the correct settings so we thought we'd risk it for a biscuit.
I got a good start but on lap 1but I had a massive slide out of Paddock finishing the first lap in 5th place. I managed to catch the leading quartet of Sam, Rob, Steve and Chris as they battled it out for the victory, I needed only fifth place to guarantee me a front row start as this was taken from the combined Saturday results of race 1&2.
Once I caught the leaders I realised that a pass would be difficult as the ride height adjustment had made the rear spin up on every exit of each corner losing me drive, so I settled for 5th place.
Once the results came out I was given second fastest lap of the race with Reckless taking the win and fastest lap even after a spill in race 1 and a sore knee and hand.
Sunday
For race 1 we stuck on a new rear boot (Bridgestone) and reduced the ride height 4 threads.
Practice was damp but the bike felt pretty good and I felt quite confident of running quick consistent race times.
I lined up 3rd on the grid for these 2 races and the combined result winner would be the Lord of Lydden.
I got away on the G of green and was second into the drift following Sam Bishop on his R6 , he pulled a bit early on but around lap 6 I started my charge, I knew that consistent lap times would win this one and on lap's 9&10 I started to put the kid under pressure, Sam was riding hard but I drew level into Paddock but could not squeeze a pass. On lap 11 we came to a backmarker going into the Drift and Sam went for the inside but lost the front and crashed luckily unhurt , I just kept my head down and simply won the race, I looked behind after taking the chequered and realised that I had won by a considerable margin (9secs).
Fastest lap was mine at 42.6 so and extra point was awarded for that!!
Race 2
In between the race I tried to not think about the win too much but I believed the hard work had been done and if I got my head down and stayed in my quick rhythm fingers crossed we could take the title that had eluded me for 3 long years.
At the start I got away well and followed Chris Bishop on his GP 250 Honda into the Drift, unbeknown to me it had been adjudged that he jumped the start and got a 10 secs penalty, I only needed to follow Chris as he DNF'd in the first race to make the race mine. The plan worked like a dream and we drew away from the rest of the bunch and I won the race by 6 secs.
The slow down lap was a relief, I know it's only a little title but this means a lot to me as my Dad raced it in the 70's and Charlie Sanby who gave me riding tips when I started won the first Lord Of Lydden meeting so it was only fitting to bring it back to Bedfordshire.
I gave me chat to the press (Terry Howe) and after 4 years without a win it was nice to bring home the bacon as I had forgot that feeling for a while!
Thanks must go to;
Dad, Richard @RMSI, Bridgestone, No Limits, Graham @MJK and Mark @MHP
Steve,Ollie,Sharpey, Tim and the rest of the Bemsee boys for the craic.
Brands Hatch MRO
Supersport 400
Well after the enjoyable meeting at Lydden I decided to enter back to the MRO series, albeit on Barry Booth's SS400 Kawasaki as the big bike has earnt it's rest till next season.
Sat Practice & Qualifying
Since the last race at Brands Hatch Barry had been trying to find out the reason for the misfire but unfortunately it returned during qualifying, we were lucky though as I managed 7 laps before she died on me placing us in 3 rd on a 52.8 but Ollie Linsdell was on pole getting into the 51's.
Dad and Barry set around changing ECU's and Fuel Pumps whilst Andy Sprake came up with ideas, at first I thought the ignitor had come loose but we finally think the coils had been damaged from the crash.
Race 1 (Qualifying race)
I lined up next to Ollie and Leighton Walker with old man Nev Potts in 4th (not bad for 53). I got a fair start and was 4th into Paddock, it took me about 3laps to get into a rhythm then I passed some fella for 3 rd , Simon Lowes then had some problem elevating me to 2nd.
Leighton had made good ground and was too far in front for me to challenge so I kept it pinned and followed him at some distance to come in 2nd which was fair. Leighton was only a 10th of a sec faster in lap times but won the race by 4 secs, Ollie was 3 rd another 2 secs behind after making hard work thru the pack but recording the fastest lap at 52.3.
Race 2 ( Sunday MRO RACE 1)
I decided to change the gearing slightly for Sunday and hardened the rebound on the front and rear suspension, a new boot was stuck on the rear as well.
We lined up with Leighton on pole, yours truly second and lunger Linsdell third, the red lights stayed on for ages and a few poor souls jumped it and we were forced into a rerun.
Next start I got a blinder and was elbowing with Leighton into Paddock when the red lights came out, there had been a start line incident which curtailed Ollie's participation in the meeting.
Next start was not so good bout 5th into Paddock, but I duffed some Kawasaki 400 into Druids then got my head down, on lap 3 I blasted into the lead and was not headed, got to admit it was a close finish as my old man screwed the pit board up and I relaxed a bit too much with Leighton nearly stealing it at the death.
Best lap 52.3 but Leighton did a 51.5!!!!!
Race 2 (MRO)
I only needed to come 2nd to gain the overall win on this race but I must admit it was a blinder hope you all enjoyed it.
I was 3rd into Paddock on the first lap and it took me till lap 2 to hit the lead, Barry's bike was quicker than the others down the start and finish but the engines mega tuned so it's quite tricky to ride and behaves like 2 smoke.
On lap 4 Leighton passed me back after I made a mistake into Paddock and this really turned into a cat and mouse kinda race where we overtook each other every lap until lap 12 where we bashed into each other (I'm being kind here Leighton) and I decided it was time to make my break, Leighton had run into my zorst after I made a hard move into Druids on a back marker and it left him fighting his Suzuki a bit so I really got my head down and went for it recording a 52.0 dead and managed to win the race. I was elated and Barry was pleased as it's only the 3rd time the bikes competed and it's winning already!
It's nice for my supporters as well as they come year in year out to watch me at most rounds so I got a few nice slaps on the back, it's been a long time since I've won at MRO and before Lydden Hill I was wondering where my next silverware was gonna come from.
Quick shout of thanks to some poor sods who help/sponsor me
Richard @RMSI, Pretech Engineering (EBC), Bazza Booth (BB Plastics), Mark Hill (MHP), Mark (Holbeach/ Bridgestone), Graham Falke (MJK), Mark Neate (No Limits),Oxford Products (HJC), Keith and Barbara (Motorcycle HQ), Steve and Carole (Flitwick Motorcycles), Jez (5tamford 5uperbikes), Respro Tyre Insulators, Martin Ratcliffe, Danny Imberg's Wages!!!!!!
Also thanks to the all my family, loved one's and supporters, you know who are!