Never Unnoticed

A TV interview can be a very complicated task at the best of times, let alone 5 minutes after an adrenaline fuelled race, so as you could imagine many topics are missed out as you do not want to start rehearsing your perfect interview as you could be tempting fate. This brings me on to talk about a business I have hardly mentioned throughout my interviews but the support they give me has definitely not gone unnoticed, Harpers motorcycle clothing. They are a small store operating out of a high street shop in Leigh-on-sea. These guys mainly specialize in Wolf leathers, AGV helmets, TCX boots and RST gloves but they do not just stop at these brands and cater for all people’s needs. But what really makes Phil and his team stand out from any normal motorcycle clothing store is their ability to construct made to measure leathers under the Wolf branding. These leathers are made to a fantastic level of quality allowing comfort and flexibility with a choice from a range of many colours enabling your dream leathers to come true, at a fantastic price and a quick turnaround it is the way forward…… and let’s face it, if Phil’s made to measure leathers are not good enough for a certain Neil McKenzie from his Cadbury Boost Yamaha days then who are they good for? Please check Harpers out and they will do their best to help you out with your needs.

A Few Updates!

Just letting you know that my race report from Snetterton is now on the blog for you all to read! I hope you enjoy :)

Also the Aprilia RRV450GP Challenge coverage from Oulton Park has now been added onto the Media page along with new photos from Snetterton added to the Photo page!

Have a good look around and enjoy the new updates about my racing adventures!

Again a huge thank-you for all of your support!

A Big Thank-you

A huge thank you goes out to all the friends, family, sponsors and my team who are constantly helping me get out at each round doing all they can to help my racing dreams come true. The support I am receiving is fantastic and I hope I am doing you all proud with the results I am bringing in. Thank you.

Dave and Bernadette Stewart of Thundersport GB,

Ian and Myra Newton of INCompetition (series founders),

SPRING11,

RSRmotosport,

AF Switchgear,

Power System Partners,

Electro Pro Solutions,

Holbeach motorcycle tyres,

BMS Services,

Harpers motorcycle leathers,

Nitro race helmets,

Daytona Paint designs,

Mum and Dad,

Jamie Wilkins,

Chris and Laura Moore,

Photographers: Brad Cox & Martin Cox,

Medics and Marshals,

And all of my supporters who follow me and my racing dream

Snetterton Rd5 Race Report

Hi everyone, here I am again writing another report on my latest racing adventure. Snetterton; known for its long high speed straight.

Friday test day got underway with mixed weather conditions, tired of changing wheels from wet to dry tyres and back, by the end of the day I didn't feel I was totally prepared for the races.Unfortunately that is how things can feel from time to time and I just had to keep reminding myself that I was not the only one experiencing the changeable track conditions. 

Unfortunately like the previous round I selected the wrong gearing which became a big hindrance during the qualifying sessions held on the Saturday morning. This determined seventh place on the grid in Doodson Supertwins and eighth in the Aprilia RRV450GP championship. I stayed calm as I reminded myself of what I had achieved at Oulton Park from a lowly grid position.

Doodson Supertwins Race one, I experienced a great start and I was able to capitalize and push myself into the lead by the midway point of the race until I made a mistake on the back section of the circuit, sending me off the track and forcing me to work my way back up the field taking home a sixth place finish. This was a good result as I was the fastest 450 rider on the grid, a good confidence booster for the first 450 race.

Unfortunately the Aprillia RRV450GP Race one didn't go to plan as I collided with Ross Twyman, due to a mistake firmly instigated by me, and me only. Our collision unfortunately snapped my clutch lever off forcing me to retire on the side of the barrier. 

This mistake really upset me and left me feeling down because I cannot afford DNF’s in this series if I want to maintain my progress at the top end of the championship table. And crashing on the first turn could also lead to injury, and Ross was just the innocent party in all of this. After some scrappy races I then finished seventh in the Doodson Supertwins, second race and fifth in the Aprilia Challenge second outing. All in all this was not an easy day and we felt a little low that evening. 

Although these were not the kind of results I had hoped, let’s be honest achieving podiums every race in this competition is stuff of dreams! If this is what I class as a bad day then it can't be all bad can it? Something still had to change the next day, an early night and a positive approach was required.

Sunday greeted us with heavy rain and sodden track, but I was up and ready for the challenge. With help of my team and friends we felt good for Doodson Supertwins race one on TV day. Off the start I was able to maintain my position which is where I sat until everyone had calmed down, I then went on and made my attack picking off one rider at a time until I had two in front on the last lap. I was able to sneak my way up the inside of second place around the newly reshaped Coram curve and that is how I crossed the finish line. A second place across the stripe and first place in my class 650 open. That's better! 

Race one, Aprilia challenge, a quickly drying track whilst racing on wet tyres, lovely! I started the race off in exactly the same way as the previous Supertwins race biding my time. I started my attack on the second lap and worked my way into the lead. I started to put the hammer down and managed to break the field of riders behind, Brilliant! Another error on my part into the low speed hairpin saw me lose the front and I crashed out of the lead with only two laps to the finish line. Although I made this mistake I did not let it get to me, and I carried on as usual. I was really happy with how I rode in this race as I had a really good feeling for the bike and I felt extremely confident. The main thing I took out of the situation was that I knew why the mistake was made. 

Race two in the Doodson Supertwins, saw me struggle due to the amount of back markers we approached and lapped throughout the race, and on a few occasions I lost my rhythm. I still bought it home in a respectable 5th place. 

I was feeling good for the final Aprilia RRV450GP Race. Race two got under way. On the first lap I settled down and set my pace holding my position off the line. I then worked on making way through the field and set my sights on Callan Cooper who made a big attempt to break from the following pack. Tom Oliver joined me in our attempt to close down the gap Cooper had made. Once the gap had been closed it became a three way dice to the finish line, with lead changing many times. Eventually after a last gasp last corner move to dive up the inside of Tom Oliver I managed to cross the line in close second behind Callan Cooper. A brilliant result and a great race, one I was very proud of. Although I didn't win the race I was very pleased with my strategy and I felt I could hold my head up high, as I did my best and I gave my all to win the race.

Another massive learning curve experienced this weekend and I am enjoying the whole experience of the Aprilia Challenge. Over the course of the weekend Ian Newton (founder of the Aprilia Challenge) and I were having a laugh about how slow I was on the Aprilia 125 in the Superteen series back in 2008, and it makes me smile every time I remember that I was not able to keep up with the grid on the warm up lap. Great memories!

Media Update

Hi Everyone!

Check out the NEW coverage of the Doodson Motorsport Supertwins from Oulton Park on the Media page!

Thank you again for all your support and I hope you enjoy the watch!