I have entered a sprint at Tempsford in Beds on April 2nd to give the bike a pre season shakedown. Its only a 1/8 of a mile straight line run. But will be fine to practice starts and check everything is working ok. Plus its only 20 minutes away from me instead of 3-4 hrs.

Tempsford

A good test as everything was ok, and it certainly has drive off the line. My best time was 7.55 seconds with highest speed of  95.6mph. Consistently beating a CBR 600 RR by over a second and by 10 mph terminal speed. I was sure i could improve on my time because the front wheel only saw tarmac when i changed into third on that particular run. I came close but never bettered it, roll on Teeside and some corners.

 Preparation over winter has mainly been collecting excuses. As some very quick people are joining my class. And are practising on  weekends at Carnaby. (Excuse no.2 by the way)

9th  April              Teeside  Autodrome     Sprint

17th  April            Croft                         Sprint

29/30th  April       Olivers Mount              Hill  Climb

29th  May             Elvington  Park             Sprint

17th  June             Cadwell  Park               Sprint

Top  Dog  Three  Hills  Championship

4th  July                Dalby  Forest  (North)

5th  July                Dalby  Forest  (South)

6th  July                Olivers  Mount

22nd  July            Elvington  Park               Sprint

20th  August        Olivers  Mount               Hillclimb

28th August         Elvington  Park               Sprint

22nd  October     Dalby  Forest (South)       Hillclimb

No convoy run (lap behind course car) to see which way the track went. Meant first practice was also learning the track, which went quite well. Next time out though i outbraked myself going into the complex and ran onto the grass. With over 150 cars at this meeting and nearly 1/3 of them being shared with another driver, runs were limited. And when a few cars blew up or had to be recovered from the scenery. I knew we may not get the 2 timed runs that were planned. So i had to get in a good one first time out which was difficult as i had a new rear intermediate to scrub in at the same time. 

Wearing my old leathers just in case i went for it, it was'nt a brilliant lap but i kept it on the tarmac. And set a 99.33 second run winning the class and getting 2nd fastest time of the day again .

First practice was damp and i tried an intermediate rear. Then after it stepped out by 2-3ft at around 70 mph going up the hill i decided to change it for a full wet. Much too the relief of the marshall who jumped back up the bank when it happened. A NHCA (National Hill Climb Association) rider on a 560 KTM supermoto dipped into the 45 second bracket very early on and put first place out of reach. That left me and Chris Graily on his newly tuned CBR 600 RR to battle for second. Chris put in a 46.59 but never bettered it, after my penultimate run of 47.62 i felt drained. I  had put so much effort into it i was physically exhausted and honestly thought i could'nt improve. The last run went well until the hairpin i overshot and when i got it turned it bogged down. I slipped  the clutch and shook my head as i believed i had blown it.

I very nearly dipped the clutch to just wheelie up the hill and entertain the spectators. When i arrived at the top i shot into the chicane and got on the power so early i had to hang off the bike to keep it off the grass on the exit. I was only inches away from wiping out the timing lights. Then i saw a 46.54 yes just nicked  2nd place  by 4 /100ths of a second. Which is what i heard for the next 30 minutes echoeing round the paddock " 4/100ths of a second unbelieveable he was over a second behind me" a shocked Chris told people. Well done Martin Fletcher all the way from Ilfracombe in Devon who won with a 45.56.

Today was a lot colder than yesterday so again i stuck with full wets even though it was dry. Me and Chris started the day with friendly banter " Its very slippy & greasy out there", he said.

 "Its ok i've got wide bars to control it."  "I could'nt race with low set clip ons like yours". "Not as much control", i replied. Martin Fletcher again shot off  and was soon doing 45 second runs. So once again me and Chris battled away and at one point set a identical time of 47.66 on the same run. Then a 46.47 time was set by Chris, my best ever time here is a 46.54. And that was on a baking hot day in July although i got within 1/100th of it yesterday, today was a lot colder. It seemed impossible to better it as i lined my excuses up i remembered my bike has now been tuned, i had no excuses.

So i set about a last run charge im now becoming infamous for. I couldnt say it was a perfect run but it felt fast. I actually clipped the grass with my back tyre on my way out of the chicane this time. When i saw 46.06 i was so shocked i began to doubt it for a while. But just in case it was right i rode down to the holding bay sitting on the tank punching the air. Second place again was confirmed and a new personal best for Olivers Mount.

I am now laying fourth in the overall championship with 402.75 points, first position is on 410.11. But with seventh place on 400.00 points its very tight and i could just as easily go down the table as i can up it.

Unfortunately the course had been changed from the super fast one of last year. A new chicane in the middle of the start straight and a horrible dead stop hairpin out on the back section of the track. The weather was just as strange as the new layout raining for 30 minutes then bone dry within 20 minutes of stopping. And that set the weather pattern for the day. I was in 4th spot for most of the day and struggled with the new track set up.

On my 2nd timed run i went into the dead stop hairpin too hot and stamped on the rear brake  to make it hold a tighter line.With too much brake & too much lean angle the rear tyre cryed enough. I felt it go and saw the ground getting closer then with a quick dab of the foot i saved it. It all happened in a split second but probably cost me 1 or 2 seconds. It was kneedown as usual round the final horse shoe corner, 85.4 which was my best time and just secured 3rd by 0.1 of a second. I then sat and watched the supermotos who took the first chicane like it was'nt there easily 20 mph quicker than me.

When Wiggy crossed the line with a 82.1 i was impressed but could see where i had to make the time up. Then Hutchy crossed the line in 81.5 the fastest time of the day was until then 83.9. But shortly after that normal service was resumed when fast Dave Ward crossed the line in 80.6. With 1 scheduled run left i knew i could go a lot quicker but was not hopeful of finding over 4 seconds. Which i never got to find out as the meeting closed shortly afterwards as they ran out of time. The good news was the dead stop hairpin will be replaced with a more flowing S bend for next time.

My beloved Hornet is for sale (as it is) has to go due to personal circumstances. Comes with a load of spares, v5, currently  SORN.

Needs tank, handle bars, throttle assy & engine mount sorting.

This is probably the quickest Hornet in the country and an awesome track day bike.

Inters on std wheels have only done 15 mins of Cadwell. And the wets on the Dymags are as new also.

Sorry now sold