Once upon a time in 1975 there was a baby born in Shiney Row, Co. Durham who grew up to like bikes, anything with two wheels was fair game, but in 1982 on holiday at Swanage in Dorset, everything changed, aged six he had his first ride on a petrol powered machine (left) and fell in love.

He had followed Motor Cycle sport for many years with family outings to Olivers Mount, Croft, East Fortune, Hawkstone Park, Foxhills and obscure scrambling events, some no longer raced, like Boltby near Thirsk, Bassenthwaite and Bootle in Cumbria, Nantwich and many others, and is pictured right in 1985 on holiday in Crete (possibly the shape of things to come ?)

His favourite rider was Greg Hanson, whom he met at a Championship meeting at Butsfield near Satley, (another venue casualty) Greg gave him his leathers (which the boy still treasures) after he won the British 125 Championship at Canada Heights, Kent in 1986 (pictured below).

Canada Heights 1986

This was followed by devouring any motor-bike based books, magazines and the Motor Cycle News, which was then a bike paper, a far cry from it’s fashion based present form.

On Christmas Day 1986 Santa Claus left the 11 year old a Honda CR80 and his elder brother a Suzuki RM125 and they played happily at Carlton Bank, Warden Law or any available muck, until the Suzuki fell ill and the brother grew tired of fixing it and retired, to concentrate on his football.

Christmas morning 1986, the garage

When the Honda was stolen and replaced by a Montesa 250 Trials, he rode it like a ‘Crosser’ and did the exact opposite to his brother and gave up a promising soccer career to concentrate on MotoCross, he is pictured below in his first race at Newfield aged 13 on a Kawasaki KX100.

First ever race, Newfield near Willington, Co. Durham

After a promising youth career, several Honda’s and many wins, he progressed to senior MotoCross reaching ‘A’ Class status and is pictured below competing on a CR250 in a National event at Brampton in 1996.

Brampton, Cumbria 1996

and holding an inquest outside the ‘P***van’ with onlookers, following another ‘National’ at Witton Castle in 97’ the 6’1” little boy is pictured rear view in white ‘T’ shirt and cap. He qualified in 1998 for a British Championship event at Kingsteignton in Devon and was doing quite well until he got a stone in the eye, which is not the best prep for dirt racing and we made an early trek home.

Witton Castle, Co.Durham 1998

The same year he and nineteen other friends invested £50 each and formed the Falcon Motocross Club (still operating) and designed and built a track near Rowley that has hosted British Championship events, the boy with Kyle Deswert and Steve Airey can be seen below with the virgin field.

‘In the beginning’ Longedge Motoparc

Throughout his career he has only had one other hero, ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer, whose racing number was nineteen (perhaps you can spot a link in future pictures ?) they met (below) at the Honda 50th Anniversary of the TT, can you guess what he named his son (born 2006).

(Fast) Freddie Spencer with David at the IOM TT

In 1999 he decided to hang up his muck racing duds and take to the roads on a Honda CBR600 (pictured below in back garden)

The change over 1999

which he did for a year until the racing bug bit again and (excuse the pun) a crash course was taken with the Ron Haslam Race School at Donington his tutor being Steve Plater.

David Bell With Steve Plater at Donington 2000

In 2001 the road going Honda was exchanged for an ex Les Shand 600 Steelframed Honda and we went racing again, only this time on the black stuff,

Carnaby

winning his first Newcomers Race at Croft and racing at 14 meetings, including Donington, Mallory, Cadwell, Oulton Park, Croft, Knockhill, Carnaby and Elvington.

Cadwell Park

He steadily improved and with nine wins from twelve starts in the Novice Class the hated orange vest was discarded at the seventh meeting at Elvington.

Jumping the Cadwell Mountain

His first road racing crash of note came the following weekend at Carnaby, when whilst leading the 600 race he high-sided on a runway white line and landed in Hull General with concussion.

Elvington

He asked the same question of  Susan and mechanic Stephen Graham for three hours all the way home,  “ Is the bike allright ?”.

Cadwell ‘post orange vest’

A  2^nd place at Cadwell in the final race of the season and the news that he was NE Centre 600 Champion and 4^th overall in the NEMCRC Club Championship was an excellent end to a first season.

David Bell Racing in 2002

For 2002 the Steelframe Honda was retained with minor mods, the most significant being Pirelli tyres,

David well up in the pack, Donington 2002

a good start was made first out at Donington with a second from grid 16,

Damp at Croft in March 2002

then came Croft with two wins and more good results at Mallory, Scarborough and East Fortune.

Farm Bends, Scarborough Spring Nationals 2002

He then set off for his first Manx Grand Prix which was marred the first evening when mechanic Steve badly broke his leg and had to be replaced by Manx resident ‘Dibble’ an old dirt racing adversary and also a friend of the late great Steve Hislop, who imparted some special tips on the mountain course.

At speed at the Waggon & Horses Senior Manx GP 2002

Practice week was curtailed with two punctures, but still managed a respectable 112.02mph lap and quietly confident started the Newcomers Race on Bank Holiday Monday.

Four abreast at the Creg, Newcomers Manx GP 2002

Lying 5^th on lap one he outbraked three other bikes into Creg ny Baa, no-one believed him in the paddock until the photograph appeared in the local paper the following night (above).

  He pressed on to finish third with a fastest final lap of 113.51mph and the quote to Manx Radio “ I never thought I would race the TT course, never mind finish third and stand on that famous podium, it’s a dream come true”.

Newcomers Podium Manx GP2002 with Tom Clucas and Ray Porter.

 He followed this up with a tenth place in the delayed until Saturday, Senior MGP which was good enough to be awarded the Martin Smith Trophy as ‘Best Newcomer in the Senior’ a perfect ending to a nearly perfect fortnight.

The team (Susan & two Dibbles) talking to John McGuinness

After a sensible Gold Cup at Scarborough it was Croft for the final NEMCRC meeting, the ‘little boy’ ended up Club Open Champion and equal on points with Phil Stewart for the 600, but Phil had one more win and was declared Champion and well done to him ‘that’s racing’.

We managed to be NE Centre Open Champion and Centre 600 Champion for the second year

and were all very happy with our second year road racing.

David Bell Racing in 2003

Season 2003 started with our own brand new Honda CBR600 and a Yamaha R1 from Joe Joe’s Motorcycle Breakers of  Newcastle upon Tyne and at Croft scored two seconds on the big bike and a 3^rd & 4^th on the 600.  It was then off to Northern Ireland in May for the North West 200 and a creditable 12^th on the 600 and second non-Suzuki home in 18^th on the R1.

NW 200 Northern Ireland, Ballysally Roundabout 2003

This was followed by a BSB weekend in wet HELL (Knockhill) starting with the rear spindle of the R1 coming loose which tends to be unnerving at speed and certainly blew our cool for the whole meeting.

Scarborough finish line on Joe Joe’s R1

After races at Croft, Scarborough and East Fortune we went again to the Manx GP and had a disaster,

Still going at Quarter Bridge, MGP

breaking down and restarting with botched up gear linkage to finish 72^nd in the Junior,

Manx GP Rhencullen

and stopping with a misfire in the Senior, but it was not all bad, we met Sir Norman Wisdom on the grid and had a few laughs.

David Bell with Norman Wisdom MGP 2003

We then went to Scarborough with mediocre results and with only the final 600 race at Croft giving a win, ended a generally disappointing season.

As a warm up for 2004 we took part in the British Winter Supermoto Championship at Croft on a VOR530 kindly provide by Kawasaki Newcastle and qualified a delighted ninth only to discover a head gasket leak had lost all the coolant and ended the weekend.

With only Joe Joe’s/SMP GSXR1000K3 to race this season it was fairly relaxing  and after a 2^nd & 3^rd at Croft, the happy couple married and enjoyed a Caribbean honeymoon,

Scarborough Spring Nationals, Mere Hairpin on the M&S CBR600RR

then it was off to Olivers Mount in May for the Spring Nationals with a 4^th the best finish.

Push start from Dibble watched by Susan, Ken and Brian Reid

On Saturday of TT week finished 14^th in the Formula One on the Suzuki at over 119mph gaining a Bronze Replica,  the Production 1000 was run on Tuesday due to bad weather and was disappointing with only 17^th  on the modified Suzuki and another Bronze.

Waving at the Camera at 190mph

Then came the first race on the CBR600RR Honda, kindly provided by M&S Motorcycles of Newcastle, , finishing 14^th again in the Junior TT with a final lap of 117mph and a Silver Replica.

May Hill, Ramsey in the Junior

Friday morning brought the Production 600 TT and in stock trim the little Honda managed 20^th and another Silver Replica.

The best however was to be last, as in the Senior TT, the big race of the week we managed from start position 44 on the big gixer to finish ninth with a last lap speed of 120.89mph.

Bikes, Rider and Trophies in the paddock

Joe Burns (Joe Joe’s Motorcycle Breakers) our main sponsor was elated with five top twenty finishes from five starts and the ‘little boy’ achieved a lifetimes ambition to ride in the TT, finish in the top ten and break 120mph, thanks must also go to wife Susan, Dibble and Ken Barnet for impeccable pit stops.

WHAT A FORTNIGHT.

Olivers Mount Gold Cup

After reasonably good results at Croft and Scarborough it was back to Croft in August for the British Superstock Cup which supports the BSB Series and a creditable sixth was achieved on the Suzuki. Then we had a holiday to the Manx GP supporting Keith Taylor who won the 400class and Mike Minns, however the trip was marred by the crash while leading the Junior Race of Tommy Clucas who later died from his injuries,  Susan and David returned to the island two weeks later for a tremendous turnout at Tom’s funeral, he will be missed.

Penultimate meeting of the year was Scarborough finishing a best second in the Production Race followed by Croft and two wins to secure the NEMCRC Open Championship again, all in all a successful year.

After an engine rebuild and suspension set up by K-Tech we set upon 2005 with a bit lighter GSXR1000 fitted with ‘quickshifter’ and ‘slipper clutch’ managing four wins at Croft, followed by a trip to Kirkistown, Northern Ireland where the NEMCRC team missed out on the Inter-Club Trophy by just 5 points.

Olivers Mount, Spring Nationals, The Esses

Then Scarborough for two 4^th places in very good company before sailing to the TT for a nightmare.

Junior TT, Glen Tramman on the M&S CBR600

After breaking my best time in practice the big Suzuki broke a clutch pushrod oil seal in the first race,

Formula One TT, Parliament Squre, Ramsey on the Joe Joe’s GSXR1000

then the little M&S Honda twice ran out of fuel and in the Senior the Suzuki broke a chain, but I must again thank my pit crew, Susan, Dibble and my brother Richard for their help, and the support of my back-up crew, seen here backing-up with the best.

my back-up crew

After winning three races at Croft in July, we went to Olivers Mount with a ZX6RR courtesy of  Kawasaki Newcastle as well as the Suzuki and had some good results in front of notables Archibald, Griffiths and Palmer and got a nice 30^th birthday present gracing the cover of Bikesport News over the jumps at Scarborough.

Scarborough Gold Cup on the ZX6RR

Croft in August gave me 4 wins and another snapped chain,  Susan and I are now preparing ourselves for the arrival of baby Spencer, due in late December.

A win on the last ride on Joe Joe’s/SMP Suzuki at Croft in October

I would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thankyou to Joe (Joe Joe’s Motorcycle Breakers) and Roger (SMP SheetMetalProducts) both of Newcastle for their support with bikes and help in general over the last three years and helping me achieve my dream of racing at the TT.  I probably wouldn’t be racing today if it weren’t for you, so thank you very much, you are true gentlemen and enthusiasts, once again thank you very much.

Croft (March)

With two brand new bikes supplied by Kawasaki Newcastle for 2006 I qualified pole on both, won all four 600 races and took three wins and a 4^th on the ZX10. This was baby Spencer’s first race meeting and he loved every minute of it, he was so excited he slept through the whole thing.

First win on the Kawasaki Newcastle ZX6RR

Scarborough (May)

At a wet and greasy Ian Watson Spring Cup meeting, got second,  my best result ever at Oliver’s Mount after Guy Martin dropped it trying to pass Lougher.

With Martin Finnegan, Olivers Mount Esses

IOM TT  Never got to race this year as I managed to hit the result of Robbie Silvester’s accident at Greeba Castle in Thursdays practice, colliding with the airfence which had stretched over the track.

Ballaugh in practice

At around 110mph the bike stopped and  I sailed over the five foot obstacle and broke my wrist, ending my TT but counting myself fortunate to escape relatively lightly.

Leading Ryan Farquhar out of Farm Bends

Scarborough (August)

Discarding the cast, my wrist felt really weak and with only the ZX10 to ride as the 600 has been sold to make way for a brand new one in 07,  I was looking forward to getting out there, although I wasn’t expecting anything great from my comeback ride.  However, I held off Martin Finnegan to finish a delighted second behind Guy Martin in heat one, then a creditable third behind Martin and Lougher but in front of Ian Armstrong, Martin Finnegan and Ryan Farquhar.  In the Gold Cup I could only finish 6^th for the second successive year and was completely ‘cattled’ at the chequered flag, but pleased with my comeback results as it couldn’t have gone much better.

Trying at the Esses, Gold Cup Scarborough

Cadwell Park (September)

It was five years since I’d been, the weather was good and starting grid 34^th for the first 5 lap Open race, fought my way through to finished 11^th, then in race 2  starting 11^th  after a massive highside held onto 4th at the flag.   Sunday was another lovely day and I finished an enjoyable 6th and 4^th.

Summer at Cadwell

East Fortune (October)

The final round of the North East Championship in bonny Scotland was blowing a hooligan, it was three years since I’d raced there and a few changes have been made. It was always bumpy as hell and sorted the men from the boy’s but they’ve resurfaced most of it and taken away all it’s character.  I was out first on the Minitwin which is a Kawasaki ER6 and the interest it generates with it’s 80’s Eddie Lawson ( former 500cc world champion ) paint job is tremendous, I won both classes and got 4^th and 5^th overall against much faster 400’s.

Having fun on the 'Pizza Bike'

Cadwell Park (October)

This was the 6^th and final meeting I needed for my TT course licence so basically all I needed was to turn up and finish one race without any drama and that would do. We had a blow out on the caravan on the way down and from row 4 halfway round the first lap within two corners two riders chucked themselves up the road and I just thought to myself “ It’s a cold day, the last race of the year and after the season I’ve had I don’t want to end up on the floor or even worse in hospital again” so I just rode round did what I needed to do and finished a safe fourth. The second race I rode very tentatively to fifth, the day then got worse when we had another caravan blow out on the way home and without a spare we were stuck on the M62 for an hour and a half waiting for the AA to bring a new wheel and tyre for the caravan, we eventually got back at 9:15 and I was just glad to be home and finished for the year.

 David Bell Racing 2007

For 2007 we stayed with Kawasaki Newcastle on the green meanies, using the same ZX10 as last year but with a full Akrapovic system and one of the new ZX6R’s as soon as they are delivered. I will also be riding the ER6 Minitwin at all the North East rounds, Kawasaki Newcastle owner Dave Winfield really wants to win the Championship as he rides one himself.

Croft (March)

I ran in the 600 in practice as it’s brand new stock out the crate, and managed to qualify front row on all three bikes, finishing the first three races with a 3^rd and two 2^nd’s.

Minitwin at Croft

I managed fourth in the second 600 race then won the second 400 race outright on the ER6, the first time a Minitwin has won the 400 race and it just shows you don’t need 190bhp to have a lot of fun. Overnight the wind was really bad and a few awnings went to Norway, then early on Sunday came the snow, and the decision was made to abandon the meeting.

ZX10 out of Farm Bends

Scarborough (May)

I had the busiest day’s racing in my career, with all three bikes I was looking at 24 laps of Oliver’s Mount, as three races ran back to back. I take my hat off to Ian Lougher, he’s been doing it for years, no wonder he’s fit for an old guy ‘Ha Ha’.

The day started well with a 3^rd on the 600, then in the first leg of the Ian Watson Spring Cup, I had a race long duel with Marc Ramsbotham (sadly lost his life at TT in June), but he dropped it into Mountside hairpin and I went on to my first win at Scarborough, the bike was spot on and as my Dad always say’s “to finish first, first you must finish”.

First win at Scarborough on the ZX10

There was no time for celebration as I was straight back out on the Minitwin or as the lads call it the ‘Pizza Bike’ and was holding my own with two 250GP bikes and Mick Goodings on his 400 when my chain jumped the rear sprocket and ended my race.

Out of Mere Hairpin on the ER6

I got 2^nd in the  600 race and then lost out to Ramsbotham by half a second for the Ian Watson Trophy.  The superior top speed of the Mick Gooding’s 400 machine put me back to second place in the Minitwin  race but the crowd were hanging over the fence and waving so I was waving back and just had a real hoot, the best fun I’ve had riding a motorbike in a long time.

All in all it was a good days racing and my name will go into the history books as a winner at Oliver’s Mount along with all the other great names who’ve won there.

North West 200 (May)

We went straight from Scarborough to the 5am ferry from Stranraer, the last time I was in Portrush was 2003 and had forgotten how fast it was, but nevertheless qualified 36^th Superbike and 9^th Superstock

Last ride on the ZX10 to date, practising for the NW200

Saturday arrived with good weather but the race was delayed due to Bruce Ansteys bike overheating on the line, then the race started and the first wave got away, I made a good launch behind Davey Morgan who suddenly moved to the right.  Too late I saw the stalled bike and tried to miss it but collided and fell off, in all five bikes were involved in the carnage and the race was red flagged.

Look sixteen fingers in the male Bell family, Portstewart paddock, Northwest 200 2007

When I stopped tumbling I realised that my day was over and probably my TT as well  as my right index finger was gone and all that was left was a little bit of bone and some loose flesh.

That's me rolling on the right, can you spot my finger ?

A paramedic gave me a shot of morphine ‘and that is good shit’  Susan came in the ambulance along with my severed finger in a plastic bag wrapped in ice, at Coleraine they cut my leathers off (only two weeks old) and cleaned the wound with iodine and THAT IS THE MOST PAINFUL THING I’VE EVER EXPERIENCED.  I then went by ambulance to Belfast where the consultant advised to leave the finger off as there was a very good chance it would be useless, even after a ten hour operation.  The rest as they say is history, but I was absolutely gutted at not taking part in the Centenary TT as I had high hopes for this one after two disastrous years and I must give a massive thank you to the Marshals and Paramedics who tended me at trackside and all the hospital staff at Coleraine and Belfast Ulster.

Wot! no digit

Scarborough (June)

I returned to racing for the Cock ‘o’ the North meeting, on the ER6 Minitwin as it was the only bike I could ride for full race distance, first was the Superbike qualifier, I rode the arse off that little bike, qualifying and finishing 8^th against much more powerful machines.

Let's have a wheelie up the hill at Scarborough

Next was the 400/Minitwins, Mick Goodings came past me for the lead on his 400 Kawasaki rocketship,  I held on for a couple of laps but his bike was just too fast so I settled for second and pulled a few wheelies up Quarry hill to keep the spectators entertained, not sure whether people noticed but I was enjoying it as well.  In Superbike race 1 the little bike held it’s own considering it’s giving away around 100bhp to the 1000cc bikes and I finished 13^th,

Sunday however the weather deteriorated severely, leg 2 Superbike was run in damp conditions and things went pretty well finishing 14^th.  Then the wet 400/ Minitwin race gave me comfortable 2^ndand with no time to spare I was straight back out for the now 6 lap Cock ‘o’ the North race and had another good race finishing 10^th to round off a great comeback weekend.

Croft (July)

After missing the East Fortune round with injury I was fifth in the Minitwin Championship, 47 points behind leader Mark Walsh, I’d entered two classes again, the Minitwin and Sound of Thunder which is for twin and three cylinder machines up to 1000cc.  First race was the Minitwins which I won by over 7secs., then in the Sound of Thunder I managed 3^rd in what was one of the best races I’ve ever been in.  I won the second  Minitwin race comfortably,  bagging a whole load of points and the second Sound of Thunder race was every bit as good as the first with another 3^rd .

Trying to pass a Sound of Thunderer, Croft

Sunday came with a Minitwin win, the night before I’d jokingly said that I was going for the lap record on Sunday and I almost got it missing out by 0.02secs.  I finished a lonely 2^nd Sound of Thunder then took another win on the Minitwin, last race of the weekend was the Sound of Thunder and with Championship leader Garry Hamilton making a wrong tyre choice, I moved into the lead and was able to pull away to finish off the weekend with a win and cutting back Mark Walsh’s lead to one point.

Cadwell Park (September)

First time here on the ER6, and I managed to hang onto 2^nd Minitwins, then in the Sound of Thunder race had a massive scrap with John Carson on his 675 Triumph, passing him for 4^th but  wasn’t disappointed as I’d ridden the wheels off.  The second Minitwin race was less exciting as the first race winner dropped it behind me and I won comfortably.

In the  SoT race on Sunday on the Woodland Circuit I moved into 3^rd and quickly took 2^nd and that is how it finished, the Minitwins were next and I took a comfortable start to finish victory.

Sound of Thunder next and had a great race for 2^nd with Gary Hamilton, we both laughed about it afterward as it was so enjoyable, good clean racing.  In the main 15 lap race of the weekend, Michael Moore Trophy for Minitwins, I made a good start and took the win by some eight seconds and was very happy especially as there was prize money up for grabs as well as a very nice silver trophy. After recovering from that I was straight back out for the final Minitwin race in which I took another start to finish victory, only one left and the final Sound of Thunder race didn’t disappoint, I managed to round the weekend off with another 2^nd.

Presented with the Michael Moore Trophy

Scarborough (September)

Instead of being in with the 400’s this time I was in with the 125’s and Supermono’s and from the front row made a good start and led on lap one only to be passed on the back straight by Alex Hutchinson on a very trick and very fast supermono,  I followed on his back wheel for a lap or so then Chris Palmer came by at exactly the same place on his 125 so I tucked in behind him. With Ian Lougher in 4^th we circulated as a foursome for the next three laps and you could have covered us with a blanket it was so close. Unfortunaly on the last lap my gearbox cried ‘skinch’ coming down the hill into Mountside hairpin and although I had to go down the slip road I got turned round, managed to get a gear and made it to the finish in 5^th. At a later inspection the selector barrel had sheared so we couldn’t have done anything about it, the only good thing was I broke the Minitwin lap record so that was a small consolation and I was riding really well.

Passing a Supermono on the outside aint easy at Olivers Mount

East Fortune (October)

Final round of the NEMCRC Minitwin Championship,  I needed a win on Saturday and I was Champion.  After a real good dice with Rab Davie on his 400, we pulled away from the rest of the field comfortably winning our respective classes, then had to settle for 5^th in the Sound of Thunder.  The second Minitwin race was different story, I made a good start then made a right balls up of railway corner and dropped back to 6^th, from then on it was an uphill struggle but I managed to get myself back into contention and finished a comfortable 2^nd in the race and 1^st in class to give Kawasaki Newcastle and the ER6 the Minitwin Championship with two races remaining.

Last race of the day was the SoT and after some hairy manoeuvres went on to finish third,  we had a good night in the paddock and Spencer enjoyed himself thoroughly collecting ankles on his digger.

You just cannot wear the tyres out on a Minitwin at East Fortune

On Sunday  I just managed to win the opening Minitwin race from promising youngster Paul Baxter then in the Sound of Thunder race I finished 3^rd locking the back end up and backing it into corners much to the appreciation of the marshal’s at the hairpin.  The second Minitwin race was good and after making a mediocre start in 5^th I made my way through to the front by mid distance, then went on to win comfortably.  The last race of the season was the Sound of Thunder and I went on to finish 3^rd which gave me third overall in the Sound of Thunder Championship, considering I only did three out of the five meetings it’s pretty good, not bad at all for a ‘Pizza Bike’.

 David Bell Racing 2006

For 2008 we stayed with Dave Winfield at Kawasaki Newcastle with a brand new ER6 and the ‘old’ 2006 ZX10 now heavily modified to accomodate my injury.

Croft (March)

I got 3^rd in the Sound of Thunder race at Croft on  Saturday, the day was then abandoned, with the track washed out it was just too dangerous with lots of standing water.  Sunday dried and I won both Mini-Twin races and got 5^th and 3^rd Sound of Thunder.

Passing two into Tower at Croft in March

Scarborough (April)

I took the ZX10 out for the first time in almost a year for the Ian Watson Spring National at Scarborough in April and had a few problems, finally removing the steering damper ‘very scary’ and parked it up., I won both Minitwin races then took the ER6 out in the second Superbike, enjoying myself on the last couple of laps pulling wheelies up quarry hill eventually finishing 12^th to round off a good day.

Farm Bends on a very scary, no-damper ZX10

East Fortune (May)

I won all four Minitwin races including my first ever wet-win and held onto the Michael Moore Trophy  which I won last year at Cadwell, I had two fourth’s then two third places on Sunday to move up to second in the Sound of Thunder Championship.

Michael Moore Trophy again

In late May we went to Lucca in Italy for a family holiday attending the Moto GP at Mugello which was fantastic and I also made a tiring day trip over to the Isle of Man TT for the Senior race and had a good day as for once the weather was kind.

The Cock o the North started badly, I spilled the ER6 on some mud into Farm Bends and with mainly damaged pride finished 4^th  in the Superbike qualifier on the ZX10, then had to give best to  Alex Hutchinson on a 400 Kawasaki in the Minitwin race.

'All hail the great god Kawasaki' off at Farm Bends

I jumped off the ER6 and straight onto the ZX10 finishing a superb 2^nd in the Superbike, enjoying the race, especially the fifth gear wheelies down the back straight.   There was a lot of interested people looking at the handlebar conversion on the ZX10 during the interval as it looks a bit weird and they were surprised at how well I’d been going on it.

Mowing the grass out of Memorial

The Superbike second leg saw me back in 5^th followed by a 3^rd in the 400/Minitwins then.last race of the day, the 10 lap Cock o the North feature race, I made a good start from the second row and held 4^th to the line to finish off an excellent weekend. Both bikes worked perfectly and never gave me a bit of bother and I was really surprised how competitive the two year old ZX10 was with MotoX bars and so were a few others.

Croft (July)

Sound of Thunder is very enjoyable against bigger bikes and I managed three 4^th places and a 2^nd  then four MiniTwin wins and a lap record to clinch the NEMCRC MiniTwin Championship. disappointing 8^th and 2^nd  .  At one point in the Open Class I thought I had problem on the ZX10, with a red light flashing on the dash, then I realised it was the rev limit light (Plonker), it is a while since I’ve seen it, later Kirk Jamison said he enjoyed watching me leaving 40 yard black lines coming out the corners.

In the Ken Redfern Trophy race I took the lead from Mark Buckley on lap eight and held on for the last two laps then got caught up with two backmarkers on the last lap, one at Sunny and the other at the Hairpin. I got past on the exit and only had the run to the line left then I missed a gear, I quickly put it back in and raced to the line only for Kirk to beat me to the line by 0.009 seconds.  I was absolutely gutted and just wondered what I have to do to win that trophy.

I completed the Coast to Coast cycle ride, raising sponsorship for a mate’s eleven year old son suffering from cancer and I can’t remember it being that difficult 12 years ago.

Coast 2 Coast finish

Scarborough (September)

In the Gold Cup meeting I finally decided to call it a day with the ZX10 as my hand/arm is not up to Olivers Mount on a big bike so I put the ER6 on the front row finishing 3^rd a 2^nd with a MiniTwin lap record.

Enjoying the 'Big Bike' for the last time

My last race of the weekend was the 12 lap Gold Cup and due to the problems I’d encountered with my hand I decided to go out on the Minitwin instead of the ZX10, so I just enjoyed myself and pulled some wheelies up quarry hill and entertained the crowd over Jefferies jump, on the last lap the reaction I got from the crowd was tremendous.

East Fortune (October)

I’d already won the Minitwin class but bagged 3 wins, a dnf and a lap record and still had a chance in the Sound of Thunder being only 8 points behind, unfortunately four second places wasn’t good enough and I had to be satisfied with second in the SoT Championship.

Second to Derek Glass on the 675Triumph in the Sound of Thunder Championship (Photo Geof Symonds)

So that’s it for another season and it’s been a pretty good one on the whole, I retained the North East Club Minitwin Championship & Michael Moore Trophy, finished 2^nd in the Sound of Thunder Championship & the Ken Redfern Trophy and set three new class lap records at Croft, Olivers Mount and East Fortune so not bad at all.