The 2015 Season will soon be upon us!

Now Christmas and New Year are well out of the way, The build of the new race bike is coming along nicely.

Nigel has now hung up his leathers (again) so we are back to a one rider team.

For the new season, I am planning a full assault on the UK Earlystocks Championship.

Due to some rather strange rules, the Earlystocks club have split the 750's in the Mono shock classes, so the riders have got together and decided to try and get all 750's into Class 2, which is a fairly 'stock' class. This will make Class 2 the largest and most competitive in the Earlystocks club, with a number of new riders joining the fray as well as several ex-champions! So it's building up into what looks like a great season, with no doubt, some good battles and close racing.
Therefore I am now busy building another Yamaha FZ 750 to meet the rules, running standard wheels and brakes! I will still have last years bike as a back up in case of any mechanical problems or damage!

The first meeting of the new season is at Mallory Park on 15th March, I have several pre season tests booked at Oulton Park and Snetterton next month, so need to crack on with the new bike.

I will post updates of progress and how the tests go.

Cheers

Keith 221

Mallory Park 16/03/14

 

We arrived at Mallory Park late afternoon on Saturday, unloaded the van’s and managed to get the bikes scrutineered. Then we set about putting up the awning in high winds, we eventually got it all sorted, and without going hang gliding over Hinkley!

 

A few final adjustments to the bikes we then had a curry and a few beers!!

 

Up at 6am, preparation for the day ahead begins, bikes out of the awning, final checks, a few photo’s and then get changed for clothing scrutineering and signing on.

 

Noise testing went well (as we were unsure what levels we were at!) then out in first practise and qualifying. This went well enough and we qualified 5^th and 6^th, both on the second row (this was a mixed grid as we were in the same race as the 125GP class).

 

First race, we both got a good start and were 1^st and 2^nd into Gerrard’s, I was right behind Nigel, everything is going to plan! Nigel managed to pull a small gap on me as I was being extra careful on the first few laps due to the cold track and tyre temperature (for some bizarre reason, the Earlystocks club still don’t allow tyre warmers!!).

After two laps, I was holding the small gap that Nige had pulled. By lap 5 I had started to get a misfire whilst accelerating out of the corners, this allowed Nigel to start to get away slightly more and I was starting to get caught from behind! The bike got worse throughout the remainder of the race, but I managed to get it home, 10 seconds behind Nigel but 1 second in front of the third place rider, so although not ideal, we still managed 1^st and 2^nd in class and in the overall Earlystocks race.

 

Back in the paddock we set about getting the tank off my bike, drained carbs, nothing really to see but we did notice that the air filter wasn’t quite sealing on number one carb! We refitted the air filter and put the tank back on. Fired it up and now is running fine again!

 

Race two and once again a flying start, I tucked in right behind Nigel and tried to stick with him on the cold tyres. He did manage to pull a small gap once again, after three laps he had pulled about 4 seconds but I was now matching his speed and holding the gap.

I then started to reel him back in. Lap by lap I was closing on the brakes into Edwina’s chicane and also the Hairpin. I then focussed on trying match him around Gerrard’s (apparently the longest single apex bend in the world) on a race track anyway. He had been stretching out a bit around there, where I was better on the brakes, after a couple of laps I was actually closing on him around Gerrard’s so I was right on his tail by this time. Knowing how good he is, I decided that I would sit behind him and out brake him into the Hairpin on the final lap. If I can block pass him then I should just about out run him to the line!

A lap and a half to go and Im right on his tail, then the misfire comes back, I could not believe it, I was fuming! Out of every corner Nige was just gaining a little every time, we came onto the start and finish straight for the final lap and just to add insult to injury we came up on two more back markers just in the wrong place, Nige got passed them going into Gerrard’s that pushed the second one across into my line, I had to brake harder going in which meant the end of any hope of any dare devil braking manoeuvres for the lead! I got around the outside of the two back markers and got my head down, I did close him down on the brakes but the lack of drive just gave him the edge. We crossed the line 1^st and 2^nd once again, this time Nigel was only 1 second in front of me!

As I pulled off the track the bike cut out all together, after further investigation, it appears that there is some sort of blockage in the carbs causing them to flood.

Not sure if this is due to the off in testing, but its back to the workbench and carb cleaning and servicing once again!

 

When we got the time sheets from race control, it turned out that I had actually got the fastest lap of the race which was also my personal best for Mallory Park!

 

All in all, a very successful meeting and start to the 2014 season!

1^st and 2^nd in both races… We couldn’t ask for better than that!!

 

I would like to say a big thank you to our team sponsors

Mid Norfolk Mouldings

JT Chains and Sprockets

KJD Motorcycles

HiFlo Filters

Peels4u Graphics and Clothing

Slipscreens

And Rock oil.

 

Without the help of these people and companies, we would not be able to do what we do!

So Thank You all very much from all the team.

The 2014 Season is almost upon us, the bikes have been built (or rebuilt) and its time to see where we are up to!

 

 

 

Testing at Donington Park 26/02/14

 

After five months we finally got back out on circuit to test the two FZ 750’s which we are racing in the 2014 season. We have done a lot of work in the off season, as well as rebuilding last years bike which Nigel is going to be racing, I have also built a new bike which I will campaign.

As well as all that, we have also got ourselves an FZ 750 road bike which we have used for development. This has been invaluable and been well worth the extra time and effort, as we have managed to get a lot of the set up and development work done on the roads in preparation for the upcoming year.

 

We arrived at Donington Park on Wednesday evening in dry chilly conditions, after a good meal and lots of banter we got our heads down, only to be woken be the heavy rain storms throughout the night!

Up at 6am we got ourselves a garage on pit lane and unloaded the vans.

The rain had stopped now, and although it was brightening up and a steady breeze, the track was still extremely wet.

 

After doing the paperwork and signing on, we eventually got out on track at 9.20am.

We fitted ‘wets’ which we haven’t used before (due to club rules) so with a new bike on new tyres, we took to the track and started out steadily building up speed throughout the session as confidence built!

At the end of the first session, it was all smiles, evident that the road bike development had been extremely successful, the bike was far better than last years with both better handling and a lot more power with better delivery!

 

For the second session, we continued with the wets, as the track was still wet but drying out. We continued to improve on speed as the track was now starting to dry quite quickly, by the end of this session both Nigel and I had done our fastest ever laps around Donington in ‘Damp’ conditions.

The extra power that we now have has brought some new issues, as we are both now suffering with clutch slip, this is fairly easily remedied, with new slightly heavier clutch springs.

 

The third session was totally dry, so we went back to dry tyres, (getting plenty of practice in changing wheels!) I followed Nigel round, He is very quick and I have known all along that it is going to be a tall order to actually beat him when it all gets underway in just two weeks time. He was setting a blistering pace, but I managed to keep with him ok, he would pull away on the straights as my clutch slip was getting worse preventing me from getting good drive, but I was pulling him back down Craner curves and the old haipin. The session got stopped due to an incident, so we pulled into pit lane and lined up ready to go back out. This time I led Nigel and knowing how fast he had been going, I set off like a scalded cat! He didn’t manage to get passed me, and afterwards said he could just about stay with me, so I was really pleased. I also had a few battles with some guy’s on ‘Modern’ bikes! Had some good ding dongs, they would come past or accelerate away down the straights, but I would catch them or pass them on the brakes and through the corners. One guy in particular, riding a new R1, didn’t seem happy as I went around the outside of him at Coppice, he then came back past me down the back straight, but as he hit the brakes for the Foggarty esses, I sailed back passed him again on the brakes. I don’t think he was very happy being beaten by a 27 year old bike!

 

During the lunch break we had a heavy storm, as we were second group out we waited to see if it was going to dry up as the rain had now passed. The first session went out and it was apparent that it was not drying, a mad wheel change back to wets, finished just in time to get out for the start of the session. My front brake didn’t feel very good, possibly down to the pads getting bedded in on the dry wheels! In addition to this, the visibility was very pour, with a lot of spray coming up. The clutch was now getting a little worse, so it ended up a steady session.

 

The last session ended with mixed results. The track still totally wet but with the sun out, I lead Nigel out onto the circuit, He came past on the second lap and started to gap me. As I started to get used to the conditions, my confidence grew along with my pace. I could see Nigel about 200 metres in front and I started to reel him in. After another two laps the gap had halved and I was really starting to push.

Unfortunately I pushed a little too hard and found ‘the limit!’ At the end of the back straight I hit the brakes and the front tucked! It is slightly down hill and I was now using my ‘dry braking marker’, so I had just braked to hard. It was my own fault and far better to happen now than in a race!

Thankfully there was very little damage, with the crash bug taking the brunt of the impact. Just a broken handlebar and clutch lever / master cylinder!

Oh.. and I now need a new helmet!

 

All in all, a very good successful test day. We have a few minor things to address and I have my paintwork to do, but otherwise we are now ready for 2014!

 

The first meeting is at Mallory Park on 16^th. March, so if you are able to come along, it would be great to see you!

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors

Mid Norfolk Mouldings

 

KJD Motorcycles

HiFlo filters

JT Chains and Sprockets

And

Peels 4U



Oulton Park

 

 

 

Last Wednesday we went testing to Oulton Park, A fab day out with good weather conditions.

We have now found a couple of area's which we need to work on, this mainly being carburation (appears to be flooding on number four cylinder causing'bogging' out of slower corners) and also front suspension, this I have today stiffened up, so hopefully that will improve handling.

Just making final adjustments ready for Sunday's meeting at Mallory Park.

 

Keith 221



Round 5 Darley Moor

Darley Moor

We got to Darley around 4pm on Saturday and managed to get scutineered, so that would save a rush on Sunday morning. Having got set up we cooked tea and then went to the pub!

Sunday morning, and the weather was dull and cool (not what they had forecast), we had had some light rain over night. I walked the track to re-familiarise myself with it as it had been about eight years since I had raced at Darley.

I went out in timed practise and took it steady for a couple of laps, Jon Mould came past (I think he was trying to prove something!) and he pulled a bit of a gap. I gradually built up speed and soon caught him up, I then realised that it is not an easy track to over take on, so I tucked in behind him to see where he was quick and where he was slow (as he was generally the quickest of the Earlystocks riders there, and therefore my main opposition).

I sussed out that he was quite quick off the corners and down the straight, I could gradually pull him back towards the end of the straights, but I was much quicker though the chicanes. I decided to stay behind him as I didn’t want to give away my game plan.

As usual we were out with several other classes, but I qualified fifth which put me on the second row.

Race One

Track conditions were dry and not too hot so pretty much ideal.

I lined up on the start and realised that it was very tight on the grid, being on the second row I lined myself up to go straight between the two riders in front of me. The lights went out and I got a flyer, the two riders seemed to be closing the gap but I was much quicker, I breathed in! And went straight through (just brushing arms with the guy on the left) I pulled over to the right side of the track to block the line and I was first into the first corner.

With no one in front of me I pushed as hard as I dared (on cold tyres). As I got to the far side of the circuit, one of the GP bikes came past (not in my class) so not too concerned, then another came past at the hairpin, that didn’t last long as he missed his breaking at the end of the main straight and went straight through the gravel trap and into the tyre wall! (he was ok).

I got my head down and tried to keep focused, I realised that this wasn’t going to be as easy as the previous round at Donington, my bike didn’t seem to be as suited to this track and so it was obviously going to be a tough to get away.

On lap four I could hear a bike right behind me, he came past at the right hander at the end of the start straight, I didn’t recognise him, he wasn’t one of our guy’s, so therefore not in my race and not anyone to worry about, (thankfully) as he was very quick!

I carried on concentrating on my own race.

But on lap seven coming around the left kink which brings you on to the main straight, the gear lever had stuck down and I couldn’t change up (this has happened a few times, I think the linkage may be get caught under my foot as it is working perfectly when tested), after several attempts it changed but by this time I had lost some momentum, I could see in my peripheral vision, that a bike was coming along side me. He came past, and to my surprise it was Pete Stringer and not Jon Mould! Pete had developed an oil leek at the previous round so wasn’t all that quick, so I hadn’t even thought of him as being a threat, just goes to show… you should never assume anything!

I set about going after him, he like Jon was pretty quick off the corners, so it wasnt going to be a case of driving straight past him. I was catching him towards the end of the back straight, I was once again a lot quicker through the chicane so I closed right in on him and managed to go around the out side of him on the left hander, putting me on the inside for the hairpin. I was back in front and put my head down.

By the end of the race I had managed to pull a bit of a gap on him.

I had once again finished 1^stin class and 1^st in the Earlystocks class, so I was over the moon, not only that but had finished 3^rd on track in the overall positions! This was a bonus as that would put me 3^rd on the grid in the second race, on the front row.

Race Two

The weather (which was far from the 29 degree’s forecast) had changed for the worse and it had started drizzling, I lined up on the grid, pointing the bike towards the right side of the track, which is the line into the first chicane.

The lights went out and we were off, once again a fling start straight into the lead, through the chicane and down to the first right hander, this time the unknown rider came up the inside into the corner, (it turned out that he was a late entry, on a big classic bike, as well as racing in the superstocks class).

That’s ok I thought, not in my race, not my problem! I got up to the hairpin and once again the two GP bikes came past, once again same scenario, not in my race…

I settled into the race and all was well. It was now more like light rain, but there was quite a lot of rain on my visor, always a difficult situation because you just don’t know how wet the track is getting, so you don’t know how hard you can push! I kept my head down.

I think probably because I spent most of the race on my own, I started thinking too much about my line through the fist chicane, trying to go faster I managed to cut in too tight on the way in, I went across the painted rumble strip and the front tucked.. Oh bugger!!! This could be a whole lot of pain!! It all happened very quickly (obviously) but as the tyre came back onto the tarmac, somehow (miraculously) it gripped again, this then gave me a big tank slapper, which then put me right off line. I went straight off the track over the rumble strip, over the grass and then back onto the track… phew… Still upright and in one piece ( the moral of this storey is… don’t think too hard about a certain part of the track, just concentrate on being smooth!!)

I had obviously lost quite a bit of time with my off track antics, and lost momentum, once again a bike comes past me and once again it was Pete! By this time we were getting towards the later part of the race, I re-composed myself, and went about chasing after Pete who had gained a bit of ground on me. By the end of that lap I was getting close to him, I saw out of the corner of my eye the last lap flag! Double bugger!!! I need to get pas him and I need to do it in the next minute or so! I chased him down the back straight and once again I was much quicker through the back chicane, I closed him down and went to go around him again, we were level but I was on the inside for the hairpin, fair play to him, he didn’t back down, and cut across my nose, I had to turn really tight in order not to run into him! This slowed my momentum out of the corner and on to the main straight; he had now got a couple of bike lengths on me. I tucked in behind him, half way down the straight I remember saying to myself.. ‘There is NO WAY I am letting him, beat me!’

There was just the last corner to go…. It went through my mind.. ‘I would rather crash in the gravel than let him beat me!’ I pulled out to the inside (we are doing something in the region of 140MPH at this point) I waited for him to brake; he seemed to be leaving it rather late!! Then he braked.. I didn’t! I made sure I was past him then hit the brakes hard, trouble is I’m on the inside which is making the corner tighter than it would be on my normal line, I tipped in and then drifted out to the white line on the exit (if he is trying to get around the outside he will have to give way or he will be on the grass!) I was past, victory was only 20 yards away…. or was it?

The flag man, now had both flags, the last lap flag in one hand and the chequered flag in the other!! He was obviously confused, and if he wasn’t I certainly was! There was no way I was stopping now, I put my head down and went as fast as I could, knowing that Pete couldn’t be far behind. I successfully completed another lap in the lead and won the race, in fact I had pulled a bit of a gap as I had put in my fasted lap on that last one.

Once again, 1^st in class and 1^st in Earlystocks, but by no means an easy win, in fact I think that was one of the hardest races I have ever had, on a par with the battle with Cooty at Mallory back in 2003!

A great days racing and a great result, you couldn’t ask for any more than that.

Next we are of to Oulton Park for some testing, then on to Mallory Parkfor the penultimate round of the championship in August.

Once again I would like to thank all the people who have helped and supported me this season, including Nigel Lawrence,

KJD Motorcycles, Hiflo Filters andNorth Norfolk Mouldings

Without their help and support I wouldn’t be here!

Thank you all very much

Keith 221

Round 5

 

 

I am just loading up the van ready to set off to Darley Moor for the fifth round of the Earlystocks championship.

The forecast is good, if not exceptionally hot, which is a stark contrast to the last round at Donington, but its the same for everyone and I'm not going to complain!!

I will post the race report on Monday, all being well.

 

Keith 221

Donington Park

 

I think it is fair to say that on the whole, it was a very successful weekend.

Although there had been heavy rain Friday night, we woke up to showers and strong winds. Thankfully, the wind helped in drying out the track, so by the time we went out for practice the circuit was pretty dry.

Practice went well, trying to learn the circuit and get up to speed ( having only raced there once before about ten years ago on a bike which had developed a running problem).

Due to lack of entries (an increasing problem) we were out in a race with several other classes, which meant that we were at the back of the grid.

Race one, I started from 33^rd on the grid which was on the outside. The lights went out and we were off, a pretty good start but by the time I got to the first corner I was being pushed out wide, I could see several Earlystockers getting through on the inside, it was mayhem, getting cut up by 650 super twins, formula 400’s and GP250’s, all in their own battles in there respective classes but doing me no favours whatsoever!

I thought it best to try and keep out of trouble (I didn’t want to be apart of someone else’s accident).  By the second lap it had calmed down a little so I started to pick off riders one by one or two or three at a time where possible! By lap 4 I had got past most of the guys in ‘my race’ (who had got through on the inside on turn one) and I could see Jon ahead, he is usually the  front runner in Earlystocks, so I knew I must be near the front. I managed to pass him on the brakes going into the chicane and that was the last I saw of him.

By the end of the race I had managed to gain a good lead over my rivals and won both my class and finished 1^st overall in the Earlystocks class, not bad for my 1^st (completed) race!

 

We then had showers followed by a heavy down pour, which thankfully didn’t last too long. As our second race was after lunch, we were fortunate enough for the strong winds to dry the track out and by the time the start of the race came around, the circuit was all but dry.

 

I started race two from 15^th on the grid, which was ahead of the other guys in my race. I got a good start and a far better first corner, as I had got to the inside and ahead of the main pack. The race was pretty uneventful as I didn’t see anyone else in my class, in fact I was pulling 3 seconds a lap on them all!

I had a couple of good battles with some ‘modern’ bikes, and nearly out braked myself at the end of the back straight, but just about kept it on the track. As I have only just built the bike, this is obviously a year of development and learning, which also includes learning how far I can push things and I think I found the limit as far as the brakes go!

Once again I finished 1^st in class and 1^st overall in the Earlystocks class, so I couldn’t have hoped for a better start.

 

Day two, was a different story, as showers and rain continued throughout the day and without any let up so it was definitely going to be a wet race.

The first thing I did on Sunday morning was to change tyres, as we are not allowed to use race ‘wets’ as stated in the Earlstocks rules, it is a case of trying to find a decent tyre for the wet conditions. I had got a heavily treaded tyre which thought should be good as I had one which looked almost identical that I had been using on my FZR in the wet and that worked really well, the only apparent difference was that this one is ‘road legal’ meaning it was within the rules to use it!

Went out for race one, still raining, and it was immediately apparent on the warm up lap that this tyre was not at all the same as the one’s I had used before.

As the race started I was being rather cautious as I didn’t know how fast or slow I would be able to go, it wasn’t many seconds before it became rather apparent that it was definitely going to be the later!

The back end was sliding all over the place, every corner it was trying to let go, even on the straights I had no grip, it was just spinning up, it was as much as I could do to limp round trying to salvage some points. The race seemed to go on forever, each lap on the start and finish straight I looked up hoping to see the last lap flag, but it wasn’t there, as it turned out we had longer races on the Sunday but I hadn’t noticed that in the program!

The race finally came to an end having been lapped by several of 650 super twins and formula 400’s (as they are allowed to use wets).

 

I was very disappointed with the way it had turned out, but that’s racing! And as I said, this is a development year and a good time to learn what works and what doesn’t, as I think next year will see more competitors joining this new class.

Once back in the garage, I changed the tyre back to my Pirelli ‘dry’ tyre (it couldn’t be any worse!)

Race two and the rain still coming down, I was 31^st on the grid but felt a little better on the warm up lap as the back wasn’t trying to let go everywhere!

I got a good start and cautiously tipped into the first corner, so far so good. I gradually built up speed as my confidence in the tyre grew, slowly started picking off my rivals one by one. On lap 4 I caught Jon so I knew I must be near the front of our race, I managed to get passed him coming out of Macleans and although he tried to stick with me, by the next lap I was starting to pull quite a lead. I had several ‘moments’ especially around Redgate, which seemed extremely greasy, but managed to bring it home in 1^st position.

 

Some great results and lots of progress, we now know that the bike is basically very good and also where we can make some small improvements, not to mention that I can race on the Pirelli in the wet if need be, but I will persist in finding a better alternative, needless to say the ‘wet’ tyre is now going in the bin!

 

Once again a big thank you to all my sponsors and supporters: KJD Motorcycles, Mid Norfolk Mouldings, HiFlo filters and Simply Stickers for all their continued help.

 

Next round Darley Moor 21^st July.

 

Keith 221