Race 7: FM Helmets 175-1300cc Machines
Got a 4th row grid position for this one. First time out on a bike since October, so a bit rusty. Got away quite well but didn't push too hard due to extremely cold track and tyres. Was running in a comfortable 15th place until a rider crashed ahead of me at the bus stop chicane. This unsettled me and I missed a gear coming out of the bus stop, down Devils Elbow. This allowed several riders who were close behind to get the advantage and eventually finished 19th.

Race 16: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Got an 8th row position for this race, right at the back of the grid! Got away reasonably well but got held up going into Gerrards. Had to work hard to get through the slower riders and with the races reduced to 5 laps only managed 18th position.

Race 20: FM Helmets 175-1300cc Machines
Got a front row grid position for this one and decided to make the most of it. Chose the inside line so as not to get pushed wide into Gerrards. Got away really well and was in fourth place out of Gerrards and fifth place out of the Esses. Held onto fifth for a lap but finally succumbed to the superior power of the 1000cc and newer 600cc machines. Held on to finish a respectable 8th place. Really pleased with this result at the start of the season and on a bike which should not be too competitive.

Race 22: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Got a 6th row grid position. Again got a way quite well but held up in the first corner. With the race again reduced to five laps the chances of making up too many places was not there. Had a good battle with friend, Jason Heritage. Finished 21st with Jason a very close 22nd.

All in all a very good day and superb racing despite the cold, but sunny weather. Next meeting will be EMRA Championship Round 2, again at Mallory Park.

Race 1: Drayton Croft Mallory Trophy - Qualification
Got a 3rd row grid position for this one. From the 3rd row I thought I would easily qualify. However, into Gerrards, the first corner, I got seriously blocked by a slower rider. This caused me to lose quite a lot of places which I was unable to make up in the six laps. Finished 18th.

Race 8: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Got a 7th row grid position for this one. Got a reasonable start and up against a very strong field managed to struggle through to 20th position. The bike was seriously outclassed at this meeting!

Race 12: FM Helmets 175-1300cc Machines
Got a 1st  row position for this race and was determined to get away well. Didn't get off the line very cleanly and had a race long battle with Martin Powell on his Suzuki 1000. Eventually finished behind Martin in 12th place.

Race 20: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Got a 2nd row grid position for this one and decided I had to make the most of it. the starter with the flag was very hesitant and I nearly jumped the start. Got a away really badly, but had a good battle with friend, Jason Heritage. Finished 14th with Jason in 12th place.

Race 24: FM Helmets 175-1300cc Machines
Got a 2nd row grid position. Got a way quite well but held up again in the first corner. Once again had a good battle with Martin Powell, finishing in 16th place.

A really good days racing. I thought I rode pretty good and although the bike ran perfectly, it was outclassed on the straights by the newer machines. The weather was superb and the family turned out to spectate.

Thanks to Automotive Styling and their gratefully received support, I was able to enter this round and the next in July.

Race 1: Drayton Croft Mallory Trophy - Qualification
Got a 4th row grid position for this one. I was determined to qualify this time. Didn't get off the line too well (a bit rusty from the long layoff) but after a shaky start, managed to get up to 14th place, with the first 16 going through to the final. Unfortunately, this lowly qualification place puts me at the back of the grid for the final.

Race 12: Drayton Croft Mallory Trophy final
Got a 7th row grid position for this one. Got away very well, but nearly had a repeat of last April, when a rider slowed dramatically in front of me and I nearly collided with him. This slowed me and I never really got back into it, finishing a disappointing 27th. Back tyre lost grip seriously on the last couple of laps and had some big slides exiting Gerrards.

Race 14: FM Helmets 175-1300cc Machines
Got a 3rd  row position for this race and got away well. The tyre never had a chance to cool from the 10 lap Drayton Croft final and the front was washing out badly. Slowed down the pace for the last three laps and lost about 10 places to finish 20th (not worth crashing it!).

Race 17: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Got a 4th row grid position for this one. Got away well and rode hard to finish in 12th place. The heat and persistent sunshine got the better of me and felt pretty rough after this one. Decided to give race 21 (175-1300cc Machines ) a miss and see if I recovered for race 23.

Race 23: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Got a 1st row grid position. Got a way very well and was third exiting Gerrards. Fry, Appleyard and Vaughan pulled away leaving me in 4th place battling with Paul Shook, Paul Seward and Ken Davies. The superior machines eventually got past me (only on the straights) and I had to settle for a safe 7th place, 4 seconds ahead of 8th place. Was really pleased with this race, set personal best lap time of 54 seconds (approx) and had a really good finish to the day.

A really good days racing. I was really pleased with the race 23 result and although the bike ran perfectly, it was outclassed on the straights by the newer machines. I NEED A NEW BIKE!
The weather was superb and the family turned out to spectate. Hopefully will be able to turn out for the next EMRA round and may even get one other before then.

Race 4: 125 - 1300 Allcomers John Newbold Trophy  - Qualification
Was a reserve for this one. Didn't get a ride.

Race 8: 600cc Steel Frame Championship
As a late entry I had to start from the back of the grid. Got away really well and passed quite a few riders into and around Gerrards. by the end of the first lap I was in the middle of the pack, with a large bunch all fighting ahead of me. I decided to pick some off under braking into the hairpin. I must have passed at least six riders on the brakes, when the rider ahead turned very tight into the hairpin and collided with the rider ahead of him. I ran into his back wheel which launched my front wheel into the air and down I went.
Shortly afterwards, the race was stopped and I quickly remounted and rode to the scrutineering for a quick check. Tried to rejoin for the restart but the race had been abandoned. So a non result and this meant starting the next leg at the back of the grid again.

Race 19: Steel Frame Championship
Started from the back of the grid and pushed hard through some heavy traffic to finish 11th. Pity I didn't get this position for the first race because it would have been easier starting from the midfield.

Race 25: 125 - 1300 Allcomers 'B' Final
Was a reserve for this one and managed to get out in the 'B' final at the last minute. Again, had to start from the back of the grid. This race was over eight laps so important to get a good start and push on hard. Literally flew off the line and exited Gerrards in around 14th position. I really pushed on and after having some real battles passing people, eventually finished in 5th position, with the fourth fastest recorded lap.

A really good days racing. I thought I rode very well (despite the crash). It made a real change to be going forward during the races instead of the usual backwards. Looking forward to the next meeting at EMRA in two weeks.

Race 8: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Got a third row position for this one and got off the line quite well. Managed to maintain my position off the start and hang onto 11th spot at the finish.

Race 11: FM Helmets/Reve Racing 175-1300cc Machines
Got a fourth row position on the start for this one. Tried to hang onto Mark Tyrell (Chapman/Tyrell RS250), but he got through the traffic better and got really held up. Managed to get up to 8th position but a rider fell entering the hairpin and his bike slid across in front me. I had to wide and onto the grass which allowed the following rider, who I had just passed to, to get underneath me. Not enough time to regain the places and finished 14th.

Race 19: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Got a third row again for this one. Tried the outside line into Gerrards this time but got pushed wide and lost a number of places. Pushed hard for most of the race but got stuck behind one rider who I just couldn't pass until the last lap. It was then too late to make up any more ground and finished 13th.

Race 22: FM Helmets/Reve Racing 175-1300cc Machines
Got a front row for this one and took the inside line alongside Malcolm Ashley (Ducati 996), Martin Powell (Suzuki GSXR1000) and Shaun Hawkes (Yamaha R6). Positively flew off the line and after diving underneath Mark Tyrell, exited Gerrards in 5th position. Held onto this place for two laps but couldn't hold off Martin Tranter (Yamaha YZF750). Held Mark Tyrell for company as well until he out braked me into the hair pin on lap 5. Lost another position to Gary Freeman (Yamaha R6) on the last lap to finish in 8th position, but well ahead of the following riders.

Had a really good days racing and thoroughly enjoyed the last race battle with Mark Tyrell (being some family rivalry as well) and well pleased with 8th place.

Looking forward to the next EMRA meeting on September 2nd

Clive Wadey of Paxford Garage kindly let me ride his Yamaha R1 for the open class and Drayton Croft Trophy races at this meeting. I had taken the Bike to Mallory on a Wednesday practice two weeks ago and went very well.

Race 1: Drayton Croft Trophy - Qualifier
Got a fourth row position and despite never having done a start on the R1 got away very well. Got stuck behind a couple of CBR600's but managed to move up to 10th at the flag. Well pleased with this but the rear tyre was suffering under the power exiting Gerrards.

Race 4: FM Helmets/Reve Racing 175-1300cc Machines
Got a fourth row position again but didn't get off the line so well. The back tyre was struggling for grip and could only manage 13th place. Pretty disappointed with this result because I know I can go a lot faster on this bike.

Race 6: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Back on the familiar CBR600 for this one. It certainly felt flat after the R1. Got off the line quite well but got mixed up with a bunch of riders fighting into the Esses and lost a lot of time on the front riders. Managed to pull back a few places to finish a not too impressive 15th.

Race 11: Drayton Croft / Mallory Trophy
The 10th place qualification put me on the 5th row for the one. Just before the start, the rain fell and had to do some frantic wheel changing (thanks to Roger and Dave) to get onto the grid with little time to spare. Was a bit apprehensive about riding the R1 in the wet especially on a set of wets which were past their best. Got off the line very in well in pouring rain and gingerly turned into Gerrards. Was impressed with the available grip and the smooth, high torque power delivery of the R1 and upped the pace after a couple of laps. Passed a number of riders to finish 11th place. Well pleased with this on a bike  I was not familiar with.

Race 17: 301-600cc Supersport Machines
Back on the 600 for this one in pouring rain again and started from the 5th row. Pushed the 600 really hard trying to catch Jason Heritage who had a superb 4th place in the Drayton Croft final. The CBR600 felt great with loads of grip in the bad conditions. Got stuck behind the R6 of Gary Freeman and finished in 9th place.

Race 20: FM Helmets/Reve Racing 175-1300cc Machines
Was determined to get one good result on the R1 despite the weather. got a fourth row start and got the bike away really well. Pushed hard al race in torrential rain again and after having some hard battles managed to finish in 7th place.

A good end to the season, pity the money has run out. The CBR600 is going up for sale and must decide between an open class 1000cc bike or amore modern 600. Any offers?

Looking forward  EMRA Round 1 in March 2002.