Tom's New Season

By Tom Grimshaw

This year I will be racing for Chambers Racing Husqvarna & will be competing in MX2 World & British MX Championships.

I headed over to Spain for ten days riding & training before the season starts. I was based around the popular Red Sands area sharing a villa with fellow British Championship competitors. The set up was really good however I didn't feel well for the first few days. I still rode but limited my time on the bike. Factory KTM & Husqvarna were also based over there at the same time which was pretty cool Dad flew out for a long weekend at the end of the ten days which was great as its always good having him around watching & offering me advice which I obviously take on board the good stuff & ignore the rest. Whatever track we went to there was a good contingency of British riders doing their thing so plenty of company. One day at Red Sands it was like being at Fat Cats as there were so many UK riders all parked together. Jeffery Herlings was putting the laps down but then crashed with a junior 125 rider. Helings was dazed by the incident which saw the 125 written off. KTM kept a low profile about the incident which saw the team leaving the facility 15min later!

The day I got back, I was then floored with Bronchitis which saw me on medication for the week, then a couple days later dad was hit by the same illness. Once fully recovered we were back on it putting in the hours. I have been training on a 350cc over the winter months, but we have put this to one side and jumped back on the 250F as Hawkstone is approaching fast. I will be racing my new Chambers Racing Husqvarna 250F which I picked up last week after running it in. We are still doing a lot of work with suspension to find the best setting for me. Mitch at Technical Solutions has been spending days with me setting up the bike which I really appreciate.

After Hawkstone Park this weekend we will be really turning things up as the British Grand Prix is three weeks later at Matterly Basin. I am super excited to be racing the Grand Prix this season with my new team, new bike & new racing number. Yes, my new number for the GP's & British Championship will be No16.

Well Hawkstone Park was Wet, Wet, Wet however the show went on. I recorded a solid 14th Overall & 3rd best British rider which I was pleased about. The big clean up started straight away with the engine being sent of for a full service & kit being cleaned.

Mitch at Technical Solutions has been setting up the suspension which is really appreciated and I am super excited to be racing in the GP's this year with a new team, a new bike and a new riding number. For the GP's and the British championship I will now be racing as number 16 as my "old" number 61 is Jorge Prados. I am looking forward to riding the British GP at Matterley, that is not so far away.

I am very happy that several riders have asked me for a training plan to help them with their own motocross training away from the track. It will be great to see their progress as the season unfolds.

Dad's entry for the Vets' DN at Farleigh Castle in September has been confirmed, he has built a 1996 Super Evo YZ250. (Mum dosen't know yet so keep quiet) Lastly I was really annoyed when I read about the Team Green bikes of Jeff and Shaun Perret being stolen recently, the sport Is hard enough already without those sort of setbacks by low lifes. All the best, Tom.