Oulton park (full programme)

THUNDERSPORT GB

CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016

THE HOME OF SPORTSMAN RACING

Round 9 1st & 2nd July 2016

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FRIDAY 1ST JULY

THUNDERSPORT GB RACE DAY TIMETABLES

FRIDAY MORNING OFFICIAL TESTING CONCLUDES AT 12.55pm and is followed by a 1 hour Lunch Break.

2.00pm

20 minutes Qualifying

Avon Tyres Supertwins & HMT Racing Stocktwins 2.25pm

20 minutes Qualifying

Stewart Events Thundersport GP1 & GP1 Freshman 2.50pm

20 minutes Qualifying

Dymag Golden Era SBK & Sparklight Golden Era SS 3.15pm

20 minutes Qualifying GB Racing Thundersport 600 Sportsman Elite

3.40pm

20 minutes Qualifying Crank Racing Thundersport 500

4.05pm

20 minutes Qualifying

A&R Racing Pre-National Sport & Selco 600 Freshman 4.30pm

20 minutes Qualifying RST Moto / Dunlop Aprilia Challenge

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SATURDAY 2ND JULY 9.00am

10 minutes Warm Up sessions

There are 6 Warm Up Sessions prior to the commencement of racing.

These are split in classes as detailed on competitors Final Instructions in the following order:1) Golden Era SBK (inc GP1 FM) & Golden Era SS 2) Thundersport 500 3) Supertwins, Stocktwins & Golden Era Steelsport 4) Thundersport GP1 &Sportsman Elite 600 (evens) 5) Pre-National 600 & Sportsman Elite 600 (odds) 6) Aprilia Challenge ends @ 10.05am RACE 1 - 9 Laps (10.25am) Crank Racing Thundersport 500 A&B RACE 2 - 9 Laps (10.50am) Sparklight Golden Era Supersport RACE 3 - 9 Laps (11.15am) Stewart Events Thundersport GP1 RACE 4 - 9 Laps (11.40am) Avon Tyres Supertwins & HMT Stocktwins RACE 5 - 9 Laps (12.05pm) Dymag Golden Era Superbikes & Monex GP1 Freshman RACE 6 - 9 Laps (12.30pm) GB Racing Thundersport 600 Sportsman Elite RACE 7 - 9 Laps (12.55pm) RST Moto / Dunlop Aprilia Challenge RACE 8 - 9 Laps (1.45pm) A&R Racing Pre-National Sport & Selco Freshman 600

LUNCH BREAK RACE 9 - 9 Laps (2.10pm) Crank Racing Thundersport 500 A&C RACE 10 - 9 Laps (2.35pm) Sparklight Golden Era Supersport RACE 11 - 9 Laps (3.00pm) Stewart Events Thundersport GP1

THE ADAM BOYLE TROPHY RACE RACE 12 - 9 Laps (3.25pm) Avon Tyres Supertwins & HMT Stocktwins RACE 13 - 9 Laps (3.50pm) Dymag Golden Era Superbikes & Monex GP1 Freshman RACE 14 - 9 Laps (4.15pm)

PICTURES:- FRONT COVER & ABOVE IAN BOLDY SUPERBIKE PHOTOGRAPHY

GB Racing Thundersport 600 Sportsman Elite RACE 15 - 9 Laps (4.40pm) RST Moto / Dunlop Aprilia Challenge RACE 16 - 9 Laps (5.05pm) A&R Racing Pre-National Sport & Selco Freshman 600 RACE 17 - 9 Laps (5.25pm) Crank Racing Thundersport 500 B&C

THUNDERSPORT GB (Affiliated to the ACU as Club Thundersport Ltd) This meeting is held under a European OPEN Road Race Permit, complying with the National Sporting Code and the Standing Regulations for Road Races of the ACU, the Supplementary Regulations of the above organisation, and in accordance with the ACU / FIM Environmental Code.

Permanent Course Licence No. 004 ACU Permit No. ACU 46184 Outline Flags and other signals used at this meeting: (full details are shown in the ACU Handbook a copy of which is available for inspection in the Race Administration).

OUTLINE FLAGS AND OTHER SIGNALS

RED LIGHTS - May be extinguished as the signal to start races. May be illuminated to stop races or practice NATIONAL FLAG - May be used as the signal to start races

Fogarty Moss Centre

GREEN FLAG - Indicates that the track is clear YELLOW FLAG - This Flag indicates that there is danger ahead. Overtaking in this sector is forbidden YELLOW /RED STRIPED FLAG - This indicates a lack of adhesion in this sector. Oil, Water or another substance (debris) on track RED FLAG - The race or practice session is stopped. Riders must return slowly to the pits or as directed by the marshals YELLOW I BLACK CROSS - This flag is shown at the startline at the beginning of the last lap.

OHEQUERED FLAG - Indicates the end of the race or practice session NOTICE: MOTOR SPORTS CAN BE DANGEROUS! Despite the organisers taking all reasonable precautions, unavoidable accidents can happen. Please comply with all instructions of marshals and notices and remain in permitted areas only.

THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH YOUR SAFETY

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OULTON PARK CIRCUIT MAP

CLERK OF THE COURSE Dave Stewart

SECRETARY OF THE MEETING Dave Stewart 10 Hemington Lane Lockington Leicestershire. DE74 2RJ

RACE SECRETARY Bernadette Stewart

ASSISTANT RACE SECRETARY Joanne Lumb - Janet Day

CHIEF TECHNICAL STEWARDS

CHIEF MARSHAL John Pedersen

CHIEF INCIDENT OFFICER Mark Lumb

SOUND CONTROL

Rodger Wadey (Senior)

STARTLINE OFFICIALS Dave Richardson (Chief) Mark Lumb (Deputy)

RACE CONTROL Joanne Page

ASSEMBLY AREA Carol Cochrane

PODIUM CREW Thundersport Syd Samantha Page

RECOVERY TEAM Dave Evans Andy Driver

ACU STEWARD John Ward

TIMEKEEPERS TSL Timing

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER Mike Bloom

AMBULANCE SERVICE British Red Cross Inter County Paramedics

COMMENTATORS

Robin Murphy - John Ward

CIRCUIT MANAGER

Simon Bonser (01829 760301)

OFFICIALS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Stuart Bailey (Chief) Phil Page (Eligibility) Judith Richardson (Admin)

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARKLAND CIRCUIT IN THE WORLD? Oulton Park 1953 - present day Photo: Ian Bird

Keeping an estate in this condition requires a lot of hard work, but it’s worth it!

Oulton Park is probably the most beautiful parkland circuit in the world and it has a rich history, which makes organising events here a little bit special.

Not only is the main layout largely unchanged from the late 1955 2.74 mile layout, but it has also not been subjected to having its original corner names interfered with due to latter day commercialism.

Lodge Corner is still very obviously named after the Joseph Turner designed gatehouse which was built in 1773 and remains in fantastically preserved condition to this day.

Any racer who has ever taken part in an event at Oulton Park will surely have an action shot with the Lodge in the background in their collection as it captures in just one frame the essence of the place.

Old Hall Corner is less obvious, but it is on the approach to the Old Hall Mansion itself that was destroyed

by fire in 1926 and finally completely finished off by a WW2 bomb in 1940.

The Oulton Estate was used as an Army Camp during the war, which not only made it a target for air raids, but also meant that there were numerous buildings placed on the site that later became the nucleus of the circuit infrastructure after the war. If you raced here anytime prior to 1999 you will remember the old Anderson style buildings that housed the circuit offices and caferteria on what is now the Old Hall end of the paddock.

The Avenue (as you can see from the picture) was really a tree lined avenue and Dentons was named after one of the founding members of the MidCheshire Car Club (Paddy Denton who was the Managing Director in the 50’s), who brought the circuit into being in 1953.

Cascades, Island Bend, Hilltop, Clay Hill and Deer Leap are all pretty much named as they were in 1955 and I like

to think that someone just did a fast lap of the circuit and named them in the sheer exhilaration of the moment from how that lap made them feel.

The hairpins were both originally named after the two petroleum companies that sponsored the early meetings here. The short hairpin being known as Esso Bend which is rarely used and only got an airing earlier this season due to the ongoing improvement works after Island Bend.

The more commonly utilised Shell Oils Hairpin being an exquisitely crafted banked turn that has very little in common with most peoples idea of a hairpin corner. Shell is a deceptively fast corner with real overtaking opportunities on entry, apex and exit – it’s a real racers corner!

Which brings us on to Knickerbrook, which was originally called Racers Corner due to its demanding and slightly dangerous nature. The story is pretty well known, but in case you

haven’t heard it:The famous demolition expert Blaster Bates was using dynamite to remove some well rooted tree stumps on the exit of the corner to improve run off and make it safer. After the first detonation, a young couple were seen rushing from the cover of a nearby bush, having had their afternoons fun unceremoniously disturbed by the explosives (did the earth move for you Nancy?). Upon further inspection a pair of ladies frilly knickers were found in the adjacent brook. Thereby the corner was known by the name Knickerbrook ever since.

Photo: Alamy The first event here was organised in early 1953 by the Mid-Cheshire Car Club and even though the public This is the Avenue heading towards Dentons, complete with the old trees. were not allowed in, there was an Motor Cycle Racing Club (Bemsee), I back then. Do you ever get the “attendance” of over 3,000 club started collecting information on the impression that we were born too members. This meeting took place clubs history and part of what I found late? on the original 1.55 mile circuit was an old cine film called “50 not Over the years most circuits have which is also still largely intact and out” which was made in 1959 on the become sanitised and have inevitably its slightly later 2.23 mile incarnation clubs 50th anniversary. lost some of their original soul, but is now known as the Fosters Circuit Most of it was filmed right here at Oulton Park seems to have managed – (named after another Mid-Cheshire Oulton Park and one part featured to perform some kind of miracle by Car Club Director - Rex Foster) this is World Champion Geoff Duke being managing to keep up with the very shown in red on the map pages in this driven around the circuit in an open best safety standards and at the same programme. time retaining that essential essence Later that same year, the first spectator top car. The race footage on it is great too, but the enduring image that I still that makes it a genuine motorsport event was a joint car / bike meeting retain is of a pack of sidecars – led by nirvana. with the Wirral 100 Motor Club taking World Champion Florian Camathias It takes a lot of hard work and effort to on the motorcycle organisation. Over – charging through Old Hall and onto retain an estate of this size in tip top 40,000 people attended that event the Avenue with a woman sitting less condition and this is where MSV have and the future of the circuit was pretty than 10 feet from the track edge in their Ace Card. Ian Clover and his team much guaranteed from that moment a deck chair! The area between all of maintenance staff work tirelessly to onwards. The Wirral 100 Club are still of those trees was also packed with keep the circuit and all of the grounds in very good health and are also still spectators, which looks crazy in terms in stunning order and you won’t find a organising events here at Oulton Park of modern health & safety, but was venue that has more care lavished on some 64 years later, which is great. very much part of the atmosphere its appearance and general upkeep.

When I was the CEO for the British This weekend I hope you will see that this stunning layout also produces excellent racing and an unparalleled atmosphere, both on the spectator banks and within the paddock areas.

Today we have a full programme of 17 races with the highlight being Race 11 the Adam Boyle Trophy for GP1 specification machines. Billy Mellor is back to defend his title, but he will have his work cut out if he wants to get the better of Lee Williams, Josh Day, Craig Neve (all Kawasaki), Phil Crowe, Mike Neeves & Dave Jackson (BMW), Jody Lees (Yamaha) and ex250GP winner Jeremy McWilliams (Aprilia).

Photo: Mike Speight Get the popcorn in and standby for action!

The start of the 1959 solo 500cc race viewed from Old Hall Corner.

CRANK RACING

9

THUNDERSPORT 500 & 500 SENIORS THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!

The Thundersport 500 and Thundersport 500 Seniors championships are the absolute cheapest possible way to go road racing on this planet. A whole race package can be picked up for less than the price of a top of the range helmet. That said, the racing is hard and close - bordering on the frantic at times. The talent of a racer needn’t be judged by the value of the bike he/she happens to be sitting on, some of the most gifted riders in the country ride these humble parallel twins. The predominant choice of bike here is the Honda CB500, but once you’ve watched a couple of these races you’ll never look at one of these staid commuter bikes in quite the same way again.

The 500 Seniors championship caters for riders of 40 years of age or older on 1st March of any given racing season. Some of these lads are fulfilling a long term ambition to race that they simply didn’t have the resources to satisfy when they were younger. When you see the level of skill displayed by some of them, you have to think that they could have made a pretty good living at it if circumstances had been different. We also include a Freshman Championship No Rider Hometown Team Machine cc CL for newcomers to racing and these 2 Elliott Humphrey Scunthorpe Rat Out Racing Honda 500 T are identified by an “F” on the grid 7 Dave Grace Mickleover Capital Windows Honda 500 T listing and by their bright orange 8 Harley Smith Driffield British Army Race Team Honda 500 T novice bibs on track.

11 Mark Leaning Scunthorpe Old Man Racing Honda 500 S Dunlop Alpha 13 control tyres keep 12 Gary Cooper Leeds Coops Racing Honda 500 S it all even in the rubber department 14 Ben Coyle Aintree Ben Coyle Racing Honda 500 T so the rider at the front is truly there 15 Daniel Capper Middlewich Team BGC Honda 500 T on merit.

17 Dave Moss Deeside JCM Racing Honda 500 S If you’ve always wanted to have a 18 Chris Bramley Nottingham JBM Racing Honda 500 F go at racing, but either thought you 20 David Beswick Spondon DB Racing Honda 500 S couldn’t afford it, or you had left it 21 James Lee Stockton One Way Round Racing Honda 500 T too late - go and have a chat with 25 Ben Martin Dover BM Racing Honda 500 F some of the 500 competitors this 27 John O'Toole Derby Campbells Racing Honda 500 T weekend.

28 29 35 36 38 40 46 47 49 51 52 54 58 61 65 66 67 68 70 75 79 80 82 87 89 94 97 101 108 109 110 111 116 117 121 147 149 167 172 177 178 185 194 222 321 333 414

Karl Chamley Robert Carver Kevin Sweeney Graham Richardson Mick Marshall Rob Aimable Chris Satchwell Mark Shore Steve Waring Olly Kelly Craig Fowell Lara Small Paul Leonard Robert Tustin Jeff Dobson Chris Jones Mark Robinson Clive Mindham Matthew Snow Nick Turner Lee Silvain James Pickford Lewis Osler Jodie Chalk Gary Smith Joe Miller Lee Howarth Colin Mooney James Butcher Darren Hulme Edward Hulme Paul Anyon George Williams George Davies Josh Leaning Phil Doody Andy Whale Chris Cooper Dave Schofield Gary Wilson Giles Day Jamie Hudson Jordan Ashington Peter Bardell Ryan Vickers Sam Palfreyman Nathan Binns

Bradford Barnsley Crewe Rawmarsh Rawmarsh Dover Harpenden Liskeard Chester Farnborough Winsford Derby Nantwich Kidderminster Warrington Huddersfield Pontefract Kettering Brigg Kettering Bury St Edmunds Huddersfield Wakefield Glenrothes Rotherham Hull Westbourne Stockton Brentwood Widnes Widnes Neston St Neots Shirley Scunthorpe Doncaster Birmingham Rawmarsh Barnsley Rawmarsh Baldrine IOM Sheffield Bradford Campton Thetford Nottingham Wakefield

CNS Racing CJ Accessories Megans Daddy The Flying Scotsman Rare Fast Racing Blackstone Racing Satchwell Racing Blast Racing R-Kid Racing Hampton Scaffolding Wicked Styling Via Moto Honda C/field Leonard Racing RTM JD Racing Osler Racing Robinson Racing Fermac Racing Rat Out Racing Fermac Racing That'll Do Racing JP Racing Osler Racing Chalky Moto OTS Racing M-Tec Racing Royal Marines Motorsport Triple "S" Honda / KLM Triple Js Racing Team Hulme Team Hulme Dee Banks Unique School GW Racing No More Straps Leaning Racing Motoz Race Paints Whale Racing Team Motoz Racing Schofield Racing Team Motoz Racing Blackstone Racing JH Racing Jordz Racing Glitter Pig Racing Satchwell Racing SP Racing Donkey Box Racing

Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda

500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500

F F S S S F S FS F T T T S F S F S S T S T T T T T T T S T F S FS F F T S T S S T T T F T T F T

Thundersport 500 Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Joe Barton Ben Coyle Peter Bardell Josh Leaning Ryan Vickers Jodie Chalk Dave Grace John O’Toole Will Leaning James Butcher

288 256 210 169 158 141 137 100 89 82

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Colin Mooney Chris Satchwell Dave Moss Mark Leaning Nick Turner Clive Mindham Mick Marshall Chris Cooper Dave Beswick Andy Manchester

343 210 205 198 196 162 120 92 80 72

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Sam Palfreyman Robert Carver George Davies Rob Aimable Anthony Seasman Steve Waring Chris Jones George Williams Thomas Hudson Craig Cameron

196 195 192 177 170 138 131 129 113 94

Seniors 500 Points

Freshman 500 Points

CLASS LAP RECORD 1.55.223 - Ben Coyle

SPARKLIGHT RACING LTD 01621 785202 - 07984412131

www.sparklightracing.co.uk Based in Burnham on Crouch, but serving the whole of the UK, we offer not only Servicing, Valeting, Repairs, Dyno Service and a full range of top quality Leathers, Helmets and Boots - If it’s anything about racing, track use or road bikes we can help!

We also offer a full Race Preparation and Support Service at all Thundersport GB events.

We offer standard packages as well as tailored packages designed - by you - to suit you, come and see us to discuss your needs or just ring Garry on 07984 412131 Race Meeting Packages:-

Silver Package - just £100 per race meeting.

Gold Package - just £250 per race meeting.

Platinum Package - tailored to suit you (please ask)

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FULL MACHINE PREPARATION SERVICE ALSO AVAILABLE

Don’t struggle on your own at race meetings. Let our experienced team of mechanics & technicians look after you from the professional and comfortable surroundings of the Sparklight Racing awning.

We cater for everything from a simple “Warmers & Stands assist” package right through to a complete “Arrive & Ride” deal.

Be part of our friendly team and feel like a GP star.

Sparklight Racing is The Place for all your K-Tech requirements, GB Racing covers and Dymag Performance Wheels.

Whatever your needs at a Race Meeting - even when you think your weekend may be over - come and see us at the Sparklight Racing awning and we’ll pull out all the stops to get you back on track!

Sparklight New.indd 1

13/06/2016 13:45:04

SPARKLIGHT RACING GOLDEN ERA SUPERSPORT & STEELSPORT

11

GOLDEN ERA MANIC - SUPERSPORTS OF THE 90s WHEN TRACTION CONTROL WAS ALL IN THE WRIST ACTION! As with the corresponding Superbike class, some of the most memorable race action came from a time before the electronics geeks interferred with the direct relationship between the twist grip and the throttle slides. The term “Mad Axe-Murderers” was actually coined by James Whitham when he did a couple of Wild Card rides in the World Supersport Championship and watching it from trackside you simply couldn’t argue the accuracy of that label. If Ghengis Khan rode a motorcycle it would have been an R6 or ZX6RR from this era (he might have struggled getting his helmet through Technical Control, but who’s going to argue with him?).

Golden Era Supersport is our version of this classic era of motorcycle racing, before traction control took over from pure fearless determination.

These classes are not Pre-Injection or Pre-2000, they are tailored to the bikes that actually raced in that iconic era. The technical regulations allow all and any modifications that were used in period and ban anything that wasn’t around or allowed at the time. Tyres are any make, any pattern, any type - as long as they have a road legal designation. Full wets are permitted only when a Wet Race has been declared.

GOLDEN ERA STEELSPORT Since we started running the Golden Era Supersport class, many riders asked us about creating a parrallel series for the Steel-Framed bikes of a similar period. Initially we did not want to do so, because we saw that idea as the brainchild of the Derby Phoenix Motorcycle Club. We are not the kind of organisation that indulges in appropriating other peoples ideas on principle. However, the Derby Phoenix Club have had a difficult time of things over the past few seasons and they approached us to give a home to their loyal riders in 2015 as they no longer had the resources to organise their own events. The upshot of that were talks between us as to how we could assist them in not only giving their riders a place to ride, but ultimately putting them in a position to re-launch their own series. I am pleased to report that they are now well on the way to recovery.

No

Rider

Hometown

Team

Machine

cc

CL

1

Chris Spink

Stafford

Team Spink

Honda

600

SF

2

Sam Nicholson

3

Adrian Bridges

Nottingham

Motorpoint Derby

Yamaha

600

SS

Solihull

Sparklight Racing

Yamaha

600

SS

5

Matty Gowan

Fleetwood

Mark Garside

Honda

600

SF

9

Nathan Salkeld

Pewsey

British Army Race Team

Kawasaki

600

SS

16

Luke McRae

Billingshurst

European Pumps

Suzuki

600

SS

21

Mark Warren

Hereford

MAW Racing

Yamaha

600

SS

24

Andy Scanlon

Thatcham

Stubble Racing

Yamaha

600

SS

26

Ryan Cooper

Leeds

Coops Racing/Race HQ

Yamaha

600

SS

28

Martyn Bloomfield

Tarporley

EB Racing

Yamaha

600

SS

31

Steven Chadwick

Milnthorpe

S C Racing

Yamaha

600

SS

35

Mark Biswell

Aylesbury

Bizzle Bikesport

Honda

600

SF

43

Rob Vickerman

Willerby

Air Tech Racing

Yamaha

600

SS

45

David White

Exeter

Royal Navy Motorsport

Yamaha

600

SS

49

Andy Whale

Birmingham

Whale Racing

Yamaha

600

SS

53

Rob Mawbey

Derby

Racing Lines Tyres

Yamaha

600

SS

64

Chris Hellewell

Rotherham

Sparklight Racing

Yamaha

600

SS

65

David Langley

Dereham

RAF MSA / Ashtons

Honda

600

SF

68

Nick Wainwright

Beverley

Paintzfiction Racing

Yamaha

600

SS

76

Russell Dodds

Northallerton

Dobbin-AMR Racing

Yamaha

600

SS

87

Carl Vickers

Dunfermline

Royal Marines Motorsport

Yamaha

600

SS

96

Ian Evans

Chepstow

British Army Race Team

Honda

600

SF

149

Jonathan Harrison

Darlington

Harrison Bros Racing

Honda

600

SF

Golden Era Supersport Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Chris Hellewell Nick Wainwright Ryan Cooper Martyn Bloomfield Karl Foster Sam Nicholson Andy Scanlon Luke McRae Rob Mawbey Gordon Wright

333 209 166 148 133 130 125 120 113 99

Golden Era Steelsport Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

David Langley Mark Biswell Ian Evans Chris Spink Jon Good Connor Irwin Aaron Staniforth Jack Tynan Luke Addison-Doy James Barron

282 274 173 144 104 101 95 78 51 50

CLASS LAP RECORDS

Supersport = 1.48.471 Rob Goodall Steelsport - 1.51.802 Jack Haverkamp

THE ADAM BOYLE TROPHY RACE 2016

ADAM BOYLE TROPHY WINNERS:2013 - Kyle Wilks (Kawasaki) 2014 - John Ingram (Kawasaki) 2015 - Billy Mellor (BMW) .

2016 WInner 2016

Adam Boyle 2015 Front.indd 1

20/06/2016 14:05:28

OUR FRIEND ADAM This is the fourth running of the Adam Boyle Trophy and we are once again proud that Shaun & Yvonne are allowing us to pay tribute to their son.

On the top half of this page, you will find a great shot of Adam in action, enjoying life to the full aboard his Honda CBR1000.

This is how I personally always think of Adam - full of life and living the dream.

There is a small square where you can, should you wish, get the winner of todays race to apply his signature and you will then have something to keep and hopefully add to in subsequent years.

In 2012 we made our annual visit to Oulton Park on 25th & 26th May and the popular youngster Adam Boyle raced with us in the Thundersport GP1 class aboard his Honda CBR1000RR. That he scored an 8th place finish at an average speed of 90.755mph was later to become almost irrelevant. Having had a happy and successful race meeting Adam and his team packed up and went home, looking forward to the next round at Snetterton in June.

The following day tragedy struck, when Adam was involved in a Road Traffic Accident near his home in Cheshire whilst riding his 125cc road bike and killed. Those kind of accidents just go to show that fate can deal a cruel hand in the most innocuous of circumstances.

Bernadette and I form an attachment to many of the riders, particularly those – like Adam – who we have known since they were schoolboy racers in the Junior 125 classes. He was a GP3 competitor of some note when we first met him and he had raced right up to British Championship level before moving onto the CBR1000. Sometimes you tend to think it’s just you that sees something special in a youngster, but sometimes there really is – just something extra there.

At the service in Adams memory there were so many people, of so many different ages and a huge variety of backgrounds that they not only filled the church, they very nearly filled the church grounds as well. There was a real depth of feeling that was actually tangible and that made me realise that this had indeed been a very special young man. He had more genuine friends at the tender age of 19 years old than most people could amass in two lifetimes.

When Shaun asked if we would consider running a race in his sons memory and whether we thought there would be any interest in it, we were firstly honoured to be asked and secondly shocked to think that Shaun didn’t perhaps realise what an extremely popular & respected young man Adam was.

The grid for Race 11 today (The Thundersport GP1 Race) is made up of a selection of riders who really want to win the Adam Boyle Trophy and others who perhaps know that they can’t win in a field of such quality, but simply want to be a part of it as a mark of respect for a rider they knew and admired.

There will be many others who would have loved to be part of this race, but they perhaps haven’t got a machine that is eligible for the race, but they will surely all gather at the podium presentation to cheer on the top three and dream perhaps of being able to contest the trophy in years to come.

Dave & Bernadette

THUNDERSPORT GP1

13

(inc THE ADAM BOYLE TROPHY)

THUNDERSPORT GP1 THE BADDEST BULLETS ON THE BLOCK! CAREFUL WITH THAT AXE EUGENE!

These bad boys are the most sophisticated and powerful bits of kit in the paddock. When you start racing, everyone secretly wants one, but the first time you ride one in anger reminds you very forcefully that they can bite! It is a reminder of how fast technology has advanced in just a few years when you consider that all of the bikes on this grid have more advanced electronics than even the most sophisticated Grand Prix machines had before the 4-stroke Moto-GP era started. It’s even more amazing to consider that if a decent standard club rider were on one of these machines in any Grand Prix before around 1991, he would probably have won! That is a little factoid that both astounds and offends people like me that grew up with Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson as their racing heroes (because NOBODY could have smoked the tyres like they did - could they?)................

This race usually has 2 categories within one race - all riders contest the main Thundersport GP1 Elite category and that can be won outright by a Sportsman rider if he is good enough. There is also a “Freshman” category for riders who are yet to obtain their Full Clubman Licence.

This weekend there are so many riders No Rider Hometown Team Machine cc CL here that the Freshman class can be 2 Josh Day Swindon Crank Racing Kawasaki 1000 E found sharing a grid with the Golden Era 4 Craig Neve Immingham Callmac Flexi Hydraulic Kawasaki 1000 E Superbikes on page 23.

All categories of GP1 rider may use any 5 Curtis Rothwell Bolton Rothwell Racing Suzuki 1000 E tyre, slick or treaded and even 16.5 inch 6 Ben Plant Shrewsbury Carmeleon Racing Kawasaki 1000 S rims if desired. There is an open tyre 9 Paul Charman Accrington Accrington Auto Bodies Yamaha 1000 S policy in most classes at Thundersport 10 Mark Pennington Coventry MP Racing Kawasaki 1000 E GB and Michelin, Dunlop, Avon, Continental and the other brands all put 11 Stephen Parsons Milnthorpe Giraffe Racing Kawasaki 1000 E a lot of effort into getting their men onto 17 Gary Woodward Burton on Trent Team Able Racing BMW 1000 S the podium. If one brand dominates the 21 Chris Barnes Preston AP Broome Racing Kawasaki 1000 E podium, the rest of the riders very swiftly 22 Terry Fuller Evesham Full On Racing BMW 1000 S switch to that brand.

This is a VERY big marketing exercise, 26 Richard White Watford Get Low Racing Yamaha 1000 S because over 1,200 tyres will be used 27 Brian Fuidge Poole Royal Marines Motorsport Honda 1000 S at pretty much every Thundersport GB 28 Gary Hutchinson Ripon Reds True Barbeque Kawasaki 1000 S meeting.

29 Kingsley Ruddy Barnsley KOR Racing Kawasaki 1000 E That’s well over £1,000,000 worth of tyres each season without even counting 33 Michael Neeves Peterborough Prime Factors Racing BMW 1000 E tyres used for out of season testing!

44 Stuart Martin Nettleton Ace Container Services Kawasaki 1000 E

45 48 50 55 60 62 71 73 76 80 85 87 90 92 94 96 99 105 111 125 156 164 171 332 333 338

Ed Pead Euan Meston Darren Ibbertson Jonathan Panter Ash Stone Nick Edgeley Philip Crowe David Brook Dan Shailer Lee Wilson Jody Lees Billy Mellor Rory Parker Mark Sykes Lee Williams Callum O'Shea Jeremy McWilliams James Vevers Sonny Martin Eoghan Delaney Dave Jackson Matt Stevenson John Robb Daniel Shaw Jack Yorke Marc Greenslade

Northampton Aberdeen Rotherham Newbold Verdon Matlock Bolney Market Rasen Bradford Mortlake Barnsley Rugeley Barnsley Ramsey IOM Grimsby Bootle Port Soderick IOM Newtonabbey NI Workington Wirral Dublin ROI Lincoln Ripon Stockport Barrow in Furness Leicester Tidworth

Edward Pead Ecosse M/cycles Phoenix Race Team RJS Superbike Stone Racing Team Edge RST Racing Phil Crowe Racing Team Arkoni Racing McShailer Racing Willy Wilson Racing Midland VW Racing Team Able Racing Layson Engineering Mark Sykes Racing Team Willo/ Hi-Tech Monarch Honda IN Competition Jink Tatoo Studio Guildford Audio RPM Cycles Racing Jackson Racing PSFR Racing EMTT DS Racing Hilltop Motorcycles British Army Race Team

Yamaha Yamaha Kawasaki Suzuki Kawasaki BMW BMW Kawasaki Kawasaki BMW Yamaha BMW Kawasaki Kawasaki Kawasaki Honda Aprilia Kawasaki Kawasaki Kawasaki BMW BMW Suzuki BMW BMW BMW

600 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000

E S E S S S E E S E E E E E E E E S S E E S E S S S

Thundersport GP1 Elite Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Lee Williams Josh Day Craig Neve Dave Jackson Michael Neeves Jonathan Lodge Lee Wilson Jody Lees Phil Crowe John Ingram

213 198 129 123 111 103 91 59 54 50

Thundersport GP1 Sportsman Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Paul Charman Matt Stevenson Michael Tustin Ash Stone Sonny Martin Richard White Gary Hutchinson Jonathan Panter Nick Edgeley Gary Woodward

275 163 141 121 106 92 88 84 82 80

CLASS LAP RECORD 1.38.603 John Ingram

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AVON TYRES SUPERTWINS

15

& HMT RACING STOCKTWINS

SUPERTWINS THE ORIGINAL GP2 FOR THE MASSES! WHAT’S SUPER ABOUT SUPERTWINS?

Thundersport GB started out with what is now our Supertwin class back in 2009 (it was called GP2 back then) and it has since appeared in Irish Road Races, the North-West 200 and more recently the TT Races. These light and manouverable 650cc twin cylinder 4-strokes can be built for around half the cost of a 600cc Superstock machine and open up a route for the home tuner to get re-involved in the modern racing scene. The British Superbike package is missing out on this middleweight category at the moment and I can’t understand why. It would fill in that elusive rung on every budding young racers ladder to success.

STOCKTWINS ARE SUPERTWINS ON A BUDGET

Whereas the Supertwin category has no tuning restrictions, we also compliment that with our more cost concious Stocktwins Championship. The Stocktwins has grown out of the original Minitwin idea. Cost control was always designed to be a core principal of Minitwins and the rules were so tight that you can effectively say that these were as close as you could get to standard road bikes with a go faster exhaust and race suspension.

However, having to use a lot of original parts and not being able to junk non-essential crash damaged parts precluded competitors from taking advantage of a lot of extremely cheap pattern parts readily available from the far East and that was the main reason for us adopting Stocktwins regulations. The only difference No Rider Hometown Team Machine cc CL being that any non-performance enhancing part may be used 8 Andy Driver Bromley Sundridge Windows MuZ 690 T regardless of whether it is from the 11 George Lawson Sittingbourne La11son Racing Suzuki 650 T original manufacturer or not.

Both classes create great racing 12 Luc Mamet Hereford Apex Evolution Racing Suzuki 650 S and you will see that a well ridden 17 Jonny Towers Coton in Elms Team Edge RST Kawasaki 650 T Stocktwin can even get into the top 5 of the overall race result.

19 Neil Schofield Barnsley Schofield Racing Suzuki 650 S Supertwin or Stocktwin - both have 26 Daniel Taylor Kirton Lindsey Direct Commercials Suzuki 650 T that V-twin rumble and both offer superb competition on a budget that 28 Teo Papadopoulos Farnborough Excelerate MRT Suzuki 650 S a normal working man can afford.

Crack on!

33 Andrew Dudgeon Ramsey IOM Slick Performance Suzuki 650 T 34

Ian McGann

Southampton

British Army Race Team

Suzuki

650

S

39

Thomas Burnett

Andreas IOM

Tru Racing

Suzuki

650

T

42

Max Dixon

Spital

Max Dixon Racing

Suzuki

650

S

43

Alex Platt

Lincoln

Stamp End Garage

Suzuki

650

S

45

Andrew Castle

Lincoln

RAF MSA

Suzuki

650

S

49

Paul McClung

Haddington

McClung Racing

Kawasaki

650

T

50

Lewis Barnes

Swindon

Lewis Barnes Racing

Kawasaki

400

T

60

Greg Madero

Towcester

Madero Racing

Suzuki

650

S

68

Gary Rodwell

West Kingsdown

IBD Superheroes

Suzuki

650

S

69

Caolan Irwin

Donegal

Scott Racing Motorcycles

Aprilia

550

T

71

John Simpson

Antrim NI

Trick Bits

Suzuki

650

T

72

Dean Ratcliff

Dursley

Roadrunner Racing

Suzuki

650

S

76

Mark Kirkby

Hexham

MK Racing

Suzuki

650

T

89

Carl Sant

Winsford

Eight Nine Motorsport

Suzuki

650

S

98

Rob Pragnell

Portsmouth

Willow Construction

Kawasaki

400

T

111

Aaron Bradley

Nottingham

Ride it Lad Racing

Suzuki

650

S

121

James Field

Barton u Humber

RAF MSA

Suzuki

650

S

133

Ben Tolliday

Scarborough

Team Tolly Racing

Suzuki

650

T

191

Mark Leonard

Haddington

WG Racing

Kawasaki

650

S

194

Robyn Lindsay

Airdree

No Balls Racing

Kawasaki

400

T

Avon Tyres Supertwins Points

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Jonny Towers John Simpson Dan Taylor Caolan Irwin Greg Madero Aaron Bradley Paul McClung Jonathan Perry Jason Markham Neil Schofield

295 229 204 195 161 140 128 91 75 75

HMT Racing Stocktwins Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Greg Madero Aaron Bradley Jason Markham Neil Schofield Ben Tolliday Gary Rodwell Max Dixon Teo Papadopolous Ian McGann Alex Platt

314 279 151 142 126 112 107 105 104 100

CLASS LAP RECORDS

Supertwins - 1.46.521 - Bradley Perie Stocktwins - 1.48.293 - Dan Taylor

THUNDERSPORT GB - M

Kerry Rawson Photography Colin Port Images Ian Boldy Superbike Photography AK Photography-SmugMug Jacks Snaps.co.uk

MOUNTAIN TIME!!!

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DYMAG WHEELS GOLDEN ERA SUPERBIKE & GP1 FM

19

GOLDEN ERA NO GIMMICKS - SUPERBIKES OF THE 90s WHEN TRACTION CONTROL WAS ALL IN THE WRIST ACTION Some of the most memorable race action came from a time before the electronics geeks interferred with the direct relationship between the twist grip and the throttle slides. Seeing Yasutomo Nagai, Scott Russell, Giancarlo Fallappa, Aaron Slight and Anthony Gobert not only backing it in on high speed sections, but also squirming out of corners whilst the chassis tied itself in knots may not have been as fast as modern Moto-GP bikes - but it looked a whole lot faster and infinitely more exciting. Golden Era Superbikes is our version of this classic era of motorcycle racing, before 1000cc across the frame 4 cylinder bikes displaced the “real” Superbikes of the 750cc era. Just looking at these homologation specials on their paddock stands invokes memories of that era and when they fire up, the chatter of the flatslides just makes me grin - I can’t help it. These classes are not Pre-Injection or Pre-2000, they are tailored to the bikes that actually raced in that iconic era. The technical regulations allow all and any modifications that were used in period and ban anything that wasn’t around or allowed at the time. Tyres on the Superbikes are any make, any pattern, any type including slicks. Rims are also free and even carbon wheels can be used.

No 1 6 8 14 20 28 34 35 37 38 44 45 48 49 57 62 70 71 83 85 86 90 95 99 121 179 188 212

Rider John Dieterman Nick Williamson Gareth Skinner Brad Davey Andy Challis Jordan Watling Adrian Teasdale Richard Steadman Vince Carlton Andrew Pollard Mick Riddle Matty Gowan Richard Harrison Kevin Howdle Ryan Strafford Graham Ashbridge Andy Ashcroft Ritchie Thornton Ben Hollingworth Dave Moss John Gibson Lee Ewbank Adam Houghton Graham Ward Martin Stanier Stuart Goodson Rob Heritage Luke Blackburn

Hometown Preston Southampton Tidworth Abingdon Peterborough Doncaster Carlisle Skegness Market Rasen Belper Coningsby Fleetwood Cleasby Cannock Mirfield Northallerton St Helens Surbiton Yarm Deeside Peterborough Oldham Winsford Leeds Stoke on Trent Southsea Rushden Louth

Team Team Baxi Yamaha RBM Motorsport British Army Race Team Motovation Team CT Racing Elec-Tec Racing Van-Glass.co.uk Dales Sports Surfaces Moto46VCR Rhodes & Track RAF MSA Matt Gowen Plumbing Melted-Sliders Alpha Hair Academy Strafford Racing GA Racing Turfco UK Team 71 Royal Marines Motorsport JCM Racing 2GC Racing Wer1Racing Kipper Licker GW Racing DPR Royal Marines Motorsport Car Shop Blackburn Racing

Machine cc Yamaha 750 Honda 1000 Aprilia 1000 MV Agusta 750 Suzuki 750 Kawasaki 750 Suzuki 750 Yamaha 750 Ducati 996 BMW 1000 Suzuki 750 Kawasaki 750 Suzuki 750 Suzuki 1000 Honda 1000 Aprilia 1000 Suzuki 750 Kawasaki 750 Honda 1000 Yamaha 750 Ducati 996 Yamaha 1000 Suzuki 750 Kawasaki 750 Suzuki 750 Suzuki 1000 Kawasaki 1000 Kawasaki 1000

CL SBK SBK SBK SBK SBK SBK SBK SBK SBK F SBK SBK SBK SX SBK SBK SBK SBK F SBK SBK F SBK SBK SBK F F F

Golden Era Superbike Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

John Dieterman Nick Williamson Richard Blunt Ritchie Thornton Ryan Strafford Richie Harrison Jordan Watling Andy Challis Richard Stubbs Vince Carlton

258 196 185 172 155 153 128 95 92 84

GP1 Freshman Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Ben Hollingworth Andrew Pollard Rob Heritage Lee Ewbank Luke Blackburn Andrew Batner Stuart Goodson Matthew Streeter Mike King Dale Emery

262 231 190 99 95 69 58 45 36 20

CLASS LAP RECORD Golden Era Superbike 1.44.048 - John Dieterman

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LIGHT TOUCH PAPER - STAND BACK!

ELITE BLEND Modern Superstock 600 specification bikes are now so good that what was almost unthinkable 10 years ago is now true. In the right hands, a Superstock bike could set a lap time good enough for a front row start in British Supersport. Bearing in mind the £25,000 price gap between the two bikes, that is an amazing testament to how closely the manufacturers are able to replicate what their race departments are learning from racing and putting it into their production lines. With lap times so close, it seems mildly pointless creating two different races and therefore splitting up the pool of talent, so we combine the two different machine specifications into one (very exciting) race.

We now run two classes in this race, but they are no longer split on machine specification, they are divided based on rider experience and licence grade. This reflects the lesser experience of some riders who contest the Sportsman class, rather than the Elite. This is our first season using this format, which was introduced because we felt that some riders moving up from the PreNational classes would like to be able to contest a championship against riders with a similar level of experience.

The Elite class is the main No Rider Hometown Team Machine cc CL championship and it is the fastest 2 Jordan Rushby Beverley Rushers Racing Yamaha 600 E 600 racing class anywhere 3 Andrew Dudgeon Ramsey IOM Slick Performance Suzuki 600 E outside of the BSB paddock 6 Brendan Mallinder Rotherham Team Mally Yamaha 600 S itself. If you can cut the mustard 7 Gary Hignett Coningsby RAF MSA Honda 600 S 10 Robert Cookson Leighton Cookson Travel Yamaha 600 S in this tremendously competitive 11 Grant McIntosh Wakefield Donkey Box Racing Triumph 675 S class, you can acquit yourself well 14 Tim Neave Market Rasen Neave Twins Kawasaki 600 E anywhere! Whatever happens the 17 Jonny Towers Coton in Elms Team Edge RST Racing Honda 600 S action will be as frantic as only 18 Michael Evans Santon IOM Evans Racing Suzuki 600 E 600cc racing can be.

19 Aaron Clifford Rathfeigh ROI Clifford Racing Kawasaki 600 E 21 22 30 31 34 35 37 41 45 47 50 51 55 62 64 67 68 69 72 73 75 79 93 94 101 115 121 129 157 441

Tom Leonard Tom Collinge James Dickinson Chris Dickinson Aaron Silvester Sam Wilford Ryan Cringle Alan Naylor Ed Pead William White Lewis Barnes Sergejs Kravcenko Edgar Machado Nick Edgeley Michael Tustin George Pyecroft Tom Neave Corey Wilson Max Wadsworth Paul Bennett James Edwards Ashley Robson Kevin Clive Ross Simpson Kurtis Drew Sam McFarlane Jack Fowler Jeff Booth Charlie Morris Daniel Diamond

Stockton on Tees Halifax Preston Preston Horncastle Sevenoaks Ballasalla IOM Wakefield Northampton Watford Swindon Woodford Green Brent Bolney Evesham Measham Market Rasen Barnsley Halifax Prestwood Tarporley Montrose Whitchurch Chessington Cirencester Wellingborough Durham Sale Potters Bar Aylesbury

Leonard Racing Tom Collinge Racing Team JD Team JD Stralia Race Tech IDWE Racing KPC Construction Donkey Box Racing Edward Pead Get Low Racing Lewis Barnes Racing Motors Grupa Racing Nuno Dimas Racing Team Edge RST Racing Team MTR Pallett Bros Neave Twins Willy Wilson Racing Specialised Group PB Racing Edwards Racing XL Racing KC Racing JDF Racing KD Racing MSG Racing Suzuki Fowler Racing Lonsdalebike Racing MSG Racing Suzuki MSG Racing Suzuki

Kawasaki Yamaha Triumph Triumph Yamaha Yamaha Triumph Kawasaki Yamaha Triumph Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Triumph Triumph Triumph Kawasaki Yamaha Kawasaki Suzuki Yamaha Kawasaki Triumph Kawasaki Yamaha Suzuki Triumph Yamaha Suzuki Suzuki

600 600 675 675 600 600 675 600 600 675 600 600 600 675 675 675 600 600 600 600 600 600 675 600 600 600 675 600 600 600

E S S S S E E S E E E S E S S S E S E S E E S E E S S E S S

Thundersport 600 Elite Points

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Jordan Rushby Charlie Morris William White Joel Williams Jack Drury Aaron Clifford Joey Thompson Darren Ibbertson Liam Shellcock Jonny Towers

171 164 88 76 71 70 70 64 56 55

Thundersport 600 Sportsman Points 1 Charlie Morris 276 2 Nick Edgeley 125 3 Brendan Mallinder 123 4 Aaron Silvester 108 5 Sam McFarlane 105 6 Jonny Towers 103 7 Sam Osborne 66 8 George Pyecroft 56 9 Robert Goodall 54 10 Grant McIntosh 52

CLASS LAP RECORD 1.41.302 - Matt Truelove

! HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE !

Oh No, Crazy Dave wants to pull the house down again!

Revolutionary ideas are often treated with suspicion by the establishment Even for someone with a lifelong interest in geo-politics (myself being ideologically somewhere to the left of Fidel Castro) the past few weeks of the EU referendum have been pretty tedious.

In? – Out? - Shake it all about?

Nobody seemed to be very interested until the unthinkable actually happened. The people voted for change and now all the politicians are running around like headless chickens!

The whole referendum process made me realise that a lot of people are so disinterested in the normal party based political process that they don’t actually understand or care how it works or why it affects them. In discussing that with a mate of mine over a pint, his view was that being just 1 vote in 45 million meant the effectiveness of his vote was somehow diminished. My quoting Lao-Tzu at him (a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step) didn’t help much and just meant that I had to buy the next round for being a smart-arse.

However, we then went on to talk at some length about the governance of our own sport – Motorcycle Road Racing in particular.

Oh yes, if you thought that it couldn’t get any more boring than talking about the European Union, you’re in for a surprise.

The ACU is something that most of us think of as being about as exciting as

being stuck in a lift with Jeremy Corbyn.

We do all have the occasional rant about them when we have to renew our licences or we get a reminder that we need to have another eyesight report, but we largely just ignore their very existence. As long as we can get on with our racing with the bare minimum of interference we’re happy enough to pay our £48 per year and just let them get on with it, whatever “it” might be.

But is that smart?

Given that there are well over 5,000 Road Race Licence holders who all pay an average of £114 per year in licence fees, insurance commissions and contribution to permit fees etc, you might want to ask what happens to that sum of well over half a million quid......

Road Racing – our part of motorcycle sport as a whole – contributes more cash to the ACU than all of the other disciplines combined, yet the budget that comes back into grass roots road racing never seems to reflect that.

I have often asked why that should be the case, but I have never received anything close to a satisfactory answer.

Boring? - Oh yeah!

For sure Trials riders vastly outnumber us, but they pay peanuts as an overall entity because a Trials registration is only £10 and their insurance commission contributions are measured in pennies rather than pounds. How many of them there are shouldn’t matter anyway as the ACU isn’t a “one man – one vote” organisation anyway and never has been. Whenever the subject of more funding for grass roots Road Racing comes up though, we are told that the huge Trials lobby won’t stand for it.

Our part of the sport is governed by the Road Race Committee, but how many racers, marshals or officials actually know who they are, what they do, or how they came to be given this authority over us?

Not many, is probably the honest answer.

Some members of the committee (just three) are elected on a rotational basis on a three yearly cycle by the clubs and organisations that held a permit for a Road Race event in the previous season. Of its nine members, only these three are actually elected, the remaining six being appointed without recourse to any open elective process. (see table) This raises two questions for me:1) Are the Road Race Committee doing enough to further the interests of the wider Road Race membership?

2) Do we have the right calibre of

people fighting for those interests?

You might well have your own questions, but my own honest answer to both of my own questions is a resounding “No”.

I don’t just say that as a casual outside observer, as I have attended the last 32 meetings of the Road Race Committee during the course of the last 9 years as an invited observer and I speak from experience. Not only is every meeting bogged down in the same old mundane routine drudgery, the very make up of the committee itself stifles any new thinking because the members all have their own business interests to protect.

In the absence of any real money on the table their natural default position is to maintain the status quo.

The whole Brexit scenario made me start to think about what it might be like for Road Racing to be free of the burden of paying for the other disciplines. Imagine what we could achieve if we had just half of that cash to put back into the sport every year.

Which really brings me to the point.

In order to get a better deal for the Road Racing clubs, you don’t have to have a complete divorce from the ACU – as despite a lot of their faults, they do also have many good points. Very much like the European Union, the ACU started out as an extremely laudable idea. It was, and is still purported to be, a Union of Clubs. So why can’t we ask for a greater degree of selfdetermination without being looked upon as trouble makers, or traitors to the cause?

I have mentioned before that the view that most people who frequent ACU House have of me is that “Crazy Dave just wants to pull the house down!” but that is a long way from the truth. I would actually like to use some of the £2.8 million that’s sloshing around in their bank account to fix the roof and make things better for the people who actually fund the sport – the riders, marshals and other voluntary officials.

No marshals, no racing - No racing, no marshals we’re all inter-dependant!

Getting new riders into the sport is one area that has needed attention for a long time, but what about keeping the riders that are already here happy too?

We need to do our best to ensure that we continue to cater for the people who are making the sport function – right here, right now!

Right now there are over 140 volunteers here at Oulton Park making this event happen in their roles as marshals, officials and administration personnel. There are also many times that number working within the paddock assisting riders as mechanics, pit crew and general helpers.

We need to be conscious of their needs and always be on the lookout for ways to improve the experience for everyone who has an input into the sport. Surely the easiest sale you’ll ever make is to the guy who is already here and happy with what you are providing. One of my pet hates is the way that banks offer new customers 0% interest and special deals for switching, when they are charging their existing customers £35 for changing their address. We should be very careful about that and never overlook the competitors that are here racing right now. Although some will go on to have careers in motorcycle racing, for the vast majority THIS is the end product and we must strive continually to make it as good as it can possibly be.

Member

Representing

Organisation

Process?

Dr Paul King Stuart Higgs Eddie Nelson Jim Hinchcliffe Mark Jessup Mike Dommett Jonathan Palmer Gillian Shedden ?Always absent?

ACU Non-Territorial Board MCRCB (m/cycle control board) ACU Centre Clubs ACU Centre Clubs ACU Centre Clubs ACU Non-Territorial Board MRPC (circuit promotors) AMRCO (circuit owners) MCI (m/cycle industry)

New Era MCC BSB Darley Moor Derby Phoenix EMRA BMCRC MSV Knockhill Never sent

Appointed Appointed Elected Elected Elected Appointed Appointed Appointed Appointed

If you look at how successful Thundersport GB has become, by actively promoting the sport and looking at things in a more modern and focussed way, you have to ask why that thinking cannot be applied to the whole sport. Sadly, we have had to

100% Buzzing! - Not Boring! accomplish that in the face of passive resistance from the old guard instead of the help and cooperation you might expect. Sometimes we don’t make that process any easier ourselves, because we don’t want to have endless meetings about meetings, we just want to get on with it and often that means going it alone.

The whole sport needs a “Yes” mentality and the days of “The Trials Lobby won’t stand for that!” being an acceptable answer simply have to be consigned to the past.

Anyone who doesn’t want to be a part of the solution is most definitely a part of the problem, so they need to move aside and give us some elbow room!

Hasta la Revolucion!

SOMETIMES.... ...LESS IS MORE!

THE APRILIA RRV450 - A MACHINE THAT SPANS THE AGES!

The APRILIA RRV450GP machine is without doubt one of the most desirable racing motorcycles in the world.

It combines the very best Italian styling with British innovation in one beautiful package.

Given the choice between a bland commuter machine that merely has body styling to ape its more exotic stablemates and something that is designed from the ground up to race, there really is no contest.

NEW for 2016, IN Competition have created a race kit that turns the Full Power RRV450GP into a 32bhp restricted variant that is suitable for 13 year olds to learn the craft of road racing on. The Aprilia RRV450R is a 50% power version of this already proven machine, designed to compete in the World renowned Aprilia Superteen Challenge - the Worlds longest running one make series.

Once the rider is ready to move on to a full power version, there is no need to sell up and start again, as IN Competition include the “Power Up” service in the original price of the machine. A few hours in the IN Competition workshop and the RRV450R becomes a full power RRV450GP ready for the next step on the racing career ladder.

APRILIA RRV450GP - (Full Power)

Engine - 449.5cc liquid cooled V-twin 4-stroke Gearbox - 5 speed with separate oil supply Frame - Steel & Aluminium composite Swing Arm - Box section aluminium with bracing Exhaust - Stainless steel headers with Arrow silencer Front Forks - 40mm upside down with billet yokes Rear Shock - Maxton bespoke monoshock Front Brake - 320mm floating disc with 4 piston brembo Rear Brake - 220mm fixed disc Front Wheel - 3.50 x 17 Marchesini Racing Lightweight Rear Wheel - 5.50 x 17 Marchesini Racing Lightweight Tyres - Dunlop Alpha 13 Lightweight Race Weight - 125 kg half wet Max Revs - 11,400 RPM Power - 64bhp at rear wheel

APRILIA RRV450R - (Junior Restricted)

Engine - 449.5cc liquid cooled V-twin 4-stroke Gearbox - 5 speed with separate oil supply Frame - Steel & Aluminium composite Swing Arm - Box section aluminium with bracing Exhaust - Stainless steel headers with Arrow silencer Front Forks - 40mm upside down with billet yokes Rear Shock - Maxton bespoke monoshock Front Brake - 320mm floating disc with 4 piston brembo Rear Brake - 220mm fixed disc Front Wheel - 3.50 x 17 Marchesini Racing Lightweight Rear Wheel - 5.50 x 17 Marchesini Racing Lightweight Tyres - Dunlop Alpha 13 Lightweight Race Weight - 125 kg half wet Max Revs - 9,000 RPM Power - 32bhp at rear wheel

KEEPING IT STUNNINGLY SIMPLE

for over 20 Years.

RST APRILIA CHALLENGE RRV450GP & RS125 SUPERTEENS

25

THE CHAMPIONS FACTORY

INNOVATION IN ACTION

DON’T BRING A KNIFE TO A GUNFIGHT!

Not unless it’s as sharp as a razor - and these RRV450s are exactly that. Ask any of the Supertwins frontrunners and they’ll tell you that if you leave a gap even as small as a front tyre going into any corner, you’ll find a whole Aprilia RRV shoved into it well before the apex of the turn!

When Aprilia created the SXV450 with its advanced composite frame and super-stiff swingarm, they couldn’t possibly have known that they were inadvertantly producing the basis for one of the very best middleweight sportsbikes in the world. It is often the case that when a bike of this kind is created with the sole purpose of winning races, it ends up being a little uncomfortable on the eye (that’s polite language for “pig-ugly”). Nothing could be further from the truth with Ian Newtons creation, the bikes are truly stunning to look at and they perform even better than they look. The bike was created to give our burgeoning talent pool of Superteens a place to learn how to ride a 4-stroke motorcycle that also demands high corner speed and accurate throttle control. The lessons they learn are then directly transferrable into the 600cc and 1000cc categories. The proof of how well this works is evident in the progression of many ex-RRV riders into the higher levels of the sport. In the past three seasons that “Where the hell did he learn to ride like that?” phrase has been used to describe Sam Wilford, James Folkard, Jake Dixon, Brad Jones and Ross Twyman who all stood on the podiums in their first ever appearances at BSB after graduating from the “Aprilia Acadamy of Excellence”.

Take your place at your favourite spot to watch these encounters and you’ll be amazed and entertained in equal measure. You can’t buy one for the road, you can’t buy one for track days, you can only buy one to race here - you can have one in any colour you like - as long as it’s black!

The Superteens will be sitting right behind these boys on the grid and they’ll be looking to see how the more experienced riders handle themselves. Soon enough though this crop of 12-15 year olds will be aboard the more powerful bikes themselves and they won’t be taking any prisoners.

The Aprilia Challenge is No Rider Hometown Team Machine cc Class THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ONE 3 Ben Ashcroft Warrington Ashcroft Racing Aprilia 450 ST MAKE SERIES IN THE WORLD! 6

Kasey Wyatt

Beckenham

Team Edge RST Racing

Aprilia

450

GP

9

Alex Taylor

Southwater

Scott Racing M/cycles

Aprilia

450

GP

13

Jake Clark

Bromsgrove

Jake Clark Racing

Aprilia

125

ST

14

Will Hodgson

Wigan

Ron Hodgson Cars

Aprilia

450

GP

16

Lee Harnett

Dublin ROI

Harnett Racing

Aprilia

450

GP

18

Jodie Fieldhouse

Worle

Go Pink Racing

Aprilia

450

ST

22

Zak Corderoy

Blewbury

Zak C Racing

Aprilia

450

GP

24

Max Lofthouse

Burnley

Lofty Racing

Aprilia

125

ST

26

Alex Wood

Shiptonthorpe

CWP Alex Wood Racing

Aprilia

450

GP

39

Connor Sellors

Nantwich

KJD Racing

Aprilia

450

GP

54

Sam Cox

Maldon

RSR Motorsport

Aprilia

450

GP

55

Jack Scott

Luton

JJ Racing

Aprilia

125

ST

58

Trystan Finocchiaro

Redditch

Transmec Group

Aprilia

450

GP

66

Rhys Irwin

Letterkenny ROI

Scott Racing M/cycles

Aprilia

450

ST

69

Caolan Irwin

Donegal

Scott Racing M/cycles

Aprilia

450

GP

73

Cameron Tenzing-Jenkins

Callander

JDF Racing

Aprilia

450

GP

77

Kade Verwey

Silverstone

Team XG Group

Aprilia

450

ST

78

Matthew Bower

Sheffield

MD Racing

Aprilia

125

ST

88

Harry Leigh

Hathern

KJD Racing

Aprilia

125

ST

89

Jamie Harnett

Dublin ROI

Harnett Racing

Aprilia

125

ST

93

Matty Rangeley

Hull

Humberside Excavations

Aprilia

450

GP

96

Conor Wheeler

Hatfield

JDF Racing

Aprilia

450

GP

97

Laurence Edgeley

Bolney

Team Edge RST Racing

Aprilia

450

ST

196

Jack Tynan

Reading

Tynan Dot Co Racing

Aprilia

450

GP

Aprilia RRV450GP Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Will Hodgson Sam Cox Zak Corderoy Will Caines Caolan Irwin Matty Rangeley Alex Taylor Jack Tynan Trystan Finocchiaro Conor Wheeler

240 207 195 192 190 189 153 122 113 105

Aprilia Superteen Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Kade Verwey Jack Scott Rhys Irwin Max Lofthouse Laurence Edgeley Jake Clark Connor Thomson Jodie Fieldhouse Matthew Bower Luke Verwey

288 285 272 179 166 156 137 108 78 76

CLASS LAP RECORDS Aprilia RRV450GP 1.47.632 - Sam Wilford Aprilia Superteens 2.00.288 - Chrissy Rouse

A&R RACING PRE-NATIONAL & SELCO FRESHMAN 600

27 13

PRE-NATIONAL 600 PASSION PUT INTO ACTION! INTO THE FIRE The world of motorcycle racing can be an intimidating place for newcomers. If you want to start on a 600cc machine, you’ll quickly discover that everyone else on the grid is a budding Axe-Murderer in the making. In order to ease the transition into this fiercely competitive category, we created the “Pre-National Sport 600” class for riders who have yet to gain a National Licence. It was originally made up of a mix of pure novices and riders who are generally in their second season of racing. It tends to work slightly better than a pure “Novice” or “Rookie” grid because the new riders have some slightly more experienced riders around them that they can learn from - rather than the fastest newcomer being left to his own devices. This is hugely beneficial when it comes to things like lapping slower riders, or dealing with temporary course changes such as lack of adhesion flags being utilised on parts of the track. Of course those things can be learnt by trial and error, but having someone who has done it before just ahead of you takes the guesswork out of it. New for 2016 is a “Freshman” category within this race, which is for riders on a Novice licence with very little experience.The bikes themselves are pretty much the same specification machines as those on the Sportsman Elite grid, but at this learning stage of the process any small differences are immaterial. As the season progresses some of these riders will become very polished and take part in the Sportsman Elite races as well in order to measure their progress. As with all 600cc production based formulae, the Pre-National 600 No Rider Hometown Team Machine cc CL Sport & Freshman classes races 6 James Buchanan London Empyrean Construction Yamaha 600 S on “Road-Legal” treaded tyres 10 Sam Holme Elvington Sam Holme Racing Kawasaki 600 S unless a “Wet Race” is declared, 11 Will Harper Desborough MSG Racing Suzuki Suzuki 600 S in which case tyre choice is free.

12 Nathan Bridgland Seddlescombe Bridgland Racing Yamaha 600 F There are no restrictions on the 14 Daniel Jones Solihull DJ Racing Honda 600 F brand of tyre used and all major 19 Lloyd Shelley Burntwood Access Bookings.com Triumph 675 S manufacturers are 23 Andrew Evans Carnforth Andrew Evans Racing Yamaha 600 F represented.

26 Andy Kewley South Cerney British Army Race Team Triumph 675 S 27 31 33 34 36 42 44 47 48 49 50 57 58 59 61 65 68 69 75 79 80 81 83 84 85 87 88 89 91 93 97 108 113 119 131 888

Brian Fuidge Martin Pawlak Chris Jones Chris Lavisher Frankie Stennett William Shaw Charlie White Zac Oultram Alex Laureys Mark Tomkinson Matty Whelan Martin Heaton Liam Warren Liam Hellewell Mark Smith Ashley Milburn Chris Manger Corey Wilson Tom Hill Nick Barnes Stephen Kimmings Stevie Elliott Ben Shuttlewood Ben Wotton Neil Goodson Tony Norris Adrian Harris Liam Dale Neil England Adam Gittings Sean Gascoigne Mathew Dawes Nige Pitt Alun Brooks Greg Scanlan Joe Lawrence

Poole Wittering Little Neston Newbury Bradden IOM Telford Southampton Manchester Balham Newcastle Barnsley Wigan Spalding Nottingham Yarm Swadlincote Leeds Barnsley Chesham Peterborough Orsett Exeter Leicester Sleaford High Wycombe Hull Burnley Bradford Newbury Manchester Telford Studley Bury Welshpool Reading Bolton

Royal Marines Motorsport RAF MSA CCR Racing LBR Racing FJRS Racing Shaw Twins Racing Royal Marines Motorsport Konect Racing APL Racing PP Racing Bennetts M/cycles MH Racing LW Racing CFS Racing THR Motorsport Cotton Racing Manger Bros Racing Willy Wilson Racing Unraceables Park Electric SK Racing Royal Marines Motorsport Ky-Jax Racing Wotton Racing Unraceables TNR Triumph Pendle Kitchens Barrett Steel Racing England Racing Selco Builders Suzuki Royal Marines Motorsport MD Racing Pittys Custom Vinyls Brooks Boyz Racing GS Racing Capital Lifting Racing

Suzuki Honda Kawasaki Triumph Triumph Kawasaki Triumph Yamaha Kawasaki Triumph MV Agusta Honda Yamaha Kawasaki Triumph Triumph Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Triumph Triumph Triumph Yamaha Triumph Suzuki Yamaha Yamaha Suzuki Yamaha Kawasaki Triumph Honda Yamaha Kawasaki

600 600 600 675 675 600 675 600 600 675 675 600 600 600 675 675 600 600 600 600 600 675 675 675 600 675 600 600 600 600 600 600 675 600 600 600

S S S S S S F S F S S F S S F S S S F S S S S S F F F F F S S S S F S S

Pre-National 600 Sport Points 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Lloyd Shelley Ashley Milburn Mathew Dawes Ben Wotton Liam Hellewell Adam Darnell Alex Laureys Matty Whelan Sam Holme Greg Scanlan

294 293 182 174 160 107 97 96 94 73

Pre-National 600 FreshmanPoints 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Alex Laureys Daniel Jones Liam Dale Andrew Evans Neil Goodson Alex Young Neil England Tom Hill Charlie White Luke Blackburn

229 227 188 172 128 112 99 87 86 84

CLASS LAP RECORD 1.43.008 - Jonny Towers

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THE MIDLANDS PREMIER MOTORCYCLE PERFORMANCE CENTRE

THE MIDLANDS PREMIER RACE & TRACKDAY PREPARATION / PARTS SPECIALISTS

THUNDERSPORT GB 2016 CHAMPIONSHIP DATES & VENUES DAY

DATE

LOCATION

EVENT

FRIDAY

19TH FEBRUARY

DONINGTON PARK

ACU-CTC COURSE

SATURDAY 20TH FEBRUARY

DONINGTON PARK

ACU-CTC COURSE

FRIDAY

4TH MARCH

BRANDS HATCH (INDY)

TESTING

SATURDAY 5TH MARCH

BRANDS HATCH (INDY)

INVICTA CHALLENGE

SUNDAY

BRANDS HATCH (INDY)

INVICTA CHALLENGE

6TH MARCH

SATURDAY 26TH MARCH

DONINGTON PARK (NAT) TESTING

SUNDAY

27TH MARCH

DONINGTON PARK (NAT) ROBERT FEARNALL TROPHY

MONDAY

28TH MARCH

DONINGTON PARK (NAT) ROBERT FEARNALL TROPHY

SATURDAY 30TH APRIL

SNETTERTON (200)

TESTING

SUNDAY

1ST MAY

SNETTERTON (200)

ACE OF CLUBS

MONDAY

2ND MAY

SNETTERTON (200)

ACE OF CLUBS

SATURDAY 28TH MAY

CADWELL PARK

TESTING

SUNDAY

29TH MAY

CADWELL PARK

KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

MONDAY

30TH MAY

CADWELL PARK

KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

FRIDAY

1ST JULY

OULTON PARK

TESTING/QUALIFYING

SATURDAY 2ND JULY

OULTON PARK

ADAM BOYLE TROPHY

FRIDAY

29TH JULY

ROCKINGHAM (INT)

TESTING

SATURDAY 30TH JULY

ROCKINGHAM (INT)

THUNDER AT THE ROCK

SUNDAY

ROCKINGHAM (INT)

THUNDER AT THE ROCK

31ST JULY

SATURDAY 27TH AUGUST

ANGLESEY COASTAL

TESTING

SUNDAY

28TH AUGUST

ANGLESEY COASTAL

MOTO SUPER-PRIX OF WALES

MONDAY

29TH AUGUST

ANGLESEY COASTAL

MOTO SUPER-PRIX OF WALES

FRIDAY

23RD SEPTEMBER DONINGTON PARK (GP)

TESTING

SATURDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER

DONINGTON PARK (GP)

DUKE OF DONINGTON

SUNDAY

25TH SEPTEMBER

DONINGTON PARK (GP)

DUKE OF DONINGTON

FRIDAY

14TH OCTOBER

CADWELL PARK

TESTING

SATURDAY 15TH OCTOBER

CADWELL PARK

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

SUNDAY

CADWELL PARK

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

16TH OCTOBER

All above rounds count towards the Thundersport GB Championship and Thundersport GB Cup for all classes.

01509 678888 www.thundersportgb.com www.apriliachallenge.net Dave Stewart - 07738 355186 jamiestewart9@googlemail.com Bernadette Stewart - 07711 721638 stewartbernadette9@googlemail.com Media/Sponsorship Enquiries Richard Day (Syd) – 07836 589666 / thundersportsyd@gmail.com

THUNDERSPORT GB - Come & Join Us! Thundersport GB 2016 Registrations are available from the Document Centre on the website.

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DAYTONA BEACH BIKE WEEK? Well not quite, but Rockingham is up next!

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Daytona and Indianapolis may be the worlds most famous ovals, but next month the Thundersport GB action will be at Europes fastest race track, Rockingham Motor Speedway!

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We may be having a USA style race, but we don’t like choppers do we?

Hang on a minute, let’s not be quite so hasty... choppers might have their good points!

...and of course, as usual, it will be our dedicated team of marshals & officials who keep things on schedule so that we can all have blueberry muffins at the end of the day.

COME & JOIN THE A-TEAM!

The sense of achievement at the end of a busy weekend is on a par with that experienced by even the most ardent adrenaline-junky rider.

If you’d like to find out more about becoming part of the team, just contact our Chief Marshal - John Pedersen (thundersportchiefmarshal@gmail.com) or Stuart Bailey our Chief Technical Officer (stubailey71@btinternet.com) or by using the link on the Marshals & Officials page of www.thundersportgb.com or leave your details in the Paddock Office and we will contact you.

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