Sharing the back page of MCN with Rossi,Toseland and Tommy Hill

This is me on the back page of MotorCycleNews pictured here changing the odd tyre at Thruxton from this year at British SuperBikes

Sponsorship

As pretty much everyone knows its a tough job affording to go racing.

I'm writing to ask for help with sponsorship so i can continue to go racing and continue my improved start to my short racing career.

I've shown that with a little bit of practice that i can finish top ten and even top 3.

If you can help in any way, by that i mean from money for entry fees, engine work, tyres or just oil and consumables

All help and contributions will be very much appreciated and if you were to invest a small amount into this project you will get a space on my bike for advertisement and you will get a frequent mention on theis site

Thank you very much

Simon Edmondson

For any information or if you can help me in anyway

contact me at

simon544@msn.com

Race 2 - Plum Pudding

I need to practice my starts, the 2nd start was awful again, even though i made up a few places going into the first turn, the track wasn't bone dry so i'd kept my wets on, a 400 your not really going to rip the tyres up as they've not got the power of the bigger bikes.

I felt more comfortable in this race and settled in pretty much straight away picking off quite a few bikes in the first few laps.

Only problem with these races is that 6 laps round Mallory isn't a lot for such a small circuit but i suppose for Boxing Day you can't complain.

I had picked up the pace quite well but the bikes in front were the start/finish straight in front, so i kept going and crossed the line in what i thought was 5th place.

When i went to collect the results sheet i saw i was in 3rd!!!!!!

RESULT!! i had a bit of luck in the front two bikes taking each other off but i wasn't bothered, i'd got my first top 3 finish!

WELL CHUFFED!!!!!!

Race 1 - Plum Pudding

After a long year of tuning the bike and getting everything as good as we could i was pretty confident of a good result, especially as the Supermoto's had been put in there own race.

The track was wet and it was pretty cold, but even so, starting from 24th i thought i'd do pretty well.

Red lights went out and it was go, YET AGAIN another terrible start (i really need to sort these starts out!) but i was moving through the field, it was a 6 lap race and i knew that a good start was needed but even so i was working my way through the field.

This was only the 2nd time i'd ridden on wets and wasn't doing too bad, a few bikes had past me in the first few laps but now my tyres were warming up and was starting to get grip.

With a few laps remaining i'd re passed the bikes that had come by and i was going well, round the hairpin and through the bus stop and i'd finished in 5th place. I was pleased with that as i'd started so far back

Plum Pudding Race

The 2nd year in a row i raced on Boxing Day in The Plum Pudding Races at Mallory Park.

Weather wasn't the best to start with but it was a pretty decent day weather wise and i managed to get another signature on my race license.

The day was set out with the cars, bikes and sidecars all racing in different classes.

I had 3 races and i was in with anything from 125 scooters upto 500cc Manx Nortan.

Video of the Dyno run

Bike finally on the dyno

Well finally managed to get the dyno running at work and got my bike on there, i was pleasantly surprised to see the power output but i suppose after the time,work and effort John had put into the engine it should have been expected. Also if i would have had some more money i could have had a bit more.

Rob did about 10 runs in all measuring different things, trying out the dyno and settings etc, but we managed to get a an average reading of about 63 bhp at the back wheel, which he told me was an SAE reading, and this was an accurate one, he said the UNCORRECTED reading was 68 bhp @ the back wheel but this wasn't really accurate, he also said that when he worked on the NC35's of FOGGY and HIZZY the HRC ones had 72 @ the back wheel so for the money that's been spent on the bike its very respectable.

So it's another big THANK YOU TO

JOHN QUAIL - for all the time, effort and general care he's taken in the bike, thanks a lot, it is a great bike you've built hopefully we can go win some races and get some return on your hard work!

Oulton Park Trackday

A pic from Oulton Park, had a slow start to the day but got used to the track. Took a few sessions to get into the swing of things but didn't do too bad, Managed a time of 2 min 04 but it was bloody cold and when your on track against 1000cc bikes and 600's its difficult to try and gauge yourself but im sure with a few more laps i'd be knocking a few more seconds off the lap times....

Seen as the season has all but finished i needed to get back on the bike, i need track time and as much as i can if i'm going to try and do my best next year, plus i also need try and get fit, the last time out at Mallory showed just how unfit i am and that i could have done better in the race if i had been more physically fit. So hopefully this trackday will help and i'm trying some new gearing.





Trackday on Saturday 17th Nov with Focused Events

F400/F600 Race

View from the banking at Devil's Elbow

Going Through The Bus Stop

F400/F600 Race

Race 2 F400/F600

Ok then this was going to be more of a race, i knew i could get up there and mix it with the lads that had been running top 5 all year even though this is the 4th time I've ridden the bike in 12 months.

We gathered in our grid positions, i was 31st out of 33 and knew i had my work cut out to get anywhere near the front runners, i mean the front runners in the 400 class, there were quick guys on 600's an i knew they would prob lap me at some point. Anyway the lights went out and for the first time i got away well, picking places up on the straight, then in to Gerrard's and i was passing people on the outside and i had good drive on to the back straight down to Edwina's, I'd picked up maybe 5 or 6 places in half a lap!!

Things were getting better as i slowly got quicker and quicker picking off more riders and the odd 600 as well, i was into maybe the 7th or 8th lap when i had a battle on my hands, a VFR 400 had tried passing my twice going in to Edwina's but I'd definitely slammed the door in his face, i was getting more and more tired though at this point and round to Edwina's once again where just when i thought about the same guy passing me he was along side and there was no way i could have kept him at bay.

By now i was getting bad arm pump and really showed how unfit i was, as hard as i was trying i couldn't go any faster i was just to tired, so i just settled in and tried to keep the pace up for the last few laps.

I'd given as much as i could and i was well and truly knackered! I'd tried my hardest and finished 22nd overall, and 5th in class. I was a bit gutted I'd not finished higher but seen as these guys have been racing all year i was chuffed deep down. I'd also posted a good lap time of 1:01.330, this was my fastest time of the day and I'd proved to myself that i could run near the front, i was filled with confidence can't wait to get back on the bike again.

Practice 2 F400/F600

After my first practice i had a second with F400/F600, which was a lot better for me as i felt more comfortable and could gauge things a lot better for the race with me practicing with similiar powered bikes.

I set off in the practice and instantly got into the groove and felt quicker and quicker, then coming through Edwina's then hard on the gas when the back end just broke away and before i knew it i was staring at the front wheel, then i managed to get back on the seat and away i went, for a split second i thought, ''SHIT'' i was lucky to get away with that one, after that the rear tyre felt to be sliding a lot more, i did about 3 more laps and came in, i checked the rear wheel and the tyre was scrap, i had been running an Sc1 compound (soft) but only had the option for a 2 (medium) but needed it so that was that. After the practice i was 20th out of 26 on track posting a time of 1:02.413

Alamo Race Standings

Race 1 - The Alamo Racing Trophy

Right then i had nothing to lose, i was against bigger,faster bikes and more experienced riders but i didn't care i knew if i could get a decent start i could keep with a few of them for a lap at least!

The red light came on and then off, it was go! i made a mess yet again of my start, and within a blink of an eye i was dead last....bugger! Oh well i thought id just get my head down and see what i could do, round Gerrards and down to Edwina's, id been getting faster through there in practice and felt i was holding a good line and good speed, so through i went and through the Esses and up to the hairpin, i was hard on the brakes and took about 40 foot out of the guy in front on what looked like a Fireblade, i was gaining slightly on him, down the straight then round Gerrards again and up to Edwina's, where the two guys in front must have had a bit of an incident cos one of the 2 went straight on at Edwina's and i wasn't last anymore....well for now anyway.

Through the bus stop and down the start finish and I'd not been passed...i thought the guy behind must have had a problem with his bike because he'd not passed me on the straight. Through the next lap and still no one had passed then me thinking he was in the pits he passed me going up to Edwina's on the brakes.....it was inevitable but i battled on all the same. Now was the time i knew the guys winning would be coming up to lap me so i had one eye on the Marshall's waiting for the blue flags to come out when on the start finish 2 bikes passed me at warp speed, so i decided to try and learn a bit from them, their lines etc, i was equally fast going through Edwina's but an R1 with 170 or so bhp is going to leave me for dead on the power, so a few more past going up to the hairpin, i looked over my shoulder and took a wide line round the hairpin trying not to get caught up with any faster bikes. One thing i did learn is as i was riding round the bus stop, you could see the faster guys powering on as soon as you flick it right.

Now it was all about getting track time, so i felt i was getting faster when as i rounded Gerrards for the 10th time (these were 12 lap races) someone had gone down and it was red flagged, i had been lapped twice but id enjoyed the track and learnt something so i was really confident for my next race which would be a lot more even. I had finished last but my fastest time wasn't that far off the guy in front who was on a 1000cc bike. Roll on race 2!!

Race Of The Year

Sunday the 21st of October was Race Of The Year and i was on the same bill, i raced in the Alamo Trophy, and the F400 class. The weather was perfect especially for the last week in October, it was a bit chilly first thing in the morning but when the sun came out it was quite warm, so plenty of grip.

To be honest id entered in the Alamo Trophy not really knowing who or what kind of bikes would be in there, so i was a bit apprehensive to see that it was full of 1000's and 600's, some of which had raced or were racing at national level.......oh well i had nothing to lose so went out in first practice to get a feel for the bike, id completed nearly a full lap when i came out of the bus stop and the rear of the bike was all over, it felt like a flat tyre so i coasted to the end of pit lane and pulled in, it felt serious so needed to stop as soon as.

I pulled in and Rob and John were there (Rob was chief engineer at Foggy Petronas and works at BSB with us, John tuned and has basically built the bike you see today) to cast an eye on proceedings, Rob saw straight away that the rear hub was loose.......DOH!!! id adjusted the chain the previous day and forgotten to tighten it. It was a mad dash back to the truck, where rob and john did a great job to adjust the chain and tighten everything back up so i still had a few more mins to get some laps in, i duly went out and posted my fastest time at mallory, id done a 1:02.702 which put me 20th on times, beating some 1000's in the process which gave me confidence going into the race.

I was 17th on the grid and i thought i was last , but no there were late entries and there were about 3 or 4 bikes behind me.......this was lambs to the slaughter!!

Working my way through the field in race1

Going for it in race 1

Trying hard in race 2

Race 2

Well after the first race i was full of confidence, i was learning the track and and the weather was improving, it was now dry enough to put dry tyres on and this time i was gonna go for it. I was now starting from 24th on the grid so was looking for a decent result
The lights at club racing change from Red to off, its a 5 second delay, i should have learned that by now but again i got a terrible start, i seemed to go backwards, round the first fast right through the left then braking hard into the right hander, i thought i was picking up places on the inside of a few when somebody else came on the inside of me so i had to stand the bike up as i did that the front end of the bike was nearly taken off, i had lost quite a few places and was really pissed off.
Anyhow with the bit between my teeth i was back on it slowly picking places up, i had worked my way up to about 25Th and was in a bit of a tussle with another Honda and a Kawasaki.Both had more power but i was so much faster through a lot of the slower corners i just couldn't get past the Kawasaki, and after a few lap me and the other Honda were swapping places frequently.
We came past the start/finish for the final time and i knew this was the lap, the Honda and Kawasaki were both in front but round the first corner and i gained about 10 yards on them, round the 2Nd corner and i was on them both, hard on the brakes and i was past the Honda, through the next left then right and it was hard on the throttle and i was really close to the Kawasaki, now round the really fast right hander at village and i just couldn't get past, so the run up to Church and this is the fastest corner in the country, i just couldn't get past, so now it was the chicane before the start finish, i remembered the guy behind so i drifted to the middle of the track to hold what i though would be a defensive line, past the 200 board then the 150 now hard on the brakes, i wasn't getting past the guy in front then the guy behind had come up the inside and that was it, there was no way to get back past, over the start finish and that was it, a thrilling race well for me anyway.
I'd thoroughly enjoyed the day and it was so good to get back in the seat, a MASSIVE thanks to John for preparing the bike, she ran sweet as a nut and sounds awesome, cheers m8 for all your hard work and time and effort to get me on the bike, CHEERS!

Limbering up for Race 1

Hard on the gas in race 1

In deep thought, ready for race 2

Warming the engine ready for race 2

Thruxton 29-09-07

Well i managed to stay on the bike both races and the engine stayed in one piece as expected. The weather was a bit unsettled but by the second race was dry.

Race 1

Well i managed the morning practice fairly easy enough and it didnt take too long to learn the track, i followed a few other riders and got a feel for the rain tyres i had put on, it was the first time in 9 months since i had raced the bike and the first time ever i had ridden on rain tyres, so i was a bit nervous to say the least....

Practice had been and gone and i now had to wait for the race, the weather was misersable early on but the temperature was getting up and the track was drying, this made things a bit tricky as i was still unsure on what tyres to use. It was about half hour from my race and thought id stick with rain tyres even though it was drying out but i had no way of telling by how much, one of those gambles i suppose.

The lights went red and then out it was go......well i made a real hash of the start and from the start i had gone backwards from 28th to near last, throught the first few fast corners then i started to get myself together, finding a good line and getting a bit of rythem, the track looked pretty much dry all the way round, well there was a dry line, and i tried to keep on it, i knew the rear tyre would last and the front felt really good even though i had felt it moving around early on.

A few laps had been and gone and i felt relaxed and in a rythem, the bikes in front were getting closer and my confidence grew, i was beginning to reel the bikes in front in and i only had a few laps left.

I knew where i was faster and was getting faster lap by lap, by now the tyres were moving around quite a bit but i was loving it the feel of the bike was great and i was getting to know the track and where i could make up time.

By now the last lap flag was out and i was on a mission to make up a few places, we rounded the 3rd then 4th corners and was now on the fast parts of the track i rounded village then on to church corner and i had really good drive,i was in about 30th position and i could see a gaggle of bikes closing in, there was the long run down to the chicane and i was gaining all the time, past the 300n yard marker and the bikes in front seem to shut off, within the next 150 yards i had passed about 6 bikes on the brakes and was into the final chicane, out on to the start finish and it was all over, what a final lap, i had finished 24th out of 35, and had set the 13th fastest lap time which i was well chuffed with..... Roll on race 2......

Finally my comeback race

Its taken too long but its finally here, im down to race at Thruxton on the 29th of Sept with North Gloucester Club and i cant wait for it.

Its goin... g to be a one off ride at the fastest circuit in the country, which prob isnt the best place to run a new engine in but who cares, im finally going to get out on track and see how the new engine performs and an extremely fast circuit and with some fast club riders.

Keep watching this space for pictures and a full race report

Foo Fighters - Everlong - Live Earth

Fly by @ Croft

Ready to go.....almost..

Well after months of struggling to find time to work on the bike, the engine is now finally built and in the frame. The carbs just need to be fit and touch wood the bike should be up and running.
It feels an absolute age since it ran and since i was on it which it has, it's almost 7 months!!!
But now things will hopefully get a move on and i can get out on the bike and set it up to suit me, maybe i'll race this year im not sure, i might just write this year off and do some testing and go at next year full on.
#watch this space and we'll see what happens in the coming weeks

Thank you..

A quick thank you to HEL for the brake line kit for my bike, they look awesome and im sure will help towards in doing well this season.....thanks again

All HEL products inc brake lines and radiators can be purchased from www.complog.co.uk

Update....

Well i've got my heads and block back from skimming, now all i need are the gaskets some elbow grease, johns help and the engine should be back together, i cant see me racing until possibly mid april but id rather the bike was running well than not how id want it, im just hoping everything runs smoothly and i can possibly get some track time maybe in the not too distant future and get some valuable testing done maybe not so much the engine but definitely the suspension.. heres hoping....

Si

Just a bit of an update really, the heads and block have been sent to Bladon Brothers for skimming, and should be back within a few weeks, it feels an absolute age since i rode the bike and now i just cant wait to ride it again and especially with another 10-15bhp

Just hope i can out on a track day before too long to get back in the swing of things

bye for now

Si

Bike awaiting the tuned engine

A quick shout out to my trusty mechanic!

Just a quick shout out to John Quail (shown here at the 2004 Manx GP) for all his time and efforts in tuning my engine, the Nc 35 is currently in the hands of John who has spent hours on end porting and generally preparing the heads and block for skimming.
So cheers pal for all your efforts and i hope i can show you how well the bike can go on track.

Pictures from Bike Sport News

I managed to get pictures from BSN on the write up of the race from Mallory on Boxing day and yes you can see me in the back ground too!!!!!

Just removed waiting to be done

As you can see this head has just been removed and the ports have carbon deposits, it might only think there's a small amount of work to be done regarding porting this head but going of the last head and the way that John takes pride in his work i think at least a full days work maybe slightly less to get it ready to go for skimming

Awaiting skimming

The pic shows how the ports have been ground out and cleaned up, all thats needed now with this head is the valves being ground into the seats and the head skimming

Engine Tuning

Well after only one race i've decided that im going to need more horsepower, i was riding the bike round Mallory as hard as i could and i managed a 13th place, i just thought that with more power i could definitely be top 10 and hopefully finish on the podium in the occaisional race, i know i was racing against a mixture of bikes but i know i could have done a lot better with a bit more power.

After several conversations with my now resident mechanic John Quail we came to the conclusion that we could get more power from the motor without affecting the reliabilty, the only initial problems he thought there would be would be the gear driven cams and until he took one of the rocker covers off he then realised it wouldn't be a problem, he estimated we could get another 10 horsepower with porting and skimming the heads and skimming the block, that would bring the total power upto approx 70 horsepower. So tuning has already begun, both heads are now off the block and with one head already ported the rear head is waiting the same treatment then the rest of the motor will be stripped and cleaned then the block and both heads will be sent away to be skimmed.

Hopefully the work will be completed in the next 6 weeks and back in the bike, then its onto the dyno to see if everything is setup right, then eventually i can find a track day to see how she goes, and hopefully then be ready for the start of the season on March 31st / April 1st at Croft.

Fighting my way through to a good 13th overall

On my way to my first finish!!!

Chasing down a supermoto