BMC Racing

Just a quick shout out to Mike at BMC Racing, my bike is going back for some more work doing it and i'm sure it will be a missile when it comes back.

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Stay tuned for further updates

Si

3#

Race Bike Spec for 2009

As we've already started the ''09 season i should tell you what has happened to the bike over the winter.

The biggest thing cost wise has been the Magnesium Dymag wheels, they should save approx 2 kilos in weight but they will make far more of a difference with handling.

As for cost....well lets say i paid more for the wheels than i did the bike...

Other modifications as you can see are the rear lightweight sub frame, weighing in at just 800 grams its a massive saving over standard. Also the rear disc has been ditched for a light weight replacement which is half the weight of a standard one.

The things you can't see, well the biggest mod which has been done is a programmable CDI, giving the bike a few more horses, giving it a few extra revs and giving more bottom end. The differences were obvious on the track, pulling cleaner and harder through the Esses at Mallory.

The Figures

On the dyno at BMC Racing the bike is now reading 70.12 bhp at the back wheel, and now with the lightweight parts on the bike she is weighing in at 152 kg.

After racing the bike at Mallory as well as it was the bike was down on power to the top spec bikes, and seen as i have a competitive streak, i've decided to send the bike back to BMC Racing and do some further modifications.....

All will be revealed shortly......

Thanks to....

Just a big thanks to

Mike @ BMC Racing

Leon and Rod Jeacock

EMRA RD 1 (F400 Race 2)

After the confidence boosting first race i was feeling good, and looking forward to the race, even though i'd had some pain killers in the break for my shoulder.

We gathered on the line (i was now in 4th on the grid due to the results from the first race) and the lights changed.... i was swallowed up by the pack and stuck somewhere in 10th going into the first corner.

This was the complete opposite to the first race, i'd got a worse start but i saw a small pack breaking away (2nd,3rd and 4th) and i knew i had the pace to get upto them and hopefully battle for a top 3 position.

BUT as things go it wasn't to be, i had a few small problems with the gear change and finding false neutrals but as i said in the 1st race the slower bikes caused me no end of problems and slowed me down.

I finished 6th and to be quite honest i was really gutted, i felt that i missed out on a top 3 position but in the light of day this was my first meeting back since my shoulder operation and it was the first race with the bike that had quite a lot of new parts on it so all in all i should be happy but after the great qualifying position i felt gutted.

I'll now pick myself up, try and get my shoulder right and then see what the next meeting brings.

Thanks Si

3#

EMRA RD 1 (F400 Race 1)

Well this was my best starting position, and i knew i had to get a good start but i fluffed it, and probably down to 6th into Gerard's but i know i have quite a good race pace and knew i could claw it back.

After the first few laps things did stretch out a bit and i found myself behind a very familiar bright orange ZXR!

Although i knew it was quick in a straight line i could get passed and stay in front, i just had to keep an eye on the lines he was taking and keep pushing.

Luckily he ran wide going into the hairpin and i was into 4th, i managed to stay in front until the end but it was hard work as the slower bikes running in the same race were causing a lot of problems for everybody, and when your approaching corners 10 or 15 mph quicker than the bikes in front it becomes dangerous.

Anyhow i was happy with 4th and feeling positive about the second race

Mallory Park - EMRA RD 1

After all the waiting the season was finally underway, i was probably the most nervous i've been in a long time but although i was i felt my bike was better than it had been previous and all i needed to do was regain my confidence...

Qualifying...

Luckily i'd been able to use the Jeacock's awning (Thanks Rod and Tracey) and i was next to my mate James Simpson on his very orange and bloody quick ZXR 400 and we left the pits together and for the first 6 or 7 laps i was following him and we seemed to be going pretty well, i was struggling in a straight line against him but through the corners i was equal if not quicker and towards the end of the session i managed to get past him and i had felt really good on the bike, i'd had brand new rubber on the bike and it showed, the bike felt planted everywhere and i felt i could get the power on really early everywhere.

So...where did i qualify, to be honest i thought Simmo on his orange flying machine had gone quicker than me and i thought i would have done well to get in the top 8, but i looked at the time sheets and i was 3rd!!!

3rd on the grid and i'd not raced or really ridden a bike in 6 months, i was over the moon, i had done a 1:01.699

Not too bad but could do better..

Pictures from Mallory Trackday

Mallory Park Trackday 27-02-09

After 6 months or so i finally managed to get back in the saddle on a No Limits track day at Mallory.

I was feeling a bit nervous for obvious reasons but also felt excited, I'd had my to BMC Racing for a few odds and sods doing and most importantly the new cdi fitting, giving better pickup and also letting the bike rev a little bit higher.

I was looking to just get back into the swing of things and get some practice in, the first session felt awkward, the bike didn't seem right but i'd put that down to not riding a bike for such a long time.

The second session felt better and i was beginning to get into it more, get earlier on the gas and later on the brakes.

And then the 3rd session, everything felt really good, i was pushing a little bit harder and feeling more relaxed and comfortable, i could feel the differences in the bike too, the bike was pulling better, especially through the esses and also it was turning quicker, thanks to the Dymags and also the lightweight rear subframe and rear disc.

I did 3 sessions then decided to call it a day, i'd had good practice and did what i wanted to do but also my shoulder was aching and i didn't want to push my luck..

Roll on the 1st March....