News
Cadwell Park Race Reports
13th -14th June 2015
Thunderbike Extreme
Qualifying - Track Conditions Rain / Wet
Position 24th Overall 15th in class Best Lap 2:04.718
Race 1 - Track Conditions Rain / Wet
Position DNF Best Lap 2:00.291
Gear lever broke at the end of lap 5 while running 15th Overall and 9th in class
Race 2 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Wet
Position DNF Best Lap 2:15.026
Went out on Intermediate tyres and it rained during warm up lap
Race 3 Track Conditions Cloudy / Wet
Position 22nd Overall 15th in class Best Lap 1:59.562
Race 4 Track Conditions Cloudy / Damp
Position 12th Overall 10th in class Best Lap 1:48.403
Oulton Park Race Reports
29th -30th May2015
Thunderbike Extreme (Primary Class)
Qualifying - Track Conditions Bright / Dry
Position 19th Best Lap 2:02.000
Race 1 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 12th Best Lap 1:58.934
Race 2 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 13th Best Lap 1:56.796
Clubman Powerbikes (Secondary Class)
Qualifying- Track Conditions Bright / Dry
Position 35th 15th in class Best Lap 2:02.138
Race 1 Track Conditions Bright / Wet
Position 28th 11th in class Best Lap 2:05.468
Race 2 Track Conditions Bright / Dry
Position 29th 9th in class Best Lap 1:58.312
Silverstone Race Report
9th -10th May2015
Qualifying- Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 22nd Best lap 1:21.547
Race 1 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position DNF Best lap 1:22.744
Race 2 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 18th Best lap 1:21.533
Race 3 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 20th Best Lap 1:20.527
Snetterton Race Report
25th -26th April 2015
Qualifying- Track Conditions Rain / Wet
Position 19th Best Lap 2:44.010
Race 1 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Drying
Position 17th Best Lap 2:20.082
Race 2 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 20th Best Lap 2:17.434
Race 3 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 17th Best Lap 2:17.553
Race 4 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 18th Best Lap 2:16.787
Brands Hatch Indy Race Results
4th -5th October 2014
Qualifying- Track Conditions Cloudy / Damp patches
Position 21st
Best time 56.577 on lap 11 of 12
Race 1 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 22nd
Class Finish Position 14th
Best time 54.138 on lap 7 of 10
Race time 9:14.255
Race 3 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Damp
Overall Finish Position 27th
Class Finish Position 16th
Best time 56.905 on lap 8 of 9
Race time 8:54.240
Race 2 - Track Conditions Raining/ Wet
Overall Finish Position DNF
Class Finish Position
Best time 1:05.430 on lap 2
Race time
Race 4 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 22nd
Class Finish Position 14th
Best time 55.296 on lap 10 of 10
Race time 9:27.405
Snetterton 300 Race Results
6th -7th September 2014
Qualifying- Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 23rd
Best time 2:11.884on lap 5 of 6
Race 1 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 20th
Class Finish Position 14th
Best time 2:12:972 on lap 2 of 5
Race time 11:18.797
Race 3 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Damp
Overall Finish Position 25th
Class Finish Position 14th
Best time 2:14.461 on lap 6 of 7
Race time 16:00.779
Race 2 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 23rd
Class Finish Position 16th
Best time 2:13.713 on lap 3 of 5
Race time 11:18.662
Race 4 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 15th
Class Finish Position 8th
Best time 2:11.875 on lap 7 of 7
Race time 15:43.609
Brands Hatch GP Race Results
9th -10th August 2014
Qualifying- Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 32nd
Best time 1:50.237 on lap 3 of 6
Race 1 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 29th
Class Finish Position 15th
Best time 1:48:316 on lap 6 of 6
Race time 11:05.8199
Race 3 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Damp
Overall Finish Position 18th
Class Finish Position 11th
Best time 1:51.470 on lap 4 of 5
Race time 9:33.449
Race 2 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 29th
Class Finish Position 16th
Best time 1:45.758 on lap 5 of 5
Race time 9:05.441
Race 4 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 21st
Class Finish Position 15th
Best time 1:46.045 on lap 4 of 5
Race time 9:03.147
Cadwell Park Race Results
19th -20th July 2014
Qualifying- Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Position 26th
Best time 1:53.812 on lap 6 of 6
Race 1 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Wet
Overall Finish Position 18th
Class Finish Position 8th
Best time 2:01:108 on lap 7 of 7
Race time 14:19.881
Race 3 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 22nd
Class Finish Position 11th
Best time 1:50.977 on lap 2 of 8
Race time 13:09.086
Race 2 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 22nd
Class Finish Position 10th
Best time 1:51.604 on lap 7 of 7
Race time 13:18.948
Race 4 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 19th
Class Finish Position 12th
Best time 1:49.293 on lap 7 of 7
Race time 12:55.944
Oulton Park Report
23rd -26th May 2014
This week we do not have race results to post for the Oulton Park Weekend.
As you read the report the reason for this will become apparent.
The weekend did not get off to the best start when we awoke Friday morning to Heavy rain. The wet wheels were put onto the bike and as Paul left the garage the brake lever can back to the bar.
Returning to the garage the brake system was bled and found to have air in the fluid.
On checking before the second session the same thing occured.
The master cylinder and the brakes lines were replaced, new fluid was run through the system and was bled again.
The bike was ready to go on the first session after lunch and there was pressure in the system
The session was completed and the bike was feeling good over the lumps and bumps of Oulton.
Paul was feeling confident of a good weekend and maybe a move up into the top ten.
At the very end of the second session heading into the fast double apex Druids corner Paul suffered brake failure, Initially the lever came back to the bar again then the second pump of the brakes led to the front wheel locking.
The damage to the bike was extensive and there were some key components that the team don't carry as spares. It was not possible to source the parts and therefore Paul could not race the bike.
Analysis of the root cause has been carried out. A seal in one of the calipers had failed, this was allowing air and moisture into the system, this lead to one of the pistons sticking on. This lead to the pads dragging on the brake disc which in turn led to the brake fluid boiling causing the catasrophic failure.
Paul will be at the CVM event "The Gathering" in June and will return to racing in July at Cadwell Park
Silverstone Race Results
10th -11th May 2014
Qualifying- Track Conditions Cloudy / Wet
Position 13th
Best time 1:29.945 on lap 4 of 5
Race 1 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 11th
Class Finish Position 7th
Best time 1:19.863 on lap 5 of 6
Race 3 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 16th
Class Finish Position 10th
Best time 1:19.547 on lap 7 of 8
Race 2 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 16th
Class Finish Position 10th
Best time 1:20.215 on lap 2 of 5
Race 4 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 19th
Class Finish Position 10th
Best time 1:19.628 on lap 5 of 7
Snetterton 300 Race Results 26th -27th April 2014
Qualifying- Track Conditions Cloudy / Wet
Position 33rd
Best time 2:50.282 on lap 4 of 4
Race 1 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 20th
Class Finish Position 15th
Best time 2:24.639 on lap 3 of 5
Race 3 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 23rd
Class Finish Position 14th
Best time 2:18.414 on lap 4 of 5
Race 2 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 19th
Class Finish Position 12th
Best time 2:18.578.639 on lap 3 of 5
Race 4 - Track Conditions Cloudy / Dry
Overall Finish Position 18th
Class Finish Position 14th
Best time 2:17.383 on lap 5 of 5
The Chequered Flag
Pre-Season Angst
Welcome to the first of the articles by the rider Paul Bryant
After spending many years doing track-days with his mates in 2010 one of them suggested that it would be fun to try racing.
After a round or two of "I will if you will", Paul joined the British Motorcycle Racing Club (BEMSEE) and attended Rookie race school in February 2011.
Paul didn’t have a mountain of spare cash or a mega-rich title sponsor and being 45 he couldn’t exactly rely on Daddy to stump up the cash.
With this in mind his old Honda CBR600RR was converted from everyday road and occasional track-day use to full blown race machine.
The transformation took place in January 2011 in the living room of the house that he shares with his family.
For 4 weeks the sofa was pushed back, tarpaulin laid on the floor and a faint whiff of oil perfumed the air..
Braided brake lines were fitted, the front suspension had new progressive springs fitted and had new fork oil, the rear shock was replaced with a newer Showa unit, the coolant was removed and replaced with distilled water, the oil was changed, a shark fin was fitted to the swing arm, the sump drain plug, oil filler cap and oil filter were all lock-wired in place, a steering damper was fitted, a race fairing was fitted, numbers applied and a logo for the team was designed and stuck on, the side stand was removed finally the motorcycle was ready for rookie scrutineering.
Day two with BEMSEE are the rider ability sessions, small groups are given an instructor and over the course of the day they are assessed on their riding.
The instructors give advice on line and speed and gears, rest assured you may think you are the next Valentino Rossi but when you are going flat out, tucked in, eyes bulging they will come past you one handed, looking back at you indicating the line you should be on and gesticulating that you should be twisting the throttle not braking as you cross the start finish on the way into Paddock Hill (thanks Parks).
The final thing that you do as a large group is a practice start. You are allocated a grid position, and form up in the assembly area. Then you are flagged onto the grid.
At this point the nerves really start to build; it feels like a field full of butterflies have taken up residence in your stomach.
You stop on the grid and once everyone is formed up you are flagged away on the green flag form up lap.
At least when you are riding at 80% max you have something else to think about.
60 seconds or so later you are back on your grid slot, the tension builds again. It’s around now you think that your mate's idea to go racing is looking like a pretty poor one.
The marshal lowers the red flag and points at the lights……..The red lights come on……you build the revs to 10,000, make sure you are in gear one final time……..red lights off…let the clutch out as fast as you can without the front wheel swapping places with the back…change up….change up…phew….
OMG HERE COMES PADDOCK HILL WITH 28 OTHER GUYS THERES NO ROOM AAAAAGGGGGGGGHHH!
The first day of Rookie school was spent in the classroom being filled with information, vital not only for your own protection but for the safety of fellow racers and the hundreds of volunteers that come together to staff a race meeting with BEMSEE.
More on those unsung heroes in orange boiler suits in the future.
The briefings are given by racers and ex racers with tales that will fill you with dread, make you laugh, make you cry but above all teach you all you need to know to stay alive in what is, let’s face it, the hostile environment of a race track.
Admittedly the sport on the surface doesn’t appear as dangerous as it may have been in the early days, or even in the days in the 50’s 60’s and 70’s with hay bales the only thing between you and the abyss.
But on any given race weekend there is the potential for some very nasty things to happen.
Ask one of Paul’s mates who in trying to get off to a good start and get up the inside of him at Brands Hatch one weekend, flipped his bike and managed to run over his own foot.
Everyone who witnessed it said it was an incredible sight as his Triumph tried to make like a Saturn five.
Luckily Adam survived to race another day and the rogue machine did no more than leave its mark on the grid in a patch of oil that would shame Saudi Arabia.
Having completed all the briefings there is the fear of the ACU test, don’t worry though all the information you needed was supplied in such memorable ways you will remember all and ultimately pass.
Faith Fueled Racing Launch
The 12th of February 2014 saw the launch of Faith Fueled Racing.
The team was started in 2011 as 2 Wheels Racing. Having taken a break from racing in 2013 to assess their priorities and goals the team will return in 2014 as a full time Thunderbike Extreme Competitor.
The team will run a 1995 Honda Fireblade with Paul Bryant as the rider.
Lindsey Bryant will continue as race engineer, catering manager, general dogsbody and saint.
First Race News
The first event for the Thunderbike Extreme Class will be at Snetterton in Norfolk on the 26th and 27th of April.
The configuration of this circuit changed in 2011 and the new long 300 layout is popular with riders and spectators alike.
The Bentley straight is one of the fastest in the country and there are other challenging pieces of track.
The elevated viewing areas give fantastic sightlines enabling spectators to see lots of the action.
Lets hope the meeting isn't snowed off this year
