Cartagena Day3

Photo courtesy of SMARTFotos – www.SMARTFotos.co.uk

Wake up... Breakfast... To the Race Track... I could get used to this!..

Another good day here in Spain although it has been a bit on the cold side today – that certainly isn’t a complaint as it has been dry.

This morning we wheeled out an EVO spec bike – well type of....
New for 2010 in the British Superbike Championship is a (EVO) class where full superbikes have a stock engine rather than the FIM spec World Superbike version. The only difference between ours and an actual EVO bike is the electronics – we’re running a kit system rather than spending a few grand setting buying the control MOTEC system for the test.

I was pretty impressed with how it went – after only 6 laps I was only 0.6 off my full superbike time. It was certainly easier to ride and ride aggressively. It doesn’t bite back like the +20BHP engine!

I went back out on the Superbike this afternoon and it was obvious that the cooler track temp had affected grip levels – Yukio Kagayama had a BIG highside just in front of me a few corners later a BMW was in the gravel trap, then Gary Johnson landed on his head...

Fortunately all were ok but when the session was restart I did build up for a few laps.

Long story short – I did a string of 14laps all faster than I’ve ever done around here before, considering the cold & strong winds I’m pleased with how it’s gone.

The EVO v’s Full superbike is going to be tougher than I first thought!

Hell I don’t care just pass me a motorbike point me at a race track & I’m happy...

Adios mon amigos,

TT#21

Cartagena Day2

Day two done and dusted – the guys are still prepping the bike for tomorrow so a good time to update the blog...

Another good day on track, although it was a bit of a shaky start.
At the end of the first session the bike’s belly pan was full of water – coming from a broken radiator.

Without a spare I’ve gotta say I was worried it might have been an early end to our whole test...
Fortunately Padre Tunstall patched it up and we got out for a lap at the end of session two to check the old girl was holding her fluids!

After lunch we got the balance better with the bike set-up [a touch more ride height] & that combined with a fresh rear tyre got me down to lap times as fast as I’ve ever done around.
When I got clear track it was consistent at that pace too – I’m pretty happy with that for the moment and if the forecast rain holds off tomorrow I’m sure we’ll get underneath it pretty quickly.

There’s a lot of BSB guys/teams here and at the moment it’s difficult to judge who’s doing what, though it is fair to say Tommy Hill is going strong. I caught & passed Josh Brookes but I’d be surprised if I could do it so easily come Brands Round 1.

Feels like I’ve done some work today too – blisters on hands and muscles starting to feel it.
Gym work never prepares you totally – all part of the preseason testing process.

Absolutely loving it can’t wait to get back out there...

TT#21

Cartagena Day One

Great first day of testing here at Cartagena – Sunny, 23deg’s and a dry track – we couldn’t have asked for better.

Any race bike always feels fast after a long layoff and this year is no different – it takes a bit of time to get your brain up to speed and judging speed and distance on a superbike takes a type of focus you don’t get in the gym.

Needless to say it’s fantastic to be back on a race bike after six months – I got back into it fairly quickly and we started to work on our test plan – starting with riding position.
It was a case of going backwards to go forwards – initially it didn’t feel too good and it pushed the front too hard but we changed the balance and I was able to get the time back down plus we know it certainly has the potential to go faster.

I’m only around a second off my fastest lap around here and considering we’ve been using old/part worn tyre today I’m happy with how it’s going.

The day flew by – now fed & watered time for some kip [& hopefully dreams of warm race tracks!]

Buenas Noches

TT#21

Finally getting on track... just about

Finally getting on track... just about

It feels like it’s been a long winter but finally it’s nearly time to climb into my leathers and swing my leg over the race bike again... I can’t wait.

I’m sat here typing this in the Cartagena Circuit Restaurant waiting for the Van to finish its 1500+mile trek from Yorkshire to southern Spain.

I got here yesterday evening and flew into Murcia. A warm welcome maybe but it was hammering done with rain.

Nearly started the trip with a bit of good old fashioned stalking as according to twitter 7-times Tour De France Winner Lance Armstrong landed at the same time and his “Radio Shack” team car was outside the airport doors. If it wasn’t for the rain I’d have given him a pester!
Aquaplaning the hire car [including bow wave] a few times on the way to the hotel wasn’t quite what I expected but fingers crossed the weather will be on our side...

Once the van arrives we’ll get the pit set up and bike prep’d for tomorrow – the sun is out now & hopefully it stays with us for the following 4 days when we’re on track!

I’ll keep the blog updated and you can also follow what’s happening on twitter...
TT#21

Tunstall and Doodson Motorsport confirm British Superbike Entry

Yorkshireman Tom Tunstall is raring to go in 2010; with the backing of leading specialist insurance broker Doodson Motorsport he has confirmed his place on the illustrious BSB grid.

Widely recognised as the most successful motorsport championship in the UK, British Superbikes is also the leading domestic championship in the world. With new & innovative rules & regulations for 2010 and an ever growing grid the series looks set to continue its strength & popularity - once again enjoying live television coverage.

Racing the Doodson Motorsport Honda Fireblade, from their Huddersfield base, team owner and rider, Tunstall is eager to move pre-season preparations onto the race track;

“We’re very pleased that the Doodson Broking Group is stepping up to be title sponsor, part of their continued commitment to motorcycle sport. We’re looking to repay them with our efforts both on and off the track.

“We made some great progress with the new CBR1000RR and I’m happy to have the consistency with the bike. We’ve now got a year’s worth of data and along with some further developments we should hit the ground running.

“It feels like it’s been a long winter and I’m thrilled to get things confirmed and to be on the Superbike grid.

With the revised format of the Privateer/Evo classes for 2010, the Doodson Motorsport Team are planning to test both specs during their initial tests.

Tom added:
"As we already have our Superbike spec engine which has been developed over winter, it makes sense to also try a stock engine to give a reference for the EVO spec. We'll then be able to evaluate our options for 2010 and make an educated decision on which route suits our team"With Motorsport forming only part of their insurance service portfolio, which also includes corporate insurance, Doodson are pleased to be once again part of the British Superbike Championship for a third year in succession.

Managing Director Neil Clayton commented:

“It is great to be involved with Tom again in 2010 and taking over the title sponsorship of the team further demonstrates our commitment to invest back into motorsport. We are a growing presence in UK 2 wheeled and 4 wheeled motorsport and with our knowledge of the sport, teams, governing bodies, suppliers, manufacturers and riders should all have the confidence we provide the right products supported by a 24/7 service.

“This means we are available when we are needed most. Our commitment to invest in the sport continues and you will see brand in more and more places. We see Tom as a great ambassador for the company and we hope the results for the team in 2010 reflect all the hard work of the team over the past year”

Following the team’s two Spanish tests in early March, the Doodson Motorsport Team plan to complete a number of single date UK tests before the much anticipated 2010 British Superbike Championships kicks off, with the first of the 12-event calendar taking place at Brands Hatch in Kent over the weekend of the 3^rd - 5^th April.

Nov 09

Photo Courtesy of LondonBikers.com

I’ve been out of action for the last week with a severe case [is there are other type?] of full blown man flu, I’m starting to come round now but my heads still a bit spaced from blowing my nose too hard and cold turkey withdrawal from Lemsip...

Now I’ve got this month’s excuse for spelling and grammar out of the way...

It’s been a busy month, and feels like a lot more than five weeks since the season finale at Oulton.

The last round went pretty well for us. Like Silverstone [see previous blog] the progress continued and was pretty clear.

Compared to the earlier meeting at Oulton Park in May I knocked a pretty hefty 2seconds a lap off my times. Racing a bit further up the pack with the likes of Gowland and with Mason, Richards, Walker [and even Ellison??] in sight, plus finishing the season only a handful of seconds off a top ten finish bodes well.

The improvement came from getting a consistent base set-up to work from, using set-up to find ways to make the bike easier to ride, and it sounds strange but I’m still learning how to get the best from a Superbike.

Oulton is a physical circuit especially on a superbike – back in May each run on track was equivalent to a very strenuous gym session, it was basically a wrestling match for 45mins and the winner [fortunately not by knockout] was the bike. But with the bike working with me this time it made so much difference. You can focus on riding; it’s safer, faster and easier [don’t get me wrong it’s still physical though!].

For me as the team owner [as well as rider] the season never really finishes – it just changes its form. Now the hard[er] work begins – securing support and funding for 2010...

We’ve had a pretty good year, some good results, got plenty of coverage, and made sure our sponsors were happy, but it’s never “easy” especially in the current climate.

Regarding 2010 the plan is clear - to continue our fantastic progress in British Superbikes. With the demise of the privateer’s cup, our homes for the past seasons things are open at the moment.

I’m not “entirely” sold on the new “EVO” class, but that’s a whole different story/blog. I’m trying to keep an open mind for the moment and my soap box securely under wraps!

Apart from the phone calls and emails RE: 2010... we had our bike [and me] on our sponsors Doodson Motorsport Insurance stand at the recent Dirt Bike show. I wasn’t sure how it would go down or what the interest would be like.

I was pleasantly surprised, although I guess I shouldn’t have been when I think that nearly all racers have come from a trials or motocross background and there’s a lot of crossover and interest in each other’s sports. Plus a set of slick tyres were a bit of a novelty.

By the end of it I’d lost my voice which I’d initially put down to harping on about bikes but turned out to be the old man flu.

Now my voice is on its way back I do a mean impression of a Yorkshire Mariella Frostrup which isn’t going to pay next year’s bill so now - it's back on the phone....

Speak soon

TT#21

Silverstone >>>> Oulton Park

Photo Courtesy of LondonBikers.com

Right now we are on the run up to the final round and coming off the back of a pretty good round at Silverstone.

We just missed out on the Cup pole position by 0.1seconds in qualifying, but still in front of the likes of Gary Mason, Karl Harris, and Michael Rutter. We ended up 5th in race one and 3rd place in race two. Strangely it was the race one result I was most please with.
Only a couple of seconds off Mason at the flag is the closest I’ve got to the man this year in the dry and that was with a front tyre that was completely shot by half race distance.

It’s a strange thing racing with no front grip – when the rear grip goes you can play with the throttle to control it and in fairness its good fun.
But the front tyre? Especially peeling into corners like Copse & Bridge at 100/120mph with the front washing out more and more each lap whilst still pushing on to catch the riders ahead takes some doing. And the ability to ignore you survival instinct kinda helps.

Progress in measure in different ways and with my lap times being two seconds a lap faster than last year it was pretty clear were going the right direction.
And so onto Oulton Park this weekend and the season finale – as usual it’s with mixed emotions I head to the final round of the season in Cheshire this weekend.
Its a shame as the season seems to have flown by and it has been a tough year on and off the track and i feel we’ve still to show our full potential – and yes i know only three more chances [races] this year!

The final race is scheduled to start at 16:45 on Sunday... Mid October... Oulton Park, I just hope there’s still enough light to see where we’re going under the trees!

Hopefully see you all there,

TT#21