Well it’s been a while!......

.... Since I’ve had a go at bump starting the old blog again...

To be fair there has been a good amount for me to harp on about this season, but consider yourselves lucky as I’m not going to dredge back into the season, whine about the problems and gloat about the successes. So I’m not going to mention anything about the run of podiums we’ve had...

Neatly that run took a break at the last round at Knockhill [known affectionately to some as Jockhell – me NOT one of them]
It seems to becoming a traditionally eventful trip to Scotland and weather always seems to play its part.

Apparently in 2006 [I wasn’t there to verify this] people in the paddock talk about that year as if it was a mythical and wondrous time. With scorching temperatures, no rain, and a bright yellow light in the sky that gave heat and made your skin go a bronze colour!

After the flooding of last year, when ironically there was hosepipe ban!?! And the heavy showers this year I think people are either making it up. Or they’ve become delusional, after running out of dry footwear/socks, and suffering from either trench-foot or hoof-rot.

Personally I enjoy the place; for sure I would be happier if it didn’t take about six hours to get there maybe some cargo planes can be chartered for next year? The track although small has got a real character to it and the race fans that make the trip are certainly keen and committed. Almost as a confirmation of Charles Darwin’s evolution theory some have adapted over time to the “different environment” of knockhill [see the photo above].

Talking of evolution I’ve finally managed to get rid of a pair of “Cankles” I’d developed. In case you don’t know what a Cankle is, it’s when a person’s CAlf merges with their aNKLE – often seen on people who have been challenged in the weight department.
For me it was a combination of impaling my right leg on a fence when out running [long story] and after getting a wasp up my left trouser leg left me with one calf with fluid [and stitches] and the other swollen.

Now I cut I slight figure! And having been described as “narrow gutted” by a former work-mate you can imagine it wasn’t a good look. Alas the story has a happy ending as both legs are back to normal, twig like size. But I have been left with a 5inch scar and in the words of Bart Simpson, apparently “Chicks dig scars” so it aint all bad.

And that’s the end of this blog...

I hope you enjoyed it. If not I can only apologise, as that’s a few minutes of your life you won’t get back!!

Until next time....

Ta ta,

TT#21

Weather, Wrestling, and a Riddler Costume? It’s all here....

Now we’ve finally got the first round of 2008 done there aint no more excuses for not kick starting the old blog again....

It’s been a weird start to the season with mother nature seeing fit to throw some snow at any racetrack we took the bikes to....

That combined with the inconsistent weather at brands & thruxton means I could do with some more track time away from a race meeting to dial in the new suspension.

In fairness we did get a few days in Spain but that was well over a month before brands and although it was brilliant to blow the cobwebs off – it felt like they’d come back when we got to brands.

It wasn’t till we got to thruxton that it really became a problem – for some reason the new forks just didn’t want to play at that type of track – in the wet it was ok but the dryer the track got the harder it was to keep the bike on the tarmac....

Believe me there is nothing more frustrating than riding a race bike that doesn’t want to play – race one just felt like a wrestling match...

In the yellow corner, weighing in at 70kg featherweight racer Tom Tunstall.....
In the blue corner, at 165kg and over 200BHP undefeated heavyweight Honda Fireblade...

There was only going to be one winner and it wasn’t me... each lap felt like pulling teeth – being passed by riders I can normally run rings round and watching them pull away while I was just making the blisters on my hands bigger.

Luckily in between races me and the bike made friends after I made a peace offering of the old suspension!

Race two was a bit more like it and at least at oulton we shouldn’t be too far away to begin with?!?

Off the track I went straight from Thruxton to the NEC in Birmingham where my sponsor Hardinge Machine Tools had a stand at the MACH Engineering show. And I mean literally straight there we were dropping off race bikes just before midnight! I was there for the full 5 days the first of which I was joined by Chris “Stalker” Walker.

ALOT of people in engineering are big into bike and racing and the week flew by as I was in my element talking about bikes and racing with some genuinely great and enthusiastic bike fans. I also managed to get through signing two thousand of posters – fear not the throttle hand held up well!

Since then we’ve being getting everything in order for Oulton this weekend, but I did get chance to see Sean Lock [comedian of the telly] in Leeds. It wasn’t the first time I’d ended up on the front row at this type of thing but fortunately this time I wasn’t dragged up on stage and forced to pretend I had a duck stuck up me [that’s another story]. But he did end up stripping off the reveal a skin tight Riddler costume... sprayed on I tell you.... I guess it was a case of having to be there...

Anyway less typing and more racing required, see you at oulton.....

TT#21

Back to Brands…

After a hectic start to the year with something like four races in five weekends, the last part of the season seems a bit sparse, with one race per month?

It’s probably worse as we (that’s the royal we team n’ all) are really making ground at the moment & therefore daft keen to be on the track.

The Donington weekend didn’t get off to a great start; after getting my wallet etc nicked. I couldn’t help thinking that some ****** scoundrel [*feel free to add a word of your choice] had read the last blog and saw how easy it was for a squirrel to infiltrate our awning, still at least the blagard didn’t leave a dirty calling card – there’s always a positive!

On the track it was our strongest weekend of the year with the cup pole, two second places and importantly getting close to that first win.

I was back at Donington three days later at the Ron Halsam race school. A group of my friends had booked onto a load of the 600 courses. I’ve done a bit of instructing there in the past and Anne let me out with the guys to give them a few tips – or learn some new lines? Andy and Marks wide line at Goddard’s isn’t one I’ll use – too much green stuff involved for my liking – there’s no grip out there fellas!!

The last three weeks have seemed to drag on, as I’ve been looking forward to Brands Hatch since I was on the motorway back from Donington.

Its strange considering how short it is but I really enjoy the Indy circuit. It’s got a good flow to it, maybe because of the changes in elevation.
I reserve the right to change my opinion as I’ve not done any laps around there on a 200bhp Superbike, and after 30 of them I might be getting a bit dizzy.

A bit of a shame that it’s coming up to the last race as I’m really enjoying the Superbike and want to keep the momentum going.

As the temperature starts to drop though I’m sure that will help curb my enthusiasm until next season… a bit… hey we could go testing in Spain… oh can we… just a few laps… can we?????

TT
#21

Squirrels, sound effects & cycling???

It’s been a while but I’ve dusted off the old keyboard and sat down to write the belated “latest Blog”…

Cadwell seems like ages ago…

To be honest I enjoyed racing a Superbike at Cadwell more than I thought. Don’t get me wrong here I always love being on two wheels but it is a bit… erm… tight around there?
The weekend went well; ok I would have liked to have fought for the win but hey – another 2 podiums – great weather – big crowd. It was a shame for Leon [Camier] as he was having a great weekend. If your wheels aren’t in line when you land over the Mountain, The bike really lets you know about it, with the weight you’re just a bit of a passenger until it’s calmed down.
Anyway get well soon fella. I’m sure your first Superbike win isn’t too far away!

Unfortunately our team security was breached during the Cadwell meeting. Don’t worry I’m not talking about light finger looters… A pile of poo was found on the awning carpet on Sunday morning which I’m told had come from the back-end of a squirrel. As a member of our team is the legal owner of rifles, shotguns etc it was suggested he could help make sure it didn’t happen again. You know me a friendly animal lover but I did pause a little too long before declining any offer.

With the big gap in the season I’ve had chance to catch up with life away from the track.

I’ve had a few trips down to the local goggle-plex and caught up with a good few films, one was the Bourne Ultimatum.
Anyone who’s seen the film will know about the motorcycle/scooter chase scene. Here's where I start getting geeky – He jumps onto what looks like an old bike which is really a new 4-stroke Honda trials bike with a fake old style tank – the nitride coating on the fork legs gives it away, come on keep up!
Anyway that’s not my gripe. What gets my goat is when they add a different sound effect to the engine noise [oh and when they wheelie when being chased but I’ll leave that for now].
They used to add four stroke sound effects over what were obviously 2-stroke motocross bikes, now it’s a two stroke noise on a four stroke bike?? What’s all that about?? Come on Hollywood get a grip!!

Anyway it didn’t really ruin the film for me, but it may have done for the people I was with – they didn’t seem too interested? Strange that?

I’m really fired up for the last two races and I’ve worked had on my training. Mainly in my local Total Fitness gym, but also with a lot of cycling. Averaging about 120-140miles a week which may not sound too much but a lot of it has been on/around the Pennines. And anyone who knows Holme Moss will know what I talking about. I’ve tickled her dirty underbelly and survived (yes I am only talking about a hill) a good handful of times in the past month.

Another one of my training sessions was a 50+mile loop to catch the end of stage 4 of the Tour of Britain in Bradford. Having nearly popped a lung to get there in time for the finish, I had a snoop around after the riders had crossed the line. They had TA army or something doing the security and one of them ushered me back onto stage/finish line where some of the riders were cooling down. I aint gonna argue with a man in uniform & I got a good view of the podium presentation. Also the old ego was boosted nicely after being confused for a professional cyclist.

Anyway that’s plenty o’ hot air for the moment…

Now I’ve remember how to use the keyboard I’ll write again soon…

TT#21

Welcome to Sunny Yorkshire…?

It’s been good to have a few weeks (now with added sunshine!) to get stuck into some training and I also got chance to do a few laps of testing at Cadwell. It was good to have a bit of time on the bike without the pressure of the stopwatch to try a few bits’n’bobs.

After doing the World Supersport Championship last year I was quick to forget how narrow some of the British tracks are – partly because on a superbike everything seems a bit shorter and narrower due to the speed and acceleration – but also the fact that the tracks are actually narrower. And with less run off they feel tighter still – Cadwell especially.

In fact Brands Hatch was the one on the calendar that most of the foreign WSBK riders talked about…. And its one of the best British tracks!

Talking of Brands it’s the first time since 2001 that I didn’t go down, and having raced there [and scored points!] the last three years I have to say I did miss it. It is one of the best races as the crowd, the weather everything is fantastic. But when you’re not actually competing, it’s not much fun being at a race meeting. Which may some strange, but it does get frustrating being on the other side of the fence.

Still it was cracking to see JT do the business. He helped me a lot last year – walking around the tracks, tips, advice etc. For those who haven’t met him he is a genuinely great bloke. I’ve never seen another racer give so much time to fans etc – oh and he aint bad on a motorbike either.

Back to BSB – it’s off to Croft tomorrow and in theory it’s my home race, although I’ve only raced there a couple of times. Fingers crossed this Yorkshire sun we’ve all been wallowing in will stick around…

I just had a quick squint at the forecast, and it all depends on which web site you want to believe – take your pick from sun, light showers, or rain…

Whatever the weather I’m really looking forward to it…

Maybe see you up there,

TT
#21

That Noah had his head screwed on you know….

I’m starting to get an idea how Noah must have felt as he was knocking together his old ark. From the first trickle of rain down his neck to all his clothes being soaked, concerns about hoof rot/trench foot. And that sinking feeling... As he woke up in the morning, with the rain hammering down onto his caravan roof.

Ok so Noah may not have had a caravan [this fact cannot be denied or confirmed] but with the seemingly endless rain at race meetings these days it’s getting to be a bit of a grind. I guess at least Oulton Park had organised tractors to pull the motorhomes & caravans out of the living area/swamp, if the lord works in mysterious ways on Sunday evening he was driving a ford tractor in Cheshire.

It’s not racing in the wet that bothers me – in fact it helped me get back on the podium, with other more experienced superbike cup riders struggling to keep up in the tricky conditions. Although climbing back into a set of cold damp leathers can’t really be classed as a “perk of the job”.

But it does seem a bit relentless as the last 3 races and the croft test all included A LOT of rain. And yes I have seen the forecast for this weekend… Yep that’s right… Rain?!?

Still I can’t complain, I don’t have to round up a load of animals and clean up their poo for 40 days (and 40 nights). And before anyone mentions it, all of our highly skilled team are perfectly rounded gentlemen, not animals, thank you!

A short week between Oulton and Mallory = a short blog.

Come back soon for a new and improved blog, with no religious reference (but probably still harping on about the British summer weather)

Ta ta for now

TT#21

Rain…Pah!... I’m bloody sick of it!!

For anyone who’s not been to Knockhill, its one of those places that when the weathers bad it’s BAD. It’s the only place I’ve seen rain go upwards.

Apparently there are loads of theories of how to read the weather there.
E.g. the weather is going to be bad when:
1) The sheep start running down the hill
2) You cant see the top of Knockhill
3) The tractor turns up ready to tow cars out of the field

As you may have seen on the telly none of those “weather vanes” were needed as the river running down pitlane was a clue that the racing may be affected

Still the marshals and race organisers did a cracking job and we got two races.

I was lapping faster every lap in each of the races as I got more feel and understanding of the changing conditions. Still, absolutely gutted to miss out on the podium by ½ a second.

We got an insight to the future at knockhill with the Rocket man. Now I’m not talking about racing legend (and former sideburn nurturer) Rocket Ron Haslem or his lad Leon. No I’m talking about the rocket man with a jet pack on his back.

A bloke who has made his own jet pack in his garage and now does demonstrations of his flying techniques. He’s a brave boy but what happens if his throttle sticks open?

As soon as the meeting was over we scrambled out of Scotland and headed to Croft for a two days test.

The first day followed on from Knockhill with rain showers so heavy that the test organisers threw the towel in the afternoon as the track was flooded.
By now I’m actually starting to enjoy riding a superbike in the rain.

Rain… It aint so bad after all!

Still the second day was more like it – a bit of dry track time and… wait for it… Sun!

It turned out to be a good test and should save us some time when we get to race there.

Enough two wheeled action?? Me thinks not… At the weekend headed to London to see the Tour de France – “Allez Allez”.

Enough of this I’ve got to got to oulton see you soon

TT#21