MAGsport
For the fast ones
Mark Castle experiences the NW 200 Road Races for the first time.
My plans for 2006 were set on challenging the Supermono Championship on the revitalised Rampisham Garage Yamaha, sporting a quick new engine. But major changes to the calendar made the series less attractive and at the last minute we decided to miss the first 2 meetings in favour of doing the Northwest 200 on my 400 Honda.
Kev Spurr of KS Performance rebuilt the engine and suspension and the bike came together in time to run her in at Mallory.
Brian Wyles collected my Bike on Sunday evening and Andy Grimes and I set off early Monday Morning, finally arriving at 9:30 pm. We did a couple of laps, which were the first I'd seen of the 8+ miles Road Circuit.
Tuesday evening was first practice after I'd attended a briefing and a newcomer's bus ride. We breezed through scrutineering and moved in fantastic sunshine to the start line.
The practice laps were escorted for newcomers and to my amazement one of my racing heroes Phillip Mccallen was our instructor. I made sure when we set off that I was in his wheel tracks. We did 3 laps behind Phillip who pulled over and I did another 3 laps. However during the session he came back past me and showed me some more lines... it was amazing. It almost made up for our later session being cancelled due to delays in the Superbikes.
I completed 5 laps during Thursday evening qualifying and qualified 29th out of nearly 60 starters, which put me at the back of the first start.
Race day was the hottest day of the week, I felt nervous as I waited on the grid, and I wanted to make a good start but knew it'd be a challenge after only 10 laps of the circuit and a lot of traffic to contend with. I completed the warm up lap and took up my position again. The engine was getting very hot and it seemed like an age waiting for the start. Finally the flag dropped, I made several positions down to the hairpin at York corner then it was a freight train for most of the first lap, but as the field spread out I was able to pass people more easily. I really settled into the race and always had someone to chase down, spurring me on. I finished the race in 13th overall, the 7th 400 home. I was very pleased for my first try at the Northwest and it was a fantastic experience... read the full report at www.magsport.com
Alex Gault Racing; Mid Term Report
I think it is fair to say with 10 of the 22 races over in the CB Cup and 6 of the 12 inthe 400 championship over and the deadline for submissions to "THE ROAD" magazine upon us, this is about time for a mid term report!
What a start to the season we have had, in the CB CUP. Alex on his MAGSPORT-backed Honda CB500 has set pole position at every meeting and won every race, leading the championship at the half way stage by 109 points. It has been very enjoyable but so far it is not really pushing Alex and has not lived up to the billing, if it were not for our debts to sponsors we would pull out of this championship.
On the YPE-backed Honda RVF400 he has again set pole at every meeting and has won every race he has finished. This championship takes place at Knockhill and until starting this championship Alex had only raced there once before.
He broke the lap record on his first outing on the 400, but at the second round he had a 'coming together' with second placed man in the championship which resulted in Alex not scoring any points that day. However he made up for it at rounds 5&6; where two strong wins saw him take maximum points and regain the lap record with a 55.30 second lap. He now sits in 3rd place 26 points behind the leader.
If Alex wins every one of the remaining races he can win the championship by 4 points.
Running on a strict budget this year we have not had many "away days" from championship racing, however we did take the opportunity to visit Aintree on the 10thof June to iron out some faults that had came to light after the crash at Knockhill. This was a very successful trip on which we recognised some problems with the bike and Alex not only took pole, but won both 400 races and broke the circuit record for the class.
So let us take stock, Alex has contended 9 race meetings this year and taken pole position at every one. At those race meetings he has had 20 races, he has won 16, crashed out of one and retired due to problems in 3, must be some kind of a record? It is almost too good to be true! But I put it down to the help we have had this year.
We have managed to raise more money. YPE and ERS have done a brilliant job with the 400 and Geoff Coxon has put a very good CB500 under Alex.
By the time you read this, Alex might have returned to Gp125 Racing, as Dan Linfoothas now moved to 250's and would have been at the Sachsenring for the German round of Moto-Gp, Alex was offered the chance to race Dan's bike at the Scottish round of the 125 GP British Championships. We put out an appeal for support and to try and raise the additional £1000 this would have cost, Alex was successful and we will up-date you on how things went in the next issue. Thanks to every one who pledged support for this.
He has talked about a wild card at this round of BSB since the start of the year, it is thanks to you, the people who actually support young racers rather than just talking about it, that Alex has had this chance.
So what lies ahead? Well we have another 6 rounds of the CB Cup and 6 rounds ofthe 400 championship; we also plan to give Alex a run out on the 400 when the hotly contested New Era Club Championship visits Donington Park. This is the same day as the CB CUP; as the two bikes are so different, it will be hard for Alex to get the best out of both bikes! We've decided that as he has such a strong hold over the CB Championship; at that meeting the CB will take a back seat and he will concentrate on the 400 (all part of my master plan).
Alex will also start testing a 600cc machine in preparation for next year though at this time we don't know which make of bike he will use and we're open to offers but things are taking shape and it looks like he will stay with the YPE team.
Keep up to date at www.minimotoracer.com
As always at the bottom of any report card "Alex could try harder!" (Well..... that's what it always said on mine!)
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