The British Supermono Association - Dedicated to single cylinder, 4-stroke motorcycle road racing
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The British Supermono Association - Dedicated to single cylinder, 4-stroke motorcycle road racing
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2007 SeasonScott Richardson #99
Click here for 2006 Season archive Championship Dates
I am contesting the 2007 ACU British Supermono Championship. This has an Overall Championship and two category (sub) championships. These are based on the engine types of Air-Cooled and Water-Cooled. The Suzuki DR800 powered Supermono I race is Air-Cooled. My goals this season are to win the Air-Cooled title and finish in the top five in the Overall Championship. Race ReportsRound 1, Brands Hatch – April 14th 2007 SummaryQualified: Air-Cooled - 1st; Overall - 9th Finished: Air-cooled - 1st; Overall - 7th Points: Air-cooled - 25; Overall - 9 Championship Position (Air-cooled): 1st Championship position (Overall): 7th Report |
Rounds 4 & 5, Pembrey – June 16th & 17th 2007SummaryQualified: Air-Cooled - 3rd; Overall - 18th Finished: Air-cooled - DNF; Overall - DNF (Saturday) Air-cooled - 1st; Overall - 8th (Sunday) Points: Air-cooled - 63; Overall - 18 Championship Position (Air-cooled): 3rd Championship position (Overall): 14th ReportFollowing the seven and a half hour journey (!) to the Welsh circuit of Pembey (west of Swansea) we 'set up camp' on Friday evening, with the bike complete with the new bodywork (MANY thanks to Lionel Tomkins Signs, again!) Sally and I had successfully tested the rebuilt engine (thanks to Mark Lawes) at Mallory Park the week before, so we were raring to go. Saturday's warm-up session was held in typically wet conditions. I checked the gearing was 'in the ball park', having not visited the circuit for three years and all was well for subsequent the qualifying session. I was maybe too cautious during qualifying, not wanting to step off in the damp conditions, and ended up in an uncharacteristically lowly eighteenth place overall (3rd air-cooled machine). The bike was however misfiring at low revs, so I dismantled the carburetors after the session and was confident of a good result in the race. The track was dry for the round 4 and I made a reasonable start. By lap three I had moved into a top ten place and leading air-cooled machine. As I extended my lead over my air-cooled rivals, the misfire (which had not been cured) began to worsen. On lap four the bike ground to a halt. Gutted! The series leader, Andrew McCombe, inherited the lead and although he was passed by Laine Martin in the closing stages, he still netted 20 more points over me. Not what I needed, given his already considerable lead over me, thanks to his consistency. Closer inspection, back in the paddock after the race, revealed that a single wire from the ignition pick-up had broken, deep in the bowels of the engine. A first in the fours years I have raced the bike. Unbelievable! The following day's warm-up session (in damp conditions) enabled me to successfully test the re-soldered wire. things were looking good again. Surely on my birthday (36), things would go right?!?!? An hour or so prior to the race saw the circuit soaked by a passing storm, making tyre choices for the race a last minute decision. I took a quick look at the track and a dry line was appearing, so opted for slick tyres The sighting lap proved that this WAS the correct choice, although several of the front runners had chosen 'wets', including my engine builder and European Champion, Mark Lawes. I made an excellent start and began passing several riders, including the wet tyre shod riders, with ease. By lap four I was up to sixth place overall and clear of any air-cooled rivals, when the red flags came out. Glen English had parted company with his bike, which had come to rest in a dangerous location on the edge of the track. We anxiously waited on the grid for the restart. We started the bike, but I was unable to select neutral and the bike began to lurch forward, despite the clutch lever being pulled in. Fortunately the race starter ushered us away on our warm-up lap, so I continued. Knowing that the clutch was being troublesome, I deliberately ensured that i was the last rider to return to the grid. The race began as soon as I came to rest and the bike thankfully lurched off of the line. Due to this problem I did not make such a good start, but soon settled into a rhythm. By mid-distance I had regained my sixth place, again clear of the other air-cooled riders. In the closing stages Mark Lawes (who had changed his tyres to slicks during the stoppage) and Glen English (aboard his spare bike), who each had started from the pitlane passed me, relegating me to 8th overall, but still leading air-cooled bike. I maintained the placing to the chequered flag, providing me with a fantastic birthday present of 25 points! McCombe finished second again, so I was only able to pull 5 points back on him. Therefore, as we pass the mid-point in the season, I trail him by 47 points with four rounds remaining. A big ask, but not impossible... Scott |
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Race Report
Round 6 of ACU / Tuff Trailers British
Supermono Championship - Donington Park (13th August 2007)
SUMMARY
Qualified - 13th (2nd
Air-cooled)
Finished - 7th (1st Air-cooled)
Championship - 11th (2nd Air-cooled)
Following a long break since the
previous 'up and down' race meeting at Pembrey in June (a 1st and a non-finish),
it was time to dust off the cobwebs and head to the Derbyshire circuit of
Donington.
Following some clutch slip problems, experienced at Pembrey, I had replaced some
of the metal plates in the clutch,. In doing so, I had laid the bike on its
side, where it had remained for a week or so. This lead to a problem in the
warm-up session at Donington!
After only a few laps, I noticed that my left boot was glistening. Oil!
I tentatively returned to the pits, not wanting to slide off on the discharging
oil. It appeared that having left the bike on its side had allowed some oil to
drain into the engine's breather pipes. So during the practice session, it
pumped itself out and into the air-box until it spilt and onto my foot, as the
engine was being used in earnest! The spilt oil was cleaned up for the
qualifying session (thanks Sal and Phil).
However, after only a few qualifying laps, my boot was wet again. This time it
was a combination of oil and petrol! Again, I made a swift return to the
pits. There was some evidence of the oil again, but it was very minimal.
Instead, attention was given to discovering where the fuel had come from. A
close inspection of the carburettors identified some dirt on one of the needle
valves, causing it to flood and overflow into the air-box. The offending items
were cleaned and everything checked.
Despite the problems, I had posted the 13th fastest lap, of the 31 entered
riders. The Air-cooled championship leader and rival Andrew McCombe was 11th,
only 0.5 seconds quicker. Although I was not exactly brimming with confidence
for the race, given the problems experienced already, I was hopeful of an
incident free race to enable me to try and claw back some of the points deficit
from McCombe (47 points).
As the red lights went out, I made a good start and swept past McCombe entered
the first corner and moved into 9th place. I was tempted to sneak another place
(from Clive Chitty) as we headed through Hollywood side by side, but decided
against it. My discretion was well place as the 7th placed rider (Mick
Hammonds) slid off in front of us through Craner Curves. as Mick exited stage
left, he forced the hapless Chitty to the grass and an eventual dismount.
Thankfully I was able to continue unimpeded!
I continued to circulate in my newly acquired 7th place, just a couple of
seconds off of the leading sextet, who were having a very close battle. After
three laps I was relegated to 8th place, when young Aaron Easter slipped past.
However, I was comfortable with my pace and there was no sign of McCombe, or any
other of the Air-cooled riders.
By lap five of the scheduled twelve, I again noticed my boot shining. "Oh
blast" I thought (or words to that effect). Given my championship position, I
decided to continue racing, albeit over a second a lap slower as I was nervous
of oil making its way onto my back tyre and 'sending me down the road'.
A couple of tentative looks behind during the next few laps reassured me that my
8th place was secure. Then on the penultimate lap the race was red-flagged
after Glen English and Mark Lawes had collided, resulting in the latter coming
to rest at the trackside and needing attention.
Mark's unfortunate disqualification (and injured thumb) elevated to me 7th
overall, as i claimed my third Air-cooled win of the season. Whilst I was
delighted with my result, I had only made up five points on McCombe, who
continued his consistency, finishing as second air-cooled rider.
So with three races left, I am in second place, but trailing by 42 points. Not
ideal, however I intend to continue winning, reduce the deficit and see where we
are at the end of the season.
I have already taken the engine to Mark for his attention. It looks like the
head gasket is allowing oil to seep out, hence the continued lubrication
problems. All will be resolved for Mallory in three weeks time!
Rgds,
Scott
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Race Report
Round 7 of ACU / Tuff Trailers British
Supermono Championship - Mallory Park (9th August 2007)
Summary
Qualified - 9th (2nd
Air-cooled)
Finished - DNF
Championship - DNF
Report
After the win at Donington last month (despite the oil leek woes), the
championship fight was back on as we headed to Mallory Park for round 7 (of
9). I was 42 points behind Andrew'Doc' McCombe, which meant if i won the
remaining three rounds and 'Doc' had one DNF (Did Not Finish) and two 3rd
places, i would be champion by 1 point. It was possible.
The engine had been serviced by Mark, fitting a new clutch, camshaft and rocker
arm and curing the mysterious oil leak. It felt very strong in the warm-up
session, as i clocked a steady 1m 01.8s lap time. The clutch felt excellent,
allowing rapid downshifts for the first time in seasons (the old one must have
been really worn out!)
Prior to qualifying, to conserve wear and tear on machine (and rider!), i said
to Sally that once i'd posted a sub minute lap i would come in. Within four
laps my onboard lap timer displayed 59.2s lap, which i was pleased with,
particularly as my visor was steaming up. I quickly pitted for Sally to wipe
the visor and rejoined the circuit to try and improve my time. However, my
visibility was no better, so returned to the pits.
Everything felt good on the bike and I was 9th overall (start of row 3) and 2nd
Air-cooled bike, just behind good friend and local rider Dave Harnett by 0.1s.
Encouragingly, Doc was experiencing fuel starvation problems and retired from
qualifying saying "This could be your lucky day. Its stopped!" Was the season
looking up? Err, well, NO! Read on...!
As i pulled away on the sighting lap, it felt as if the clutch slipped a little,
so i adjusted the cable to remove the unwanted slack. It felt fine as i
approached the starting grid. The red lights went on, i clicked the bike into
first gear (by hand, as my prosthetic foot is clipped onto the footrest). The
revs built. Then, as the lights went out, i released the clutch lever.
NOTHING! The clutch had jammed (engaged) and i was sat stationary!
Desperately, i tried to paddle forward, as the pack streamed past me, hoping the
clutch would release. Alas, it didn't. Then, the last rider (Ashley Norrington)
crashed straight into the back of me, flying overhead and knocking me to the
ground with a tremendous impact. As i (thankfully) stood up, Ashley was laying
prone in the track approximately 20 meters down the track!
Amazingly, neither of us were seriously injured, although our bikes were going
nowhere!
I tossed my already trashed helmet into the van and slumped into my chair back
in the paddock. After a few minutes my peripheral vision in my left eye became
blurred, it was like looking through a fish tank. Concussion? After about half
an hour it cleared, so we packed up and went home (Sally driving).
With the championship well and truly over, we debated even bothering going to
Cadwell on 6th & 7th October. However, i could regain my 2nd place in the
championship (by 1 point) if i won both races and newly 2nd placed (and Mallory
Park Air-Cooled race winner) Laine Martin had two 3rd places.
A quick inspection of the bike last night, amazingly resulted in fairly minimal
damage. An egg shaped rear wheel, crushed exhaust cans, broken and scratched
bodywork and split fuel tank. I think Cadwell is do-able though! I want to
finish the season on some sort of a high!
Rgds,
Scott
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scott@supermononewsletter.co.uk with
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