Friday morning was wet and I got into the flow of things pretty quickly, going P1 straight away before dropping down to sixth. I wasn’t too worried as I had bags in reserve and didn’t want to risk crashing unnecessarily. In the afternoon it was dry and I pushed a bit harder managing to go eighth. I was happy with the session as I had gone a second faster than the previous season.

Saturday and it was an early session which is never ideal. I was pretty fast on race tyres and managed to go faster on my qualifier but I still ended up 10th, which was disappointing. In the afternoon I ran on a different race tyre which I was happy with and worked on my race pace. As the Qualifiers came out my bike dropped onto three cylinders and I ended up on the fourth row in 16th! Gutted wasn’t the word.

Warm up went well, despite not doing too many laps I ended up eighth nearly as fast as I had qualified. We changed the rear ride height for warm up, which made me feel more comfortable. I was well pumped up for the race and knew I had to end the season on a high.

I got a good start and less than quarter of a lap in, I got caught up in Paul Young’s crash and lost three seconds to the first group. I couldn’t believe it and was hoping for a safety car! It took me all race to get to that group. I was consistently in the high 47’s which is a good strong pace as I had no one to follow directly in front of me. I passed Martin Jessopp and got onto the back of Jamie Robinson and Sam Owens. As I was lining them up the red flags came out and the race was over. I finished ninth, which wasn’t too bad as we had had a hard weekend and we once again showed we have the pace of the leaders. I’m now looking forward to Brands in March, plenty of winter testing where we will look to turn my end of season pace into race wins next season.

A massive thank you to Centurion, Kaz Plant, Dunlop, Ethos and all my family and friends.

Cheers

Westy # 27

Friday started well, on a damp track I ended up sixth, which I was very happy with. I was not pushing too hard, just getting comfortable and familiarising myself with the circuit and how I’d tackle it over the weekend. In the second session I had a great feeling with the bike, I topped the time sheets before been pushed back to second in the closing stages. This was a very positive start to the weekend and gave me lots of confidence.
 
Saturday came and we initially struggled. The track started off damp and I slowly managed to improve my times before going third on race tyres with 15 minutes to go. On my qualifier I made some mistakes and dropped to ninth, which I was gutted about, but I knew I was fast and looked forward to final qualifying. Straight away I was very fast on race tyres. Within five minutes I had gone to pole, and by quarter of a second. Things were looking good. I kept a good consistent pace before coming in to change to qualifying tyres. I didn’t improve on my Q’s but still ended up seventh, and third fastest on race tyres. It wasn’t the end of the world but I tried my hardest and was ready for Sunday.
 
Warm up went well, I went P1 again before been shuffled back down to fourth with seconds to go. I wasn’t overly worried. I had a game plan for the race, but it didn’t work! I got a good drive initially but as I braked I got rammed by an escaped bike that had crashed. I momentarily lost my rhythm and let a few riders through. I struggled for five or six laps behind slower riders. I could see the leaders getting away and I was rattled and making mistakes. I got up to ninth and was chasing down the front pack, setting a new fastest lap of the race when the red flags came out. I was totally gutted.

I was ninth for the re run. I once again got an average start, but lost a few places and it took me time in the early laps to pass them. I got up to seventh and started to close the front pack down again but in an eight lap race you have to treat it as a sprint not a endurance race. I had run out of time and ended up finishing seventh. I had rode so well all weekend, and I defiantly felt I deserved a podium, maybe even the win. But it’s all if’s buts and maybe’s. Basically I messed up and it was the starts that cost me any chance of a good result. On the positive side of things I have once again showed a small privateer team can run with the factory boys and if not better them.

I would like to say a massive thanks to Centurion, Ethos and Dunlop. Hopefully I can have a positive race report about Brands! Please keep supporting me and keep those fingers crossed. I’m going all out in three weeks time…..

Cheers

Westy #27

I’m pretty disappointed with my seventh place finish today. I messed both starts up and was deep going into turn one. In the first race I got rammed into turn one by James Webb, which unsettled me, then I got stuck behind slower riders. I set the fastest lap of the race just before the red flags came out chasing down the leaders. In the second part I again got stuck behind slower riders and lost touch with the leaders. I feel disappointed not to have been on the podium, or even taken the win. That’s racing and now we move onto Brands.

Friday started well, on a damp track I ended up sixth, which I was very happy with. I was not pushing too hard, just getting comfortable and familiarising myself with the circuit and how I’d tackle it over the weekend. In the second session I had a great feeling with the bike, I topped the time sheets before been pushed back to second in the closing stages. This was a very positive start to the weekend and gave me lots of confidence.
 
Saturday came and we initially struggled. The track started off damp and I slowly managed to improve my times before going third on race tyres with 15 minutes to go. On my qualifier I made some mistakes and dropped to ninth, which I was gutted about, but I knew I was fast and looked forward to final qualifying.  Straight away I was very fast on race tyres. Within five minutes I had gone to pole, and by quarter of a second. Things were looking good. I kept a good consistent pace before coming in to change to qualifying tyres. I didn’t improve on my Q’s but still ended up seventh, and third fastest on race tyres. It wasn’t the end of the world but I tried my hardest and was ready for Sunday.
 
Warm up went well, I went P1 again before been shuffled back down to fourth with seconds to go. I wasn’t overly worried. I had a game plan for the race, but it didn’t work! I got a good drive initially but as I braked I got rammed by an escaped bike that had crashed. I momentarily lost my rhythm and let a few riders through. I struggled for five or six laps behind slower riders. I could see the leaders getting away and I was rattled and making mistakes. I got up to ninth and was chasing down the front pack, setting a new fastest lap of the race when the red flags came out. I was totally gutted.

I was ninth for the re run. I once again got an average start, but lost a few places and it took me time in the early laps to pass them. I got up to seventh and started to close the front pack down again but in an eight lap race you have to treat it as a sprint not a endurance race. I had run out of time and ended up finishing seventh. I had rode so well all weekend, and I defiantly felt I deserved a podium, maybe even the win. But it’s all if’s buts and maybe’s. Basically I messed up and it was the starts that cost me any chance of a good result. On the positive side of things I have once again showed a small privateer team can run with the factory boys and if not better them. I would like to say a massive thanks to Centurion, Ethos and Dunlop. Hopefully I can have a positive race report about Brands! Please keep supporting me and keep those fingers crossed. I’m going all out in three weeks time…..

Cheers

Westy #27

Well the end of the season is upon us, and I thought I should do a quick review of the year so far. It started off so well, with a 10th place at Brands, and 4th at Thruxton. Those results were on the 06 bike, and that gave me great confidence as the season progressed.

We had a few small problems with the 06 bike for the next few rounds, and when the new 07 Honda turned up, it was like Christmas! There have been flashes of brilliance all season, Thruxton for me was the highlight, as well as Knockhill on the Friday, when I was extremely quick.

Oulton, was to get a good result in the wet and a great confidence booster for me in the dodgy conditions. My wet weather riding has come along so much this year and it’s a great feeling knowing I don’t have to worry about the wet stuff anymore!

Then there has been the lows, Silverstone, Knockhill race-day, and more recently Cadwell. I feel that we were so close to making the jump to a regular podium finisher. That might have been the case at Croft but I didn’t qualify very well, or start well but my race pace was awesome! I was fast all weekend at Cadwell, then I crashed in Qualifying trying to gain my first front row start of the year, where I managed to dislocate my shoulder. I had to settle for 13th overall and that hurt at my home race.

We still have two rounds left, and they are both good tracks for me. I won at Donington in 2005, and Brands is somewhere I always pull something out of the bag.  Lets just hope it’s a podium finish for us. I desperately want to end the season on a high, as a big thank you to my boys, and the whole Centurion team also Dunlop and Ethos. As for next year, I just want to win races. I believe I can challenge for the Championship. I will be training harder than ever to make sure I don’t disappoint in 2008….

Cheers
Westy # 27

After, what I felt was a disappointing end to Cadwell and the pain I was in, I left Cadwell not feeling great at all.  On Tuesday, things weren’t any better, so I paid a visit to the physio and discovered that I had dislocated my shoulder !!!  No wonder it hurt a little … I’m now having physio 4-5 times a week, and although not right yet, all should be back on track for Donnington, in a couple of weeks time.

See you there!
Cheers, Westy

Well it’s fair to say that one (Cadwell) didn’t go to plan! It all started off so well on Saturday. In FP1 I ended up sixth, which I was very happy with. In the afternoon I tested a couple of different tyres and went fifth. Although it was only Saturday I knew it was a good sign of things to come. I felt very confident with how the day had gone and ready for qualifying on the Sunday.
 
Sunday was where it all went wrong! In the first session I was once again quick on race tyres, 5/6th somewhere round there. When I put my qualifier in I went fifth fastest, which I was pleased with but got shunted back to ninth in the final few minutes. I was gutted! For the afternoon I wasn’t holding back. On my race tyres I went faster than I had in the morning with a qualifier so that was very promising. As I came in for my first qualifier I thought I could defiantly get onto the second row, maybe front row if I had a good run. My first split was up, then I went down heavily through Chris Curve. The bike hit the barrier and I ended up hitting both the bike and the barrier! It hurt a lot but I knew my mistake. I ended up 11th, which wasn’t too bad considering the crash.
 
The boys did a marvellous job to get my bike ready for race day. In warm up I was steady and ended up 11th. I knew the one thing I had to do was get a blinding start because I have been struggling for the past five rounds or so. I got a good jump and went into turn one, around eighth or ninth position, which by my standards I was pretty content with! It was apparent after only two or three laps that I was struggling. I hurt my shoulder at Croft, and its affected my whole arm. I’m in a fair bit of pain and discomfort and I lost a lot of strength in it on race day at Cadwell. I did my best to hang on but dropped to 13th. I was gutted. I felt so bad riding round out there, missing my apex’s and doing times I did after five laps on Saturday but I gave it my all and that was it. I was running ninth and slowly lost places and finished were I shouldn’t have but it was the best I could do with the pain.

It was so annoying as I am moving closer to the leaders each round. I desperately wanted a good result for all the team, my family and friends and everyone who turned up to my home round to support me. I am having my arm sorted this week, so fingers crossed I will be even stronger at Donington. I am determined to end the season on a high, and thanks for all the support.
 
A massive thanks to the whole team, Ethos surface solutions, Dunlop and Toby along with all his medical team. We will end the season on a high…

Westy #27

Straight out of the blocks I was very strong on Friday morning, and my confidence was sky high with the pace we had. The bike felt good and I was up to second with ten minutes to go before slipping to sixth.

In the afternoon I went quicker and dropped into the low 24’s but ended up eighth. I was again happy with my race times and felt I defiantly had the pace to run with the fast boys.

The first qualifying session was when we hit our problems! On race tyres I was fast, but we couldn’t get a qualifier to work. I run a pre qualifier and a qualifier and couldn’t get either to work. I was sixth fastest on race tyres but ended the first session in 10th which was disappointing.

In the second qualifying session it was pretty much the same but worse! I was fast on race tyres but struggled for track space so it didn’t reflect what we had up our sleeves. It was the same with our soft tyres and I dropped to 13th, one of my worst qualifying positions this season. I was gutted as I knew I should have been on the front two rows. It just didn’t seem to happen on Saturday and that is very unlike me and I was mad with myself.

I regrouped for race day and came out the blocks ever stronger. Warm up went well, I was consistent and lapped in the low 24’s putting me towards the front of the sheets.

I got a shocker of a start, and dropped to 18th at the end of the first lap. I was so mad as I knew I could run with the top four or five. The pace car came out for three laps and I was loosing valuable track time. I soon picked my way through them, setting an awesome lap of 23.2 along the way. I got to ninth, then my quick shifter broke so I sat behind Paul Young until the last lap and made my move. Although, I finished eighth and first in the cup, I was unhappy because once again I have shown I can run up at the front. My lap time was the fifth fastest of the race without following fast riders so I think I could have got in the 22’s, if I had got away. It was a good end to the weekend and nice to score solid points again. I can’t wait for Cadwell. It’s my local round and I will have lots of people cheering me on so hopefully I can put a good show on for them.

I must say a big thanks to my team, mechanics, sponsors, family and friends that turned up to Croft. It was a good race and roll on Cadwell. Finally a big thank you to Dunlop for a fantastic weekend.

Cheers

James #27

Friday started like the last three meetings have done, by being wet. I was really confident from the off with the wet weather set up. I did 12 laps and managed to go second fastest, which I was really happy with. The rain started to fall very hard so we sat the last 20 minutes out happy with the mornings work. I stopped second so that was a good start for the weekend. That was the only track time we got on Friday.
 
Saturday didn’t really happen! We got a 30 minute free practice session and I went out for three laps to make sure all was ok without pushing too hard then parked it. I still felt strong in the wet. 

Sunday morning and we were given a third free practice session but the track had dried out. I felt good but Mallory is somewhere I have never really clicked with in the dry. I ended the session 10th but not overly happy.  I knew my first lap had to be strong to stand a chance in the race. I got a half decent start and finished the first lap in ninth so was pretty happy. I tried everything to go with the front group but I was lacking some pace. I feel I can run with them, but Mallory wasn’t the best of tracks for me to do so, not really suiting my style, and we have to remember our bikes are brand new with hardly any data in dry conditions. I finished 12th and first in the cup, but it was a tough weekend. We will now move onto a test at Cadwell and hope to make improvements to our package for Croft. Croft and Cadwell are my two local rounds so I’m looking forward to good results there and all your support is welcome.
 
Hopefully I can put a strong final four rounds together and get some good points on the board. The last four rounds really suit me, and I think we can really step things up and push towards the top six. I would just like to say a big thanks to the whole team, Dunlop, my mechanics and ethos surface solutions.
 
I would just like to pass on my sympathies to the Bridewell family after the tragic circumstances of Friday. Our hearts are with Marcus, Liz, Charlotte and Tommy. We all lost a good friend in Ollie in the accident on Friday.
 
James #27

Friday practice started well in the wet on the brand new 2007 bikes. I was steady away at first but ended the first practice session in eighth and happy with the mornings work. We made a few alterations for a wet set up in the afternoon to try, which worked well and brought down my lap times. It was still wet for the afternoon, and straight away the bike was working very well indeed. I went P1 early doors and didn’t go any lower than 3rd!  I did a mega run of consistent 54’s and then dropped into the 53’s on my last lap. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for pole but I definitely had some consistency and had the pace. I ended up third, but made a massive leap with the wet set up and my confidence grew in the dodgy conditions.

Saturday carried on the same way most of my Saturdays have gone recently, with the bike not wanting to run in Q1!  I couldn’t believe it, but the boys worked mega and got me out for the last 26 minutes of track time, which was dry and our first laps in those conditions on the new bikes. Straight away the bike was working well. I ended up 10th but happy considering the lack of track time. The new bike was awesome and definitely a step in the right direction.

Q2 was a bit of a disaster. We tried a new race tyre, but unfortunately I did not feel totally comfortable on it. Then on my Q I got messed up with the red flag, and dropped to 12th. I was gutted because I knew I could have been second row, but these things happen….

Warm up was in wet conditions and I was the boy again!  I don’t really know how I discovered I could ride in the rain on Friday afternoon! Straight away I got down to good times and was P1 until the last seconds when I got piped and ended up 2nd but still happy.

For the wet race, I had a game plan. But it never worked!  I thought I would be able to get a good start and go with the front group. Unfortunately my start was bad, and then I got punted into at turn one and was about 16th. There was no way I could make up the places I had to but I kept my head and picked them off one by one, up to seventh. The engine was over heating really bad, mid race distance, and I was lucky to see the flag to be honest. I was happy but I definitely could not help thinking, what might have been if I had got the start. I run the times of the leaders but was just so far back. At least I had a good solid finish, and I won the cup again to extend my lead to 27 points.

It was a great weekend and we’re moving closer to the front. The new 2007 Centurion Honda is so strong, and the chassis is absolutely awesome. I would like to thank the team for been excellent again, my mechanics Jez and Sim, and a big thank you to Dunlop and my personal sponsors Ethos surface Solutions.

See you all at Mallory.

Westy