Supertwin & Cookstown Update

Hi all

I arrived in Northern Ireland mid day on Thursday and headed straight for the shed to finish building the Supertwin in readiness for Cookstown the following day.

I only had a few jobs to do but each took 3 times longer than they should.

This was the first time I saw the freshly painted fairings, and it was worth the wait as they looked class.

I fitted the front sub frame,no problems with airport security this trip, and then set about fitting the tank.

Sadly a clip had broken off the petrol pipe attached to the tank so it was a quick trip to TAS again who as always were only too happy to help,thanks guys.

With the tank fitted it was onto the fairings. All was going well until we tried fitting the belly pan. Luckily Steve and Adrian were on hand to assist and between them they ground bits off, made brackets and got it fitted.

Once all together she looks mint as you can see.

I did manage to secure a quick test ride on a private road,which gave me a quick taste of how she felt.

I'm so pleased with how she turned out, it was worth all the work I think.

Cookstown 100

I'd hoped to have dropped the van off in the paddock Thursday evening but as everything took longer than expected to on Thursday we had to abort this plan and drive there Friday morning.

We found one of the last few spaces and set up home.

I was nervous about scruitineering as the 400 hadn't been run since Scarborough last year and the 650 had been finished just hours before.

Still both passed and so it was to practice.

I'd realised that up until now I'd had the 650 running, and I'd sat on it, but not at the same time, so really was in at the deep end.

Still all went well and the bike felt really good. My fastest lap was a 1.55, which didn't set the world alight but I was happy enough.

It was then off to race in Junior Support. I had a great dice and just lost out on the last lap.

I finished up with a best lap time of 1.53, so was heading in the right direction.

After the race it was back to practice on the 400. It felt odd,but good to be back on the 400. It was
good as I remembered places I was using as reference points last year, which helped when I got back on the Supertwin as I'd been concentrating on the bike rather than the circuit.

After practice we returned home and waited with baited breath as weather reports for Saturday varied wildly.

Saturday we woke to rain, but luckily this cleared and after Dave Hewson, TT racer, film star and
master baker, delivered some of his wonderful lemon drizzle cake, we waited for racing to start.

The 400 was the first one out and I had a great battle with Yvonne and Darren, throughout the race.

Yvonne went flying passed on the brakes but she didn't get the bike stopped in time, so ran wide. She did this on three laps and on the last lap she got the bike stopped. Later she admitted it was the last 'do or die' type manoeuvre before she had to think of another over take.

The whole race was a dice between the three of us, at one point we were three abreast around the first corner.

It was one of those races I didn't want to end. When the chequered flag came out I finished last,but it was a truly great race. Apart from a great race I found I'd gone a second quicker than I did last year, so a good improvement and hopefully a good omen for the rest of the season.

The last race of the weekend for me was the Supertwin race.

Sadly I made a mistake with my gearing and watched as the rest of the field pulled away.

On about the third lap I had waved yellows showing, so slowed. I rounded the corner to see a policeman climbing over a wall. I wondered what could have happened to cause this, I found out soon enough.

A farmer who lives on the circuit is not a great fan of racing so does all he can to disrupt the racing.

In the past he has put diesel on the road, scattered nails on the circuit and this year rolled a bale of straw in front of racers, as well as aiming his cattle feeder to throw feed at the racers, which is what I came across. It's such a regular event that police are stationed at points around his farm to catch him in the act.

I'm not going to get on my high horse about this, but basically this guy is attempting to murder with each of his actions. Ok closing roads is an inconvenience but so is getting stuck behind tractors and having to avoid mud that farmers can't be bothered to clean up outside their gates,which by the way is against the law. Get a grip mate.

Despite this I got my lap time down to 1.52, so am pleased with my progress so far.

All in all it was a grand weekends racing and am now doing a few odd jobs in preparation for Tandragee this weekend.

Fingers crossed I will continue to improve on the 650, which I do feel quite confident on, and we all have a great, safe weekend.

 So hopefully I will get an update to you as soon as I can.

Cheers
Stuart

Big News

Hi all

I mentioned in my last post that there maybe some big news heading your way,well here it is.

Despite saying it would never happen again, I've entered The Manx Grand Prix this year.

This was all down to an offer by my good mate Stafford to race a Ducati 888 in the Classic TT in August.

So as long as my entry is accepted I will be racing the below bike, all being well.

As a lot of these things go, it all started one evening whilst in The Creek Inn, Peel, during our visit to The Manx last year.

Luckily this idea didn't disappear and was more than a drink induced dream. So after much searching, Stafford found a suitablebike for sale, albeit in Belgium.

The bike was delivered a couple of weeks ago and I finally got to see her last week. I only popped over to have a look and was told that once the pictures were taken, the bike would be stripped down as the engine was due to go to Louigi Moto the following day to be rebuilt before the race. I got home at midnight, but the bike was stripped and ready for work to begin.

Stafford has started a blog on the rebuild celeresracing.blogspot.co.uk so I'll let him tell you whats going on with that side of it.

I'm really excited to be given this opportunity and can't thank Stafford enough, it's been a dream of mine to race a Ducati on the Mountain Circuit for many years so am looking forward to racing on The Island again, but naturally quite nervous after my last trip.

I have started watching on board laps again to remind myself of where to go and what lines to be taking so hope this will help after my 14 years away from racing there.

As always my ambitions for racing there are to qualify and finish, anything else is a bonus.

I'm not counting my chickens just yet as we have to get an entry first, I'll let you know just as soon as I do.

So hope to have some good news for you soon.

Cheers
Stuart

Supertwin Update

Hi all

Well another weekend working on my SV in readiness for Cookstown, which is rapidly approaching.

I'm having the wheels repainted so had to borrow some tools from the nice people at TAS Suzuki, was handy buying a Suzuki and having such a big race team just down the road.

I also tried to sort my quick shifter out as I prefer road pattern gear shift, as opposed to race shift which it is currently set up for.

I phoned HM Quickshifters for some advice and they said to return it to them so they could service it.

That was Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning they called to say they had sorted the problem and checked it all over, they then posted it back to me. So in less than 24 hours from sending it, the unit was back in the post all sorted. So many thanks to them for such a quick turn around.

My van is also back in Northern Ireland and bike is now just waiting the fairings to be painted and then we'll be ready, fingers crossed.

I hope to have a big update for you in the next few days, so stay in touch.

Until then, ride safe.

Cheers
Stuart

Long Over Due Update

Hi all

Apologies for the delay in updating my site, pesky work has got in the way.

Anyhow, I have still been busy working on my bike, both here and in Northern Ireland.

This has lead to my usual time spent at airport security trying to explain what these various lumps of metal are.

My worst time was when Gatwick decided that I couldn't take the rear axle, despite it being let through previously. Still the nice people at Easyjet booked my bag into the hold for free, so not all bad.

Anyway back to the bike.

I've been cleaning and painting various bits so it looks like I know what I'm doing at least. There have been lots of bolts that have been replaced so will be easier to work on in future.

After stripping the loom of all un necessary wires I got home to find that you now need a rear light for adverse weather conditions, so back in went some wires.

I've also added case savers and also replaced the end can as it was well battered.

The last visit over saw me bleed the brakes, fit the wiring loom. Add the foot pegs that I made onto the rear sets that my Dad cleaned up for me. Again this was only for asthetics as they were a bit of a mess.

I bought a lathe a couple of years ago as always wanted to be able to turn stuff, this project has given me loads of practice making footpegs, lever ends, crash bungs and various spacers, and have to say it's been great fun.

The sub frame was stripped of some brackets and has been repainted, thanks to Adrian and Josh.

After refitting the loom it was a nervous moment to see if she ran. Luckily on the first press of the button she burst into life and ticked over quite happily.

I hope you, from  the photos below,  agree she is looking more like a bike again.

There are afew bits left to do but nothing major, then she will be ready for the faring to be fitted, which is once again being painted by Adrian, so fingers crossed she will look the business.

So there we have it, with less than 6 weeks to go until Cookstown, we are on schedule without too many late nights hopefully.

Hopefully there will be an update soon, so until then.

Cheers
Stuart

Tandragee Confirmed

Just a quick update to say I've had my entry for Tandragee accepted.

This was one of my favourite circuits from last year , so am happy to be going back this year, all being well.

Speak soon

Cheers
Stuart

Cookstown Confirmed

Hi

I've had my entry for Cookstown accepted, which is great news. Am still waiting to hear about Tandragee.

I've also heard that Mid Antrim won't be running this year. This is a real shame as I really liked the circuit.

They have cancelled due to financial reasons, so fingers crossed they will be back next year.

Speak soon

Cheers
Stuart

600 For Sale

Hi

As you know I am hoping to race a Supertwin this season so have decided to sell my 600 to finance my new bike.

The bike was is a 2007 model and was bought by me in 2008 and has been raced at about 15 meetings since that time.

It has a standard engine in it as I just wanted to get more track time and have something reliable. Also as I was learning the circuits I didn’t need out and out power, as the circuits are hard enough to learn at standard tune speeds.

It is fully race prepped with all the required lock wiring, toe guard, case protectors etc. It was last scruitineered at Scarborough in September but not actually raced at the meeting, so it stands as it was scruitineered.

As well as the required modifications it runs a keyless ignition system, is fitted with a race loom, power commander and Micron end can and it also has a Sprint steering damper fitted.

I change the oil and filter after every other meeting and, luckily, have never crashed it.

There is some damage to the fairing but this is only through transportation, as it’s never been down the road.

It comes with spare sprockets, both front and rear. Spare wheels with wets and discs fitted. RaceTech tyre warmers, which were bought at the beginning of 2013 and used about 6 times so are in perfect condition.

There is also a spare end can, sprocket carrier, various levers, cables and other spares.

There is no V5 with the bike, however all numbers are present, correct and have been checked at various race meetings.

The bike has been totally reliable and has only needed the tyre pressures checking and the fuel topping up at each meeting.

There are various pictures on the blog but if you would like some more pictures or more information please email me at racing@blackdub.co.uk.

Although located in Hampshire I may be able to assist in delivery if required.

Price, £3250.00


Thanks for looking


Cheers
Stuart