kickingtyres

After the bike let me down at Cadwell in August, I’m more determined and motivated than ever to get it sorted and ready to race in 2010.

I posted a while back about various things, including the plans for the FZR, and progress is being made.

After the skip debacle, the garage was looking much better in terms of working space, and is now looking more like a workshop than just a storeroom.  A new workbench has been installed along with a, larger than expected, pillar drill and bench grinder.  A 100L compressor has also found a home in the corner and a Warco lathe is currently waiting to be lifted onto it’s stand.  Once that’s in place I have two or three tasks for it including headstock spacers and swingarm pivot work for the FZR and some new bushes for the BSA’s front suspension.

Bike-wise, the new headers were fitted to the main bike however the linkpipe wasn’t the right shape unless you wanted to blow the exhaust either up your leg or take out the guy next to you a-la-boudica’s chariot.  The bike’s now at MHP getting the exhaust properly sorted, and thanks go to Simon there for his help.

In the meantime, I’ve sourced the front end from a 2004 R6, which will give me better and adjustable forks as well as the impressive R6 brakes, and the swing-arm from a FZR400 3TJ2 which will permit me to fit the 17″ rear wheel allowing me a greater choice of rubber.  I’ll start stripping down the spare bike with a view to doing the forks and suspension work on that, and rebuilding that engine, so I still have the existing bike working and ready to go.

Other work I intend starting soon is a new subframe, subject to getting a new TIG welder, a racing loom and perhaps looking at using a Veypor digital dash.

Watch this space…

Here’s a Google Calendar containing the dates for MotoGP, BSB, WSB, TT and NW200.  Other series will be added over time.

The iCal link is :Here

MIST Suzuki Racing · Help Us Get Back On Track.

A quick appeal to all bike racing fans, or anyone with a spare few quid, to help Mist Suzuki get back on the track after a rider-less bike took them out of the first round at Brands Hatch.

It’s expected to cost between £12000 and £15000 to get the bike ready for the next round at Oulton Park.

Clean mean Manx machine for TTXGP – Isle of Man Today.

Last year’s MGP junior race winner Dan Kneen is to ride for the team fronted by software engineer and MGP rider Keith McKay from Ramsey. The bike is to be built by Phil Wall of Boal Engineering in Ramsey…

…The team is in the process of buying a Suzuki GSXR600 as a donor bike and the battery system, from a supplier in America, is due next month.

‘Technology in this area moves so fast there is an advantage in being late in the day. We can take advantage of developments that were not available six months ago,’ said Keith.

The team is starting with a Suzuki model which is already a race bike so it benefits from modifications such as upgraded brakes and Ohlins suspension and has a more modern chassis design…

…The FIM has added its support to the green TT event at its annual press conference in February. So far teams from America, the UK, India, Germany and Austria have confirmed they are entering.

Here are the provisional dates for Derby Phoenix.

Croft Sat 18th April
Croft Sun 19th April

Cadwell Park Sat 2nd May
Cadwell Park Sun 3rd May

Anglesey Sat 30th May
Anglesey Sun 31st May

Oulton Park Sat 4th July

Cadwell Park Sat 25th July
Cadwell Park Sun 26th July

Cadwell Park Sat 19th Sept
Cadwell Park Sun 20th Sept

Donington Park Sat 3rd Oct
Donington Park Sun 4th Oct

Snetterton TBA
Snetterton TBA

also trying to move the July Cadwells to 1st & 2nd August

I hope to have all my forms posted off before Xmas.