Round 1 – Silverstone (from a team 1 PoV)
Introduction
So the season starts at last! With a long and cold winter now behind us, we were treated to a dry and sunny welcome to the first round at the Silverstone international circuit.
Moggy and Marty out front of the wing
Bikes peeking out on a cold test day morning.
Fridays test day started with a fresh cold track. Team 1 opted to sit out the chilly morning (warm weather riders), sadly for those that did not saw an increase in large fast accidents, thankfully not for any Army Endurance Team members (which is not the norm!!!). This also gave the team time to prepare for the weekends hospitality. Our team as a whole took it steady and had a great morning, getting used to the track and the feeling of going fast again. The afternoon session saw the track at a good temperature and everyone, on track, was now getting up to speed. With no big mechanical problems, just a leaky radiator on Darryl’s bike, the day went really well and everyone was ready get going! The evening was then spent topping up oil levels with MOTUL oil, giving the bikes a good check over and clean with MOTUL cleaning products. Also lock wiring sump plugs and filler caps with Pulse Racing Lockwire. All the bikes and riders went through and passed ready to race.
Race day
Race day started with qualifying which is now is the same as how the world championship run it. Each rider gets a 10 minute session, the riders fastest times are then added together and divided by how many in team. This certainly made the grid fairer, especially when some teams draft in British Superbike/Supersport riders.
Qualifying went well for team 1, Sgt ‘Spence’ Spencer-Fleet was in the first session and was first out on track leading the pack. The track was still cold and was first rider to hit Stowe corner 6th gear 180mph then back 3 gears to 3rd gear, the previous session had seen a few riders crash and the racing line was covered in cement. Unable to get a race line he had to try and run over the cement, this saw massive slides and near crashes. The newly fitted Eazi-Grip Tank pads were most defiantly needed in that session. Even with this Spence did well and finished 5th in the session with a 1.13. WO2 ‘Moggy’ Morgan was next out and set a good time and finished his session in 8th with a 1.15. Last rider from Team 1 Captain ‘Pep’ Brown was on par with Spence and looking at doing another flying lap, he went for an over take on the link road, but his Chain unfortunately snapped and finished his session early. Still putting in a good time of 1.13 he finished 3rd in his session. Thus bringing team home in 10th place only 4 seconds off pole, but we knew there was more speed to be had and time to be made so wasn’t too disappointed at the result.
WO2 ‘Wayne’ Morgan cutting through traffic
Team 2, were steady away both Sgt ‘Leon’ Wilton and Tobias George putting in 1.18’s and finished qualifying in an overall 15th
Team 3, qualifying went well with Darryl sticking onto Peps tail for a couple laps and Lee bringing in a good time saw team finish 13th overall.
Team 4, saw WO2 ‘Andy’ Day fly round on his Yamaha R6, with a 1.15 he led the way amongst our other 600 riders in the team. Cpl ‘Jase’ Cooper put in a time of 1.19 to put the team in 19th for the start.
Cpl ‘Jase’ Cooper taking a quick line!
Team 5, qualifying where with fresh rubber, WO2 ‘Carl’ Goodchild managed to set a personal best time of 1.16 which after combining with his team mate Sgt ‘Soph’ Ellis 1.18 put the rookies 1 place in front of our seasoned riders in 18th on the grid of 38 teams so they were extremely pleased.
Sgt ‘Soph’ Ellis going for the overtake on another rookie
So as far as targets go, all teams in the top 20 certainly hit and surpassed anything that we had previously thought.
Between qualifying and the race we had new Metzeler tyres going on supplied by Bike Tyres Leeds, Pep’s bike get checked over and new chain fitted and a few little adjustments done to bikes for the race. We also had the chance for the team to host our sponsors and supporters, the people that make the team race possible. We would like to thank No limits for the use of a room in the wing over the start finish to offer a buffet style lunch and a chance for us to entertain (can we please have a bigger one next year!!!!)
So to the race, the bit what we train and test to do. The rookies were most nervous, they were apprehensive of their first Le Man style start and their first race proper. It does get a little easier boys, we promise!!!
After the chain snap on Peps bike, a new one on and bike running sweet (or so we thought) it was down to him to start the race for Team 1 as he had set the fastest time.
The aftermath of a snapped chain.
There is a tactical opportunity at the start of each race, whether it is to keep up with faster riders and make up time in the pits, or to get out in front and put time into your opponents, but ultimately making the correct choice here can have a huge impact on the end of a race some 200 laps later. Pep was sent straight to the front of the pit lane, so he could get a lap in to test the bike was ok. Spence sat in the garage on his bike should Pep need to come in and swap. Pep was happy and his bike seemed good to go. All riders lined up on the grid and then went for the last formation lap. On return Peps bike stalled as he rolled into the start position… unknown why, he restarted it and it fired into life.. at this point there was no opportunity to change bikes over. Red lights on, flag dropped.. one of the first across the track to his bikes but it didn’t fire. He tried a complete electric reset but still no bang. The grid got away and Pep was left on the grid being pushed by the holders. 20 secs later it fired into life. He was off! On a mission to catch up. Pep pushed a little too hard and found himself doing a “superman” across the track. This was not the ideal way to start our season. Some 15 mins later after a painful, run, drive back to the paddock with the transponder Spence was sent out on track. 14 laps down he set straight at trying to gain some time back, as the team were dead last in 38th.Spence went out in his first session and set his PB of 1.12 and did a 48 min session setting consistent 1.13 laps. By the end of the session he had got the team within a lap of the closest team. That’s 11 laps caught up! and sat in 34th. With a swift change over Moggy went out to crack out his next session.
Team 1 change over with new Metzeler slicks on.
Whilst both Spence and Moggy are out, Peps bike is frantically being checked over and repaired again, unknown to why he crashed. The bike and Pep went to scruiteneering and were passed fit to carry on racing, and with the end of Moggys session getting closer, Pep’s bike was bring warmed up ready. As Pep was about to get onto the bike the teams mechanic Cpl ‘Biz’ Bizeray spotted an oil leak, which would unfortunately end Pep’s race. Moggy had a good session out setting a list of 1.14’s and now in 32nd. Another quick change and back out went Spence. On a new tyre he got stuck to the back of the race leaders Phil Bevan. Spence went even faster with a long list of 1.11’s and consistent 1.12’s.
Spence going the long way round to over take Andy. Using the power of the Zx10r
Team 1 finished the race with heads held high, having made up 10 places and all set our own personal best times. The aim of endurance racing is to finish and that’s what they did, they have gained points and ready for the next round.
Tobias from team 2 started for them and got a really good start and moved up 5 places. After a good start T was running consistently around in the 1.16s, achieving a 1.15. On the second changeover from Leon to T they had a little confusion reference the pit board, Leon saw ‘IN’ without a number so thought he had missed his countdown. He was riding into the pits he saw T running across from the pit wall. So that was us having a slow changeover. During the race they worked up to 5th in class as they were both down to consistently 1.16s and a few 1.15s. As the red flag had come out we had only just changed over, and finished in 8th place and 21st overall.
Tobias getting his head down!
The Veterans team,
Team 3’s Darryl got a great start and stayed with the front runners for a few laps and after ruining a tyre and running out of fuel in 40minutes saw him splutter into the pits 3 laps early but lucky Lee was ready to go.
Quick transponder change for Team 3
Lee’s stint saw his time improve and got them down to 1.14s consistently. But his fuel light came on after 30min so came in early making Darryl jump about a bit getting his gear back on to go out. Seems Lee had a dodgy light so ignored it on the next stint. Due to the early pit stops meant that an additional pit stop was required as they still had 95 mins to make in 2 stints. So they brimmed the tanks and taped them up to prevent leaks. Lee put in a 45 min stint and still pulled in consistent times even with a quick shifter that was changing gear by itself going down the straight. Darryl went out for the final stint and was told to not get into a battle!! and conserve his fuel as 50min on a full tank was required. So short shifting and smoother riding was called for, He tried for most of it but Harry Blades kept pestering him so we had several laps passing each other. Then with literally 10 minutes to go a bike went down in front of him into the final corner and put oil down, another bike just in front went down on the oil and I slid but stayed up and as Darryl crossed the line the red flag came out which was to finish the race early by a few minutes.
Team 4, lined up on the grid in 19th. Andy unfortunately stalled on the start so lost a few seconds but made most of them back in the first few laps. He worked hard on catching Tobias (Team 2) who put down his fastest lap of the weekend in this session with a 1.15 and was within overtaking position when both teams came in for rider change on the same lap. The transponder changes were side by side but Team 4’s pit crew were slicker and Jase got away before Leon. They battled it out for an entire 30 min session with Leon just getting the upper hand and the two teams sitting in 4th & 5th place. T2 pit stopped a few laps before T4 and yet again T4 managed to leapfrog them again. Andy then his PB with a 1.15.4 and the fastest of the Army 600 riders. The last hour saw T4 slip to 5th in class but still within 9 seconds of 3rd. He pushed hard but fatigue started to set in and the rear tyre was worn and was constantly spinning up, especially through the last two right handers. The gap couldn’t be closed but stayed fairly consistent throughout a tactically extended stint. Jase went out to take the chequered flag but unfortunately the race was red flagged early due to an incident on track. Team 4 Finished 17th overall and 5th in class (within 13 seconds of 4th place and a lap of 3rd place). This was an amazing effort by this team.
The rookies Team 5, Carl was to be the one starting the race for the team this was to be a new experience. With concentration and focus at its highest the flag was dropped Carl managed to be one of the first to his bikes and got a great start making up a couple of places straight away and this pace continued into the first few laps where he gained another few places moving us up to 12th in the race. After the first couple of laps passed, He looked at his lap timer and saw I he had set a new personal best lap smashing his qualifying time by 2 seconds!! He continued at this pace throughout the first 45 min stint lapping at an average of 1:14.5. The race was long and hard work for the rookies as a completely new experience. They kept on it hard and with slick pit stops and consistent pace we were able to maintain the position in the race. The race finished for the rookies with huge relief and huge sense of achievement. And proud the whole team are of them. They were Sadly just pipped to the top placed rookie team spot by one other team and came 2nd by only one position across the whole grid. They also finished 6th in Club 1000 class, and 14th overall! What a great start to the season, well done Soph for staying on your bike!!.
The very happy rookie team! Well done!
Summary
Racing aside, the team utilises its opportunities at Silverstone to provide a somewhat modest, but professional hosting day for sponsors and other supporters of the team. With all of our major sponsors represented on the day, friends, families and soldiers CoC coming and showing their support we certainly increased our fan base. I’d like to as the team manager, say thank you to all that made time to visit the team and hope to see you all once again, later in the season for a second hosting event (times and dates TBC).
So Silverstone weekend was ultimately a resounding success (less team 1s result, but this will be rectified at Brands Hatch). All teams completed their first race of the season and enjoyed the company of what can only be said as “a lot” of supporters. The team now takes stock….plans and looks forward to its next race at Brands Hatch on April 22nd. We’d like to, as always, like to extend a welcome to all of our sponsors and supporters at each round. Although it won’t be a hosting event…you are all welcome…all of the time, simply make contact with myself or any team member and we will facilitate your arrivals (families and children are always welcome).
Thanks and Photo credits go to Camipix photography and Wil collins Photography. Check out their Facebook pages.
Army Endurance Motorcycle Race Team 