So this season I will be racing in the New Era / Pre Modern class for DC Racing (James Balmain for those that know him). My main bike is a 1995 ex-AMA Supersport GSX-R750 (sorry not a Kwaka still!) It is a great bike, it has a basically standard engine so power is an issue, but the rest of the bike is awesome. The spare bike, which James himself will race at some events, is a 1994 Bimota SB6 1100. This one needs more development, but looks hot as.
So I finally got a team ride, on a team bike! Even though it is a low budget privateer team, we still aim to be competitive and professional, both Nationally and locally. I feel very lucky and honoured to be where I am (except for the sling!), and do not take it for granted. So we will continue to work very hard and keep improving.
Also, a quick history. I Started riding motorbikes in 2005. My first race season was 2006 (after an initial trial race meeting in November 05 on the old ZX7R). After winning a club Superbike Championship in 2007 on my R1, I threw caution to the wind and with help from my poor credit card I bought a brand new R6 to go National racing for 2008.
I ended up in a lot of debt, and only made 2 national rounds. I had gear selection trouble at the QLD round, which prevented me from getting near my potential there, and kinda took the wind out of my sails. I also did the final EC round, which was just for fun really as I had not seen the track before and was just there for the experience. I am really glad I did it even though I was out of the top ten, mainly through bad qualifying (wrong gearing, second hand tyres, etc.) and lack of track time. But I did have a lot of fun and learned what I will need to be fast / competitive next time I go to EC.
Not to mention I got to meet and hang with the Sydney KSRC crew!
But I did do 2 club rounds up here in QLD, and they went great. I qualified on pole and won all 3 races at each event. But best of all, I set my first ever Official lap record! (Morgan Park Raceway). This helped earn me my ride for 2009.
So thanks for the support KSRC, and sorry again about not racing a Kawasaki again this season!
hemiduty = Drmsby Middleton.
(that's when I eventually get around to racing). At least the new project should be more competive than the J series ZXR750 (which will be up for sale very soon) would have been, but it probably won't be finished until towards end of this year 