Tuesday 8 February 2011

Cartagena 5 hrs - Qualified 2nd but dropped out of race with broken 4th gear


The 5 hrs race weekend ended with a DNF but what a great weekend it was!

The Peter Linden/Hugh Brasher pairing worked hard with much improved lap times to qualify 2nd behind the Motobox Guzzi of Segarra/Segarra (he of European Superstock) and ahead of Cheltenham based "Team Glam" who qualified 3rd. Hugh Brasher set a best lap of 1.51.8 and Linden was on 1.48.9. For both riders these were their best Cartagena Classic laps, and up about 2 seconds on last year.

The field was fairly strong, with Motobox as the star billing, but also with some strong, midfield entries, including the pair of "Pane e Nutella" (yes, really) Moto Guzzis and team Fusco's Ducati Pantah with Giancarlo Rossi on board. Right at the back and by far the oldest bike there - a Swiss Vincent Rapide, in full race trim. Beautiful.



After qualifying, 23 entries remained for the race.
The race was held as a single leg in daylight hours, with air temperatures approaching a balmy 20 degrees C and the track at 15/16 C. For the Sweatshop Phase One entry, the lowish track temperatures caused higher than expected rear tyre wear. However, useful feedback for Dunlop with their continued development of the Classic rear.


Motobox and Glam led from the start, watched by perhaps 150 spectators - not that many, but the organisers of the WEC Albacete races would have been proud!

As the first hour progressed Motobox pulled a 20 metre lead with Glam's Bob Collins settling for second, but still pressing Segarra at some points in the lap. Eventually that presure paid off and after about 40 minutes Segarra fell. In quick succession, the Sweatshop Phase One team retired from third with a broken fourth gear, Glam took the lead and immediately lost it with the first of two punctures and Team Fusco contined unhindered and quickly to claim the win. Glam were second and a Pani e Nutella Guzzi third.


The Sweatshop Phase One Classic Team are next out at Spa (1, 2, 3 July) for the 4 hours, followed by the Oschersleben 3 hours during Speedweek on the 14th of August.

The Classic Bol d'Or is on September 17/18th.

The Team wishes to thank Sweatshop, SBS, France Equipement, DFDS Seaways, Dunlop and James Clark of Team Glam for their invaluable support.

We're also indebited to Dave Martin for the excellent photography.

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