Tuesday 23 October 2012

Classic Bol d'Or; Race Two

Being second fastest on track was never going to be enough to make up the time after Peter Linden's crash at the end of the first hour. It had all started so well. The race one result had positioned the team as favourites for their first classic Bol win. With the MotoBel Guzzi and Haquin's Kawasaki both out of the reckoning after race one crashes, the main competition was due from the Roadrunner Suzuki of Dirk Brand and Henk Van der Mark and the Team Taurus Guzzi. To be clear, Motobel and Haquin would both start race 2 , but as the legs were aggregated, they could never feature highly.

The Classic Bol Sweatshop Phase One Team
So, all morning the humid 25deg C conditions had been interupted by periods of drizzle, but it cleared and the race started with a wet track but without rain. The team planned to adopt the same successful strategy as the night before - 3 rotas, with Hugh Brasher starting and Peter Linden doing a double to finish. Brasher got away fairly well, despite being in the push start group* at the back of the grid, for those without starter motors. Conditions were definately tricky, with three going down on lap one, but Brasher kept his nerve and manouvered his way up to 11th at stop 1, ( 20 race laps) which was exactly what the team needed.The foundation stones were now in place.
Peter Linden





Peter Linden then took over, but despite a very promising start, in the now perfect conditions, he managed to lose the front end and slide off at the paddock infield. Under most circumstances that would have been a set- back but not a big one. Regrettably the fire that then ensued, made getting the bike fixed a little more difficult! Anyhow, Peter put the fire out and got the bike to the pitlane entrance only to be directed around the back of the garages as they didn't want to get the pitlane dirty. Peter lost 4 laps and it then took the team a further 8 minutes to repair the fire and crash damage, before restarting in about 38th position.! Brasher pushed on for 20 minutes before Linden took back over, setting the second fastest lap of the race in his pursuit of places. Eventually the team reached 30th by the flag.
Brasher pushing on hard towards stop 1 in race 2.













The classic Bol had certainly been a race of highs and lows, but the team go into the winter knowing that with 4 race wins and 3 fastest laps it couldn't be better placed for success in 2013!

Thanks go to all our sponsors and supporters for their dedicated efforts in 2012.

The race was won by the Bonvicini Moto Martin Suzuki, with Taurus second and the Godier Genoud Kawasaki of Cairoli was third.

Best Brits, with a brilliant top six finish were  Steve Boam and Steve Clark on their Harris Suzuki.
Best Brits; The Steve Clark / Steve Boam, SCERT team.











Pictures taken by Jacco Dijkhuizen



Some of the Classic Bol fire damage before rejoining the race
 
 
*The team have an alternator on the end of the crankshaft and because of restrictions in ground clearance cannot get a starter motor in as well. This should be remedied in 2013 as the team plan to piggy-back an alternator on top of the gearbox allowing space at the end of the crankshaft for a starter motor.

Saturday 20 October 2012

Classic Bol d'Or -part 1

The team scored a fine second place behind one of the new Post Classic RC30s. With only 12 seconds separating us from 1st place and 1 minute 20 from 3rd, things are looking good for part 2 tomorrow.

Hampe Racing Team: Christian Haquin and Nicholas de Dieuleveult













Favourites Motobel and the Haquin Kawasaki both suffered a lap 2 crash costing each of them short pit stops. The pace was slowed in the early stages due to drizzle and the Sweatshop Phase One Team (Brasher) kept a cool head, stayed out of trouble and handed over to Linden in 5th position
Pete meets his old 1990s team boss 'Perro' for the first time in over 10 years














With part 2 of the race tomorrow and a grid starting position of 47th (first push starter) there is still plenty to do and the Team is working well and looking forward to tomorrow.
Roadrunner Team: Henk van der Mark and Dirk Brand

Friday 12 October 2012

Classic Bol d'Or, Magny Cours, 20th/21st October



bol d'or classique





















The Sweatshop Phase One Team head for the final race of the year next Wednesday. The ever improving partnership of Hugh Brasher and Peter Linden will try to build on the team's run of success following wins at Mettet, Oschersleben (Superbike) and Imola.
Practice is on Friday, Qualifying on Saturday, and the 2 leg 2 hour races are to be held on Saturday evening from 18.15 to 20.15 and on Sunday afternoon starting at 14.30hrs.

http://www.boldorclassic.com/

Two items of news have come up recently:

Firstly, DG Sports (the organisers of the Spa Classic Endurance Race) have leaked that they are planning an international Classic Endurance Race series for 2013; involving at least Belgian (Spa), German (Oschersleben) and Spanish (Aragon) rounds. We will keep you posted as this develops. Needless to say, we WILL be part of it!

And secondly, the Classic Bol organisers will run a "post classic" class with the main races, for bikes originating between 1984 and 1991 at this year's event.
It is assumed that as the Classic Bol is 10 years old now, the organisers feel there is room for machines of this period. We will watch this with interest as the Team's "Riders" Kawasaki's were delivered in early 1991 and would therfore be eligible.... perhaps Steve Manley or Doug Toland would like to get back on...

See you at Magny Cours!

Finally, the Team are currently seeking volunteers for the 2013 season and involvement in the races.
Anybody is welcome, you don't even need to be bike familiar - timekeepers, cooks, gofors and anyone interested are all welcome,.. be prepared to work though!
Contact Russell by phone or text on 07739 178988.



Saturday 6 October 2012

No pain in Spain for the 10th Phase One Ainsa trip

Many of the Phase One Team are currently off on the annual Trail riding experience in the Aragonese Pyrenees.
Eight Enduro bikes have been setting off each mornig in 27/28 degr C bright sunshine for their 120 km days.
Despite the hard work in the hot and dusty conditions this really is the ultimate relaxation experience.