Thursday 30 March 2017

A fun two day test at Aragon


Seventeen teamsters turned up at Aragon last weekend for a three bike test. Sponsors Hugh, Ray, Lee Maurice and Robbie all joined in, some with their machines as well.

The weather was kind, albeit rather cold in the mornings, warming from 2 degrees C track, to 25C in the afternoons.

The highlights were the successful proving of the new engine spec, plus some new geometry and suspension settings. Lesser work included proof testing of new tachos, mounting brackets and battery lifetimes.

The main thing was to blow away the cobwebs of team and riders alike and to blood a couple of new team members. Andy and Mike both came away smiling and did a great job.!

The racing this year will start with the Donington Park Endurance Legends 4hrs day race on 6/7th May, then Anneau du Rhin in June.
The DG Sports ECS series continues to be a fiasco with 13 slots being 'bought' by DG Sports at Donington, all of which are oversubscribed, leaving many teams having booked ferries, airflights etc, but with no entries. Our sympathies are with those guys, who make up the lifeblood of the series. What are the ECS organisers playing at.! The Endurance Legends guys are pulling their hair out with potential reputational damage through no fault of their own..  

Sweatshop Phase One will have a two-bike entry at Donington Park, in a real effort to support the return of International Endurance to the circuit and to support Endurance Legends. The last race was in 1987 when the World Championship organisers held an 8 hrs race there. From memory, Phase One Endurance were 14th that time; a lot has happened since then.

This year Multi-Hottrax Endurance Champion, Hugh Brasher will be joined by Mike Dickinson, ex-South African Superbike Champion, on the first bike. The second machine will be piloted (literally) by Peter Linden (2000 world Endurance Champion) and Ian Simpson (Double BSB and British 600 Champion). What a line-up. ! How lucky we are, to be able to call these guys friends.

See you there. RB