Bemsee, Lydden, April 5-6

Rider: Pete Fishwick, Bike: TZR250, Club: Bemsee, Class: Yamaha Past Masters (YPM)

For those that don’t know YPM, it allows TZR250, 250LC, 350LC and 350 Powervalves in the class running to tight regulations specified by the club and provided to all riders.

The weather forecast was good and all races for both days were dry, although a little cold and windy.

Saturday Race 1

From 5th of the grid I managed a good start – the track was quite slippy especially at the elbow and the hairpin – so much so I saw one rider crash there on the warm up lap. Result: 5th.

Saturday Race 2

Another 5th on the grid, race 2 saw me drop back at 6th but a rider in 3rd crashed out putting me back in 5th. I had some very tight racing with Frank Barrett but made a few mistakes at Chessons and a couple of slides saw me loose my advantage. Frank was riding well and held me to the line. Result: 5th.

Sunday Race 1

Best race of the weekend. I started from 5th again and made slow progress. I was back in 6th but about half way through I managed to find some pace and started to pick off some riders, using the elbow as my passing point by managing to out brake and get good drive up the hill to the hairpin. On lap 9 I got past Frank at the same point and on lap 10, I caught and passed Jon Puk, managing to hold him off to the line. Result: 3rd.

Sunday race 2

This was the hardest race of the weekend. I was 3rd off the grid (based on previous results) but a poor start saw me swamped at Chessons. I managed to find my way up to 3rd again, but Martyn White on his LC was having none of it and passed me again. Then I was joined by Frank again and as we tussled Jon Puk came by going into Chesson and then Keith Roisetter. Now I was down to 7th and doing all I could to get back. I dove up at the hairpin, but was too hard and too late, causing the front end to almost wash out. I Had to settle for 7th in the end, a good hard race though and superb for the crowd to see. Result: 7th.

Congratulations to Tony Rand who is performing superbly only dropping 5 points from maximum.

Next round Oulton Park – Bring it on!

If you race and you’d like to see your race report on the MCN website, simply send a brief report to angus.farquhar@emap.com, including your name, your bike, the club you race for, and the date of the race.