Pembrey and Mallory, March 15-16

Contributor: Alan Holland, Co-ordinator, Phil Bevan Racing.

Pembrey, NG Road Racing, March 15th: Open Race 2: 1st, Race 3: 2nd Powerbike Race 1: 1st, Race 2: 1st Sound of Thunder Race 1: 1st Race 2: DNF

Mallory Park, New Era MCC, March 16th: Sound Of Thunder Race 1: 3rd, Race 2: 1st Open Division 2: 2nd

Pembrey was fine. The braking points need sorting as the Ducati 996RS has an awesome front end. Lap times were around the minute mark and Phil was getting a lot of attention in the paddock.

We used the 996R for the Sound of Thunder, but in the last race we had a plug go down on the rear cylinder so just parked it up.

Mallory Park was covered in fog and it was freezing. The bike was completely checked over before Phil’s first practice session, which was completed despite a small grass tracking diversion at the hairpin.

After practice his arrival back in the paddock saw the JHP boys quickly to work again and the bike was soon in lots of pieces before Phil even had chance to get his leathers off.

The planned oil and filter change was sorted along with sprockets, new tyres, battery, refuel and a couple of clicks here and there on the suspension. Sounds simple but the boys were now attracting quite a large crowd.

In race 1 Phil starting 27th on the grid, but he got a flyer, went into Gerrards 10th and came out 4th. The mass hysteria from the crew was quickly dampened when the race was red flagged. The subsequent restart saw Phil boxed in mid table, but he managed to get up to third by the end.

He started race 2 on row 6 and was in the lead by lap 4 staying there to take his first win.

Race 3, the last race of the day, was in the Open class and we were on the 3rd row. It was getting very cold so we left the warmers on till the last second.

After another great start there were two riders in it. Phil dove under Mike McLuskey on lap 5 to take the lead, but couldn’t shake him off. Phil was quicker on Gerrards but lost ground on the last part of the circuit and was forced in to 2nd going through Edwina’s.

Many thanks to Rick, Kevin and Ken from JHP for all their help. We learnt loads from them.

If you want to get your racing report on the web send it to angus.farquhar@emap.com by Monday morning and we will put it online.