Mason: "It's getting tougher"

Gary Mason came out top in three races of the BSB Cup competition at Brands on the Quay Garage Honda but had to be content with 13th, 14th and 15th in the overall BSB results.

Earlier in the season Mason was as high as sixth in the overall results on the ex-Paul Bird Motorsports Honda and well inside the top ten in six of the first eight races this year. His results have since slipped but he said it was all to be expected.
“I knew I had to come out fighting at the start of the year,” said Mason, who has nevertheless come out on top in 13 of the 17 Cup race results.

“We stared this year with a known package but knew when everyone else got their bikes sorted it would get tough – and that’s when we’d have to dig deep.
“The bike is exactly as it was last year apart from titanium rods (allowed this year with the new FIM regulations after having to run stock rods last year under BSB’s ‘supersport tune’ rules) so there is a little bit more power but we’ve no budget to go any further.”

The tiny team doesn’t even have an specialist data technician and Mason joked: “We beg people from other team’s to come and look at our engine mapping if we’re struggling because we have one in our team who can deal with that stuff.”

Mason is hoping his efforts will win him a place back in a top team after several years of struggle that’s seen him even plying his trade in the States. 

He said: “Obviously I’d like a top BSB ride but I want to be involved with Ian (Woollacott – one Quay Honda team principal) whatever I do in the future.
“For the sake of the BSB Cup I need to move on. Otherwise it makes the series meaningless, especially when you look at people like (James) Ellison, Shakey (shane Bynre) who have come from the Cup.

“But it’s also nice to get back to basics with this team. This is a series I’ve always wanted to win.

“I’m 30 now – tell them 28 race age but I don’t care about age. I’ve been talking to people and I’ve got Terry Rymer managing me now, looking after my interests, so hopefully we can get something sorted for next year.”