The 2010 team consists of the following for this season:

• AK & CK: Both the racebike owners; AK fettles, CK organises.
  
• The racers: Scot Adam & Alex Heaton
• Spanner man extraordinaire: Andy Heaton
• 'Pitboard' aka Doug Clemmans at most of the meetings and also Jordan Challis when Doug isnt able to come along
• Steve 'Uncle Brown' Gardener, Camera man & Team joker.
  

AK – also known as Alan Knight, passed his half century in 2006, though shows no sign of relaxing & taking things easy.

AK didn't have anything to do with Ducati's until early 2002, when CK got her first one – and thus his interest had started to point in the Ducati direction. Previously AK had (in a very early life) been a workshop foreman for a large Kawasaki dealership, which was attached to a Datsun dealership. In those days, AK spent much of his free time spannering for the Datsun garage rally team – travelling all over the UK. Any time left over was devoted to his main love - American cars, mostly those of the 1960's era.

In his mid 30s AK then set up his own business solely working on American cars, which went hand-in-hand with his hobby of drag racing his much modified Plymouth Duster. Some weekends were also spent with his mate Dave, taking large amounts of spares to the drag race meetings to sell to other racers and American car owners. During 2006 AK & Dave decided that this had come to a natural end and so sold up much of their stock and 'closed down'.

During all of this Alan also had two children – Vicki & Dean. Vicki lives with Paul Martin (aka Bones) who joined us to race in 2006 and stayed for 3 full seasons racing.

In recent years AK has spent time spannering for Mark of MHP at club race meetings, and also for a season when Mark did endurance racing. AK's main interest is creating or rebuilding things, so with this in mind it's not really surprising that he was keen to have a go with the race bikes. His current road bike is a Monster 900 special, which was completed as a project in early 2004 and although it did some shows as an exhibit, the tri-colour has been AK's main commuter and fun bike for the last four years. As well as this, AK had built a 'mini ducati' from a VFR 400 – which caught out a few riders at a track day at Rockingham in 2004. Alan still misses the RD 125's and 400 that he used to own only a few years ago, and also the Kawasaki/Harris 750 turbo. The dearly beloved totally rebuilt non-standard Kawasaki 1100R is still with us, and AK has sworn to make the time to ride her more, even if just for commuting on occasions.

AK has done a few track days on the current race bikes, as well as others prior to the Desmo Due racing starting up. This means he does have a good interest in the handling and suspension set up, as well as how the engines should be operating. Sometimes, this has come in handy for other riders in the previous series we did, with 'DR AK' being able to help get them back on the track again after a spill or a mechanical problem.

Alan works for W.M.Snell, a very reputable Ducati dealer in Hampshire so Ducati's are his day job as well as his hobby!

At race meetings AK can usually be found checking over our bikes, fixing something or cleaning them.

How CK ended up as team manager was an own goal really – the only one who could type more than five words a minute, and who could also make a cup of coffee whilst cooking dinner & surfing the internet at the same time!!

CK, whilst not admitting to being close to AK in age, is also not as young as she once was. Horses as well as bikes were her main love in her teens and after a long day at the stables, she was then usually tearing around on two wheels with a group of mates. Charlotte ran her own equestrian business for many years supporting herself and daughter Becca, from her first marriage, however, the bikes had to take a back seat until Becca left school.

In the mid 1980's right through to meeting AK in 1999, CK had competed regularly with the horses and ponies on the national circuit with a modicum of success, winning championships and producing ponies to the highest level for herself and her daughter. This often meant a long time was spent on the road travelling to competitions all over the country and also into Europe on occasions. To assist with the expenses Charlotte also did some long distance trips for equestrian transport companies, running other peoples stable yards as holiday cover, teaching riders at Pony Club and also privately too.

CK also instructed local equestrians at weekends and evenings as well as breaking and schooling many horses and ponies – again to top level.

With AK's arrival on the scene in mid 1999, CK's long held interest in bikes was again ignited by 'borrowing' his 600 sportsbike, closely followed by the subsequent purchase of a Kawasaki for scratching about on. 2001 will be remembered fondly as a real family year when AK & CK went to the Gert Gallybagger rally on the Isle of Wight accompanied by a son, daughter and also daughter's boyfriend, all on bikes.

The following year was even more riotous as the 'kids' had all moved up to 400 sportsbikes which made for some interesting rides! A big birthday loomed in 2002 and the first Ducati joined the garage for CK, alongside AK's three or four bikes; and Becca's bike too (whole family biking). Moving on a couple of years when AK got his 900 monster special on the road, CK then upgraded her 750 to the 1000sie Monster – just so she could keep ahead if necessary! This has been changed in recent years to a smaller Ducati Monster 696 as road riding time is few & far between these days.

CK is the person to ensure the  caravan is laden with vast amounts of food, drink (including the non-alcoholic variety) and bedding - also making sure the team leave on time. All bookings for travel are made by CK, as is the co-ordination of booking track days with the riders, as well as many other items such as ensuring the route is planned (no Sat Nav here!). CK is also the team financial controller.

CK is also called upon to help with the bikes and enjoys taking them to bits. You will usually find CK at a race meeting with a cup of coffee or glass of something in hand and stop watches in the other, usually whilst chattering away like a pneumatic drill!

Doug arrived back from a very very long holiday in Australia in summer 2005, and was promptly pressganged into the team on the 2nd bike (Snotty, then in 620 mode) for the last two meetings of the season). Doug then took on initially sharing a 583 with Zimbo at the start of the 2006 season, going on to ride for Michael Peatfield (Rally) on his 600ss in the latter part of the year.

Funds denied Doug the opportunity to take on a ride for 2007 but (luckily for us) Doug joined our team - fondly named 'Pitboard' by Hawk at the start of the season, as Doug kept Hawk's pitboard very much up to date for him whilst racing at each meeting.         In between, Doug helped AK with any fettling that needed doing to both bikes at the meetings, including refuelling and any tyre changes. It goes to say that we valued Doug’s help greatly and he was very MUCH part of the 'family' team.

We are glad that once again Doug has been able to commit to come along with the team for much of the 2010 season, having taken a season of so off - to find himself a lovely fiancee (Katy).

Uncle Brown (aka Steve Gardener)

Brown has been with the team since early 2007, filming all the action on (and sometimes off!) track, only taking a break during 2008. Brown is the epitomy of the motor racer enthusiast. Brown used to be completely immersed in competing in off-road side car racing, which must be one of the MOST scariest things to do, so he certainly knows how to get out there and do it.                                                                                 He's still so keen that he also goes off to meetings like the Moto GP to savour the racing & likes to walk or cycle the track wherever he goes to check out the lines and curves. We fondly remember one of our trips to Assen where he was so excited to be in the hallowed areas that he had only seen on TV previously. Brown also likes to keep the riders on their toes when they have had a tumble, by making sure they dont forget how it all happened........