K RR Team 'do' Snetterton in early September

K RR Team ‘do’ Assen

We had been looking forwards since last year to going once again to Assen. Unfortunately, we got a phone call from Bones (aka Paul) on the Tuesday saying that he had aggravated an old injury to his back and the doctor would not let him ride (or even drive/passenger in a car for a long journey!). We kept our fingers xx’d for the next 24 hours as Bones was booked for an urgent appt to visit the chiropractor. However come Weds late morning we had confirmation: the chiro came up with the same info that the doctor had given: Assen was definitely OFF the agenda for Bones.

Well, there wasn’t time to get completely despondent – lots of loading van stuff had to be done after work on that day. AK & I made the decision to leave Snotty (Pauls ride) in the van where she usually resides between races as by then a germ of an idea had been forming in AK’s mind.

Thurs morning saw us (CK, AK & Hawk) set off early to Dover, meeting up with Hawk’s mate Steve, and also Senna & Trudi – being driven by Skidlids in their van. Arriving into the port a tad early we found that for a small charge, we could get straight onto an earlier ferry. Having accepted this, after driving straight on we then bumped into GTH in the cafe – Mr Nick Bousted no less – who was travelling solo to Holland & picking up a mate there en-route. Kev Mooney & team also then popped up from round the corner.  It’s amazing how quick the 1.5hr crossing was (damp & foggy) when nattering excitedly over a cooked brekkie with your mates.

Swiftly disembarking at 10.15 we then started the long old drive to Assen. However – after about 20 mins on the road I get a call from GTH – it turns out his sat nav has gone on strike & isn’t working – where were we? After swiftly consulting maps it turns out that he is only about 10 miles or so ahead, so not long after he is co-opted into the convoy. Later at a rest break his sat-nav decides that now it was in Belgium it would once again do its job. However, Nick decides he likes the convoy and he stays with us for quite a while longer until he has to peel off to pick up his mate about an hour away from Assen.

Arriving at the welcome centre the lads ‘sign in’ for the weekend, collecting their paperwork. I chat with Ton (DNL Chairman - who we knew from meeting last year) while Hawk gets his paperwork done and I explain to him about Bones not being able to come. A great solution is reached: AK can do the 2 Friday trackday sessions instead as ‘sub’!!! ID etc is produced, AK gets very excited & nervous all at the same time. Senna casts him envious glances….. (I think this is what AK had as a little plan from the Weds morning when Bones couldn’t come!!)

Paddock is reached & ‘camp’ is made for our little convoy –between the Louigi Moto crowd & The Essex lads & opposite OD2. As evening draws in, AK heads off with Hawk to cycle the circuit, whilst the rest of us familiarise ourselves with some beery/winey-type stuff.

Friday: Trackday looms, but not till late in the afternoon are the Brit-pack 2 sessions of 20 mins, so there is plenty of time to wander round the paddock, look at the track, and generally get all the 1^st timers into various states of manic excitement or nerves. Those of us who were not riding just tried to shelter from the excessive heat (32.5 at midday in the Team Essex Gazebo!).
1^st TD session goes well, particularly after Chris (Crasher) Wood has done a joint briefing with Will from DNL, for all riders prior to going on the track. 2^nd session doesn’t go so well with Harriet coming off & breaking her collarbone. Restart meant only 1 or 2 laps more were completed, before the end of the time. A long lazy evening was spent by everyone, some in very reflective mode – others in rather more beery cheery mode.

Saturday dawned, with many taking advantage of a good lie-in as qually wasn’t till after lunch. Chass - herr Kapitan of team OD2 discovered that he had brought an ‘industrial’ pack of bacon, along with a battery farm of eggs – so AK, Hawk & I had a good breakfast that day (always better when someone has cooked it for you I think).
Both the 2 x 20 min sessions were for qualifying – best of both sessions to count, so we were all waiting for the provisional times to come out after the first session. I knew Hawk had put in a good time, but was astounded to find he had beaten last years qualifying time of 2.08.621 by getting a 2.04.540. Now he had to at least do the same or better this in the next session, as close mate and rival Domski was a very close 2^nd.
Next session out – and Hawk went a bit quicker, as did Domski – but Hawk managed to get the coveted pole position for the next day coming in on 2.03.503. Hot dripping riders headed back into the paddock, temps were still very hot – with next to no air either it was very stuffy & uncomfortable for everyone, let alone the riders in their full leathers. At least the facilities at Assen are good tho – as many of the lads ambled off for a good shower across the block paved paddock. At least the heat meant that leathers could dry out too.

Saturday night saw me going on strike for cooking (pre-planned mutiny) and together with Senna, Trudi & Skids, we all went over for a meal in the track restaurant. After some deliberation, everybody managed to get something they could eat. Later that evening we all meandered from ‘camp’ to ‘camp’ for plenty of banter and beers coffees, with the last evening entertainment of Alec and his fire stick making many of us sit up & watch (and JPM wince!).

Final morning dawned – this was it: the day of the race!

Nervous tension emanated from Hawk just before the call was made for the riders to go down to the paddock, though he did his best to cover up with the usual cheery grin.

Out onto the track they poured, bang on time from the holding area & down the pitlane. Only the 1 out-lap before taking their places on the grid – with the 1^st 2 rows having their own brolly dollies for just a few minutes until the back markers had formed up.!

Then the lights went out – and away they went, 4 abreast coming into the first RH 90% bend!

Hawk flapped his wings and away he shot, neatly getting into 1^st place as they rounded the bend, with Domski hard on his heels – and Tom Grezlinski blatting into 3^rd place on the Louigi Moto bike just ahead of Chris Wood. Completing a lap and going into the 2^nd lap disaster for Tom on the 1^st bend as he went in too quick & the front washed out on him.

We then discovered that Tiamo & Diggerman had also come off further back across the track & this was the reason for the stoppage, not young Tom, who had managed to walk to safety.

Red lights ensued, and a short while after, the riders instead of lining up all retired to the paddock for a few minutes, while the raffle was drawn for the bike – and then the vintage race classics all did a celebratory lap of the circuit.

A quick drink, ciggy – maybe some petrol for the bikes too & the riders were quickly back out doing another warm up lap & back onto the grid for a re-start.

As soon as the lights went out, there was an almighty charge from the front of the grid with Chris Wood heading into the first corner in the lead. Hawk wasn’t having any of this, so promptly swooped across & picked up the lead, with Chris in 2^nd, and Dom 3^rd. Soon after going round the 1^st complex, Domski going onto the straight managed to pass Chris & start to Challenge Hawk for the front position, with Fil2 close on Chris’s heels.

Hawk then led the rest of the final laps to the chequered flag, with Domski right on his heels in places. Unfortunately Chris Wood overcooked himself coming into a bend on the last but one lap & lowsided, leaving Fil2 nowhere to go, but to join him on the floor in the gravel!

Prizes were given out on the main podium – just like WSB & Moto GP riders get – pictured is from L – R: Domski (2^nd) Hawk (1^st) Rattler (3^rd)

And below is Hawks pride & joy.

Finally – we would like to thank Henry Bryan (Henners) of Intrall Consultancy for sponsoring the Assen trip for the Knight RR team – many thanks, this was so much appreciated by us all

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May: Mallory Report from Bike Sport News:



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April : Brands Hatch Report from Bike Sport News:

(to be loaded)

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March Bulletin………..

We were blessed with a lovely sunny trackday for another shakedown at Mallory on Sat 10th March, tho it was a killer to do the commute each way on the same day; with the lads taking turns to sit in Bones' paddock chair in the back of the van (one of our fuel saving devices for this year!). 

Bones & Hawk quickly settled into a rythmn out on the track - after overcoming amazement at finding Fil2 & Rattler in at the briefing first thing. Well, we certainly scuppered their chances of a 'sneaky' quiet day out then.... lol...
Lord R quickly moved down the paddock to come & join us in our blagged garage, with his trusty manservant for the day of Fil2 assisting one handedly where he could. 

The first couple of sessions Hawk showed Bones the way round the track, advising him on the best lines to take, though Hawk hasn't had a race here in a few years and needed to scrape his own rust off the edges. The 3rd morning session was a little spoilt for Bones when out with an instructor, as he had to hit the deck at the hairpin - after the rider in front suffered a lowside. This left Bones with nowhere to go but to also lob Snotty down onto the black stuff or ride into the other rider. On arrival back in the paddock - after swiftly visiting the medi-centre - Bones was more cross about any damage sustained to the bike than himself, which was some scuffs & bruising. Same could have been said about Mrs Snot, as she had a broken footpeg, and numerous scrapes along her RH side.

After lunch some quicker times were put in, and Hawk declared himself happy with the setup of Tango, so called it a day before the last session. Bones then put in his fastest time of the day so came off track grinning widely (if ever a person could grin widely, it is Bones). We came home in good spirits, planning what comes up next on the calendar.