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ALEX GAULT - MAG SPORT RACING 2007 - “Race of the Year” - Mallory Park
October 2007
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Alex lines up against a full blown RIZLA Suzuki Super Bike |
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This was Alex Gault’s first visit to “The Race of the Year” the annual event hosted by Mallory Park which every year attracts a very strong field of Super Bikes and seen the Scottish youngster line up on the same grid as BSB riders Cal Crutchlow, Scott Smart, Billy McConnell, James Haydon & Tristan Palmer.
Also on the grid was fellow Scots Kev Coghlan on the UK1 R6 and David Paton having a guest ride on the Virgin Media R6, no one would disagree if it was said; the rookie Gault was way out of his depth.
In free practice for the event, an electrical fault stopped the youngsters engine bringing the bike to a halt before Alex could even complete one lap, this was a disaster as most of the teams had been practising there that week.
Alex who had travelled down to the circuit overnight has had very little time on this circuit, in fact it was on a MAG Sport track day back in 2006, when he tested his CB500.
Electrical gremlins once again stopped Alex’s engine in the second practice session again after only a few corners, however this time it pinpointed the fault and the team were able to rectify it.
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Kev “UK1” R6, Alex GSXR and David “Virgin Media” R6 |
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Just in time for Qualifying, where Alex’s inexperience of the track resulted in him setting the slowest time of the session and would be starting from the back of the grid in the “Race of the Year”.
Alex had one more chance to learn part of the track in race one “The Alamo Trophy” race, an up to 1300cc open to all race, where the big bikes were out in force.
This whole meeting for Alex was a last minute decision and with Alex being a late entry he started from the back row of the grid for this race, which had attracted a mixed entry of 1000cc, 600cc and 250GP bikes.
Here we would like to thank Stuart Tromans of “The ASTRO VAN CENTRE tel 01543 454422” who bought Alex a set of Slick tyres to be used for the big races that day.
Stuart is the owner of the very successful ASTRO KAWASAKI British Super Stock race team which recently fielded their rider Kenny Gilbertson in the British Super Bike Cup.
As the lights went out to start race one of the day, Alex who was again was youngest competitor in the race; got a flyer and entered the first corner “Gerard’s” in 15th place from the 20 starters.
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Alex geting to grips with the Mallory Circuit |
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Working his way up to 8th on the final lap when a inspired move on the Yamaha R6 mounted Paul Hinchcliffe at the chicane seen him move up to 7th.
However the 12 lap race was stopped instantly, when the red flags came out and the result was taken back a lap so Alex was demoted back to 8th in the final standings.
On to the big one of the day and directly in front of Alex taking up his slot in 25th spot on the grid, Dane Hallet Kawasaki 1000, Dean Hipwell Suzuki 1000 and Jenny Tinmouth on none other than “Chris Walkers, Rizla Suzuki Super Bike” of more interest to us were the 600 machines of David Paton and Kev Coghlan, who had qualified 16th and 19th respectively.
In the very exciting race won by Rizla Suzuki’s Cal Croutchlow, Alex did very well splitting the pair of highly spec’ Super Sport machines and coming home in 15th place with Kev on the UK1 R6 in 14th and David on the Virgin Media R6 16th.
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Alex End of Season Leathers |
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After a 20 lap race which took 18 minutes to complete, the three were separated by only 2 seconds.
To be truthful not a lot can be read into finishing order in any race where there is such a mixture in performance of bikes; it is not a true reflection on ability as obviously the more powerful bikes are much quicker in a straight line
It was for us what it was, a nice way to end Alex’ rookie year on 600’s in glorious weather which despite the problems earlier in the day was a very enjoyable meeting!
I watched Alex’ races very carefully, from an excellent vantage point and was very pleased with his performance to be with Kev and David with the set ups they had when compared to what we have was nothing short of astounding!.
We would like to thank our Sponsors for the invaluable help they have given us this year and look forward to what I can now say will be a very exciting 2008 plans of which, should be able to be announced shortly.
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