NIGHTMARE WEEKEND AT BRANDS HATCH 9th March 2002

MAG Sport Racing's James Clamp had his first outing in March at Brands Hatch.

James says, "This past weekend must be one of the worst I've ever had. On Friday, a general testing day, I was having trouble getting the power down exiting corners. The back end was stepping out all over the place. I tried different things then on the third session whilst accelerating out of Clearways the back slid out too far to stop it and down I went. The bike was only slightly damaged and we managed to repair or replace bits and got out for a final session to scrub in new tyres"

On the Saturday James was out for one of the BEMSEE championship. James say's " After the start I found myself stuck behind 4 novices, this combined with oil on the track at Surtees (good old sidecars!) It took 5 laps to get past them. Once past I was lapping 2.5 seconds faster.

The first practice session of the MRO Supersport Class on the Sunday passed off well and James was gradually dropping his lap times. Then it went wrong, James takes up the story " I was trying to ease the power on more gradually to avoid the rear end slides I'd been getting. I had latched on to a Kawasaki, looking for some good lines, I'd got my lap times down to low 55's. I was on for a good lap when I high-sided at Clearways. I remember everything from the slide to being flipped and watching the bike disappear from under me. I was slammed on to the track right shoulder first and slid into the gravel trap." With the costs of repairs to the bike and holed leathers James should be back in action at Donington on the Easter Weekend.

James now has his own web site up at www.jamesclampracing.co.uk