Alex Gault Racing, GP Bike out in August

August kicked of at “The Three Sisters” racetrack just outside Wigan and with a big thanks to Sponsors BEK, Alex got his first real chance to race the Metrakit GP Bike, which they introduced at the start of the year. Up till now he had one practice session and one race at three sisters, and about 30 minutes at Darley Moor. So really this was going to be the first chance to concentrate on the one bike, not jumping between the two (his E.P. BARRUS sponsored Motorhispania Rx and the Metrakit GP bike).

Fridays practice was a great fun and a real success, it gave Alex the chance to adapt his riding style to suit the Metrakit GP bike, and although his times didn’t match the #1 Metrakit rider “Chris Jones” who has been racing and demonstrating the bike for the past four months. The times were getting closer by the end of the day.

Saturday and Sundays racing was fantastic. It couldn’t have been any better, even if they had been on the front row of the Moto GP grid (As one father obviously thought they were), It is times like this, I wish I was only his manager, not his Dad. Then I could tell you what I really thought of his riding, without sounding to Biased (As I think self praise is no praise). However suffice to say it was one of the best meetings this year. Alex really enjoyed it and as for me? Great!! With Rodger and Rob from BEK looking after Alex bike, all I had to do, was watch racing all day, make the occasional cup of tea and enjoy! Big Thanks to the people at BEK.

Minimoto

Still haven’t got that new mechanic! and as the bike hadn’t been out since Edinburgh and despite the ZPF engine having been completely striped down and re built, the carburetion fault had still not been fixed, although we are getting there and thanks to Scot “Fingers” Finley, we got it fixed by the end of the day. Apart from that in the Junior Super class on the fourth corner, of the first lap of practice, a huge high-side (that is when the back wheel loses grip, slides out and then grips again. Throwing the rider into the air) saw Alex three feet in the air and land flat on his front, then bouncing two or three times, bruising knees and elbows. This dented his confidence in the bike and track, and this showed in the rest of his racing with his ZPF super bike in this class, however despite being some 4 seconds of the pace in practice and only qualifying 6th by the end of Sundays racing he managed to again finish 2nd overall.

 It was the classic “Paul Godward” class, where he had his best races; it has always been last years champion Barry Mantel and Alex fighting it out at every round. It seems to me, by the amount of spectators and people taking a renewed interest in this class, that it doesn’t matter what your racing (remember this is the slowest class in the championship) people like to see close racing.
 This round was no exception; although when I say this was “close” I mean this was close!!! Not as it turned out in final points, but in racing on the track, each lap, they changed places, going down the strait you could not have slid a credit card between the two, fantastic!!! It showed the amount of confidence they have in each others ability’s, to be able to race so closely. Then in race three, Barry’s engine blew up. So Alex had an easy win in that one.

 Here is where the pressure comes off “ME”. Alex has been maintaining the Classic bike, since the start of the championship; He is leading this championship on “HIS” bike. He is sitting second on the super bike. “Which I prepare”, and we have had, a few problems with it. Which he reminds me every chance he gets. Alex decided to change the clutch on the Efco engine of his Classic ZPF, before the start of race four, and guess what? His bike broke down on the start line with a problem with the clutch (LOL). So he couldn’t start the last race of the day, Barry had fixed his bike and took the lead strait away, however on lap two his bike, ground to a halt and could not finish the race either, so Alex’s 3 wins in the previous races, was still enough for the overall win on the day (always said Id rather be lucky than skilful). With Mike Mantel (Barry’s brother) second and Jimmy Hut third.

Big Bikes

Alex on the Motorhispania Rx #17
Back to Darley Moor and the JRA Championship. Read last months report, and it looks like a repeat off it. In perfect conditions, Both Alex and the E.P.BARRUS Motorhispania Rx were on song, I am very glad of this, as a strong challenge from second place man Matt Hoyle kept Alex on his toes throughout the trophy race, Alex won both races, fastest lap of the day, braking the lap record with a 1.15.63 broke his own formula 80 race record with the 8-lap race being covered in 10.26.66, and picked up another “Bike Sport News, Performance of the meeting award”. He also was very honoured to win the “George McDonough” Memorial trophy; George was an ardent supporter of junior racing, who unfortunately was killed in an accident about five years ago. George’s family, present a trophy to the J.R.A. every year in his memory and it is awarded to the most promising youngster.

Dates for September

5th Three Sisters, Practice day.
6th/7th LCRRC Rowrah.
14th JRA Championship Darley Moor.
27th/28th MMRA British Minimoto championship Rowrah.

Dates for October

5th Either JRA Championship at Darley or Three Sisters “Play day”
18th/19th MMRA British Minimoto Championship Final round.