DARREN THOMAS

MAG Sport welcomes Darren Thomas back as a MAG member who races and it looks like the 2004 season will be a blinder for Darren and his team.

2003 was a great learning year for the team in the British Superbike Privateer Cup. Gaining valuable knowledge on set-up with the bike a Suzuki GSXR1000 K3 as the season progressed.

The team are now ready to make a proper challenge for the Championship in the new British Superbike Cup which has been formed by MCRCB Events Ltd. The full details, schedule and regulations can be seen on their official web site at www.mcrcb-events.co.uk

The team has developed the bike the hard way by learning as they go along what works and what should have been left at home. Their learning, although ongoing, is less of a dramatic steep curve than it was when we started in 2003 onboard powerful 4 strokes.

Darren a 37 year old Technical Sales Engineer, who’s hobbies include Mountain Biking, Snow Boarding, Skiing, Motorcycles, Gym & Socialising started his first season in 1995 on board a kitted Suzuki RGV250N taking a 2nd in the Ron Armitage Novice Championship and 3rd in the BKVP Novice Championship

Second season in 1996 was on board the same machine with 1st in the Taymar Motorcycles Formula Junior Championship, a 1st in the Alan Russell Formula Junior Championship with a Lap Record in Class at Croix - France and a Race Speed Record at Lydden - Kent

1997 was the first season on a 1994 RS250 in the British 250GP Championship with a best finish of 18th at Brands Hatch

2nd season on the RS250 in British 250GP Championship in 1998 saw Darren 24th in the Privateers Championship out of 70 registered riders and a best finish of 16th at Cadwell Park

His fifth season in racing in 1999 saw Darren riding a new 1999 RS250 in the British 250GP Championship with a best finish of 10th at Silverstone, scoring 9 Championship Points

Sixth season racing in 2000 and his 4th Season on the 1999 Honda RS250 in British 250GP Championship saw Darren achieve in the MRO National Championship at Mallory Park a win and fastest lap of meeting. In the British Championship saw a best finish 7th (Finished 19th in Championship) with one front row (2nd) start at Oulton Park.

2001 and again racing in the MRO National Championships on the same 1999 Honda RS250 saw an excellent 3rd overall in Championship and a lap record holder at Mallory Park with a 50.012s lap

Darren was forced to sell the bike due to lack of funds for 2002 and provisionally retired.

But raced at selected MRO Meetings on board Pete Turnbull's Honda RS250 and couldn’t stay away from the race scene and had a best result of 7th at Oulton Park with just two rounds entered.

2003 was a mixed bag in the British Superbikes, Privateers Cup riding a Suzuki GSXR1000 K3 and first year on a Superbike. Having a Gaul Bladder removed in March, Darren started 2/3rd's through the season with a best result of 8th at Oulton Park and finished 19th overall, having taken a few established scalps along the way.

2004 and looking forward to the British Superbike Cup aboard the Suzuki GSXR1000 K3 the bike is now sorted for the new season.

Watch this space to see how Darren progresses through the 2004 season or visit his website at www.darrenthomasracing.co.uk