Mark Castle - Season End - 2006

I was really looking forward to the final round of the British Supermono Championship at Cadwell in October, having only raced at one other Supermono meeting in July where my brand new engine expired, it was good to be back on the Rampisham Garage Yamaha.

I’d got no pressure because I didn’t figure in the championship; usually I’d be fighting for a position. The weather was brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed the morning warm up session, especially as Cadwell is one of my favourite circuits. A short break allowed me to inspect the bike, as it was the first serious run after the old engine went back in!!

In qualifying I got out on track behind a big group so it was a while before I settled into clear track and put some good flowing laps in. I’d been trying a different gear approach to Park Corner, on one lap I reverted back to my old ways; I came into the gooseneck in too high a gear and couldn’t scrub the speed off…I threw the bike so hard into the turn that the exhaust hit the deck and lifted the rear off the ground, which loaded the front and washed it out.

I saved it but it didn’t look very polished!!! I came in soon after!!!

I was very pleased when I found out that I’d Qualified 6th.

Tim Pearson, one of my closest school friends travelled across from Lincoln, he’d not been racing before and was soon mucking in helping us start the bikes on the rollers before the race. I took my place on the grid, pleased to be on the 2nd row.

When the lights went out I got a great start and got on the inside around Coppice, Scott Richardson dived up the inside into Charlie’s, I stayed with Scott as the melee of the first lap settled down. We caught up with Jeff Claridge and Dutch Champion Henk From joined the Fray. It was a brilliant close race in which I eventually finished 5th in the water-cooled class.

The atmosphere amongst the Supermono competitors is fantastic and we hold a prize presentation after each race. On the Saturday evening, Supermono sponsor Joe McBurnie of Concurrent Systems Inc hosted a BBQ, a fantastic way to end a year’s racing. It was also my sponsor Brian Wyles’ birthday so it was a nice way to celebrate with him.

On Sunday Brian & I decided to swap bikes, he runs a bigger engine in a lighter Harris frame which might give me the extra I need to stay with the leaders.

However this involved swapping the gear changes over and although mine worked by hand, when I pressed it with my foot it hit the exhaust bracket and wouldn’t go into gear, by the time I’d adjusted it the warm up session was over!! I reverted back to my bike for the race!!

This time I got an even better start but it was short lived because the race was red flagged. We eventually reformed on the grid thanks to all the people with mobile starters getting us all going again.

My second start was just as good and I was soon battling with Scott who I managed to pass and catch up with Jeff.

The Rampisham Garage team Supermono's Brian Wyles' Harris Yamaha 727 and my TZ Yamaha 686

We had a great dice for several laps regularly trading positions; my new approach to park was really working as I was carrying so much more speed onto Chris Curve. I eventually finished 4th overall and put in a personal best time on the Supermono of 1min 41.7secs.

A brilliant end to the 2006 season for the Rampisham Garage Racing Team.

If you are interested in racing a Supermono or might be able to sponsor the class, visit www.supermononewsletter.co.uk for more information.

Many Thanks to…MAG Sport Racing…

Brian Wyles: Rampisham Garage for a superb race bike and so much more!!

Brian Richardson: Richardson’s Honda for the Bridgestone tyres.

Kev Spurr: KS performance for the suspension set up.

Finally…all the Supermono riders, teams, organisers & sponsors.

Photo credits to Allister Dickson