Tuesday 28 June 2011

Gladiators - Amman Valley report 1)

Or was it more 'It's a Knockout'? either way the new Novice Class on only it's second outing was no country amble, especially as all racing on Saturday was rained off, come sunny Sunday we were chomping at the bit. I'd made a point of gentlemanly shaking Jamie's hand at riders briefing in case he didn't realize my dashboard mounted 9 Iron golf club was only a childs plastic toy. But from the off, sparks were flying. Even with only eight riders instead of the big boy's grids of 12, the corners were a ruck. Places were shuffled from start to finish.That's Jason Ramsden out front, who borrowed Skooter Farm Dave's #31 bike, racing for the first time. Cool to the end and effortlessly stole the 3rd place trophy from me. That's not inflatable leathers I'm wearing, I just took a deep breath at the start and held it until the finish. Photo courtesy Team Full Lock or Death.At one point I made a heroic round-the-outside move from 4th to 1st, made some space, only to lose it all to a pathetic low-side crash on the next lap. Jamie on full gas kamikaze mission had also nose dived into the dirt and as he hadn't done his morning yoga as recommended, his foot was unable to sustain a 180˚ back twist and broke. BP

1st Stuart Lovell.........Suzuki CCM
2nd Steve Lane..........Suzuki CCM
3rd Jason Ramsden...Rotax
4th Ben Part.............Rotax CCM
5th Drogo Michie.....Vertimatti
6th Jamie Croyden...XR600 Honda
7th Billy Bull............?
8th Adam Waller......?

13 comments:

t said...

eye of the tiger

Paul said...

Nice one Ben... that Co-Built holy water worked!

Anonymous said...

stylin it up ben!.
i have to say that lid looks a million times better than the playmobile thing!!.

Red Torpedo said...

Woah! Ben looks on IT! Jamie, remember what the great man said 'Bones heal, glory lasts forever'

dave skooter farm said...

NOVICE CLASS IS WHERE ITS AT!!!!Awesome, fast, brave racing from all concerned. Full of thrills, spills and drama! Ben, you rode spectacularly and looked 'text book' in the corners, as the photo shows. The highlight was in Heat 1 when you clipped the tyres coming out of turn 4, sending the gyroscoping through the air. Well done to first timers Jason#31 and Drogo#27 on stepping up and letting it all hang out on the UK's fastest and most intimidating track!

Captain Highside said...

It was hot and SO fast at Amman this year. Hats off to the lil' Juniors and Novices for takin' it on! Ben's tyre bouncing rodeo and then lowside, Jamies wild full bore style and crash (get well soon)and Jason Ramsden on the podium at his first race made for a crazy show. And all this before the day 'started'! I'm still thinkin' about the speed...........
MEGA!

Anthony Brown said...

Me too Jon.

We were haulin

Dr-Ogo said...

Captain & Anthony,

your super stylish yet epic toe to toe battle for 2nd coming out of the last turn of the final..Bloody hell..

It was a object lesson to those with a more 'suicide bomber' take on gunning for glory..

I look and learn

Anonymous said...

Boo! Bring back the Playmobil lid... Good work BP - now fill us in on who did what in t'GNC!

Nick said...

Sounds like ENormOUS fun

Guy #97 said...

That move you made round the outside was awesome Ben....wish I could do that! The novice races were magic to watch, proper commitment from all riders, looking forward to the next instalment..

Full Lock or Death #29 said...

I'm just glad Ben removed the rusty saw from his handlebars before the race...

The video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW_HxWswAbk

Paul said...

I was fast alright. Just worked out my true speed from the gearing. I was topping out in 3rd... 68 mph