Neevesy’s blog

Team Traction Control - Final round of the Hottrrax Endurance Championship, Snetterton 200, 29th/30th October 2011

Team Traction Control finished the season with a bang…although we were expecting the pop of champagne bottles being opened, not Flinty’s engine half way through the three-hour race.

It’s such a shame the year ended with a DNF and I’m gutted for Flinty and team mate (my little brother) Ben, who were both riding so well. Congratulations must go to Team Redmond’s Neil Garnham and Tony Rogers, who won the both the race and the championship. Well done, fellas.

There are lots of positives to take from the meeting, not least the fact that Team Traction Control were second in class and seventh overall when they were forced out and the win was all to play for. But that’s racing, as they say. There were some quick riders on-track too, like front running British championship riders, Sam Warren and Tristan Palmer.

I was at a cold and damp Brands Hatch cheering Team Traction Control on at the beginning of the year and it’s safe to say a lot has changed with the team since then. That was their first race and they scored an impressive podium, but they were right at the beginning of their learning curve. The world of endurance racing was new to them and my good friend (and fast bugger) Paul Berryman was then Flinty’s teammate.

Now they’re an even better-oiled machine. They have a fantastic mechanic looking after Flinty’s Crescent-prepared Suzuki GSX-R1000s, in the shape of Mark Hanna, the ‘Madges’ keep things rolling along with their excellent pitboarding skills, Ben replaced Paul as Flinty’s teammate for the final two rounds and they scored their first win at the penultimate round at Oulton.

Keith is a different rider now, I followed him around the track on the Friday free practice day and he’s properly quick. He’s gone from a fast trackday rider to a racer – I don’t think I want to give him any more riding tips in case he show’s me a wheel the next time we’re on track together. Ben’s love of racing has been rejuvenated and he’s getting faster, too. It’s all good!

I’m starting to get the endurance racing bug – I get as much of a buzz watching as actually riding. I love the way the races play out, how things change after pitstops and how positions yo-yo when different riders are out on-track. You can follow the whole race by darting between the pitwall and the TV screens in the garage. You don’t even need to see the rest of the track to get a feel for what’s going on.

Best of all is the whole camaraderie. It’s such a team sport, unlike sprint racing, that just finishing is a celebration – doing well is always an excuse for a party!

It’s time to put Snetterton behind us now, as Flinty, Ben, myself and a load of buddies are off to Racedays at Jerez next week. This time I’ll be back on my beautiful BMW Park Lane S1000RR…time to blow out the cobwebs!

Neevesy