For anyone wanting to know about Daniels funeral, the details are....
Wednesday 20th December
The Hearse and cars will be leaving Radcliffe on Trent at 10am and driving through the village towards Bingham for anyone wanting to show there respect from the streets.
People have a choice of either meeting at Dans workshop RTR (NG13 8GG) at 10.15am and following the hearse on foot
(ZERO PARKING AT THE CHUCH)
Or people could meet at the church, the funeral will start at 11.30am.
The church address is,
St Mary and All Saints Church
East Street
Bingham
Nottingham
Ng13 8DR
After the funeral we ask that people let just close family and friends go to the burial please
The wake will be at,
The Manvers Arms
22 Main Road
Radcliffe-On-Trent
Nottingham
NG12 2AA
Everyone who knew Daniel is more than welcome to come and celebrate Daniels life
All donations and flowers can be sent to Michelle and Anthony Mills funeral directors
38 Main Road
Radcliffe on Trent
Nottingham
Ng12 2AA
01159336906
Please can you all respect the family’s wishes and have zero motor bikes following the hearse. It’s not a problem if people come on motor bikes, we are wanting Daniel to be remembered as Daniel Hegarty the person not Dan the racer. Any bike/racing clothing is fine.
Monday, 18 December 2017
Thursday, 30 November 2017
A word from endurance racer Dai Benyon
**SPONSORSHIP**
A BIG thank you to Guy, Loz and everyone else at Held Rider Equipment for the leather and accessory sponsorship for the coming 2018 season.
I first approached Held last season as I always struggled with ill fitting gloves, the palm would get too loose and the fingers were always that little too long and if I went down a size they would be too tight.
I first met Guy and Loz at my local Held supplier, GT Superbikes. Great blokes to talk to and we got down to designing and measuring my hands for the perfect fitting gloves! The leather is very supple and the fit is to the mm.
I have worn these gloves for nearly a full season and they are as good as the day I recevied them.
Buzzing with my gloves I rang Loz to talk leathers and he came back with a great offer and free stuff :). Our last round of the 2017 season was at Donington Park and Loz made a 4 hour round trip to come and get me measured for next season's suit.
4 weeks later and the suit is on my door step protected in one of Held's brand new travel boxes. The box is fantastic, it will hold all you'll ever need - From your leathers to your spare toe sliders!
Now the suit - Again Loz has pulled it out of the bag! Mm Perfect. The leather is so supple, there's no need to wander around the house for days breaking the suit in. I put it on and sat around for a bit to check i could move and it felt like a suit that I had worn for years! Extremely happy with the service and the product!
So.. if anyone is looking for perfect made to measure kit for the 2018 season - give me a shout and Ill pass on Loz's number
A BIG thank you to Guy, Loz and everyone else at Held Rider Equipment for the leather and accessory sponsorship for the coming 2018 season.
I first approached Held last season as I always struggled with ill fitting gloves, the palm would get too loose and the fingers were always that little too long and if I went down a size they would be too tight.
I first met Guy and Loz at my local Held supplier, GT Superbikes. Great blokes to talk to and we got down to designing and measuring my hands for the perfect fitting gloves! The leather is very supple and the fit is to the mm.
I have worn these gloves for nearly a full season and they are as good as the day I recevied them.
Buzzing with my gloves I rang Loz to talk leathers and he came back with a great offer and free stuff :). Our last round of the 2017 season was at Donington Park and Loz made a 4 hour round trip to come and get me measured for next season's suit.
4 weeks later and the suit is on my door step protected in one of Held's brand new travel boxes. The box is fantastic, it will hold all you'll ever need - From your leathers to your spare toe sliders!
Now the suit - Again Loz has pulled it out of the bag! Mm Perfect. The leather is so supple, there's no need to wander around the house for days breaking the suit in. I put it on and sat around for a bit to check i could move and it felt like a suit that I had worn for years! Extremely happy with the service and the product!
So.. if anyone is looking for perfect made to measure kit for the 2018 season - give me a shout and Ill pass on Loz's number
Thanks Dai, and good luck for 2018!
To learn more about Held in the UK please visit www.held-uk.co.uk
Wednesday, 1 November 2017
Order a made-to-measure leather suit and get a FREE HELD TRAVEL BOX
FREE HELD TRAVEL BOX WORTH £200!!
Winter Promotion till 30th November 2017
Full-Speed / Slade made-to-measure suit.
Create & order your tailor-made leather suit and get a great gift as a free thank you!
For each Full-Speed or Slade made-to-measure suit ordered by your Held retailer during the promotion period, you will receive a travel box (item 4692) free of charge.
Create and configure your own leather suit according to your exact look, specification and measurements!
The philosophy of Held – Always offer the customer the perfect product. Standard suit sizes can't always provide an optimal and therefore safe fit. Our Made to Measure service provides the opportunity for the perfect fit and ultimate protection for you.
Especially with leather suits, it is extremely important to have a perfect fit. Your suit needs to be comfortable, but also needs to provide a snug fit and it is imperative that external hard shells and internal protectors are in exactly the right place so as not to cause any pressure points. Only this way can your suit guarantee you the maximum protection.
Your custom made suit is a handcrafted and unique item, delivering each of your requirements, imaginations and colour wishes to create the optimal combination between rider and bike.
To offer you a suit just like a "second skin" we tailor your individual leather suit exactly to your needs and wishes.
How it works:
-Create your suit here (scroll down after clicking)
-Follow the instructions to send us the request
Winter Promotion till 30th November 2017
Full-Speed / Slade made-to-measure suit.
Create & order your tailor-made leather suit and get a great gift as a free thank you!
For each Full-Speed or Slade made-to-measure suit ordered by your Held retailer during the promotion period, you will receive a travel box (item 4692) free of charge.
Create and configure your own leather suit according to your exact look, specification and measurements!
The philosophy of Held – Always offer the customer the perfect product. Standard suit sizes can't always provide an optimal and therefore safe fit. Our Made to Measure service provides the opportunity for the perfect fit and ultimate protection for you.
Especially with leather suits, it is extremely important to have a perfect fit. Your suit needs to be comfortable, but also needs to provide a snug fit and it is imperative that external hard shells and internal protectors are in exactly the right place so as not to cause any pressure points. Only this way can your suit guarantee you the maximum protection.
- handmade in Italy / Hungary
- exact fitting
- individual design
- innovative hardshells
- innovative protectors for neck, coccyx, chest, hip and ribs
Your custom made suit is a handcrafted and unique item, delivering each of your requirements, imaginations and colour wishes to create the optimal combination between rider and bike.
To offer you a suit just like a "second skin" we tailor your individual leather suit exactly to your needs and wishes.
How it works:
-Create your suit here (scroll down after clicking)
-Follow the instructions to send us the request
This is a great offer- go and check out the configurator and see what you can create!
Thursday, 26 October 2017
Held Racer Report: Wigley Racing, Brands Hatch British Supersport
Brands Hatch GP Race Report
The final round of the British Superbike season took place at Brands Hatch on our third visit to the Kent based circuit of the year. The weekend began on a good foot as we hit the damp circuit for free practice 1. Kurt took the first stages of the session steady due to the unpredictable conditions but then began to increase the pace as the dry line appeared leaving himself in P4 for the opening session.
Free practice 2 proved to be somewhat of a challenge for the team as an incorrect gearing change meant that Kurt was struggling to get the power on the exit of the turns, despite this, we began developing the suspension setup for the demanding circuit so that it did not go to waste.
The challenge with finding a smooth bike setup continued into the qualifying session as each lap Kurt was on the limit of losing the front entering the first and final turn, along with this, we continued to search for a solution to the bike running excessively wide on the exit of fast turns. Kurt improved on his lap time throughout the session but unfortunately it was only enough to leave him in P15 for the grid in the afternoons sprint race.
The opening race of the final round was tense as several changes was made in a bid to reach where we aimed to be. As the lights went out, Kurt immediately began to make up positions, however, it wasn’t long before the bad luck struck and it became apparent Kurt was suffering with progressive brake fade. On the entrance to turn 4, Kurt failed to slow down enough but attempted to make the corner nevertheless. This resulted in him losing the front and crashing out. Kurt was unhurt nor was the bike severely damaged but frustration arose with how the day had panned out.
Due to Saturdays race being cut short for the team, we started the feature race back in P19 but determined to make the most of a bad situation. With nothing to lose, we made a further gearing change along with alterations to the front suspension and engine braking. As the lights went out for the second time, Kurt headed to the outside of the circuit aiming to keep a smooth line and carry the momentum. Over the course of the race, Kurt moved up to P11 for the finish.
Despite a series of DNFs and technical issues at the beginning of the year, we concluded our rookie season with a P15 in the British Supersport series and totaling eight top 10 finishes. We would like to greatly thank everyone who has been involved throughout the season as we could not do it without you. 2018 plans will soon be confirmed as we aim to continue our progression.
The final round of the British Superbike season took place at Brands Hatch on our third visit to the Kent based circuit of the year. The weekend began on a good foot as we hit the damp circuit for free practice 1. Kurt took the first stages of the session steady due to the unpredictable conditions but then began to increase the pace as the dry line appeared leaving himself in P4 for the opening session.
Free practice 2 proved to be somewhat of a challenge for the team as an incorrect gearing change meant that Kurt was struggling to get the power on the exit of the turns, despite this, we began developing the suspension setup for the demanding circuit so that it did not go to waste.
The challenge with finding a smooth bike setup continued into the qualifying session as each lap Kurt was on the limit of losing the front entering the first and final turn, along with this, we continued to search for a solution to the bike running excessively wide on the exit of fast turns. Kurt improved on his lap time throughout the session but unfortunately it was only enough to leave him in P15 for the grid in the afternoons sprint race.
The opening race of the final round was tense as several changes was made in a bid to reach where we aimed to be. As the lights went out, Kurt immediately began to make up positions, however, it wasn’t long before the bad luck struck and it became apparent Kurt was suffering with progressive brake fade. On the entrance to turn 4, Kurt failed to slow down enough but attempted to make the corner nevertheless. This resulted in him losing the front and crashing out. Kurt was unhurt nor was the bike severely damaged but frustration arose with how the day had panned out.
Due to Saturdays race being cut short for the team, we started the feature race back in P19 but determined to make the most of a bad situation. With nothing to lose, we made a further gearing change along with alterations to the front suspension and engine braking. As the lights went out for the second time, Kurt headed to the outside of the circuit aiming to keep a smooth line and carry the momentum. Over the course of the race, Kurt moved up to P11 for the finish.
Despite a series of DNFs and technical issues at the beginning of the year, we concluded our rookie season with a P15 in the British Supersport series and totaling eight top 10 finishes. We would like to greatly thank everyone who has been involved throughout the season as we could not do it without you. 2018 plans will soon be confirmed as we aim to continue our progression.
We're pleased to supply Wigley Racing over the years with Held. They are currently using Held Phantom II gloves! www.held-uk.co.uk
Friday, 6 October 2017
Held Racer Report- Wigley Racing, Assen Superstock 600
Assen TT Race Report
We had the long journey over to Holland last weekend for the 11th round of the season as we attended the famous TT Assen circuit. The first free practice session of the weekend proved to be somewhat of a learning curve as it was the first time Kurt has seen the circuit in 6 years. We had a progressive session catching up with those who attended the circuit last year and improving lap times right down to the last lap.
FP2 proved to be better still, following a change of gearing and amendments to the suspension setup after the initial session of the weekend. This weekend we had the support again of Mupo who worked with the team between sessions and in pit lane helping to find the best setup and overcome any problems that arise. The session came to close with a P11 finish and a new personal best lap time 2.5 seconds faster.
After FP2’s big steps in the right direction, we were all feeling confident for the Saturday morning qualifying session. The session began in damp conditions so we hit the track on wet tyres to get started, after the first stint Kurt had made his way up to P2 and with a dry line rapidly appearing he was forced to pit and change to drys. Following a 4 minute pit stop, Kurt headed back out at which point he had fallen back down to mid-teens. The lap times began to drop and Kurt moved up into P10 where he then began his fastest lap of the session. After a green first two sectors the session was brought to an immediate stop in the final stages as on the exit of a fast left turn he hit the damp edge of the circuit launching him over the handle bars. Kurt didn’t sustain any major injuries, however, the bike had rolled several times on the tarmac smashing the rear wheel and ripping off the clocks.
Race 1 was later that day therefore the team worked flat out to get the bike fixed within 3 hours in a bid to make the start. It was close but they pulled through just in time for a very wet sprint race. After a delayed start due to the downpour, the race was soon under way. Kurt made his way up to P6 on the opening lap but as the race progresses he began to struggle and lost a few positions due to the beating he withstood earlier that day. As Kurt began to regain the lost positions, an overtaking maneuver put him off line for the hairpin resulting in him crashing out on the exit when the rear broke traction. The incident was minor and the only damage was a dented pride as Kurt picked up his own bike off the track side and pushed it through the gravel.
Kurt was determined not to let the weekend conclude on a bad note despite qualifying P15 after the unfortunate end to race 1. As the red lights went out he headed straight to the inside of the circuit for the first turn and began to push forward whist everyone was bunched up. As the field began to spread out, Kurt battled through to the front of the group he was in before bridging the gap to those in front. After a tough race the day came to a close with a P8 finish even following a position penalty due to exceeding track limits.
We had the long journey over to Holland last weekend for the 11th round of the season as we attended the famous TT Assen circuit. The first free practice session of the weekend proved to be somewhat of a learning curve as it was the first time Kurt has seen the circuit in 6 years. We had a progressive session catching up with those who attended the circuit last year and improving lap times right down to the last lap.
 |
| Held Gloves wearer Kurt Wigley |
FP2 proved to be better still, following a change of gearing and amendments to the suspension setup after the initial session of the weekend. This weekend we had the support again of Mupo who worked with the team between sessions and in pit lane helping to find the best setup and overcome any problems that arise. The session came to close with a P11 finish and a new personal best lap time 2.5 seconds faster.
After FP2’s big steps in the right direction, we were all feeling confident for the Saturday morning qualifying session. The session began in damp conditions so we hit the track on wet tyres to get started, after the first stint Kurt had made his way up to P2 and with a dry line rapidly appearing he was forced to pit and change to drys. Following a 4 minute pit stop, Kurt headed back out at which point he had fallen back down to mid-teens. The lap times began to drop and Kurt moved up into P10 where he then began his fastest lap of the session. After a green first two sectors the session was brought to an immediate stop in the final stages as on the exit of a fast left turn he hit the damp edge of the circuit launching him over the handle bars. Kurt didn’t sustain any major injuries, however, the bike had rolled several times on the tarmac smashing the rear wheel and ripping off the clocks.
Race 1 was later that day therefore the team worked flat out to get the bike fixed within 3 hours in a bid to make the start. It was close but they pulled through just in time for a very wet sprint race. After a delayed start due to the downpour, the race was soon under way. Kurt made his way up to P6 on the opening lap but as the race progresses he began to struggle and lost a few positions due to the beating he withstood earlier that day. As Kurt began to regain the lost positions, an overtaking maneuver put him off line for the hairpin resulting in him crashing out on the exit when the rear broke traction. The incident was minor and the only damage was a dented pride as Kurt picked up his own bike off the track side and pushed it through the gravel.
Kurt was determined not to let the weekend conclude on a bad note despite qualifying P15 after the unfortunate end to race 1. As the red lights went out he headed straight to the inside of the circuit for the first turn and began to push forward whist everyone was bunched up. As the field began to spread out, Kurt battled through to the front of the group he was in before bridging the gap to those in front. After a tough race the day came to a close with a P8 finish even following a position penalty due to exceeding track limits.
Want to see more about Held motorcycle gear in the UK? Visit www.held-uk.co.uk
Tuesday, 3 October 2017
Held Racer Report: Zoek Racing, Assen
ZOEK RACING ASSEN
The two Zoek Racing riders, Lymm racer Sean Neary and Craig Currie from Newark travelled across the North Sea to Holland for the final round of the Ducati Performance TriOptions Cup where they were racing at Assen’s Cathedral of Speed circuit. Neary completed the first race in third but crashed out of race two while Currie completed the first race on Saturday in 11th position and race two in 12th.
Starting the first of two races from the second row in wet conditions Neary maintained fourth place on the first couple of laps but passed Phil Atkinson to take up second on lap three. But one lap later Atkinson snatched his position back leaving Neary to continue on his way to a third place finish at the end of the eight lap affair some 12 seconds clear of the rider in fourth place.
Neary said: “it was not nice conditions out there today in the wet but I managed to stay upright and finish on the podium. Thanks to the whole Zoek Racing team for all the help again today, I cannot wait for race two on Sunday.”
But race two did not go as well as he hoped as on the first lap Neary was caught out with a cold tyre and crashed, his race over.
He said: “Unfortunately I crashed out on the first lap; sorry to my team who didn't deserve that but I wanted to win! After a poor start I was riding hard to get to the front; it just wasn't meant to be this season as we have had no luck from start to finish. I'm not ready to finish like that and want to come back to win! So many people to thank, you all know who you are! For now it's a race to the Ferry. Thanks for all the support all season.”
Neary ends the season in fifth place on 177 points but is considering coming back next year to make amends by winning the title!
Meanwhile Nottinghamshire rider Craig Currie qualified in 10th place to start the first race from the fourth row. But he lost nine positions on the first lap after being forced to take avoiding action when a rider fell right in his path. He found himself down in 20th position but he began a fight back and at the end of the race took the chequered flag in 15th place. But four riders ahead were in a different class meaning Currie was promoted to 11th in his class to pick up five championship points.
In race two he set off from the sixth row and moved through the pack to finish in 12th place to pick up a further four championship points bringing his total to 56 and placing him 11th in the final rider points.
Craig said: “Considering I have missed a few races due to my reoccurring shoulder injury I am pleased with 11th. I was aiming for a top 10 end to the season but I will take that. I am going into hospital next week for the operation to rectify this shoulder injury, I have been putting it off all season but now we have finished racing I will be able to get it done and come back fighting next season.”
Pic credit: Dave Yeomans shows #10 Neary in action plus Currie and Neary celebrating the end of the season.
The two Zoek Racing riders, Lymm racer Sean Neary and Craig Currie from Newark travelled across the North Sea to Holland for the final round of the Ducati Performance TriOptions Cup where they were racing at Assen’s Cathedral of Speed circuit. Neary completed the first race in third but crashed out of race two while Currie completed the first race on Saturday in 11th position and race two in 12th.
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| Zoek Racing's Sean Neary |
Starting the first of two races from the second row in wet conditions Neary maintained fourth place on the first couple of laps but passed Phil Atkinson to take up second on lap three. But one lap later Atkinson snatched his position back leaving Neary to continue on his way to a third place finish at the end of the eight lap affair some 12 seconds clear of the rider in fourth place.
Neary said: “it was not nice conditions out there today in the wet but I managed to stay upright and finish on the podium. Thanks to the whole Zoek Racing team for all the help again today, I cannot wait for race two on Sunday.”
But race two did not go as well as he hoped as on the first lap Neary was caught out with a cold tyre and crashed, his race over.
He said: “Unfortunately I crashed out on the first lap; sorry to my team who didn't deserve that but I wanted to win! After a poor start I was riding hard to get to the front; it just wasn't meant to be this season as we have had no luck from start to finish. I'm not ready to finish like that and want to come back to win! So many people to thank, you all know who you are! For now it's a race to the Ferry. Thanks for all the support all season.”
Neary ends the season in fifth place on 177 points but is considering coming back next year to make amends by winning the title!
Meanwhile Nottinghamshire rider Craig Currie qualified in 10th place to start the first race from the fourth row. But he lost nine positions on the first lap after being forced to take avoiding action when a rider fell right in his path. He found himself down in 20th position but he began a fight back and at the end of the race took the chequered flag in 15th place. But four riders ahead were in a different class meaning Currie was promoted to 11th in his class to pick up five championship points.
In race two he set off from the sixth row and moved through the pack to finish in 12th place to pick up a further four championship points bringing his total to 56 and placing him 11th in the final rider points.
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| Held wearers Craig Currie (left) and Sean Neary celebrate |
Craig said: “Considering I have missed a few races due to my reoccurring shoulder injury I am pleased with 11th. I was aiming for a top 10 end to the season but I will take that. I am going into hospital next week for the operation to rectify this shoulder injury, I have been putting it off all season but now we have finished racing I will be able to get it done and come back fighting next season.”
Pic credit: Dave Yeomans shows #10 Neary in action plus Currie and Neary celebrating the end of the season.
We're pleased to support Zoek Racing. To see more about Zoek recruitment please click here
To see more about Held in the UK please click here
Thursday, 21 September 2017
Held Racer Report: Wigley Racing, Oulton Park
Oulton Park Race Report
As the end of the season approaches, we revisited Oulton Park for round 10 of the British Superbike championship. The weekend commenced with some unfortunate luck as we hit the track for a very wet FP1, on the opening lap the steering damper bracket snapped causing Kurt to almost lose control of the Sorrymate.com Yamaha on a straight exceeding 100mph. He got the bike safely back round to the pit lane where the team worked franticly to create a quick fix, however, this only lead to one other completed lap meaning we began the event on the back foot having completed 2 out of a possible 15 laps.
FP2 began on a more positive pathway, by this point the circuit had dried up and Kurt wasted no time in putting down some strong lap times. He worked his way up into the top 10 and continued up to P7 by continuously beating his previous lap. Once again, the session abruptly came to a stop for the team as the bike lost all power and cut out exiting turn 1. Kurt was forced to retire from the session. Further investigations following the session lead to the discovery of a blown fuse which was a relief that it was something so simple but at the same time frustrating that it halved the session.
Saturday mornings qualifying session was the first full session of the weekend meaning we had a lot of work to get the bike set up closer to perfection in time for the race. With Oulton Park being on the opposite end of the scale to Silverstone in terms of the bumps, cambers and twisty sectors there was minimal information we could carry over for the new Mupo suspension. The session was tough to make vast improvements on lap times whilst sacrificing time on track to make adjustments to the setup, but this didn’t stop the team from securing a P10 finish in class putting us on row 4 in P11 for the race.
Race 1 on Saturday afternoon proved to be somewhat dramatical. Kurt had a strong start to the race as he broke away with the top 10 on the opening few laps, feeling positive he was ready to fight for a best finish but soon became aware that the brakes were fading and quickly. We have never experienced this issue previously and Kurt was coming ever closer to running off track or colliding with another rider entering corners. Fortunately, the race was red flagged because it began to rain allowing the team to change the pads and bleed the brake fluid through the system along with swap the wheels to wets in the desperate attempt to make the restart. Other than a few burns from the disks and pads it was a success and Kurt made his way onto the grid where he once again got a strong start and managed get to the front of the group he was in to take a P7 finish. In his bid to break away from the group when at the front, he put down the 6th fastest lap time of the race putting us on the second row of the grid for race 2.
Moments before the second race it began to rain heavily which was a shame for us as we were hoping for a damp circuit as this is where we get our best results. The wet race soon began, unfortunately for Kurt a few close moments when finding the limit set him back on the opening couple of laps resulting in him being pushed back to P13. He spent the first half of the race trying to get into a rhythm and reduce the mistakes in a bid to not repeat last weekend’s Silverstone race. When Kurt finally settled down, he began closing the gap to the bike in front and at one stage was lapping a couple of seconds faster than those directly ahead as he made his way up to P11. With 4 laps remaining and the track drying out, he had a big push catch those in sight and obtained another 4 positions before the final lap completing the final race of the weekend with another 7th place finish.
Held UK are proud to support Kurt and Matt Wigley with Race Gloves! www.held-uk.co.uk
As the end of the season approaches, we revisited Oulton Park for round 10 of the British Superbike championship. The weekend commenced with some unfortunate luck as we hit the track for a very wet FP1, on the opening lap the steering damper bracket snapped causing Kurt to almost lose control of the Sorrymate.com Yamaha on a straight exceeding 100mph. He got the bike safely back round to the pit lane where the team worked franticly to create a quick fix, however, this only lead to one other completed lap meaning we began the event on the back foot having completed 2 out of a possible 15 laps.
FP2 began on a more positive pathway, by this point the circuit had dried up and Kurt wasted no time in putting down some strong lap times. He worked his way up into the top 10 and continued up to P7 by continuously beating his previous lap. Once again, the session abruptly came to a stop for the team as the bike lost all power and cut out exiting turn 1. Kurt was forced to retire from the session. Further investigations following the session lead to the discovery of a blown fuse which was a relief that it was something so simple but at the same time frustrating that it halved the session.
Saturday mornings qualifying session was the first full session of the weekend meaning we had a lot of work to get the bike set up closer to perfection in time for the race. With Oulton Park being on the opposite end of the scale to Silverstone in terms of the bumps, cambers and twisty sectors there was minimal information we could carry over for the new Mupo suspension. The session was tough to make vast improvements on lap times whilst sacrificing time on track to make adjustments to the setup, but this didn’t stop the team from securing a P10 finish in class putting us on row 4 in P11 for the race.
Race 1 on Saturday afternoon proved to be somewhat dramatical. Kurt had a strong start to the race as he broke away with the top 10 on the opening few laps, feeling positive he was ready to fight for a best finish but soon became aware that the brakes were fading and quickly. We have never experienced this issue previously and Kurt was coming ever closer to running off track or colliding with another rider entering corners. Fortunately, the race was red flagged because it began to rain allowing the team to change the pads and bleed the brake fluid through the system along with swap the wheels to wets in the desperate attempt to make the restart. Other than a few burns from the disks and pads it was a success and Kurt made his way onto the grid where he once again got a strong start and managed get to the front of the group he was in to take a P7 finish. In his bid to break away from the group when at the front, he put down the 6th fastest lap time of the race putting us on the second row of the grid for race 2.
Moments before the second race it began to rain heavily which was a shame for us as we were hoping for a damp circuit as this is where we get our best results. The wet race soon began, unfortunately for Kurt a few close moments when finding the limit set him back on the opening couple of laps resulting in him being pushed back to P13. He spent the first half of the race trying to get into a rhythm and reduce the mistakes in a bid to not repeat last weekend’s Silverstone race. When Kurt finally settled down, he began closing the gap to the bike in front and at one stage was lapping a couple of seconds faster than those directly ahead as he made his way up to P11. With 4 laps remaining and the track drying out, he had a big push catch those in sight and obtained another 4 positions before the final lap completing the final race of the weekend with another 7th place finish.
Held UK are proud to support Kurt and Matt Wigley with Race Gloves! www.held-uk.co.uk
Tuesday, 19 September 2017
Held Racer Report: Sean Neary, Oulton Park National Superstock 1000
SEAN NEARY OULTON PARK SUPERSTOCK
With no Ducati race at Sean Neary’s home circuit of Oulton Park the Lymm based rider decided to have a ride in the Pirelli National Superstock championship round at the Cheshire circuit to see how he would fare against the regular riders in the series.
He said: “I am really excited to be doing a one off round in the Superstock 1000 this weekend at Oulton Park. Huge thanks to Evolution Waste and 2 Works for making it happen. Also thanks to Jenko and JB for getting the bike ready. After years on the Ducati it's going to be tough but I can't wait! The BMW pulls like a train so there will be plenty of accidental wheelies!”
It was a baptism of fire for Neary in the highly competitive championship but he held his own and completed his qualifying in 27th place for a start to the first of two 14 lap races from a ninth row grid position.
As the lights went out Neary was 28th on the first lap but once he settled into his race he began to make up ground, moving through to 26th on lap two. He was elevated to 24th when two riders tangled on lap nine and finally passed Joe Morphett who he had been in close company with, on lap 11. Too far away to the rider ahead he was unable to make further progress but brought the BMW home safely in 23rd place.
Sean said: “It has been great fun so far on the BM in my first Superstock 1000 race. A terrible start saw me dead last but I worked my way back to 23rd and set a new personal best lap time around Oulton Park. There is still so much to learn and feel I like a novice again but I am enjoying the experience!”
Starting the second race once again from the ninth row Neary got a good start and gained places on the first lap. But it was all over for him on lap 2 when he crashed at Shell Oils, his race over.
Sean said: “Today was a disaster! Terrible start again and then crashed on lap two trying to get back through. The weather made it a really tough weekend as I needed as many laps as possible. Still a great experience though and thanks so much to Evolution Waste, Craig Currie, 2 Works, Charlie and Lisa Kerford.
“It was good while it lasted but now I have to turn my attention back to the Ducati championship where the final round takes place at the Cathedral of Speed, Assen in the Netherlands on October 1. Although the championship is already won there are still two races for me to try to win.”
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With no Ducati race at Sean Neary’s home circuit of Oulton Park the Lymm based rider decided to have a ride in the Pirelli National Superstock championship round at the Cheshire circuit to see how he would fare against the regular riders in the series.
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| Sean Neary, Oulton Park Superstock. Pic: Dave Yeomans |
It was a baptism of fire for Neary in the highly competitive championship but he held his own and completed his qualifying in 27th place for a start to the first of two 14 lap races from a ninth row grid position.
As the lights went out Neary was 28th on the first lap but once he settled into his race he began to make up ground, moving through to 26th on lap two. He was elevated to 24th when two riders tangled on lap nine and finally passed Joe Morphett who he had been in close company with, on lap 11. Too far away to the rider ahead he was unable to make further progress but brought the BMW home safely in 23rd place.
Sean said: “It has been great fun so far on the BM in my first Superstock 1000 race. A terrible start saw me dead last but I worked my way back to 23rd and set a new personal best lap time around Oulton Park. There is still so much to learn and feel I like a novice again but I am enjoying the experience!”
Starting the second race once again from the ninth row Neary got a good start and gained places on the first lap. But it was all over for him on lap 2 when he crashed at Shell Oils, his race over.
Sean said: “Today was a disaster! Terrible start again and then crashed on lap two trying to get back through. The weather made it a really tough weekend as I needed as many laps as possible. Still a great experience though and thanks so much to Evolution Waste, Craig Currie, 2 Works, Charlie and Lisa Kerford.
“It was good while it lasted but now I have to turn my attention back to the Ducati championship where the final round takes place at the Cathedral of Speed, Assen in the Netherlands on October 1. Although the championship is already won there are still two races for me to try to win.”
To see more about Held in the UK please click here
Tuesday, 12 September 2017
Held Racer Report: Zoek Racing, Ducati Tri-Options Cup, Silverstone
ZOEK RACING SILVERSTONE
The two Zoek Racing riders Sean Neary and Craig Currie were at Silverstone for the penultimate round of the Ducati Performance TriOptions Cup resulting in four good results for the team.
Neary from Lymm in Cheshire was running in the top four throughout free practice and qualifying and despite a crash in the dying seconds of qualifying he put the Zoek Racing on the front row in third position for the start of race one.
He said: “I am happy enough with third in a very wet qualifying session. I was unfortunate to crash on my last lap and although I am ok the bike is a bit poorly. I am so sorry for the lads who have a lot of work to do on the bike in preparation for the first race tomorrow but we should be good to go. Thanks to Maxton for helping get our wet settings sorted.”
As the lights went out for the start of the first race Neary got a good start and was first away but Joe Collier was quick to overtake him on lap two. But it was all in vain as the rain started and the race was red flagged. At the restart over five laps in wet conditions Neary slotted into third place but was demoted to fifth on lap two. He was briefly passed by David Ferns and Sam Middlemas but Ferns retired and Neary was able to overtake Middlemas on the penultimate lap to cross the finish line in fifth place to pick up 11 championship points.
He said: “It was not the best of finishes in fifth place. I started well chasing Joe but then the rain came and the race was stopped. In the wet restart we just couldn’t get the bike to do what we wanted so had to just salvage some points. Thanks to the Zoek Racing boys for all their hard work rebuilding the bike after my crash in qualifying.”
Starting the second race from the front row of the grid in second place, Neary got the hole shot into the first corner and led the race for the first two laps before being overtaken by new champion Joe Collier. Although he was matching Collier’s times for most of the race he couldn’t find a way past him and the pair pulled clear of the pursuing pack to cross the finish line some eight seconds ahead with Neary finishing in a fine second place to pick up 20 championship points to take his total to 161 and move up to fourth in the rider standings. The final round is at Assen on October 1,
He said: “I really tried for the win but wasn't to be. Still I am happy enough with P2. So grateful to the Zoek Racing Team who worked so hard after I crashed on Friday. I have a good bit of bruising but that serves me right for pushing in qualifying when I didn't need to; also thanks to all the sponsors and Craig Currie for helping to salvage the season.
Meanwhile Newark Racer Craig Currie was making a return to racing following his withdrawal from the last round at Thruxton with a recurring shoulder injury. Although still very sore Currie decided to complete qualifying and if he felt ok was to race. He qualified for a sixth row start to the first race and was running in 24th place when the race was red flagged for rain. At the restart the wet conditions suited Currie as the pace would not be so hot and he completed the five lap dash in a commendable 17th place.
Starting the second race from the eighth row Currie got an amazing start, moving through from 24th to 17th on the first lap. He then moved up the field as far as 13th before fading slightly to complete the race in 16th place, just outside a point scoring position. He is now in 11th place in the rider standings on 52 points with one round remaining at Assen on October 1,
pic credit Dave Yeomans
The two Zoek Racing riders Sean Neary and Craig Currie were at Silverstone for the penultimate round of the Ducati Performance TriOptions Cup resulting in four good results for the team.
Neary from Lymm in Cheshire was running in the top four throughout free practice and qualifying and despite a crash in the dying seconds of qualifying he put the Zoek Racing on the front row in third position for the start of race one.
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As the lights went out for the start of the first race Neary got a good start and was first away but Joe Collier was quick to overtake him on lap two. But it was all in vain as the rain started and the race was red flagged. At the restart over five laps in wet conditions Neary slotted into third place but was demoted to fifth on lap two. He was briefly passed by David Ferns and Sam Middlemas but Ferns retired and Neary was able to overtake Middlemas on the penultimate lap to cross the finish line in fifth place to pick up 11 championship points.
He said: “It was not the best of finishes in fifth place. I started well chasing Joe but then the rain came and the race was stopped. In the wet restart we just couldn’t get the bike to do what we wanted so had to just salvage some points. Thanks to the Zoek Racing boys for all their hard work rebuilding the bike after my crash in qualifying.”
Starting the second race from the front row of the grid in second place, Neary got the hole shot into the first corner and led the race for the first two laps before being overtaken by new champion Joe Collier. Although he was matching Collier’s times for most of the race he couldn’t find a way past him and the pair pulled clear of the pursuing pack to cross the finish line some eight seconds ahead with Neary finishing in a fine second place to pick up 20 championship points to take his total to 161 and move up to fourth in the rider standings. The final round is at Assen on October 1,
He said: “I really tried for the win but wasn't to be. Still I am happy enough with P2. So grateful to the Zoek Racing Team who worked so hard after I crashed on Friday. I have a good bit of bruising but that serves me right for pushing in qualifying when I didn't need to; also thanks to all the sponsors and Craig Currie for helping to salvage the season.
Meanwhile Newark Racer Craig Currie was making a return to racing following his withdrawal from the last round at Thruxton with a recurring shoulder injury. Although still very sore Currie decided to complete qualifying and if he felt ok was to race. He qualified for a sixth row start to the first race and was running in 24th place when the race was red flagged for rain. At the restart the wet conditions suited Currie as the pace would not be so hot and he completed the five lap dash in a commendable 17th place.
Starting the second race from the eighth row Currie got an amazing start, moving through from 24th to 17th on the first lap. He then moved up the field as far as 13th before fading slightly to complete the race in 16th place, just outside a point scoring position. He is now in 11th place in the rider standings on 52 points with one round remaining at Assen on October 1,
pic credit Dave Yeomans
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Wednesday, 23 August 2017
Held Racer Report: Leon Jeacock, Cadwell Park, National Superstock 1000
Cadwell Park was the latest stop in the Pirelli National SuperStock1000 Championship. A technical track with a tight twisty section, a long straight and the infamous “Mountain” it is not a track for the faint hearted. It was certainly going to be a challenging, tough weekend of racing for Leon and the Geo E Davies Racing team.
The two free practice sessions were held in dry conditions and after posting a time in the top thirty in session one the team made changes to the Suzuki in preparation for the following practice laps. The adjustments made for session two proved to make a big improvement and confidence was high for Leon. Nevertheless, due to the competitive nature of the class and despite going nearly two seconds quicker he was placed twenty third.
As preparation was made for the sole qualification session of the weekend the team were hopeful of a good grid position. However, the vagaries of the British weather put pay to that as a rain shower dampened the circuit just as qualifying started. Leon put in a decent lap and finished just outside the top twenty in twenty second.
Dropping a place on the first lap in the midfield hordes Leon made up two places on lap two and then settled into a decent race pace running in a group of six riders for the majority of lap fifteen race. As the race rolled into the closing laps he made up four places in the hoisting Leon up to sixteenth place just outside a points finish.
The two free practice sessions were held in dry conditions and after posting a time in the top thirty in session one the team made changes to the Suzuki in preparation for the following practice laps. The adjustments made for session two proved to make a big improvement and confidence was high for Leon. Nevertheless, due to the competitive nature of the class and despite going nearly two seconds quicker he was placed twenty third.
As preparation was made for the sole qualification session of the weekend the team were hopeful of a good grid position. However, the vagaries of the British weather put pay to that as a rain shower dampened the circuit just as qualifying started. Leon put in a decent lap and finished just outside the top twenty in twenty second.
Dropping a place on the first lap in the midfield hordes Leon made up two places on lap two and then settled into a decent race pace running in a group of six riders for the majority of lap fifteen race. As the race rolled into the closing laps he made up four places in the hoisting Leon up to sixteenth place just outside a points finish.
Held are pleased to support and supply Leon Jeacock. To learn more about Held in the UK please visit
Tuesday, 15 August 2017
Held Racer Report: Kurt & Matt Wigley, Thruxton
Thruxton Race Report
Last weekend British Superbikes were down at Thruxton for the seventh round of the championship. Due to the lack of time following our discovery of the reduced bhp of the Supersport R6, we were to attend the fastest circuit on the calendar knowing that top speed would be a struggle.
FP1 began looking positive, however as the session progressed, Kurt struggled to improve his lap time due problems with the bikes handling. Exiting the fast sweeping corners, the bike was sliding and bouncing around in the attempt to high side. The team put their heads together to establish a solution following the 13th place finish which is not where we aimed to be. This lead to a series of suspension changes to compensate for the bumpy flat out circuit.
The second free practice session began to look positive as by lap 4 Kurt had knocked 0.6 of a second off his best lap from the previous session, however, this came to an abrupt stop as it became apparent that we were facing similar problems to the mornings FP1. The session came to an end with a 15th place finish and confusion as to where we had gone wrong.
Saturdays qualifying session was later in the day leaving us some more time to understand what we were up against. Under further inspections we identified that there was a mechanical fault with the rear shock meaning there was nothing we could do to the settings to resolve the handling issue. The shock was removed and serviced in preparation for Q1. Kurt took another 0.6 off his best lap time but because of the series of events leading up to this we were playing catch up and had to start from scratch back at the original base setting for the suspension as any alterations previously made were obsolete. The session came to a close with another 15th place finish.
Saturday afternoon brought the 10-lap sprint race for the Supersport class. Further changes were made leading up to the race which always hold a risk that it wasn’t for the better, however, this was not the case and Kurt’s personal best lap time was improved again. Kurt was in a heated battle with another 5 riders making his way up to 11th position at one stage. On the final but last lap, Kurt over ran the chicane leading onto the home straight and in the attempt to revert the advantage gained he fell back to P14 for the chequered flag.
Sunday brought an 18 lap feature race meaning tyre wear was a problem that everyone faced due to the abrasive circuit of Thruxton. The second race proved the difficulty faced with competing when down on power as every lap Kurt was overtaken on the back straight reaching speeds in excess of 150mph. This meant that he had to try and outbreak someone leading to him failing to stop and missing the chicane on several occasions each time knocking him out of a rhythm. The race came to a close with another 14th position finish picking up points in the championship but frustrated with the circumstances of the weekend.
Cadwell Park is right around the corner and we aim for a better performance with plans in place to replace the engine.
Last weekend British Superbikes were down at Thruxton for the seventh round of the championship. Due to the lack of time following our discovery of the reduced bhp of the Supersport R6, we were to attend the fastest circuit on the calendar knowing that top speed would be a struggle.
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| Nicely showing off the Held Gloves! |
FP1 began looking positive, however as the session progressed, Kurt struggled to improve his lap time due problems with the bikes handling. Exiting the fast sweeping corners, the bike was sliding and bouncing around in the attempt to high side. The team put their heads together to establish a solution following the 13th place finish which is not where we aimed to be. This lead to a series of suspension changes to compensate for the bumpy flat out circuit.
The second free practice session began to look positive as by lap 4 Kurt had knocked 0.6 of a second off his best lap from the previous session, however, this came to an abrupt stop as it became apparent that we were facing similar problems to the mornings FP1. The session came to an end with a 15th place finish and confusion as to where we had gone wrong.
Saturdays qualifying session was later in the day leaving us some more time to understand what we were up against. Under further inspections we identified that there was a mechanical fault with the rear shock meaning there was nothing we could do to the settings to resolve the handling issue. The shock was removed and serviced in preparation for Q1. Kurt took another 0.6 off his best lap time but because of the series of events leading up to this we were playing catch up and had to start from scratch back at the original base setting for the suspension as any alterations previously made were obsolete. The session came to a close with another 15th place finish.
Saturday afternoon brought the 10-lap sprint race for the Supersport class. Further changes were made leading up to the race which always hold a risk that it wasn’t for the better, however, this was not the case and Kurt’s personal best lap time was improved again. Kurt was in a heated battle with another 5 riders making his way up to 11th position at one stage. On the final but last lap, Kurt over ran the chicane leading onto the home straight and in the attempt to revert the advantage gained he fell back to P14 for the chequered flag.
Sunday brought an 18 lap feature race meaning tyre wear was a problem that everyone faced due to the abrasive circuit of Thruxton. The second race proved the difficulty faced with competing when down on power as every lap Kurt was overtaken on the back straight reaching speeds in excess of 150mph. This meant that he had to try and outbreak someone leading to him failing to stop and missing the chicane on several occasions each time knocking him out of a rhythm. The race came to a close with another 14th position finish picking up points in the championship but frustrated with the circumstances of the weekend.
Cadwell Park is right around the corner and we aim for a better performance with plans in place to replace the engine.
Held UK are proud to support Kurt and Matt Wigley with Race Gloves! www.held-uk.co.uk
Thursday, 10 August 2017
Held Racer Report: Sean Neary wins at Thruxton
ZOEK RACING THRUXTON
Sean Neary completed his qualifying in fourth place and started the first of two 10 lap races from a second row grid position. He got away to a good start and was up to second place at sector two on the first lap. He was demoted a place when Joe Collier came past but he never lost touch with the two leaders and by lap four the top six riders had pulled clear of the pursuing pack. Neary was not content with third place and both he and Collier made a pass on Levi Day who had been leading the race up until then. One lap later and Neary was flying, he set a new lap record of 1m 19.818s on lap five and both he and Collier pulled away from Day to argue over the lead. Despite there only being a 10th of a second separating Neary from Collier in the lead he was unable to make a pass stick and at the finish line he crossed the finish line a fifth of a second behind Collier to secure second place.
Neary said: “Being over six foot doesn’t help my cause as I was just getting eaten down the back straight so I will have to lay off the pies!! But to be fair it was a great race, I just didn’t have the legs on the straight in the sector when I really needed but will work on that for tomorrow. But for now it is great to be back on the podium and to set a new lap record. We'll make a few changes for tomorrow race. A massive thank you to all the Zoek Racing Team and all our sponsors; the team has worked so hard to improve the bike. Big shout out again to Lee Jackson Snr for working with me after each session to improve setup as well. Just need one more step to get JHP Ducati Coventry back at the front where they deserve to be. Unfortunately Craig is out for the weekend due to an old shoulder injury rearing its head.
Starting race two from pole position Neary settled into second place behind Levi Day with Joe Collier following in close formation.
The three pulled away from the pursuing pack and it was clear the winner would come from within the group of three. Collier moved to the front but Neary was not letting him get away and as they rounded Church he took the lead, but it was short lived as Collier fought back at the next corner. This was repeated at Church again with sparks flying from the Ducati as Neary hit the tarmac with his knee slider and on the penultimate lap Collier ran wide at the Club chicane and was deemed to have gained an unfair advantage by race control. Unbeknown to Neary and Day he was issued a half second time penalty so all Neary had to do was to follow him home as close as possible to secure the win.
Neary said: “We finally got the bike right and I am back to winning ways. I was determined I was going to win that race and was intending to make my move at Church on the last lap. But then Collier cut through the chicane and I knew he would get a penalty so all I had to do was stick on his back wheel and I would get the win. I am absolutely made up for the Zoek Racing team and Ducati Coventry both the team and sponsors deserve that.
“It was a very sad day for all of us with the news of the accident in which we lost Mark Fincham. My thoughts are with the True Heroes team and Mark’s family and friends. I have no hesitation in dedicating my win today to his memory.”
Sadly Craig Currie was forced to pull out of the races this weekend because of a recurring shoulder injury. He is hoping to be back in action for the next round at Silverstone on September 10.
Sean Neary completed his qualifying in fourth place and started the first of two 10 lap races from a second row grid position. He got away to a good start and was up to second place at sector two on the first lap. He was demoted a place when Joe Collier came past but he never lost touch with the two leaders and by lap four the top six riders had pulled clear of the pursuing pack. Neary was not content with third place and both he and Collier made a pass on Levi Day who had been leading the race up until then. One lap later and Neary was flying, he set a new lap record of 1m 19.818s on lap five and both he and Collier pulled away from Day to argue over the lead. Despite there only being a 10th of a second separating Neary from Collier in the lead he was unable to make a pass stick and at the finish line he crossed the finish line a fifth of a second behind Collier to secure second place.
Neary said: “Being over six foot doesn’t help my cause as I was just getting eaten down the back straight so I will have to lay off the pies!! But to be fair it was a great race, I just didn’t have the legs on the straight in the sector when I really needed but will work on that for tomorrow. But for now it is great to be back on the podium and to set a new lap record. We'll make a few changes for tomorrow race. A massive thank you to all the Zoek Racing Team and all our sponsors; the team has worked so hard to improve the bike. Big shout out again to Lee Jackson Snr for working with me after each session to improve setup as well. Just need one more step to get JHP Ducati Coventry back at the front where they deserve to be. Unfortunately Craig is out for the weekend due to an old shoulder injury rearing its head.
Starting race two from pole position Neary settled into second place behind Levi Day with Joe Collier following in close formation.
The three pulled away from the pursuing pack and it was clear the winner would come from within the group of three. Collier moved to the front but Neary was not letting him get away and as they rounded Church he took the lead, but it was short lived as Collier fought back at the next corner. This was repeated at Church again with sparks flying from the Ducati as Neary hit the tarmac with his knee slider and on the penultimate lap Collier ran wide at the Club chicane and was deemed to have gained an unfair advantage by race control. Unbeknown to Neary and Day he was issued a half second time penalty so all Neary had to do was to follow him home as close as possible to secure the win.
Neary said: “We finally got the bike right and I am back to winning ways. I was determined I was going to win that race and was intending to make my move at Church on the last lap. But then Collier cut through the chicane and I knew he would get a penalty so all I had to do was stick on his back wheel and I would get the win. I am absolutely made up for the Zoek Racing team and Ducati Coventry both the team and sponsors deserve that.
“It was a very sad day for all of us with the news of the accident in which we lost Mark Fincham. My thoughts are with the True Heroes team and Mark’s family and friends. I have no hesitation in dedicating my win today to his memory.”
Sadly Craig Currie was forced to pull out of the races this weekend because of a recurring shoulder injury. He is hoping to be back in action for the next round at Silverstone on September 10.
We're pleased to support Zoek Racing. To see more about Zoek recruitment please click here
To see more about Held in the UK please click here
Monday, 10 July 2017
Held Racer Report: Leon Jeacock, Snetterton BSB
The Snetterton300 Circuit held the latest round of the Pirelli National SuperStock1000 Championship and Leon and the team were hoping for a good result after the last couple of rounds. Sadly this didn’t prove to the case as it turned into a very testing weekend for both rider and team.
From first free practice, right through to qualifying Leon suffered numerous niggles with the Suzuki and all in all it was a difficult few sessions for the team. In free practice one Leon posted a time good enough to be in the top fifteen and held on to this position in free practice two. Qualifying was held in hot conditions and as the temperature soared the fortunes of the team dipped.
A brake problem raised its ugly head and Leon was struggling to get the Suzuki stopped at the end of the two long straights at Snetterton. This problem dropped Leon down the order and he took eighteenth place on the grid.
Making a good start and holding position for the first couple of laps, the front brake problem resurfaced and after taking evasive action on lap three he dropped down the field to twenty fourth place. Now he was not only fighting the technical problem but having to claw his way back through the midfield pack and this he did very well. He had made it back to twentieth when he had to retire from the race due to the brake problem becoming un-rideable.
Speaking after Leon said “we have had a disappointing weekend but we now have two weeks till the Brands Hatch round to sort the Suzuki and we will be going for it from the off” He also added “he wanted to thank all his sponsors for the help and backing they are giving him this season”
From first free practice, right through to qualifying Leon suffered numerous niggles with the Suzuki and all in all it was a difficult few sessions for the team. In free practice one Leon posted a time good enough to be in the top fifteen and held on to this position in free practice two. Qualifying was held in hot conditions and as the temperature soared the fortunes of the team dipped.
A brake problem raised its ugly head and Leon was struggling to get the Suzuki stopped at the end of the two long straights at Snetterton. This problem dropped Leon down the order and he took eighteenth place on the grid.
Making a good start and holding position for the first couple of laps, the front brake problem resurfaced and after taking evasive action on lap three he dropped down the field to twenty fourth place. Now he was not only fighting the technical problem but having to claw his way back through the midfield pack and this he did very well. He had made it back to twentieth when he had to retire from the race due to the brake problem becoming un-rideable.
Speaking after Leon said “we have had a disappointing weekend but we now have two weeks till the Brands Hatch round to sort the Suzuki and we will be going for it from the off” He also added “he wanted to thank all his sponsors for the help and backing they are giving him this season”
Held are pleased to support and supply Leon Jeacock. To learn more about Held in the UK please visit
Tuesday, 4 July 2017
Held Racer Report: Zoek Racing at Snetterton
The two Zoek Racing riders Sean Neary from Lymm in Cheshire and Craig Currie from Newark in Nottinghamshire were at Snetterton in Norfolk for a round of the Ducati Performance TriOptions Cup at the weekend where Neary recorded a brace of fourth places and Currie a brace of 11th in the two 10 lap races.
Sean Neary was struggling with set up at the 2.9 mile Norfolk circuit during free practice but managed to qualify for a second row start to race one. As the lights went out Neary got away to a good, clean start and was third into turn one. He was challenging for second place from the start and on lap two he shot up the inside of Josh Day to secure second place. He then set his sights on Joe Collier who was half a second away in the lead but although he got within a whisker of him he was unable to make a move on him. He began to lose ground and fell back into the clutches of Rob Guiver who managed to overtake him on lap six of 10. The top four riders pulled clear of the pursuing pack but as the race progressed Neary was caught and passed by Josh Day on the penultimate lap. Although not able to match the pace of Day the Cheshire rider crossed the finish line in a strong fourth place, some 11 seconds ahead of Jonathan Railton who was fifth.
Neary said: “We made a massive gamble with set up for the first race which didn’t quite pay off. We were competitive and up there with the leaders but not quite able to get ahead. We will tweak the settings again for race two and see where we get to.”
As the second race got underway Neary settled into fourth place and although the top two riders pulled clear Neary was edging nearer to Josh Day to fight for third place. He was almost alongside him and ready to make his move when the red flag came out to halt his progress. As two thirds distance had been completed a result was declared at six laps and Neary was once again awarded fourth place. Although disappointed not to have made it up onto the podium the 26 points accrued at Snetterton move him up the rider standings to seventh place on 55 points.
Meanwhile Craig Currie started the first race from a fourth row grid position and was running in 15th through the first two laps. He overtook Jon Waghorn on lap thee and two laps later passed Louis Dawson to move into 13th position where he remained to the chequered flag. However a rider ahead was given a penalty for overtaking under a yellow flag and was penalised one position which elevated Currie to 12th place. There was also one rider ahead in a different class thus Currie was again elevated to 11th.
Lining up for the second race on the fourth row Currie again completed the first few laps in 15th place before beginning his move forward. But when the race was red flagged and the result declared he was awarded 13th place. This time two riders in the other class were ahead and so he was promoted to 11th once again. Currie is now in 10th place in the rider standings on 40 points.
Sean Neary was struggling with set up at the 2.9 mile Norfolk circuit during free practice but managed to qualify for a second row start to race one. As the lights went out Neary got away to a good, clean start and was third into turn one. He was challenging for second place from the start and on lap two he shot up the inside of Josh Day to secure second place. He then set his sights on Joe Collier who was half a second away in the lead but although he got within a whisker of him he was unable to make a move on him. He began to lose ground and fell back into the clutches of Rob Guiver who managed to overtake him on lap six of 10. The top four riders pulled clear of the pursuing pack but as the race progressed Neary was caught and passed by Josh Day on the penultimate lap. Although not able to match the pace of Day the Cheshire rider crossed the finish line in a strong fourth place, some 11 seconds ahead of Jonathan Railton who was fifth.
Neary said: “We made a massive gamble with set up for the first race which didn’t quite pay off. We were competitive and up there with the leaders but not quite able to get ahead. We will tweak the settings again for race two and see where we get to.”
As the second race got underway Neary settled into fourth place and although the top two riders pulled clear Neary was edging nearer to Josh Day to fight for third place. He was almost alongside him and ready to make his move when the red flag came out to halt his progress. As two thirds distance had been completed a result was declared at six laps and Neary was once again awarded fourth place. Although disappointed not to have made it up onto the podium the 26 points accrued at Snetterton move him up the rider standings to seventh place on 55 points.
Meanwhile Craig Currie started the first race from a fourth row grid position and was running in 15th through the first two laps. He overtook Jon Waghorn on lap thee and two laps later passed Louis Dawson to move into 13th position where he remained to the chequered flag. However a rider ahead was given a penalty for overtaking under a yellow flag and was penalised one position which elevated Currie to 12th place. There was also one rider ahead in a different class thus Currie was again elevated to 11th.
Lining up for the second race on the fourth row Currie again completed the first few laps in 15th place before beginning his move forward. But when the race was red flagged and the result declared he was awarded 13th place. This time two riders in the other class were ahead and so he was promoted to 11th once again. Currie is now in 10th place in the rider standings on 40 points.
We're pleased to support Zoek Racing. To see more about Zoek recruitment please click here
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Wednesday, 14 June 2017
Held: Price drops and prizes!
The title says it all, we've dropped our prices and we're giving away stuff. Let us explain, we'll keep it very short and sweet!
The Price Drop
Public awareness and demand for Held in the UK is at an all-time high, so more than ever we wish to deliver great value for money for customers here in the UK. We regularly keep an eye on European prices, even more so since the vote for Brexit and the General Election.
It has come to our attention that certain Held products were available in parts of Europe at a cheaper price. We know that UK motorcyclists would rather buy from UK retailers- supporting them and also having a greater peace of mind should they need to exchange goods purchased, etc.
So, we've acted! Held UK RRPs will be reduced in all categories except GORE-TEX apparel (i.e. including GTX gloves) by an average by 12%. GORE-TEX apparel will be reduced by an average of 18.4%!!. These reductions took place on June 12th. There is no better time to purchase Held products- speak to your local retailer NOW! If they don't already stock Held and they're keen to get them to email us at mail@held-uk.co.uk
The Prizes
Naturally we want to spread this message far and wide- and we want your help. In return for spreading the word we'll be giving away, over the next three weeks, three pairs of the RiDE Magazine recommended dual-chambered Held Air N' Dry Gloves.
a). Make sure you like / follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (or all!)
b). Share this blog post on one (or all!) of the above social media platforms- make sure you tag us, then we'll know- and you'll be entered!! You can use the hashtag #HeldPriceDrop as well :)
We will, over the next three weeks, pick three winners who've helped spread the word, at random.
Thanks for reading this! Please help spread the word and grab yourself some quality Held kit, at a great price!
The Price Drop
Public awareness and demand for Held in the UK is at an all-time high, so more than ever we wish to deliver great value for money for customers here in the UK. We regularly keep an eye on European prices, even more so since the vote for Brexit and the General Election.
It has come to our attention that certain Held products were available in parts of Europe at a cheaper price. We know that UK motorcyclists would rather buy from UK retailers- supporting them and also having a greater peace of mind should they need to exchange goods purchased, etc.
So, we've acted! Held UK RRPs will be reduced in all categories except GORE-TEX apparel (i.e. including GTX gloves) by an average by 12%. GORE-TEX apparel will be reduced by an average of 18.4%!!. These reductions took place on June 12th. There is no better time to purchase Held products- speak to your local retailer NOW! If they don't already stock Held and they're keen to get them to email us at mail@held-uk.co.uk
The Prizes
Naturally we want to spread this message far and wide- and we want your help. In return for spreading the word we'll be giving away, over the next three weeks, three pairs of the RiDE Magazine recommended dual-chambered Held Air N' Dry Gloves.
*All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is:*
a). Make sure you like / follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (or all!)
b). Share this blog post on one (or all!) of the above social media platforms- make sure you tag us, then we'll know- and you'll be entered!! You can use the hashtag #HeldPriceDrop as well :)
We will, over the next three weeks, pick three winners who've helped spread the word, at random.
Thanks for reading this! Please help spread the word and grab yourself some quality Held kit, at a great price!
To see more about Held in the UK please click here
Friday, 2 June 2017
Wigley Racing: Donington Park WSBK Race Report
Donington Park WSBK Race Report
This was the second weekend Matt had visited Donington Park to race this year. This was good for the team as we was able to pick up where we left off. As the supersport class does not compete here we was down to one rider.
Fridays Free Practice proved to be a step in the direction that we had hoped for as Matt was able to pick up where he left off and get up to race pace in the early stages of the session. Despite the 37◦C track temperature and sweltering heat, Matt was still able to put his best time in towards the end of the session, putting him in 27th Place. Although there was plenty of room for improvement it was a good start to the weekend.
Saturdays Qualifying however took a turn for the worst. Although Matt had high aspirations with a plan for improvement, his progression was stalled when an unbalanced tyre hindered his lap times. As the session progressed Matt was unable to get any feel from the bike as the front end was juddering violently. Despite this being the case Matt still matched the time from Fridays FP1 session but the lack of improvement put him 31st place on the Grid for Sunday’s back-to-back race.
Matt had a brilliant start to the 100 mile race as by lap 2 he had battled his way up to 23rd place. As the race progressed and the pack fanned out it was harder to jump each gap. By lap 10 we had used up all the good rubber and as Matt started to slow, he was swallowed up dropping back to 27th place. For the restart Matt took his 27th place grid position. This put him at more of an advantage due to his inside positioning on the track. This allowed him to gain places with fewer risks on the entry to the first turn. With new tyres Matt was able to push through the pack and work his way up to 20th place. After an off track excursion on lap 2 at the Foggy Esses he had it all to do again. Nevertheless as the race progressed Matt battled his way up to a respectable 19th place and knocked 1.9 seconds off his personal best.
It was a positive result for the team with yet another top teen finish in the Stock 1000 class. We look forward to the next British Superbike round at Knockhill in just a couple of weeks’ time.
*Held UK are pleased to supply gloves to Wigley racing! For more information on Held in the UK please visit www.held-uk.co.uk
This was the second weekend Matt had visited Donington Park to race this year. This was good for the team as we was able to pick up where we left off. As the supersport class does not compete here we was down to one rider.
Fridays Free Practice proved to be a step in the direction that we had hoped for as Matt was able to pick up where he left off and get up to race pace in the early stages of the session. Despite the 37◦C track temperature and sweltering heat, Matt was still able to put his best time in towards the end of the session, putting him in 27th Place. Although there was plenty of room for improvement it was a good start to the weekend.
Saturdays Qualifying however took a turn for the worst. Although Matt had high aspirations with a plan for improvement, his progression was stalled when an unbalanced tyre hindered his lap times. As the session progressed Matt was unable to get any feel from the bike as the front end was juddering violently. Despite this being the case Matt still matched the time from Fridays FP1 session but the lack of improvement put him 31st place on the Grid for Sunday’s back-to-back race.
Matt had a brilliant start to the 100 mile race as by lap 2 he had battled his way up to 23rd place. As the race progressed and the pack fanned out it was harder to jump each gap. By lap 10 we had used up all the good rubber and as Matt started to slow, he was swallowed up dropping back to 27th place. For the restart Matt took his 27th place grid position. This put him at more of an advantage due to his inside positioning on the track. This allowed him to gain places with fewer risks on the entry to the first turn. With new tyres Matt was able to push through the pack and work his way up to 20th place. After an off track excursion on lap 2 at the Foggy Esses he had it all to do again. Nevertheless as the race progressed Matt battled his way up to a respectable 19th place and knocked 1.9 seconds off his personal best.
It was a positive result for the team with yet another top teen finish in the Stock 1000 class. We look forward to the next British Superbike round at Knockhill in just a couple of weeks’ time.
*Held UK are pleased to supply gloves to Wigley racing! For more information on Held in the UK please visit www.held-uk.co.uk
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Le Mans report from Talan Racing!
Le Mans - 2017 International Bridgestone Handy Race
On the 20th May I took part in the first International Disabled World Cup motorcycle race at Le Mans, France. This historic event was an official support race at the HJC sponsored French MotoGP. As one of the two British racers invited to attend the event, I was excited and honoured to be representing Great Britain in the 600cc category.
My preparation did not go entirely as planned. Thirteen days before the race, whilst demonstrating at the Donington Endurance Legends event, I suffered a jammed throttle as I hit the brakes at the end of the start/finish straight. Unable to slow down sufficiently to take Redgate corner, I barrelled into the gravel and went over the front of the bike, spearing myself head first into the gravel. Whilst I wasn’t too badly injured, the bike needed new fairing and investigation into why the throttle stayed wide open. After eight frantic days I was heading into the Channel tunnel with a repaired, but untested, race bike on my way to France.
Arriving at Le Mans, the International Bridgestone Handy Race paddock was found to be some distance away from the actual main paddock and pit lane, just outside of the actual Bugatti Circuit and along the 24Hour circuit. Surrounding us were campsites....campsites that had bikes being bounced off the rev limiters non stop, and I mean non stop. Never have I encountered such fanatical petrol heads, who were feeding engines with fuel and exhausts with combustible materials without cessation.
Whilst waiting in the transport to get to the track for Practice and Qualifying, we were treated to a thunder and lightening storm that brought hail down so hard the current session was red flagged. The circuit became wet, really really wet. Our practice began in light rain and that got gradually heavier throughout. Everyone was cautious to begin with, but soon found that the newly surfaced track was giving amazing levels of grip. Having a new fairing changed my sitting position as the race tail piece with hard foam seat covering sat me considerably higher than being on the standard seat piece. The new position put a lot of strain on my wrists, not so much of a problem in the wet as I wasn’t braking hard, but it would be an issue in the dry.
In our qualifying we were red flagged half way through, the thunderstorm once again brought hail and standing water. Once it was safe we headed back out to finish the session. I was lucky enough to know the Data Engineer from the Mistral Moto2 team, so I was parked outside the garage which offered a bit of shelter. One of the riders fathers popped out to offer his thoughts.....Mr Wayne Gardner simply thought we were all mad! At the end of qualifying I was 7th out of 30. A decent position to be in considering my top speed was between 10-20kmh slower than all the other top nine racers.
Later that evening my team and I were able to; visit the Mistral Moto2 garage, have about 30 minutes chatting with Wayne Gardner (Ex MotoGP World Champion), get a good look at the Moto2 bikes, tour around the Tech3 MotoGP garage and finished off meeting with Karel Abraham (MotoGP racer). Karel was interested to hear about the racing as well as The Bike Experience (a charity I founded to teach disabled people how to ride motorcycles). It was great to see the interest from all the racers, and ex racers, in what we were doing.
Saturday brought sunshine, clear skies and a crowd of thousands of race fans. The start was a ‘Le Mans’ style grid line up, followed by two lap formation behind a safety car, then eight laps for the chequered flag. In pairs we lined up behind the safety car and I set about warming up my tyres. I was on brand new Bridgestone R10s that were stone cold due to a mechanical failure of the generator. Initially the under-pressure tyres caused me to bounce around and slip under braking. After the first lap they were beginning to get some heat and the bike began to turn as I expected. At the end of the second lap the safety car pulled in, we rolled down towards the start line, all waiting for the French National flag to be waved. The noise of the crowd went through my helmet, my ear plugs and into my very core, it was intense and massively addictive. The flag dropped and we were racing.
As expected, the litre bikes came shooting up past me and the ones in front pulled away. I was cautious with the cold tyres and didn't want to get involved in any fairing bashing at the first chicane. Through the chicane and down to Chapelle the group was slightly spread out, and by the time we went into Garage Vert for the first time, there was a bit of order about the race. I was gapped by the faster bikes on each straight and was forced into some very late braking in order to catch up. After the third time of locking the front on the brakes I decided it wasn’t going to be safe to continue this style of riding for the race.
I went back to what I knew best, smooth riding. The sitting position proved to be a problem for me. With a very dry and grippy surface I was able to brake hard, but that meant my backside started lifting from the seat and bouncing me off the centre line of the bike. I do not have stomach muscles, and so the act of trying to straighten myself up on the bike means lots of pulling and pushing on the bars whilst dragging my tummy onto the tank. As a result I cannot simply focus on going fast, as I can’t be sat on the ‘upside’ of the seat in a corner at pace. Nevertheless I enjoyed a decent battle with two litre bikes and another 600.
The chequered flag came earlier than I had expected, as I didn’t see the last lap flag waved to us. Suddenly it was all over, the marshals lined the circuit, the crowds waved and cheered, we all gave thumbs up to the other racers and waved back to the spectators. I was ninth overall from thirty starters. The position translated to fourth in all of the 600s (twenty of us) and second place in the 600cc paralysed class. A very respectable finishing position and one I and be proud of. The victory in my class went to fellow British rider Michael Reynolds, and congratulations go to him.
There were so many memories to treasure: being part of a MotoGP event, getting invitations into Moto2 and MotoGP garages, meeting the racers you see on television, wheeling out onto eh start/ finish straight and hearing the cheer of five thousand people. The most important part was that we, the disabled racers, got to show the world that anything is still possible.
My thanks go to you; my sponsors, my supporters, my friends, my family, my fellow racers.
On the 20th May I took part in the first International Disabled World Cup motorcycle race at Le Mans, France. This historic event was an official support race at the HJC sponsored French MotoGP. As one of the two British racers invited to attend the event, I was excited and honoured to be representing Great Britain in the 600cc category.
My preparation did not go entirely as planned. Thirteen days before the race, whilst demonstrating at the Donington Endurance Legends event, I suffered a jammed throttle as I hit the brakes at the end of the start/finish straight. Unable to slow down sufficiently to take Redgate corner, I barrelled into the gravel and went over the front of the bike, spearing myself head first into the gravel. Whilst I wasn’t too badly injured, the bike needed new fairing and investigation into why the throttle stayed wide open. After eight frantic days I was heading into the Channel tunnel with a repaired, but untested, race bike on my way to France.
Arriving at Le Mans, the International Bridgestone Handy Race paddock was found to be some distance away from the actual main paddock and pit lane, just outside of the actual Bugatti Circuit and along the 24Hour circuit. Surrounding us were campsites....campsites that had bikes being bounced off the rev limiters non stop, and I mean non stop. Never have I encountered such fanatical petrol heads, who were feeding engines with fuel and exhausts with combustible materials without cessation.
Whilst waiting in the transport to get to the track for Practice and Qualifying, we were treated to a thunder and lightening storm that brought hail down so hard the current session was red flagged. The circuit became wet, really really wet. Our practice began in light rain and that got gradually heavier throughout. Everyone was cautious to begin with, but soon found that the newly surfaced track was giving amazing levels of grip. Having a new fairing changed my sitting position as the race tail piece with hard foam seat covering sat me considerably higher than being on the standard seat piece. The new position put a lot of strain on my wrists, not so much of a problem in the wet as I wasn’t braking hard, but it would be an issue in the dry.
In our qualifying we were red flagged half way through, the thunderstorm once again brought hail and standing water. Once it was safe we headed back out to finish the session. I was lucky enough to know the Data Engineer from the Mistral Moto2 team, so I was parked outside the garage which offered a bit of shelter. One of the riders fathers popped out to offer his thoughts.....Mr Wayne Gardner simply thought we were all mad! At the end of qualifying I was 7th out of 30. A decent position to be in considering my top speed was between 10-20kmh slower than all the other top nine racers.
Later that evening my team and I were able to; visit the Mistral Moto2 garage, have about 30 minutes chatting with Wayne Gardner (Ex MotoGP World Champion), get a good look at the Moto2 bikes, tour around the Tech3 MotoGP garage and finished off meeting with Karel Abraham (MotoGP racer). Karel was interested to hear about the racing as well as The Bike Experience (a charity I founded to teach disabled people how to ride motorcycles). It was great to see the interest from all the racers, and ex racers, in what we were doing.
Saturday brought sunshine, clear skies and a crowd of thousands of race fans. The start was a ‘Le Mans’ style grid line up, followed by two lap formation behind a safety car, then eight laps for the chequered flag. In pairs we lined up behind the safety car and I set about warming up my tyres. I was on brand new Bridgestone R10s that were stone cold due to a mechanical failure of the generator. Initially the under-pressure tyres caused me to bounce around and slip under braking. After the first lap they were beginning to get some heat and the bike began to turn as I expected. At the end of the second lap the safety car pulled in, we rolled down towards the start line, all waiting for the French National flag to be waved. The noise of the crowd went through my helmet, my ear plugs and into my very core, it was intense and massively addictive. The flag dropped and we were racing.
As expected, the litre bikes came shooting up past me and the ones in front pulled away. I was cautious with the cold tyres and didn't want to get involved in any fairing bashing at the first chicane. Through the chicane and down to Chapelle the group was slightly spread out, and by the time we went into Garage Vert for the first time, there was a bit of order about the race. I was gapped by the faster bikes on each straight and was forced into some very late braking in order to catch up. After the third time of locking the front on the brakes I decided it wasn’t going to be safe to continue this style of riding for the race.
I went back to what I knew best, smooth riding. The sitting position proved to be a problem for me. With a very dry and grippy surface I was able to brake hard, but that meant my backside started lifting from the seat and bouncing me off the centre line of the bike. I do not have stomach muscles, and so the act of trying to straighten myself up on the bike means lots of pulling and pushing on the bars whilst dragging my tummy onto the tank. As a result I cannot simply focus on going fast, as I can’t be sat on the ‘upside’ of the seat in a corner at pace. Nevertheless I enjoyed a decent battle with two litre bikes and another 600.
The chequered flag came earlier than I had expected, as I didn’t see the last lap flag waved to us. Suddenly it was all over, the marshals lined the circuit, the crowds waved and cheered, we all gave thumbs up to the other racers and waved back to the spectators. I was ninth overall from thirty starters. The position translated to fourth in all of the 600s (twenty of us) and second place in the 600cc paralysed class. A very respectable finishing position and one I and be proud of. The victory in my class went to fellow British rider Michael Reynolds, and congratulations go to him.
There were so many memories to treasure: being part of a MotoGP event, getting invitations into Moto2 and MotoGP garages, meeting the racers you see on television, wheeling out onto eh start/ finish straight and hearing the cheer of five thousand people. The most important part was that we, the disabled racers, got to show the world that anything is still possible.
My thanks go to you; my sponsors, my supporters, my friends, my family, my fellow racers.
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Held Racer Report: Zoek Racing, Oulton Park
ZOEK RACING OULTON PARK
It was a disappointing weekend for Sean Neary at his home circuit of Oulton Park when, despite securing a podium finish in the first race, he was forced out with a technical issue in the second 10 lap affair on Monday in round three of the Ducati Performance TriOptions Cup at the Cheshire circuit. His Zoek Racing teammate Craig Currie from Newark fared much better securing two strong points finishes in the two races over the weekend.
Starting the first race on Sunday from a second row grid position Neary from nearby Lymm was eighth on lap one and began to make his way forward but a rider crashed on oil at Hizzy’s chicane resulting in a number of riders following suite. Luckily neither Zoek Racing rider was involved and they took their place on the grid for the restart. This time Neary got a good start and moved up into fourth place on lap two and up into third on the fourth and penultimate lap. He held his position to cross the finish line in third place to pick up
He said: "Great work by the Zoek Racing Team today with third place. It's been a tough start to the season but nice to get back on the podium. This was my first race on the Maxton Suspension and can't thank them enough for all the support. Great result for Craig and both bikes in top 10. Roll on tomorrow."
Starting the second race from a front row grid position Neary was shuffled back a place at Old Hall Bend but moved back into third place at the end of the first lap. He fell back into the clutches of Phil Atkinson and Levi Day who both managed to make their move at Shell Oils on lap five. But Day fell back with a problem and Neary passed Atkinson to retake his third place. But on lap six his Ducati suffered a problem which forced him to retire to the pits at the end of the lap, his race over.
Neary leaves Oulton Park in 10th place in the overall rider standings on 29 points which is not where he wanted to be and he said: "The bike began to cause me problems from as early as lap two and that is why I began to drop back. Although the technical gremlins kicked in I did try to finish the race to get a few points but it just became unmanageable and I had to pull in.
Meanwhile Craig Currie started the first encounter from the fifth row and made good progress up to 11th on the first lap. He was running in 10th place when the red flag brought the action to a halt and at the restart he got a good start and moved straight into eighth place and held station to the chequered flag at the end of the five lap affair to pick up eight championship points.
Starting the second race from the third row Currie again got a flying start, moving up to ninth place on the first lap. But in the final laps he was reeled in by Mark Cheetham and Louis Dawson and crossed the finish line in 12th place to earn a further four championship points bringing his total to 33 and moving him up to eighth in the rider standings after three of eight rounds.
The championship takes an eight week break now to allow for the two major road races, the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT and they reconvene at Snetterton on July 2.
pic credit Action – Dave Yeoman, podium Bonnie Lane #10 Sean Neary #42 Craig Currie
It was a disappointing weekend for Sean Neary at his home circuit of Oulton Park when, despite securing a podium finish in the first race, he was forced out with a technical issue in the second 10 lap affair on Monday in round three of the Ducati Performance TriOptions Cup at the Cheshire circuit. His Zoek Racing teammate Craig Currie from Newark fared much better securing two strong points finishes in the two races over the weekend.
 |
| Zoek racing's Sean Neary |
16 championship points and a place on the podium.
He said: "Great work by the Zoek Racing Team today with third place. It's been a tough start to the season but nice to get back on the podium. This was my first race on the Maxton Suspension and can't thank them enough for all the support. Great result for Craig and both bikes in top 10. Roll on tomorrow."
 |
| Zoek racing's Sean Neary on the podium |
Neary leaves Oulton Park in 10th place in the overall rider standings on 29 points which is not where he wanted to be and he said: "The bike began to cause me problems from as early as lap two and that is why I began to drop back. Although the technical gremlins kicked in I did try to finish the race to get a few points but it just became unmanageable and I had to pull in.
Meanwhile Craig Currie started the first encounter from the fifth row and made good progress up to 11th on the first lap. He was running in 10th place when the red flag brought the action to a halt and at the restart he got a good start and moved straight into eighth place and held station to the chequered flag at the end of the five lap affair to pick up eight championship points.
 |
| Craig Currie- a good 8th place in race 1 |
The championship takes an eight week break now to allow for the two major road races, the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT and they reconvene at Snetterton on July 2.
pic credit Action – Dave Yeoman, podium Bonnie Lane #10 Sean Neary #42 Craig Currie
We're pleased to support Zoek Racing. To see more about Zoek recruitment please click here
To see more about Held in the UK please click here