Held Racer Report - Jason Burrill, Castle Combe ACU 250

Castle Combe ACU 250 - Race Report 

Well, when the say racing is full of highs and lows it really is true! Tears, anger, head scratching, smiles, laughter and a great end to the season!

After a decent test day on the Friday I qualified well on the 250 in 9th position in a stacked with talent field. Unfortunately due to the ongoing starting issues that have plagued us all year we entered the first corner in race one in 17th or 18th position and the spent the remaining laps fighting my way back through. 

Saturday evening came and the decision was taken to make a drastic change, in for a penny and all that. With some great help and advice from Dan Jackson, some help from Mick and Steve Outhwaite and great info from Jez Newbury we arrived on Sunday morning with a little trepidation and anticipation.

All the starting issues, worries and concerns went out the window as the bike hooked up from the start and I finally (after around 15 race start attempts) managed to get into the first corner having held my position off the line!! I genuinely can't say how good it feels to have the monkey off my back! 

Best lap of the weekend was a 1.18.8 which I was over the moon with and if I'd have managed to string together my optimal lap we'd have been in the 17's

Roll on the off season where some modifications are planned and then onto 2021 to see what we can do now the bikes performing as it should.

Thank you to everyone who makes this possible, Held Rider Equipment,  EBC Brakes, deftcad castlegatehomes, xclusivevents and all my family and friends! 

A video of race 3.

Held Racer Report - Joe Sheldon-Shaw, National Superstock 1000

We're proud to have the charming young man that is Joe Sheldon-Shaw in Held leathers. Here's the race report from the Silverstone round of British Superbikes, from the man himself. Take it away, Joe!

So it’s been a rollercoaster of a weekend at round 3 of the BSB at Silversrone. The team had a few obstacles to overcome during FP1, FP2 and qualifying and I knew the races were going to be difficult. 

However in race 1 after starting in P29 I fought my way through to P17, which I was over the moon with. 

Race 2 was even better, starting in P20 and battling throughout the race for P14! Achieving championship points and my best finish in the superstock 1000 championship so far. I can’t wait to get to the next round now and be pushing for a top 10 finish! 

Thank you to all my team, family friends and sponsors for all your support. The protect my income GSXR1000 worked well with the help of Biturbo Suspension thank you for your help this year. 

Big shout out to all my sponsors!

Protectmyincome 

Held uk 

Athlone event catering 

Redline Trackdays ltd 

LS Racing

Maxfield Engineering

GB Racing 

Hi Fibre 

Fuchs Silkolene 

Biturbo Suspension

Joe wears Held leathers and gloves. For more information please visit www.held-uk.co.uk. Also hook up with us on Facebook, click here

What We Wear! The Held 'Safer SRX' Textile sport style jacket

 Our Stan gets out and about on his Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled and puts his Held gear through its paces! 

Stan's been wearing the Held 'Safer SRX' Textile Sport style jacket. Let's see how he's been getting on with it!

The more practical twin

There's a leather version of this jacket - the unsurprisingly called Held 'Safer' jacket. It goes with the 'Grind' leather pants. Now, the textile versions are the 'Safer SRX' and Grind 'SRX'.

I think it looks rather good, don't you?

Why textile versions of perfectly serviceable leathers? Personally, I thought this was an excellent idea. Full on Sporty looking clobber, with the benefits of textiles. Waterproof, windproof and breathable (when you use the supplied liner with it) and well over £100 cheaper for the jacket Vs the leather version. 

Yes, you even get the race 'hump' with it. It looks just like the leather version when you're riding, so if you're a sportsbike rider who would like the option to wear lightweight, vented gear in summer rather than a heavier leather jacket - yet have the option to pop in the liner to keep you dry then this could be the jacket for you. Match it with the Grind SRX pants and zip 'em together and you've got the complete outift!

Looks awesome too in black!

The Overview

It's stunning. A real head turner. And so are the Grind SRX pants that go with it. I've only worn the pants once though as during Summer I've been in Held's 'Jump' motorcycle urban trousers. 

You get a highly abrasion resistant fabric outer and a lovely breathable mesh inner lining, with a removable waterproof, windproof and breathable liner. There's two generous external pockets and a map/document pocket at the back. Inside, one of the pockets is for phones. 

There's a soft collar and stretch panels at the shoulders, elbows and under the arms, not to mention the inner arms. Comfort is a HUGE factor with this jacket. 

Protection wise you get the ultra-sporty external hard shell protection on the shoulders and elbows, it's double stitched and there's velcro for optional chest protectors. It's also double-stitched.

The Likes

• It goes beautifully with motorcycle jeans, namely the Held 'Jump' pants
• The Held In&Motion airbag e-vest clips in nicely
• The Held clip-in technology allows for all sorts to be clipped in so I can add thermal layers if I wish
• It looks bloomin' awesome
• It's super comfy

The Dislikes

• I honestly as yet have found nothing to moan about, even after hundreds of miles in it. This, for me, is unusual!

I'd recommend this jacket thoroughly, especially as it's under £290!

You can find out more about Held at www.held-uk.co.uk

What We Wear! The Held 'Alcatar' Adventure Helmet

 Our Stan gets out and about on his Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled and puts Held Gear through its paces. 

Stan's Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled

Today, we'll hear about how Stan's been getting on with his Held Alcatar Adventure Helmet:

3.5 Alcatars for one of your..

"There's a saying that 'the quality remains long after the price is forgotten' - which is how you justify big-ticket items; The initial 'sting' of forking out a lot of money eventually goes away but the quality product you've bought keeps on doing the job beautifully. This sounds like I'm breaking news that the Alcatar is expensive, well actually it isn't. It's under £140. What you'd expect to carry a big price tag doesn't, but you get a hell of a lot of bang for your buck with this helmet. Exceptionally good value for money.

In fact you can get 3.5 Alcatars for the price of a well known competitor's similar lid. I've worn both and in my opinion there really isn't anything in it when you compare them, especially if you consider what you're getting for your money! Let's take a look at the Alcatar, what I like and what I don't like about it. 

The Overview

For starters, it's a nice looking lid. More than a touch of the 'Master Chiefs' about it so first impressions for anyone with a certain style of bike would be good. Put it this way, it's perfectly suited to the Desert Sled, as it would be to the likes of the BMW GS, Triumph Tiger, Honda Africa Twin etc. It comes in a number of schemes, including Gloss black, Matt black, white & red, black, white & red or black and white. 

It's not any where near as heavy as I expected yet feels very robust. The cheek pads are washable which is a bonus with this helmet designed for mile munchers. It has a visor that doesn't interfere with the peak and a flip-down integral sun visor. The flip switch for the visor was a bit tricky but a squirt of WD40 sorted that out. I like the fact that when the sun visor is down you push a button on the side and the visor pings up out the way.. The main visor is Pinlock ready and you can if you wish get a dark tint version of this. 

If you're worried about changing / removing visors (Hands up who has broken side pods!) then don't be - the Held Alcatar scratchproof visor will come off with the help of a flathead screwdriver, very easy! The helmet is also very well vented too, at the chin and on top which allows a nice flow of air.

Likes

The style! check it out from the front:

The soft fabric interior for comfort over long miles

The price tag!

The fact the peak didn't cause my head to flip back at 60mph+! Held have the airflow correct

Dislikes

The fact I got a black one! My bike is white & red 😏

Integral sun visor system not quite as easy to operate as other Held helmets - but a bit of practice and a squirt of WD40 later and it's fine.

Final thoughts

It's a very decent lid at an absolute steal for under £140. All the features you get and the style for that price you can't go wrong."

You can see more about Held including our online Made to Measure configurator, full online catalogue, gear care tips, dealer locator and the history of the company by clicking here

What We Wear! The Held 'Classic Rider' goatskin gloves

Our Stan has been wearing these on his key worker commute. Let's see how he's getting on with them!

The Held 'Classic Rider' unlined goatskin gloves - under £50!

The background to getting them

I've been wanting some 'proper' Summer gloves now for years. Gloves that keep my hands cool and don't have long cuffs so I can throw them on and off with whatever I'm wearing. I've also been looking for gloves that will go with the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled and look great as well. Naturally I wanted them to fit 'like a glove should' from the word go and not break the bank. These little chaps have ticked all the boxes.

My commute is a mixture of 'A' and 'B' roads and my shifts are anything from 8am to 10pm so the gloves needed to offer some form of 'block' from chills before / after the day is warm. Enter the Held 'Classic Rider' gloves! 

Great fit, love the padding on the palm for extra protection

The features of the glove

Well used now! grubby and with the odd fly strike! 

Protection:

• Reinforced edge of hand and thumb
• EU certified 'protective gloves for motorcyclists'
• Extra padding on the palm

Fit/features:

• Perforated finger side walls
• Velcro cuff adjustment
• Special leather at fingertips which allows smartphone operation

Lining & Shell:

• Unlined palm
• lighweight lined back
• Goatskin (soft and supple)
• Colourfast and sweatproof
• Available in the creamy colour or black

How I've been getting on with them

The devil's in the detail - perfect stitching and very robust. Oozing quality

I got these for the reasons mentioned above - and they haven't disappointed. Maybe I should have gone for black as they're getting a bit grubby, but nah! I love this colour, they're different and go with the bike better. (Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled). 

They're basic unlined gloves, but the quality and the attention to detail is astounding. Especially for the sub-£50 price tag. They've moulded to my hands beautifully and feel so comfy to wear on the commute. My jacket cuffs don't get interfered with which adds to that 'jump on and ride' feeling I like to have this time of year. 

I still feel protected - the stitching is not going to give, the goatskin is super abrasion resistant and the gentle padding on the palm gives me confidence without compromising the 'feel' of the controls at all. They're not the warmest gloves at 730am or 1030pm, but you wouldn't expect unlined gloves to be! That said, they've offered enough 'block' from the chillier times of the day to do the job!

Looking for some Summer unlined gloves at a great price? The Held 'Classic Rider' could be just what you're looking for! 

Stan

Checkout the Held range, here 

Paralysed motorcycle racer Talan Skeels-Piggins and his Isle of Man Classic TT Parade lap!

Isle Of Man - Classic TT Parade Lap

Below is a photograph of me heading down to the Creg Ny Baa pub, at 130mph and airborne.

For the past eight years I have been trying to get permission to participate in the parade lap of the
historic IOM TT course. This year, finally, I was supported in my efforts and was given a place at
the Classic TT Parade Lap. I was there to show that someone who is paralysed can still ride a
motorcycle, to demonstrate what is possible and to increase awareness of The Bike Experience
charity (which teaches disabled people how to ride motorcycles).

Arriving in the busy paddock I was met by Nigel the paddock manager who allocated us a spot
next to the Hailwood cafe and near to Technical Inspection/Collection area. Over the next four days
myself and my mechanic manned the stand and explained why we were there, the adaptions to the
bike and the plan for the lap. When the roads opened in the evening we would get into the van and
try to get at least one lap in, so I could improve my knowledge of the 37.7 miles. Watching onboard
videos is one thing, actually driving it was another, and I could imagine that riding it at pace would
be entirely different again.

There was a lot of interest in the bike and the challenge ahead. I managed a quick interview with
ITV4 and met with Phil Armes who was the first (and up to that point ‘only’) paraplegic to complete
the course on closed roads. He was an ex ManxGP racer, plus a race winner, and had taken four
attempts to lap the TT course. It wasn’t going to be an easy task for sure.

One of the first things to impact upon me was the steepness of Bray Hill! Television does tend to
flatten things out, and Bray Hill is properly a ‘hill’. I am still amazed at how fast the racers can take
the bottom compression and turn. Knowing I would be able to remember every corner, we focused
on those that could cause issues and the blind crests, so that I was at least going to be safe and
not arrive someone too fast and end up as part of the hedgerow.

When it was finally time to do the parade lap we were up on the starting area, close to the line.
There were a lot of people tending to exotic race bikes and some famous names: Agostini, Fogarty,
McGuinness, Nation, Plater, Parrish to name but a few. I was to head out at the back of the first
group - these were the top riders and machines who would not be having a traveling marshal (TM)
accompany them. One by one the racers headed off towards the top of Bray Hill. My thoughts
turned to the task at hand, it felt as though I was about to take a major exam rather than ride a
circuit. Finally I was edged to the start line, the starter put his hand on my shoulder and said - “In
your own time…..”. I’m not sure if he said anything else because he hadn't finished the word ‘time’
when I dumped the clutch and pinned the throttle. Holding it to the red line in the first four gears I
screamed off to the line. Apparently this was met with much approval, laughter and ‘knowing
nodding’ from the racers who were watching from the side.

Once on the course I simply tried to look as far ahead as possible. Quickly catching up the riders
who had set off ahead of me, I waited each time for a straight before washing past them. It was
heard work to keep my head steady to look forwards. The bumps we had experienced at 40mph in
the van turned into launch pads at 120mph on the bike. Knowing there could be an issue, we had
added an extra lap strap before setting off. The strap went under the seat unit and over my lap.
The main point of this was to keep me seated over the Ballaugh Bridge, some 17 miles into the
course. I had seen photographs of racers stood fully on their pegs with arms stretched down to
handle bars and backside way up in the air. If that happened to me I would not be able to re-centre
myself or even keep attached to the bike, and my lap would be over.

Through a section called Crosby the speedo read 142mph (this was seen later on from the
onboard footage rather than me looking at it!). The feeling speed was amplified by the strobe light
effect of the sun/shadow/sun/shadow, caused by the trees and buildings on the tarmac. It was a
bit ‘other worldly’ at times. The strap held on and kept me with the bike as I leapt over Ballaugh
Bridge and then downtime bumpy Sulby Straight. However, at the end of the straight under the
brakes I felt a bit of movement. Looking down I noticed the strap had finally undone and was
hanging over the side of the bike. Knowing that if I stopped I would not be allowed to restart, I
pulled the strap out, headed slowly over to a group of marshall and lobed the strap at them, before
tucking down again and opening the throttle.

The mountain section was incredible. Clear skies, hardly a breath of wind, dry road, no limits….
Despite the attention required to ride the lines, I did briefly or subconsciously appreciate the
amazing spectacle of it all. Before I knew it I was approaching my final area of concern, the very
sharp turn into Governors Dip. It is part of the track you can’t drive on and therefore the first time
you ride it is on the bike. Initial thoughts were to use the open roundabout, but as I got to it I
thought I had to compete the actual race course rather than take the easy option. Giving myself a
little more room than others, I trusted the bike to get me around and heaved on the bars. It felt as
through we wobbled around, but on the tv play back it doesn’t look anywhere near as bad as it felt!
The final blast to the line and then the lap was over. An emotional time for me; finally achieving my
goal after eight years, safely completing the course on my first attempt, proving all the doubters
wrong and having a truly incredible experience.

Many thanks to my mechanic for his help, and all those who support the team and the IOM TT
challenge.

Held UK are pleased to hold a long-standing 

relationship with Talan and his racing team

www.held-uk.co.uk

Held Racer Report: Talan Racing - Donington Park Report, 11/12 May 2019

Talan Racing - Donington Park Report, 11/12 May 2019

The team joined North Gloucester Road Racing for a weekend race meet at Donington.
The usual club of BMCRC are racing the following weekend, but due to an International
Para-rowing race, Andy was unable to make the meeting and so the team decided to race
together with NGRR instead.

Andy Houghton #333 - Open and Powerbikes
It was clear it was going to be a busy weekend for Andy this week. Racing with NGRR
gave the opportunity to race in 2 classes, the Open and the Powerbikes. The Only problem
with this was that there was no time to test the rebuilt R1 since the crash at Cadwell Park 2 weeks prior. As it transpired, although as far as the running gear and bodywork went all
seemed fine when Andy got on track it became clear that the powershifter and autoblip
were not working. This meant Andy had adjust his riding to the old-school style of letting off the power to shift up the box and using the clutch on the way down.

Saturday's schedule consisted of a qualifying an a race in each group but given the issues
Andy only made it out with the Powerbikes on Day 1. Making a good start and picking of
riders 1 by 1 through the short 7 lap race Andy achieved a respectable finish in the mid
pack.

Sunday and day 2; In the sunshine Andy got all 4 races in without incident, A couple of
close calls with the same ride off of the start line where rider stalled getting away right in
front of Andy was the most nervous moment of the afternoon. Other than that 4 solid
performances were put on the card with the highlights being the most outrageous block
pass into the final chicane on the last lap of the first Powerbike race and a best lap time of 1.17.1 which is half a second off Andy's PB round the international circuit and not bad
considering the extra mental effort put into those gear changes!

Power bikes:

Qualifying - 23rd from 32
Race 1 - Start 27 Finish 17
Race 2 - Start 29 Finish 20
Race 3 - Start 21 Finish 14

Open

Qualifying - DNS
Race 1 - DNS
Race 2 - Start 35 Finish 29
Race 3 - Start 32 Finish 21

Talan Skeels-Piggins #83 - 600cc
Talan was fortunate to get three dry sessions on Saturday. Practice proved the newly
adjusted gear shifter was working well and meant he could focus on racing hard. Out in the qualifying session he steadily improved and finished 25th from the 40 racers out on track.

Due to a few BSB racers entered, he was able to see close up how fast they can corner
and get back on the power. In the afternoon, there was much deliberation about which
tyres to run. There had been a couple of short, but heavy, rain showers and the rain radar
was showing more heading towards the circuit. Luckily a race in the next garage went out
a race before and claimed that there was nearly a full dry line when they started and it was definitely time to move onto dry tyres. 

A choice was made to stick with the dry tyres and it proved to be the correct choice. During the race he began carefully, although still managed to pass six riders on the first lap, and then set about tracking down and overtaking the riders in front. During the penultimate lap, when lapping one of the back markers he lost contact with the racers he had chased down and so couldn't reel them in to improve the places made up. Even so, he had managed an improvement of nineteen places from starting, a very positive start to the races.

Sunday was dry throughout, so less sky watching took place! Both races followed a similar
format of a tricky first lap to get past five or six of the slower racers, followed by periods of; tracking down - passing - tracking down - passing, those in front. The final race being his better performance and also the race in which he began to relax and find better pace. It has been a long road back from losing the finger in October, but the races over the
weekend gave Talan the confidence boost he needed to enjoy the racing again. During the
last race he managed to get down in 1.17s and repeatedly improve on the times with the
last lap recording a 1.17.7 for a personal best by 1.1seconds. A wonderful way to finish the race weekend.

Thanks goes to the Team, supporters and sponsors who enable both racers to compete
and have such an incredible freedom.

Qualifying - 25th out of 40 racers
Race 1 - Start 41 Finish 22
Race 2 - Start 37 Finish 24
Race 3 - Start 31 Finish 19 (set personal best lap of 1.17.7 beating previous best by
1.1seconds)

The Team will be back racing with NGRR in Aug/Sep when Talan competes at Castle
Combe, the circuit which first helped him to get back on two wheels.

Talan continues to make plans for his participation in the 2019 Classic TT Parade Lap over
on the Isle Of Man. Ferry crossing and accommodation have been booked, which was a
huge concern due to the late confirmation of the entry. The opportunity will be used to
promote the team and to promote the charity which Talan founded - The Bike Experience.
The charity instructs and advises disabled people how to ride a motorcycle. In fact Andy
Houghton came through TBE and then joined the race team, so it really is grass roots for
disabled motorcyclists.

Held are very proud to be associated with 

and support Talan Racing. WWW.HELD-UK.CO.UK