Clubman racing at Castle Combe

The race weekend started a day late for me as I could not miss the launch of the new Ace Cafe livery Ruroc helmet on Friday evening (especially with it involving two of my sponsors). So no Friday practise for me but lots of fun and sun at Ace, meeting loads of enthusiastic bikers, hearing their stories and getting to share some of mine as well as showcasing the new helmet livery. As a result, Friday night was all about packing, driving and unpacking. There’s nothing like arriving at a circuit after a 2-hour drive to find out that most of the racers have been there getting practice time in since Tuesday. Naturally, all the good parking spots are taken so the big van gets to sleep on the grass, some 15 minutes walk from the paddock. Tents are up in no time and we hit the sack.

Saturday morning we find out we parked in a prime spot, right next to the facilities and in front of huge Triumph show lorry. At least it’s easy to find. Just hope they don’t leave early and squash us on the way out… Noise test and scrutineering getsdone and it’s time to get on track. I have been on this track before (it was raining and I had slicks) so I remember more or less where the corners go. All that combined to mean practice and qualifying were not a problem.

With 10 minutes to go before Race One the tension starts to set. Fuel, tyres, transponder, check, check, check. The bike is ready but am I? No time to think, the helmet goes on and I start to smile, it’s a great day out there, let's race! F400 race 1: Once on the starting grid I realise that my direct championship rival (and friend) Ryan, #83, is right next to me, side by side. I know I have to finish in front of him to pass him in the championship. Luckly I have the inside of turn one, which is weird since I qualified behind him. Red lights on, revs at 11k, lights off, send it! I shoot of the line like a bullet and I find myself behind a couple of 600s. Turn one sees one of the top guys enjoying some grass on the left, looks like he will manage to rejoin. In a few laps I have a 2-3 seconds gap with the guys in front but I can clearly hear someone is behind me. The last chicane is the trickiest part of the track, coming from 6th down to second and a soft barrier that I clip with my shoulder almost every lap. I see Ryan and a 600 in the grass and the barrier is now in the middle of the track, not fun. The barrier must have been moved by the crash and the racing line is now gone from about 2m to less than a metre! Somehow I manage to avoid the oil, the water, the barrier and the grass and the last few laps are a piece of cake, bike feels good and the pace is decent. 4th place of my class but I have the next race coming up in less than 10 minutes. I fly through the pits to get to the tents where Oliver, the trusty mechanic, refuels Aghostina. Quick change of preload settings and it’s time to go out again.

Newcomers 500 race: I am really tired from the previous race but there is no time to rest, first call, second call, helmet and gloves on. I have no starter motor so it’s a push start every time. Run run run, dump the clutch. The bike does not start. Well, that’s annoying. I'm breathing heavily inside the helmet and the leather suit slows my movements, the bike is not starting and I know I don't have time to rest and try again. I need to get it going now. I have now tried 4 times to start it and I know it might be flooded. A hero approaches: Do you need a push mate? The beer power is very effective and Aghostina roars alive. Shout out to the man that had at least 5 explosive bhp in his legs.

The race starts and the cool breeze is a pleasure beyond belief, I manage to make an insane pass on a big boy bike at the chicane, I was sideways and it felt awesome. I think I'm in the lead! Red flag. Another crash at the last chicane. Nuts. As I sit in the sun waiting for the marshals to clean the track I can see the temperature rising dangerously and I am forced to kill the engine. More pushing awaits. Great. We are allowed back on track and a marshal helps me start the bike, I launch again but I have little fight left in me, a kiddo passes me on a ninja and I just can't catch him, he is right there, a few metres in front, but he defends well and me and Aghostina are low on juice. I finally give up once the clutch starts slipping. The race finishes and I bring home a 2nd place that is worth a ton, I am now leading the championship of the Newcomers 500, yay.

Saturday night flies by while doing some work on the bike, new negative for the quick shifter, oil change, clutch rebuild and fresh fluid for the brakes. Having Oliver there to help me made such a difference. Can't thank him enough.

F400 race 2: I am more tranquil that usual, I know where I have to improve and the bike is in top shape. We are ready. I have a cracking start and by turn one I am right next to Pete, #48, that leads the championship, I have the inside at turn 2 and somehow I'm in front. Nice. Time to get ready for the chicane aaand he passes me. Nuts again. I enjoy the view for a few corners and the last part of the track is coming up fast, I brake hard before the last chicane and I smash through the gears, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, crap! 2nd gear doesn’t engage. My trajectory is set. The barrier is coming up fast. The last, desperate, attempt is futile. As soon as I increase the pressure on the front brake lever the rear comes up and I hit the barrier head on, face first. I find myself on the ground and I feel a bike coming close to me. Please don’t hit me (he hits me). His bike goes over my legs and hits the tank of my Aghostina. We tumble, we stand up, we dust ourselves off and we get off the track. I'm unscathed. He's unscathed. His bike is unscathed. My bike is most definitely scathed. I take refuge on the right side of the track but my bike gets recovered to the left side of the track so not only do I get to watch the race from a great spot but I can also see the result of my mistake from afar.

Once the race is finished I push the bike back while I check for damage. It isn’t as bad as I expected. Medical centre is the first stop, first time that I pass an exam without studying. Time to fix the bike. Some people say that all you need is duct tape and zip ties. They’re wrong - you need Oli as well. he manages to get the bike back in shape, after lots of "creative spannering", and we pass scrutineering. F400 race 3: The bike is ready just on time and I head out for the last race of the weekend. I am starting last, 22nd overall, since I didn't complete race 2. Great. The warm-up lap gives me confidence, the bike feels good. As I am lining up I picture in my head the fastest way through the field. Lights on, lights off, full gas. Aghostina flies through the gears and I make up lot of positions in the first lap but I get stuck behind a 600, he brakes hard and has good straight-line speed but mid corner is where I shine. I have to find a way through before I lose touch with the riders in front and in half a lap I get my chance. I shoot through the chicane, full gas on the curb, 3rd, 4th, I'm next to him and I have the inside on the next corner, coming up to the infamous last chicane. As I brake hard I see him on my left. Is he actually trying to outbrake me? On the outside of the last chicane? Not Bloody. Likely. I might have just crashed here but I'm not going to get passed like that. I hold the line and he has to concede. I'm through. Galvanised, I increase the pace and make some good passes here and there, the race finishes under yet another red flag, I finished 9th overall and 4th in my class, not too bad :)

The weekend is over and I am now third in the F400 class and first in the Newcomers 500 class. I learnt that not all corners have the same risk-reward ratio. I will consider carefully where to take more or less risk next time. Huge thanks to my girlfriend Raven for supporting me, to Oliver for being a super mechanic, to the mate that pushed me at warp speed to get the bike to run, to the marshals and medics for keeping us safe and to NG Road Racing for organising a great race event!

(In case your browser doesn't show it, the action pic is from Ritchie at RKG Photography - https://rkgphotography.co.uk - really nice bloke and a pretty handy snapper too - Ed)

(Editor's note - Francesco is hopefully going to contribute regularly, so I asked him to introduce himself properly):

I am Francesco Rossato, an Italian motorcyclist that after riding the best roads and passes of Europe decided to take on the racetracks. I have always dreamed of racing, so I jumped at the first opportunity I had. I was going to race alone but RAP racing offered me a seat in their team which I accepted in a heartbeat. After the first, eventful, year I am ready to tackle the next, having a few laps under my belt. This year I had the opportunity to be part of ADX Racing, competing in the NG road racing championship, that covers the best tracks in the UK, over 7 race weekends, for a total of 20 days on track. The class that I chose is called F400 and allows 400cc 4 stroke bikes and 250cc 2 stroke bikes, for an interesting and diverse grid. The blue haze of the 250s and the high pitch scream of the carby inline 400s are core characteristics of this class, making it one of the fans favourite. It goes without saying that a class so known and followed is as competitive as club racing can be. My goal this year is to refine my riding style and improve my race craft, I want to achieve more podiums and take part in all the races of the calendar, to have a fair shot at the championship. My sponsors are ADX Racing, Ruroc and Ace Café London.