All in all it was a good weekend for me at Croft, I can’t complain too much I got my second win of the season in the first race and a fifth place in the second.

Before we got to Croft we stopped in with Malcolm and Rhoda Rathmell, I bought myself a Sherco trials bike to play around on over the winter! Malcolm being an ex pro at this job took me out for a little while on Thursday, him and Wayne (Braybrook) decided to show me how it’s supposed to be done! I picked up on a few bits but I need to get out on it a bit more, to say I was pretty useless to start off with was an understatement! Good fun though and no damage done so I can’t complain too much.

Whilst at dinner the night before somehow we got onto the subject of the Scott Trial, which is, so I’m told a hard event that separates the men from the boys. I’m not quite sure how we got on the subject but the next minute I’m having a bet on with Rhoda that I wouldn’t manage to get to the first petrol check. Being a betting man I said I’d be up for it and bring on the challenge, over the weekend at Croft I heard a few horror stories! Well anyway, I’m now entered, I’m rider number 67 (ironically Shakey’s number) and apparently I’m now doing it! I’m not quite sure what I’ve let myself in for but we’ll have to see how it goes, it can’t be that bad, can it?!

I headed up to Croft with Storka on Thursday afternoon, saw the team and went out for dinner again with Shakey to what has become our Thursday night Chinese. Or not as in the case of Cadwell, first time all year we missed the Chinese and ended up in an Italian, which I have to say wasn’t the best. We found a little Chinese in Darlington this weekend and despite being surrounded by a few OAP’s we had some good craic and good food.

I woke up on Friday morning listening to the rain on the motorhome roof and I just thought here we go, another wet weekend. Croft’s always been a circuit I’ve enjoyed riding and although I’ve never been there on the Ducati it was fun to ride. We got a good set up on the bike early on in the weekend and things just felt good. I was happy as I went into the race on Sunday and I felt like I could get a good result. I wasn’t pushing too hard and despite not getting a great start I worked my way through the field, I was a bit cautious when it came to passing Shakey as I knew he had to win the Championship. I knew once I got past him I’d have to do well lol! The bike felt perfect and things just fell into place and I took the win. We didn’t change anything for the second race but the bike just didn’t feel as good and I couldn’t get the grip that I managed to find in race one. I could only bring her home in fifth, which I was a bit disappointed about.

‘Silly season’ as it’s called in the paddock gets earlier every year, and once again it’s contract time. Everything will be announced in the press soon and once it is something will be issued on my site as to where I’ll be riding in 2009, so keep your eyes peeled.

After Croft John Laverty and I were put onto our Bike Test by Ducati, yes many of you won’t believe neither of us have our bike license! We headed down to Silverstone not quiet knowing what to expect. It was interesting to say to least and felt odd doing everything so slowly. BSN and Bike Channel were there taking some video footage, which you can see here: - Http://www.bikesportnews.com/articles/ - it’s worth a giggle!

Things are pretty busy at the moment, I’m supposed to be heading to London on Sunday to co commentate the World Superbikes at Vallelunga with Jack and Whit and then back at Silverstone next weekend for the BSB race, it’s all go but all good fun.

Stay tuned

Cheers

Leon #2

Well that was Cadwell out the way and this year I’ve walked away with both legs fully in tact, thankfully! It doesn’t seem that long ago when I had my big crash there last year and broke my femur but things have moved on rapidly since then. A few people asked me over the weekend how I felt going back there, but to be honest I just tried to treat it like any other track and with my memory of the crash being so vague I was ok. I got two strong fourth places and I’m pretty happy with the results that I got.

The first few times over the mountain I was a bit cautious but once I got into the flow of things and started thinking about bike set up and gearing etc it totally took my mind off anything else. I’ve not had a good run of form of late but I felt back to my normal self at Cadwell and hopefully I’ll be able to end the season on a high note for myself and the Airwaves Ducati team.

I felt good throughout the weekend, it takes a little longer to find a decent race set up at Cadwell as it’s so different to any other race circuit that we go to and you need to try a number of things before the bike feels right around the entire track, each bit of the circuit is very different so in some places the bike may feel great and in others not so great. It’s all about trying to find a happy medium there.

My only niggling problem over the weekend was the tendonitis in my elbow seemed to reappear; I’ve not had it for a while but with Cadwell being so physical I think it may have triggered it again so I’m going to have to go and see my physio before Croft.

After Knockhill, Storka and I decided to go up to Fort William to have a play on the downhill mountain bike course. To say it was awesome was an understatement, although a little daunting we thought we’d give it our best shot. Dangerous and scary spring to mind but we were up for the challenge. I’ve been out doing loads of cross country cycling recently and really been getting into it. So we thought whilst we were up north we’d give it a bash. I had a few good rides down the course and felt half in control; Storka on the other hand was having a fight with the track, with the track winning! I looked round at one point to find him doing a triple summersault over the handlebars off his bike and rolling down the rest of the hill – it looked painful – rather him than me!! There are times you wish you had a video camera with you and that was one of them!

We’ve got a few weeks off before Croft now so I’m off back home to Kent, do a bit more cycling and spend some time with my trainer before coming back up north again.

Thanks to everyone for their comments in the guestbook for Cadwell, much appreciated.

Catch you later

Leon

Sadly Oulton for me was a non starter! It was a shame really that I didn’t get chance to ride in the races as I’d been running well throughout the weekend and I was feeling really happy on the bike. I was all prepared for qualifying but after only five laps I had a big, fast crash going into Island bend, the left hander before Shell Hairpin. Things are a little vague from the crash as I’m not 100% sure what happened apart from the fact that I lost the front end. I went in at a pretty fast rate of knots and got fairly bad concussion, I wasn’t well enough to continue in the session. I went out in morning warm up, and it was decided between myself, Colin (Wright) and Toby (the doctor) that it wasn’t safe for me to ride in the races.

I was obviously gutted that I couldn’t ride but I think it was definitely the right decision; I think riding injured is never a good thing and could always end up worse. I managed a few laps in warm up but it all felt very strange and I didn’t feel comfortable and didn’t want to cause myself or any other rider an injury because I wasn’t 100% fit and with it. I am gutted and I can’t say it was easy watching everyone else out on track and losing two places in the Championship, but I’ll be fighting fit again for Knockhill in a couple of weeks time and hopefully I can rectify what happened at Oulton and gain some good points there.

It was good for Sykesy to take the double win, not good for me obviously but well done to him, it just means I have to pull my finger out in Scotland and get some good results! We have a couple of weekends off between now and then, I’m trying to get over to Spain to see my Mum and then I might pop down to Brands Hatch the following weekend to see what’s happening at the World Superbikes.

There’s not much to report on really, I’m just sorry that I let all my fans and sponsors down that came to watch me at Oulton. It was the best decision but it doesn’t make me feel any better, hopefully my luck will turn for the better at the future rounds. This year I just want to do well, not just for myself but for everyone that’s helped me along the way.

Cheers

Leon #2

I guess all riders have a bad weekend at some point and for me Mallory was just that, it was a nightmare to be honest! I’ve always had mixed results at Mallory in the past, good and bad but this weekend I could only salvage eighth place after crashing out of race one at the first corner. I was struggling a bit with the big through practice and qualifying, we missed second practice as the track was half  wet and half dry and we didn’t want to risk anything silly so early in the weekend.

I could only manage to qualify in 11th position on the grid, we did find a couple of issues with the bike after qualifying, which my mechanics worked hard to rectify. By morning warm up the bike felt great and I set the fastest times I’d set all weekend, which I knew would stand me in a good position for the race if I could get a good start. I did get a good start and took the wide outside route which suites the Ducati but as riders on the inside of me pushed wide I got caught up with Billy McConnell and down I went and that was my race over. I was gutted as I really wanted to get stuck in and get a good result for the team.

Race two and the worst case scenario happens, we’re all sat on the grid ready to go and it rains, then it stops and is sunny, which put everyone in a dilemma as to what tyres to run. Shakey and I both opted for slicks as we knew the track would dry pretty quickly if it didn’t rain again. I got the most shocking start and spun up until the first turn – which I got round this time, all-be-it in 17th place! I knew I’d have my work cut out and when the track started drying I regained the grip and started fighting my way through the field, the front runners were long gone but I knew I had to try and get the best result I could. In the end that turned out to be eighth position, I’m a bit gutted but have to put it behind me now and focus on the rest of the season.

I’ve a busy few weeks before Oulton, I’m off to Italy to see Spidi, off to see Airwaves at the chewing gum factory and this weekend I’m up at Chesterfield for an open day at Clay Cross. It’s all go, I have a few weeks now before Oulton and hopefully trying to get out and do some Moto X riding next week.

Fingers crossed Oulton will bring some better results for us and we can leave Mallory as a distant memory.

Cheers

Leon #2

Well you could say I’m feeling pretty pleased at the minute! I managed to finally get my first British Superbike race win yesterday at Snetterton and a second place in race two, it was an awesome day and thanks so much to all the guys at Airwaves Ducati who helped me get there, it was very much appreciated.

Things had been going well throughout the whole weekend and I knew that we had a really good race set up. I was relying on my starts and knew that I would be able to run near the front of the pack with the times I’d been doing over the weekend. I did endless amounts of laps in practice and qualifying and we found a really good set up that obviously worked very well!

Andy Ibbott from the California Superbike School (http://www.superbikeschool.co.uk/) was over helping me on Friday and he gave me some really useful riding techniques and I’m really grateful for all the help they have given me over the years and glad it paid off for everyone this weekend.

Normally I can get out of the garage after a race without much fuss as the majority of people want to see Shakey, Snetterton, however was definitely an exception and I think I signed autographs most of the time I wasn’t on my bike. It’s good to know I’ve a strong following and that people are supporting me. It’s been a long journey to get the win but well worth the wait and I just hope now it won’t be the last and that I might be able to get the better of Shakey on a couple more occasions this year – it would be nice! His second race result was awesome and he did an amazing job to come through the entire field like he did, fair play to him.

I’m back to second in the Championship now and I just need to continue to be consistent for the rest of the season and go for some more wins – I could get used to it lol! It seems strange that we are not even half way yet and that we still have seven races in the series left, anything can happen and I’m just aiming to keep my head down and carry on what I’m doing.

The Airwaves Ducati team are brilliant and they have helped me every step of the way, thanks to Colin, Darrell and all the guys that work with me I’m really pleased for everyone and looking forward to the rest of the season.

I’m up at the Moto-GP at Donington this weekend to try and have a catch up with Casey, then we have a Charity Golf day on the Thursday before Mallory and then back racing again at Mallory. I’m going to try and get out on the MX bike in the mean time and have a blast round on that.

Thanks for all the messages on my guestbook from yesterday, much appreciated.

Cheers

Leon #2

Hi all

Well it was all a bit of a strange weekend really, with all the rule changes last week I didn’t even know if I would have been riding at Donington. As it turns out we got to ride and I got a fifth and fourth in the two races, I’m still third in the Championship so I can’t complain too much.

There was a lot in the press last week about the weight situation and to be honest I tried to stay out of it and let the boss (Colin) sort it all out. I just want to ride my bike and fortunately that’s what we got to do, the weather over the weekend at Donington was awful though. Saturday was dry but cold, it rained most of Sunday and therefore we had a wet qualifying session and the two races on Monday were very wind swept! Made it all good fun and a bit more of a challenge. There were a lot of crashes in the wet on Sunday as when it rains there it becomes like and ice rink – all good fun and luckily I managed to keep the Airwaves Ducati upright!

It’s been a manic month and a bit not stop, I’m quite looking forward to a couple of weeks off before Snetterton. I did manage to get out on the motocross bike the other week, Storka and I were invited up to Foxhills, which was awesome. A bit out of my league when it comes to motocross riding but it was worth having a shot at and I’m sure it made for entertaining viewing for anyone that might have been watching.

I’ve just bought myself a cross country mountain bike too which has been great fun, I’ve got a few scars on my shins from my off road excursions but I’m beginning to get the hang of it now – just about! I went out with a few riders that have been doing it for years and I have to say it nearly killed me off, I was aching for days afterwards!

Back to Donington, we had to run the extra weight, which you could feel on the bike and it was a little strange at first but hopefully by Snetterton I’ll understand it a little more. It didn’t effect Shakey and once again he was on form, taking the double again. He’s riding brilliantly, I did try to make a pass on him in race two and I probably looked totally out of control to him as he got me straight back. All good fun though, he’s teaching me a lot and also how to ride a Ducati well, he’s a great team-mate to have and he’s showing me the way forward.

The Airwaves team once again bent over backwards to help me and worked so hard to ensure that I got the best out of the bike. I enjoyed the races but I really do want to get that first win, I don’t want to push myself too much and I know I’m not far off so fingers crossed I’ll hit the top step before long! Thanks again to the entire Airwaves squad and I hope to carry on with the consistency that I have shown so far this season.

I’m off to the World Motocross this weekend at Mallory Park and I’m sure they will show me how you are really supposed to ride one of them beasts. I’m looking forward to it and I’ll try not to copy them when I next get out on my motocross bike, as I think if I did I might have my wrists slapped by Colin!

Hope to see you all at Snetterton and hopefully the weather will be a bit kinder to us there.

Cheers

Leon #2

It was another mixed weekend at Brands Hatch but I have managed to come away still lying in third position in the Championship so I can’t complain. I got a fifth and third in the two races and once again it was another odd weekend but the racing was very good. The weather was really hot and we struggled a little bit with the tyres in the heat to find a good set up. With it only being a short weekend we only had the Saturday to really find an ideal race set up for the bike and only two 30 minute session.

The contrast in weather from the first round was totally different; it was like going from the Antarctic to the Caribbean. I’ve never seen so much snow as what I did at the opening round, it’s not snowed like that in the UK for years and it all arrived at once. Therefore that was cancelled and rescheduled. We arrived on the Thursday in the baking hot sunshine and the weather stayed just as good for the whole weekend. We were only out on the track on the Saturday and then the two 20-lap races on the Sunday.

We held our qualifying position from the first round so I ended up starting in fifth position after Karl Harris opted not to ride due to injury, I wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully he’ll be back for Donington.

I got a reasonable start in both races and was eager to get some good results as Brands is a circuit I like a lot. The weather was perfect, very different to the first round when it was snowing there! The races were pretty tough but I just want to be consistent this season and finish all the races within the top five and do a good job for the Airwaves Ducati team. I’m pleased with the way I rode and I’m still learning everything but really enjoying it and it’s a good challenge for me.

Roll on Donington.

Cheers

Leon #2

It’s been a long time coming, but I managed it this weekend at Oulton Park, a double podium, my first podium since round two at Thruxton last year and my first double podium since the first round at Brands Hatch last season. I’m so pleased to have got the results that I did at the weekend and thanks must go to the entire Airwaves Ducati team for giving me the opportunity and working so hard, I’m really grateful to them.

Not only did I get two third places I’m now sitting in second places in the Championship behind my team-mate, Shakey. I must congratulate Shakey on his double win, he did a mega job and almost made it look very easy! Good work mate, he’s been waiting for a double podium since 2003 – so he definitely deserved it!

I have to say at the start of the weekend I didn’t think I’d be on the podium in both races. Oulton has never been the best of tracks for me and riding the old Ducati round there was certainly interesting in first practice and it took a lot of getting used to. Oulton is a real riders circuit and I think by the end of the weekend I nearly had it sussed!

Frankie my chief mechanic did an awesome job and I’m really grateful to all the boys for the effort that they put in over the weekend and hope they were happy enough with the result. Obviously it would be nice to win but I can’t jump ahead of the gun at the minute and I have to almost keep reminding myself that, technically I’ve not ridden since August because of my leg and struggled at the start of the season with my shoulder.

Things are certainly moving in the right direction and if I can carry on being consistent then I’ll be happy. I’m still learning everything, it’s like being back at school and the Ducati is a fantastic bike but you have to have a certain riding style. I’m getting used to that now and adjusting well, I think I just need to keep stalking Shakey as he is super smooth and pick up some pointers from him.

Not only have I just left Oulton Park, after spending a night up at Brogie’s house (Steve Brogan) but I’m already re-packing to head for Brands tomorrow (Thursday). No rest for the wicked as they say. I must say a thank you to all the guys at Fox clothing for sorting Storka and I out a box of stuff – good work – Cheers!

Back to Brands, where I have already qualified! We line up how we qualified back in April when it was called off due to snow. Hopefully I’ll be able to run up at the front and get some more good points.

Hope to see you all there!

Cheers

Leon #2
 

It has been a great weekend for me and I am really pleased to be leaving here second in the championship. It is never particularly nice to achieve results in the manner that I did today but points are points and I am pleased that I head to Brands Hatch in this position. For the Airwaves Ducati team to come away from Oulton Park first and second in the championship is great; hopefully I can continue to perform like this at my home circuit next weekend.

Cheers

Shafter #2