NEWS 8/01/07

Hi everyone, hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year.  The 1098 Ducati arrived just before Christmas, and it's now at WLRacing where Billy is building it to Superstock specifications.    With some specialist treatment my shoulder injury is now almost recovered after it had threatened to end my racing career.  I'm off to Jerez at the end of the month for a few days testing, can't wait to ride the bike, and I'm really looking forward to the start of the season.  Will update you all on the testing soon.

We're always on the look out for new and interesting sponsors to join us, so if you would like your Company promoted, advertised and marketed, and you would like to join us at the race meetings for hospitality and to see what goes on, then please contact me on 07951 686494.  Thanks.

NEWS 6/02/07

We went to Jerez last week for 3 days of testing, my Dad, me and my cousin Michael Jackson who's doing Superstock Cup this season.  What a waste of time, I did 6 laps then it rained, just like Mondello!  Got back to Bradford to sunshine, I'd have got more time on track doing a track day at Oulton, so that's the next plan.  The 6 laps did give me time to decide that the 1098 Ducati is good, but not enough time to get up to speed.  Will update you all after I've tested the bike again.

NEWS 21/02/07

Hi all, spent the afternoon at Mallory Park, at least the weather stayed dry, but it got a bit cold towards the end of the afternoon.  I wasn't chasing lap times, I was just there to get some track time on the bike after Jerez was such a no-go.  We got quite a few laps in and we did some work and alterations on the bike, but it still needs a bit more work doing on it and we need some more testing time, so I'll be at Mallory again next week, all being well.  I do like the 1098 Ducati and when we've got it properly sorted I think it'll be a good bike.  Will update you all again soon.

Check out the first pictures of the 1098 Ducati in action in the Gallery.

NEWS 7/03/07

I went to Mallory this afternoon, couldn't go last week but with the bad weather I wasn't too disappointed.  The weather was nice today, and the bike was going OK, although it only has standard suspension.  We're still waiting for the race suspension to be available.  During the second session we made some adjustments to the bike and when I went out again, after a couple of laps the bike was flying and I felt good.  I thought to myself "this is going to be a good lap!"  Wrong ...... coming out of the bus stop I got carried away with the throttle and gave it a big handful a bit too soon ......... big high side!!  I landed on my a**e, which is now rather sore, and the bike's fairing looks rather battered, but we're still both around to tell the tale.

NEWS 27/03/07

Hi all, just a quick update.  I gave the Snetterton BSB tests a miss and went to Oulton Park on the Friday and Brands on Monday.  We had two lovely sunny days and I got quite a few laps in at each circuit.  We now have the race suspension which is better, and now there's only a few little things to sort out and then we'll be ready to race at Easter, which I'm now looking forward to.  See you all there.

BRANDS HATCH 9/04/07

Brands Hatch ......... not sure what word to use to describe it, as so many things went wrong.  I was down the order in practice, then towards the end of first qualifying something went wrong with the gear box.  The bike was taken to the engine builder's in Northampton where Billy and Ginge worked all night to rebuild it, then got back to Brands at 7.45am on Sunday.  I can't thank them enough.  It doesn't end there, in second qualifying we had some minor electrical problems and the rear shock wasn't working properly.  Because of these problems I qualified on time but in 45th.  As the grid was for 40 riders I didn't get to race.  I was so gutted.

Now we've decided to miss Thruxton and Silverstone so Billy can work on the bike to get it developed properly, as it's more or less standard, then I'll do some testing, and be back to race it at Oulton Park.

NEWS 1/05/07

Hi folks, we've been doing some work on the bike and I've tested at Oulton, Donington and then again last Friday at Oulton.  By the end of the day we'd made some progress and the bike was handling better.  So, see you all at Oulton over the May Bank Holiday, where anyone is welcome to come and say "hello".

OULTON PARK 7/05/07

Well, after doing some testing and getting the bike a bit more sorted I decided to go racing at Oulton.  We changed the rear suspension spring to a much stiffer one and lowered the front ride height.  Off I went out in Saturday morning practice and I couldn't believe how transformed the bike was, it was handling so well.  I'd struggled at Brands and we'd changed the springs for testing which were better, but now with a stiffer one it was a different bike.  I managed to take a half second off my lap time in first qualifying and I was 17th on the grid.  With second qualifying on Sunday being wet I only did a couple of laps and there were no improved lap times.  This time I also had Melissa as my brolly girl.  

Race day weather was a bit mixed with the race being started in sunny weather.  I made a reasonable start but dropped back a bit, and I pulled in after about 5 laps with braking problems, then the race was stopped when it rained.  I went out in the restart from the back of the grid.  I unfortunately made a jump start, but I'd made up 8 places by lap 4.  As it was only an 8 lap race I stayed out until I had to do the ride through, then I retired.  Ah well, here's hoping things go better next time out.

NEWS 23/06/07

Hi there, I thought I ought to let you all know that I have retired from racing for the moment, due to little sponsorship, so I've had to sell the Ducati as I can no longer afford to run it.

In the meantime I've bought a Suzuki GSX-R K5 to do some track days on, to keep my hand in and because I like riding motorbikes.  I bought the Suzuki last Tuesday, changed the fairing to one we had in the shop, then did a track day at Oulton on Wednesday.  It's a nice bike and faster than I expected it to be. There'll be a few pictures on here from any track days.

Now I would like to say thank you to my financial and product sponsors for their valuable help (see sponsors page), and a big thank you goes to Billy Langton for all the work he did on the Ducati and all his help at test days and the races, I couldn't have done anything without him.

A special thank you goes to my Dad and Gill, and all my family who have always helped and stood by me, and to Ginge, Joan and Stu for all their help and support through the good and bad times.  Thanks to all the officials, marshals and medical staff who make motorcycle racing possible, and to the fans.  That's about all I can say at the moment, except that if funds become available I may do one or two Superstock races towards the end of the season.

NEWS 7/07/07

I've now done a couple of track days at Oulton Park on the Suzuki K5, I like the bike, and yesterday I was helping my friend Martin with a bit of tuition because he's doing Superstock Cup next weekend.  I also rode his Suzuki to see what alterations he might need to make.  I had a good fun day out, until someone took me out in the last session, I'm OK but the bike's a bit battered, it'll be sorted though.  Some pics are in the Gallery.

NEWS 26/09/07

At last, a little bit of news for you all.  I sold the K5 Suzuki and bought a crashed 07 Yamaha R1, which Ginge has been helping me rebuild.  I took it to Donington yesterday for a track day, which unfortunately got cut short by rain and I missed a couple of sessions.  But I did have enough time to find out that it's really good and handles well.  My cousin, Michael Jackson, also rode it, and my Dad was there on his Ducati.  I was a bit rusty as I hadn't ridden for a couple of months, but I enjoyed myself.  The bike still needs a few little things doing on it and the fairing needs painting.  There's a few pics of us all in the Gallery, taken by Joan as usual.

NEWS 3/11/07

Hi all.  At the last minute I decided to do a track day at Oulton Park on Wednesday.  My cousin, Michael (Jacko) Jackson came with me and we shared my R1.  Joan came along and took some pictures (see Gallery) and we all had a nice day and some fun.  Here's to the next track day, no pressure and no stress, just lots of fun.

To All

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

A HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2008

From Michael