Features

Manxman Conor Cummins BW: So how did the ride come about? CC: Paul Phillips – the TT and motorsport development manager – made it happen. He knew how keen I was to race a classic bike and when Tony Dunnell asked him whether he knew of anyone who would be right for racing his bikes,…

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From the start of the programme opener it was Gary Hocking (MV), A Gandossi (MZ), Carlo Ubbiali (MV), and Tom Phillis (Honda), who circulated the Dundrod circuit as one. Phillis was the first to break, having slipped off at the Hairpin after his filler cap came open drenching him, and the Honda, in fuel. He…

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HB Suzuki RG500/XR45 Tony Salt has been around racing a long time. For many, especially the riders who enjoyed his friendly ‘can do’ approach to tyre support, he is best remembered for the predominately Michelin tyre service he offered in race paddocks large and small. He was also a handy rider in his time too…

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Taking full advantage of the presence of the FIM timekeepers, over in the US for the Grand Prix, Mike eventually persuaded MV, which was initially reluctant to risk the machine, to go for the six-year-old record, which was held by Bob McIntyre and Gilera. On Sunday morning, before the second day’s Grand Prix classes took…

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The famous pair’s streamlined outfit Our delve in to the archive this month shows the futuristic streamliner that the duo wheeled out for the first time, pictured left, in practice at Spa Francorchamps during their title winning year. However, come the race they fielded the more conventional Norton Watsonian and after a battle royal with…

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Yamaha XS2 racer In the autumn of 2002 Richard Cheetham, having celebrated victory in the CRMC’s Honda UK sponsored 350cc twins Championship, on his Honda, was looking round for a new challenge. The Sheffield-based electrical engineer had enjoyed several years of successful production and club racing and had prepared his K4 himself, but now he…

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With a whopping price tag of £526-12s the Yamaha far exceeded most other race machinery on offer and was way ahead of all other 250s on price. Bultaco was still riding on the crest of a wave in the 250 class; it scooped a 1-2-3 in the previous year’s Ulster Grand Prix, and the price…

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Croz woos the crowds at Stafford Suzuki wanted me to break the bike… I’d been called in to race the Trans-Atlantic races. The first round was at Brands Hatch and I was out riding on the factory’s 653cc machine. Things didn’t kick off all that well as before long I found myself rolling at speed…

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Start of the Formula 2 race at the 1984 TT The 1984 road race season promised so much, but as is so often the case in this cruel sport of ours delivered so little. For small budget privateers the TT Formula 1, 2 and 3 offered an affordable opportunity to go racing at a high…

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Stunning Norton International As many readers will know, the International Norton was the forefather of Britain’s longest serving and most successful racing motorcycle – the Manx Norton. First appearing in 1929, the Arthur Carroll and Joe Craig designed single overhead camshaft International engine was much more than a development of the earlier Walter Moore designed…

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