The waiting is over, the winter tests in Spain are done, rebuilds finished ? well maybe!! And new machines purchased with the promise of that championship glory.
That’s the theory anyway as some bikes will still have furious work being done before the their first race!
NG Racing’s calendar for 2023 will see us on a 7 round series. And it all starts here at the short circuit of Brands Hatch more commonly known as the Indy Circuit after the 1978 running of the only race for the visiting championship.
A fast and furious track with hardly a straight to shout about , only one left hand corner , Graham Hill bend and cambers everywhere a challenge to any rider, Josh Day’s NG’ lap record of 47.29 ( 2017 ZX10 Kawasaki ) still stands. last time BSB used the Indy Brad Ray lapped at 45.20 in 2017.
A full complement of classes will see a packed programme of racing over the 2 days ranging from the Junior SuperSports to the Phoenix Motorcycles Open class with the ACU 250 AND 125 National Championship for the former Grand Prix 2 strokes and more of the 250 and 350 2 strokes from GP Originals to add to the mix.
Last years champions will be returning in the form of Max Symonds ( open and powerbike ) having gone for an upgrade over the winter moving from BMW 1000RR to an R1 YAMAHA, after winter testing the J & C SYMONDS team is looking like the ones to beat, Bob Collins at his local track may have a say in that always on the pace, but may have endurance racing commitments to keep him from a full season.
Another BMW to R1 trade is Dan Boucher should see him right on the pace and runner up in 2022 Dave Mackay on the True Hero’s Racing Suzuki are going to be in the mix.
600’s returning champion George Edward on the Dan Cooper Motorsport Yamaha R6, a new bike for this year and looking to make it 3 championships in 3 years there will a host of riders in this popular class but one to challenge could be Ricky Elder moving from open class with an R6 YAMAHA , youth vs experience.
Don’t dismiss the lower class formulas either the Ducati Desmo Due for the little 600 and 620 machines always delivers and the Suzuki Bandit Challenge has some of the most exciting racing from a bike never designed to see a race track !
Formula Pro stock Racing will be on the grid with the classic superbikes and big twin classes and the packed grids for the Mini Twins should keep the track busy.
Also it’s great to welcome back our sponsors from last year to support the racing programme again hopefully you will do the same and use their services when needed.
The new boys coming on board this year are Completely Motorcycles who are our headline sponsors for the club with experience of the racing world at BSB level the Cheltenham based company are a great addition to NG Racing, welcome to our paddock.
Already we are thinking about round 2 on the 22nd & 23rd of April and our first of 2 visits to Castle Combe which can only mean King of Combe time but this time being held over the 2 meeting so 6 races to determine who will be crowned this year.
The rumour mill is starting to buzz a bit with various riders eyeing up the prize fund a few of them from other paddocks ??
But more will follow from this round to see where our potential champions are going to come from ?
One more random fact the fastest lap of the Indy Circuit was Scott Mansell in 2004,driving a Benetton B197 F1 car with a lap of 38.032 !!!
Enjoy your day with us at NG Racing.
Preview by Martin Bennett - race commentator
Pictures by : Hairy Beast Pix – hairybeastpix@hotmail.com