Tim Hastings Racing #50

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NEMCRC Croft – July 27/28/29

Combining testing for the next round of the BSB Championship with racing at the NEMCRC meeting resulted in an eventful weekend of painful lows and dramatic highs as Team Twister visited the Croft circuit near Darlington.

With only two weeks to go before round 10 of the BSB series, the team was keen to make the most of the weekend and, after sitting out a wet Friday morning session, Tim took the Pete Banks Racing Honda out onto a drying track in the afternoon to reacquaint himself with the fast North Yorkshire circuit. He was soon up to speed and managed to go an amazing 5 seconds faster than during pre-season testing, but in the day's final session, just when he looked to be on for an even faster lap, it all went horribly wrong!

Going into the Jim Clark Esses on the flowing back part of the track, he grounded the bike's crash bobbin, lifted the wheels off the track, and crashed heavily - at well over 100mph!

With Tim unable to put any weight on his left leg, the next stop was the Darlington Memorial hospital for a check over. X-rays came back all clear, but the diagnosis of a dislocated knee (which helpfully "clicked" back into place during examination) didn't bode well for the rest of the weekend. With Tim under orders to rest, the team turned its attention to what remained of the bike! A lengthy and expensive list of destroyed components included both wheels, the forks and the rear sub-frame, but the team hastily transferred parts from Tim's own GP bike and - amazingly - the bike was good to go the next morning.

Tim, however, was less quickly repaired, and had to face an unenviable trip to the circuit medical centre before where he was put through a series of checks before being passed fit to ride. Tim was clearly struggling, and only completed a few practice laps, but then began to feel better during qualifying and lapped within a second of his best Friday time to put his bike 6th overall (and 2nd in his class) on the grid.

Although in a mixed field of six GP 125's, seven forgotten era machines, fourteen 1000 cc V-twins and six steel framed 600s, Tim got off to a flyer and was soon sitting fourth overall. By slipstreaming the Ducati 998s and Aprilia Mille Rs, Tim pulled away from local rider Jason Dobson (also on a GP125s) and looked to have broken the tow when, on the final corner of the last lap, Tim was baulked by the bigger bikes and Jason passed to take the win.

Consoled by having taken yet another full second off his best lap time in race one, Tim duplicated his impressive start in the day's second outing and once again held off Jason for almost the entire race, before a repeat performance on the final lap again saw the local rider steal the race at the very last corner.

Although still sore, Tim was feeling much better for Sunday's races, and his new starting technique was obviously working as he was able to beat all but two of the big twins to the first corner in race one. Unlike the day before, he then managed to put some daylight between himself and Jason Dobson, and Tim then continued to pull away and won the race by over 16 seconds.

The second race however proved to be the best of the weekend. A heavy shower drenched the circuit in the hour before the race, but with the track starting to dry the team was in two minds about tyre choice. With ten minutes to go - and with the team electing to go with wet tyres - Tim then decided to run on slicks, and it proved to be an inspired decision.

After yet another blistering start he was fourth into turn one, and though his early lap times suggested he was being cautious in the damp conditions, as a dry line started to appear, Tim got his head down and pulled away from Jason at a full 2 seconds a lap.

He then caught and passed two of the Aprilia Mille Rs ahead of him to go second overall, and by lap seven - with the circuit commentator getting the whole crowd involved in the track action - Tim took the lead from Dave Bell. He then put 13 seconds between him and second place, with a further 4 seconds back to Jason who remained 2nd in the GP class. An ecstatic Tim threw both hands in the air as he crossed the line to the applause of the entire pit wall - an incredible end to a memorable weekend! Amazingly, Tim's best lap time for the race was a full 2 seconds faster than any of the other classes on track.

The downside to the weekend was that the repair bill from Friday's hugs crash has hit the racing budget hard and it is doubtful whether the team will now be able to complete the final few events of the BSB season. Any contributions (however small) that will help the team to compete at the remaining rounds at Croft, Cadwell Park, Donington Park and Brands Hatch, will be most gratefully received.

Images courtesy of CDH Photography

Read the race reports from previous rounds.