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At the last EMRA meeting we had a very good entry with almost a full grid, so much so that there wasn't room to put the LC's with us. The first race was 8th on the programme and when it got underway Clive Wadey held the lead after the first lap but any chance he had of keeping Nigel Lawrence behind him came to an end when the race was red flagged on the second lap after Michael Burrows #262 came off on Gerards. Michael ended up in hospital with an injury to his wrist and hand that ended up needing an operation to pin it. He wasn't actually released from hospital until Friday as he was apparently the last in line for the operating theatre. As anyone who was there will recall there were numerous stoppages and it turned out a much higher percentage than usual needed the services of a surgeon. When it was restarted Clive didn't manage to get ahead of Nigel a second time but pushed him hard all the way. Rob Eley was out on his GT500 for the first time, in fact it was the first time he had ever ridden it, and to the surprise of all who know him it finished the race in one piece taking 8th overall. There were a few problems to sort out .i.e gearing, jetting, head gaskets etc. i.e the usual. One who didn't make it to the finish was Adrian Sanders who very unusually had an off at the Esses. He got away with scrapes and bruises but his leathers, boots etc were in a right state. In the chaos that followed as everyone tried to avoid him as he did a fair impression of the 60m dash off the track and a combined long/high jump over the track side barriers both Richard Digby and Mick Baillie ended up in the gravel but managed to keep going. In the second race things were thankfully a bit calmer and Nigel again just got the better of Clive but he had to work for it. Adrian Sanders didn't go out mainly due to a total lack of serviceable kit but his RD looked to have taken in bits of the gravel trap and he wouldn't have risked it anyway. Richard Digby was also missing from this one as the trip into the gravel didn't do his shoulder any good, the one he had an operation on a few weeks ago. With the GT 750 out of use it did however mean that Rob Eley could borrow the 16 tooth front sprocket off it as he had been complaining his GT500 was under geared. We reckoned that even Rob couldn't damage a sprocket and to be on the safe side I took the sprocket off the 750. Anyway after the race Richards sprocket took some getting off Robs GT, having to be prised off, and it didn't quite seem to go back on the GT750 as easily as it normally did. At Castle Combe we got the grand total of eight entries. Only seven made it on the day as Cass is still waiting to see if she needs an operation on her elbow. Richard Digby also had to cancel but his place was taken by Mike Garrett who found the GT750 quite an experience. Nigel Lawrence took a clear win in both races this being his local circuit, this was however no advantage as he'd never even been to it before never mind ridden it. All in all everyone had a good day and there wasn't anyone out there who couldn't say they had at least given one of the sound of thunder machines they were out with a hard time. Steve Bailey. |