RCD/FPW 125GP team have successful weekend at Cadwell

Prior to arriving at Cadwell Park for Round 9 of the Sunoco British 125 GP championship both the riders and the team knew there was a need to turn the effort of this year into solid results. Cadwell Park is a real favorite with the spectators (50,000 on Monday) with dramatic changes in direction/elevation, the tight Woodland section and the Bank Holiday schedule.

From the first session on Saturday morning it was completely apparently that the expectation could become a reality. Both Callan and Tom looked totally focused prior to taking to the track. The initial laps reflected this and for the first time this year one of the RCD Motorsport /FPW Racing riders topped a timesheet. On a drying track with wets fitted Tom Carne posted a time of 1:43.620 which left him leading the session by 1.69 seconds from his nearest rival. Cal also looked completely committed and looked to be once again enjoying his riding as he finished the initial session in 10th. Saturday’s weather was certainly nothing to shout about as thunderstorms surrounded the Lincolnshire track dousing the track with hail stones immediately before the 2nd free practice session. With a completely wet track, Cal looked at home and on a mission with the reduced traction as his initial laps was the quickest of all the riders on track, unfortunately the hailstones returned to the track and halted proceedings temporarily.

When the session was restarted Tom’s efforts on track were reflected on the timing screen as he continuously put himself in the top 5. Unfortunately for Cal he was unable to take part in the restarted session due to a technical issue that could not be corrected in the time available. Tom ended the session in 5th with a lap of 1:54.369.

Buoyed by the previous days excellent progress both of the yellow and green machines looked strong in the initial stages of the 25 minute qualifier. For Cal, his session ended early though as he lost traction at Park and ended his session sliding over the grass. His bike took a bit of a battering as it travelled on its side across the track and outfield. Tom looked very quick though as he managed 12 laps to end the session 8th with a 1:39.203. Despite the crash both riders were happy with how things were going.

Tom’s Q2 was his strongest qualifying session since Thruxton in more ways than one, and he consistently posted quicker laps with each successive circuit of Cadwell’s 2.18 miles. As Tom crossed the line for his final lap of the session he was sitting 10th, but his efforts on the final lap pushed him up to 8th with a lap of 1:37.905. Cal’s Q2 session also went well for the young Manxman who put together a strong effort. Cal’s final lap of 1:38.113 saw him elevate himself to 11th on the grid, which he was certainly happy with as this was a platform to strike from in the race.

Bank Holiday Monday saw the crowds arrive early to ensure they claimed the best vantage points around the circuit. For the mechanics though they were busy behind the awning doors adjusting both bikes to try out ideas after looking at the bikes data loggers and info gained after the rider debriefings.

The 8 minute warm up session proved very useful for Tom as he improved his best time of the weekend by 1/10th to a 1:37.839 (7th quickest). Cal finished the session in 17th with a 1:40.015 with his focus obviously on the race later that afternoon.

The 125 race was the final event on the card and both riders just wanted to get out on track and do their jobs, as the lights went out both Tom and Cal held their positions as they drove up the hill to Charlie’s 1 and 2.

Over the next 12 laps a text book freight train of 125s formed all battling for 4th with Ryan Watson, Lee Jackson, Tom Carne and Bradley Ray all in contention. Tom’s Honda certainly looked to have the legs along the long Park Straight, over Jackson’s Honda but lost out on the brakes into Park corner on more than one occasion. Cal was not far behind in 10th riding a very mature and controlled race with a 7 second lead over 11th placed rider. As the luckless Rob Guiver pulled off track with a lap to go, Tom and Cal were elevated a place on the final classification.

Tom came over the finish line in a career best of 5th with Cal not far behind in 8th. Tom was obviously delighted with the result and could be seen to wheelie at every opportunity around the circuit during his slow down lap to varying degrees of success. Tom’s fastest lap of the race was a 1:35.846 was a very impressive and put a real smile on his mechanics faces. Tom is now 13th in the Championship. At parc ferme the adrenalin was still pumping and Tom was visibly shaking from his achievement.

Cal’s solid ride was an excellent end to the weekend and a springboard for Cal to move onward and upward over the next three rounds.

With two solid point scoring rounds from the last two races Cal has hopefully turned his back on the bad luck that has plagued his season. Callan is 20th in the main championship and 16th in the Cup championship (for under 16 yr riders).

Both Mark Hodgson and Adrian Mason were impressed with the efforts of their riders and this was without doubt the team’s best result of the season. Tom “rode the best race of his career” was Adrian’s reaction and Mark stated that “Cal’s progress over the weekend was his strongest and most controlled performance to date—each session saw Cal improve on his time and I am more than happy with this”.