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1999 Season Review | |
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SP Racing continued their most successful season in the team's history after a double win for Stu at Cadwell Park in June (see previous). Further great results followed with another double win for Stu backed up by a double 3rd placing for brother Phil at the full circuit at Cadwell soon after. With these successes the team decided to turn their attentions from the New Era championship to the Derby Phoenix club championship in an attempt to claim a championship win despite having missed the first round and suffering a points deficit. After a five week break the team contested the fourth round at Darley Moor in August and Stu grabbed his fifth win in succession and backed it up with a 3rd in the wet second race. Darley Moor also saw the team's first DNF with Phil crashing out whilst lying 2nd in the wet race. | |
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Undeterred, the team visited Snetterton to battle it out with the best national Formula 400cc riders in the country again for a couple of one-off rides to upset the form book. Despite starting from the very rear of the grid in 28th and 29th position both riders scorched through the field with Stu claiming an impressive 7th position. The team's objective was fulfilled when in race two both Stu and Phil claimed top ten positions with Stu in 6th and Phil in 10th. The team then turned their attention to preparing for the final two day meeting to decide the Derby Phoenix championship at the Ty -Croes circuit on the Isle of Anglesey. | |
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Saturday's races had seen mixed fortunes as in the first race, with both riders riding the circuit for the first time, saw Stu chase down run away leader Pete Whiteside to trail him by only 0.6 seconds to the flag to grab 2nd place and healthy championship points. Phil struggling with machine set-up battled to 7th place and conspired to change his machines suspension settings to compensate in the second race. Race two saw Stu grab the hole-shot into turn one before being headed by Whiteside for two laps. Phil settled in to trail the leaders and pursue with vigour. On lap three, whilst applying great pressure to leader Whiteside at the fast, off camber Abbott's turn, Stu lost the front. "I held the bike up on my knee and foot until I ran out of tarmac. It wore straight through my boot" said an unhurt Stu. "I was desperate to win as the weather looked so changeable. But that's racing". Phil, picking up the baton for the team, chased hard and picked off 4th in a drag to the flag with Sunday's eventual race 2 winner, Mark Jordan. "I made a real effort to catch Mark as I knew if I could pass him I would be running some good lap times. And my suspension settings were a step in the right direction". | |
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Sunday's weather turned out of favour for the riders with persistent heavy rain early morning followed by more persistent rain throughout the day. After a season long battle with Tom Warner team rider Stu, having clawed back the 20 point deficit after missing the first round at Mallory Park, lined up for the final race of the championship with just one point to separate the two adversaries. Stu and Phil, faced with the daunting prospect of racing on dry intermediate tyres on the sodden Anglesey circuit, remained optimistic despite the obvious disadvantage. Rivals Warner and Whiteside prepared for the race on full wet weather tyres. "If I can stay on I've got a good chance as the track is desperately slippery and anything can happen" said a realistic Stu. Having slithered to an impressive 5th place in the rain soaked first race and bagging more championship points despite losing grip front and rear several times Stu hoped for a change in the weather to even things up. The rain eased but the track remained wet. Knowing whoever lead between Warner and Stu over the finish line would claim the championship the scene was set. As the lights changed the pack surged and Stu, Phil and the leaders poured four abreast into turn one. Settling into 3rd Stu kept to his game plan to score points yet pushed grip to the limit sliding his Kawasaki around the tight , treacherous circuit. Warner leading the field was pushed all the way by Jordan but failed to crack under the pressure and finished in 2nd place ahead of Stu to claim the championship by a mere five points. A naturally disappointed Stu said "Had the weather been dry I know the championship would have been mine . We definitely have to have wet tyres next year. We won't be caught out like that again. But 2nd is OK. Five wins this year is even better!" | |
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Having put the disappointment of missing out on the Derby Phoenix club championship by a narrow five points behind them, the team decided a late entry into the final round of the previously uncontested Pegasus club championship at Cadwell's club circuit would be just the tonic to lift the teams spirits as the winter break approached . Arch rival Tom Warner again posed his normal threat on proceedings but undeterred Stu and Phil were determined to end the season with a bang. Starting from the back row of the grid due to the late entry Stu and Phil made their customary flying starts and tipped into the first corner way up the order. Phil scuppered by a crashing rival, took evasive action and lost touch as the field separated into two packs. Stu, clearly through, set about chasing down the leaders and using superior corner speed and tactical slip-streaming gained three places and a further three on the brakes, Placing him in 2nd first time into Park corner in close attendance with the escaping Tom Warner. After stalking his rival for a lap as tyres warmed to optimum temperature, Stu pounced for the lead on the brakes again at Park corner. Setting the fastest lap of the race again in the process, he opened up a five second lead and maintained it to the flag to grab his sixth win of the year and fifth at Cadwell. "It feels great to win again, and show Warner who's boss!" said an elated Stu. Phil, after his first corner antics, clawed back through the field to chase the leading pack and finish a creditable 5th position. | |
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With an exciting 1999 season to reflect on the team are, as always, preparing for next season with further progress to the continued machine development taking place ."After the successes of this year we are extremely excited about the possibilities for 2000" said a determined Phil. "This certainly helps keep the motivation over the winter break". The team would like to show their appreciation to their sponsors and supporters who have made a huge difference to the team's fortunes this season. A very special thank you also to Keith and Sandra Moores for their fantastic support with the on-going development work. | |
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Many Thanks again to Everyone |
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