Finally David gets his reward at Brands Hatch

Well the season is now over for the ‘Double ‘M’ racing’ team, and what an end it was!

We were at Brands Hatch for the final round of the British Supersport championship. Again it was very challenging for us to even make this final round as we had suffered the mechanical failure at the previous race. It had become a race against time to have an engine prepared and put in the Double ‘M’ Yamaha ready to go to Brands! It really was thanks to the team and our sponsors dedication that everything could be put into place.

Going into this race weekend I hadn’t finished the previous 3 races due to mechanical failures so my main aim was to collect some points and secure my 2nd place in the British Supersport Cup.

The weekend got off to a terrible start. After the first free practice, I was 30th overall and 10th in the cup! Not the start I was hoping for… The following day we had another free practice and another chance. I had thought a lot about my riding and also the bike set-up and had made some bold changes to the bike for this. Thankfully the changes were positive and I jumped up to 18th and 2nd in the Cup!

Into qualifying and I managed to go one better to qualify 1st in the Cup.

There was three races over the weekend in which I managed 1st, 1st and 2nd respectively, cementing my 2nd place in the Fuchs/Silcolene British Supersport Cup.

We now look forward to the 2012 season with Double ‘M’ Racing where we will line up on the full British Supersport grid!

I would like to say a massive thank you to all my supporters,sponsors and team members. Although our season has not been easy, it has been very successful!
A big thanks to Mark and Libby @ Double ‘M’ Racing, Brenda Mitchell @ Motorcycle Law Scotland, Rod Mitchell @ Horsetiger Marketing & Media, Charlie Johnston, Gary Clark, EBC Brakes, KBC Helmets, Daytona boots, Alan Bennie, Peter Lavin and the rest of the team!

9th Rd of BSB at Silverstone awaits

It’s already the penultimate round of the British Supersport championship this weekend at Silverstone! It seems only a few weeks since our first race of the year at Oulton park!

I’m going into this round with confidence after a really good run at Donington Park BSB two weeks ago. Everything went well there in terms of my riding and form. Unfortunately, the team suffered an engine failure in the final race causing a lot of damage to the bike. As this is the ‘supersport’ class, the engines are highly tuned and under a lot of stress so it is not uncommon for one to fail. However, the mechanics have worked hard on the run up to this weekend’s event to fit the new engine and prep the bike accordingly, including ‘dyno runs’.

So, Silverstone is a track I enjoy but I know that this weekend will be challenging as I have to find a good set-up on the R6 in limited time, having never previously been here on the 600. The 3+mile circuit will not be easy to master and with the relentlessly fast pace of the Supersport class, you can’t give an inch!

I’d like to say a big thanks to everyone helping us to complete this season including Double ‘M’ Racing, Motorcycle Law Scotland, Horsetiger, EBC Brakes, Alan Bennie, Peter Lavin, Gary Clark, Daytona boots and KBC Helmets.

BSB Round 8 – Brands Hatch August

Round 8 of the BSB British Supersport Championship was at Brands Hatch and on the Grand Prix circuit.

Like many of the circuits this year, this was the first time here for me in over a year so the early sessions of the weekend were used to get familiar with the circuit on the Supersport bike and to set everything up to suit me.

The weekend started slow for me and in practice I wasn’t able to achieve the positions that I had hoped. Brands Hatch usually has a few ‘circuit experts’ and the pace was very quick right from the off! Fortunately, it was a dry weekend and I continued to push on and improve my lap times. I finished up free practice in 27th and 7th in the ‘Supersport Cup’… Of course I was disappointed and I knew I had time to find. The team worked well throughout the day to find a new setting to try for qualifying. I had the 30 minute session to push myself and move up the time sheets. The session went well and I was able to knock nearly 2 seconds off my lap time to secure 22nd and 4th in the ‘Cup’ but more importantly I was in touch with the leaders!
As usual, the Supersport Sprint race was on Saturday also. Of course the race was very close and difficult as expected… This race was 10 laps so I was able to make the soft tyre option last the duration. I think the race was average for me, I felt I could have pushed harder having slipped back one place to 23rd and 5th in the Cup for the chequered flag.

  Race two, the feature race, has been dubbed ‘The race of the decade’ with the front guys having an awesome battle for the win! The race was stopped several times due some big crashes. The race got underway for 14 laps on the 3rd attempt. I made a good start and was determined to improve on my race one result. I had a poor feeling from the rear tyre and I think it was because it had gone through more heat cycles than it should have with the race stoppages. Nevertheless, I tried very hard to push on. I was 3rd in the ‘Cup’ until the very last lap when I was passed by another cupper! I was pretty gutted to be honest but I felt I had done all I could with the tyre I had. I finished the race in 14th which is in the main Championship points. I was 4th in the Supersport ‘Cup’. I have maintained 2nd in the Supersport ‘Cup’ again but I must find more pace in order to challenge for the wins again.

As ever I am very grateful to all my sponsers and supporters. Thanks to Mark and Libby (Double ‘M’ Racing), Motorcycle Law Scotland, Charlie Johnston, Horsetiger and my mechanics Alan, Peter and Jimmy.  Thanks to Ian at bikesportpics for these photos

The next race is Round 9 at Cadwell Park 27th-29th Aug. See you there!

BSB – Round 8 at Brands Hatch with a newly tuned engine

The long journey from Edinburgh to Brands Hatch in Kent has begun…

This weekend’s racing is on the Brands Hatch ‘GP’ circuit rather than the shorter ‘Indy’ circuit.

Obviously, it is very difficult for us to get any testing at this circuit before the event with it being such a long journey! This for me is not ideal as I’ve never ridden a Supersport bike here which leaves us very little time to achieve a good bike set up before the first race on Saturday evening… creating yet more challenges for the team. This aside, I am desperate to get out there and begin lapping the 2.6 mile circuit as it is up there as one of my favourite circuits.

Let’s hope for some nice August weather and exciting racing!

The Double ‘M’ Racing R6 looks great, so watch out for coverage on ‘British Eurosport’ on Sunday and also snapshots at www.davidpatonracing.co.uk. Thanks to all my sponsors as always especially Motorcycle Law Scotland, Charlie Johnston, Horsetiger , EBC Brakes UK and my mechanics.

Rain cancels the racing at BSB Rd 7 at Oulton Park – July 2011

I think  most of the racers at this weekend’s Oulton Park BSB will be very disappointed. The weather forecast was bad but I don’t think anyone expected the rain to be so bad that the event would have to be cancelled! 

We had our new engine and paintwork for this meeting which made the bike look great and go better too. Unfortunately, I didnt get to use it to its full potential this weekend.

We did however complete our sprint race on Saturday evening… in the dry. I had qualified 23rd and 2nd in the Supersport Cup. With this I was happy but in the race I got frustrated and was unable to settle into the race and make much progress. I finished 22nd and had slipped back to fourth in the Cup but not far back. I have maintained 2nd in the Cup Championship.

There is now a small break until the next round at Brands Hatch in three weeks time. My plan until then is to keep on top of my physical fitness but also to stay focused on upping my pace at the next outing.

As ever I am very gratefull to all my supporters. I would esspecially like to say thanks to Mark and Libby (Double ‘M’ Racing) for providing me with the new engine for this weekend. Thank you also to Motorcycle Law Scotland, Charlie Johnston, Horsetiger and my mechanics Alan, Peter and Jimmy.  Thanks to Ian at bikesportpics for these photos

BSB Rd 6 from Snetterton – July 2011

Snetterton was the first weekend we have had so far without any rain. It was perfect conditions. The weekend got off to a worrying start when after 4 laps of free practice 1, the bike just stopped… I had to sit the remainder of the 30 minute session out and watch the competition getting faster and faster… very frustrating. However, when we got the bike back it was a quick fix for my techs, Alan and Peter. It was an electrical fault. 2nd free practice went without a hitch and I was able to get some valuable testing on the all new Snetterton 300 circuit. I am told the circuit is called this as it is 2.99 miles long.

I struggled a little in qualifying to get a lap clear of any traffic and in the end settled for 24th which was 4th in Supersport cup.

Race 1 and I got off to a great start. I was running 2nd in the cup for a large part of the 10 lap sprint race. I was caught up by 3 other cuppers and we had a great fight for the podium positions. Unfortunately I could only manage 4th but still happy with the points.

Race two was better. Another good start and I was running 3rd. This race was the 15 lap feature race. Although I was pushing hard to keep the podium spot, I was passed on lap 9. The leaders began to drop me but I did not give up. I clawed back during the closing laps and made a pass on the last lap for third place! On the podium and happy. It was a hard race in the heat.

I am now looking forward to using my new engine at the next BSB round at Oulton Park, round 7.

I would like to say a massive thanks to my team for their efforts in getting the bike ready for Snetterton. Also a big thanks to my sponsors, Double ‘M’ racing, Motorcycle Law Scotland, Charlie Johnston, Horsetiger and Drummond motor co.

Heading to Snetterton for Rd 6 of the Fuchs/Silcolene British Supersport Championship

I’ve had another busy week on the run up to round 6 of the Fuchs/Silcolene British Supersport Championship.

After a huge crash at the previous round, the bike had taken a knock and in order to return it to it’s former glory, a lot of work was required. I have been juggling my full time job with the sourcing of parts, collecting/delivering and fixing;  it feels like I have not stopped!

I have to hand it to ‘my old man’… Never off the phone, whether it be arranging logistics, ordering fuel/tyres etc,  so much to be done as a privateer team but the team seem committed and determined to succeed and for that I am very grateful.

Of course it is all very necessary… and now we are ready.

I had planned to fit my new improved engine this week but bad luck has struck again… one of the mechanics had his foot run over by a taxi, so we were unable to have the engine fitted! What are the odds!? I will persist with my current engine and push hard to rack up the points.

Snetterton has a new layout which looks very interesting and I’m really looking forward to getting the first practice under way. This season we have been unlucky to have had a lot of rain and wet sessions but this weekends forecast looks good so we should be able to concentrate on some good fast racing!

Lady luck didn’t shine at BSB round at Knockhill

Well I can definitely say that ‘lady luck’ was not on my side over the weekend at Knockhill although things did get off to a good start!

Our two sessions on Friday were free practice as usual. These were very wet, with rain all day! I was able to finish both sessions in the top 3 in the main championship class. This obviously had my confidence high going into the Saturday qualifying session which again was wet. The session was going well up until lap 8 when I had a huge highside at turn 3, crashing out and damaging the bike. I had been in p3 but ultimately slipped down to p8 after sitting the remainder of the 40 minute session out. I had qualified 1st in the ‘Cup’.

The team worked very hard and were able to get the bike back together for the Saturday sprint race, albeit a little battle scared. The rain stuck around and the 18 lap race was wet. My confidence knocked and feeling a little stiff, I managed 11th and 1st in the ‘Cup’. I was a little disappointed but content as this is my best result to date!

The feature race the following day was a very difficult race. Minutes before there were rain showers and it was unclear if they would stick around. The race was declared a wet race even although it was fairly dry. I made a gamble and fitted the wet front tyre, expecting more showers. Unfortunately, it was completely dry for the duration and I slipped back and then further back until my front tyre was in such bad condition that I had to pull in. A massive disappointment, especially as it was my home race but I look to move on and concentrate on winning at the next race.

 I would like to say a massive thanks to my team for their efforts in rebuilding the bike for the race! Also a big thanks to my sponsors, Double ‘M’ racing, Motorcycle Law Scotland, Charlie Johnston, Horsetiger and Drummond motor co. It was great to see so many people around showing their support over the weekend too.

BSB @ Knockhill – the build up

Well it’s my home round of the BSB championship this weekend @ Knockhill and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited! In the past I haven’t had great luck here but I am determined to break that pattern this time round.

We have not managed to take delivery of our new, more powerful engine, but this was outwith the team’s control unfortunately so we must compete at one final round with the lesser powered engine. I am not too worried about this as I have good track knowledge here so I can hopefully make up for it. 

The weather looks pretty poor and mixed for the 3 days so it could be a matter of some last minute tyre choices over the event. The team are enthusiastic and well up for the challenge ahead.

Of course, my aim is to win both Supersport cup races, but I would be delighted to finish in the top ten in the main championship race also! Be sure to watch out for us on Eurosport on Sunday and follow me to keep updated via twitter @davidpaton65.

I’d like to say a big thanks to mark and Libby Middleton for their efforts from ‘across the pond’.. My thanks Also to Motorcycle Law Scotland, Charlie Johnston, Horsetiger marketing and media and also my mechanics for this weekend, Erich and Peter.

Thruxton – 4th Round BSB and Supersport Cup 28th/29th/30th May

Thruxton has been the hardest weekend yet.

There is no secret in the fact that so far this season we have been a little down on BHP with the Double ‘M’ racing Yamaha and with the very fast nature of the Thruxton circuit, it really showed.

I had expected this though and I was happy to push hard in each session to try to stay in touch with the fastest of the Supersport Cuppers. With it being a bank holiday Monday race, we were on circuit for practice and qualifying on Saturday and Sunday with the sprint race on Sunday too.

Saturday and Sunday stayed dry. I was able to secure 6th on the grid for the Cup and 25th in the main championship. Obviously I was not pleased with that and I realised I would have to have a very good race to reach the Cup podium but it didn’t go all my way. I got a good start in the race and was in a reasonable position. On lap three I was pushed wide at the final chicane and lost over 3.5 seconds, allowing four riders to pass. The red mist came down and I was able to re-pass all these riders to finish the sprint race in 22nd, 4th in the Cup. A little disappointed to have finished off the podium but content with the points.

It was very wet for race two on Monday. I got off to a great start and was able to lead the race for the Supersport Cup from start to finish! This also meant p14 in the main Championship class. I felt much better after this race as up until this point my results had been average with the lack of power.

So overall, the weekend was again a success and I am now 3rd in the Supersport Cup just 12 point behind the leader. The next Round is at Knockhill on 18th and 19th June where I will be looking for some top results. I have also been informed that with a new engine for this event, we will have more power too! A big thanks to my tech Alan Bennie for his persistence and all of our sponsors, Double M Racing, Horsetiger, Motorcycle Law Scotland, Charlie Johnston, Bike Paints and GB Racing and  for their continued support!