A lot has happened, a lot has changed and there is still a lot to do for GBmoto, since our last mail!

The Team has competed in two race meetings since July and also improved the technical set up of the CorporateFX Yamaha R1, to find yet more speed and as importantly, reliability. We have welcomed two new riders into the fray and accumulated a mass of live race footage and documentary material in order that we provide you with something to show for your support and investment at the end of the year. So read on...

Pembrey 6 Hour - 22nd July 2007

After qualifying on Pole position, GBmoto were in a real dilemma as to which tyres to start on; the heavens had opened and the track was awash but just as noon approached, blue skies reappeared! A brave decision to run cut-slicks did not pay off in the early part of the race for the team and Mick Godfrey rode well in treacherous conditions. At the end of the first hour, Moores Racing lead, one lap ahead of Uprite Racing, with series leaders GBmoto down in 9th following an early pit stop to change tyres.

A dry line was appearing around the track as Uprite Racing pitted for slicks and then disaster struck! Mark Smith-Halvorsen dropped the Yamaha after lifting to avoid a back marker and returned to the pits for running repairs, losing the Team 20 minutes. South African rider Mike Dickinson, then determinedly took to the track to make his debut for the GBmoto and set the races fastest laps in now dry conditions. The lead swapped constantly at the front of the race and after two hours HMR Racing were in front, two laps ahead of Uprite Racing, with Moores in third place, until GBmoto fought back up the order to take the position at the halfway, 3 hour mark. The second half of the race saw GBmoto make some lengthy visits to the pits to investigate gear selection problems dropping them down to last place. Losing the use of gears at a rate of one every half hour, the Team persisted with fighting on and clawed themselves back up to tenth using just three gears and lapping only a second or so off full race pace!

But in the end it was to no avail, the engine overheated due to internal damage (caused by ingesting the gears that had broken) and sadly recorded their first DNF when Macca pulled into the pits for the last time and flicked the kill switch with just an hour left of the race. Definitely a ‘bad day at the office’ for the Team, which also resulted in losing the lead of the championship to the consistent ‘bridesmaids’, HMR Racing.

Snetterton 8 Hour - 27th August 2007

The Team headed to the fast Norfolk track with many hours of preparation and much fettling done, including a fresh race engine fitted to the gleaming CorporateFX Yamaha. They were in determined mood and so qualifying played out, with the riders averages setting Pole for GBmoto for the third time in four races. It was Uprite Racing who were to grab the lead and early advantage however as the team ‘double stinted’ John Crockford, the ex-British Superbike star. After 3 hours the form team were GBmoto, whose riders, Mick Godfrey, Roger Bennett and Mark Smith-Halvorsen were setting personal best laps and rapidly closing down Uprite Racing for first place. Then the first of three mechanical problems occurred in the space of 90 minutes as the gear selector rod broke, the chain over stretched and an oil pressure problem arose. They were all well remedied by the excellent mechanics, but the resulting pit stops dropped GBmoto to 6th place, over 11 laps down on the leaders and 6 adrift of championship rivals HMR Racing. Was ‘Lady Luck’ deserting the Team again???

The second half of the gruelling race saw the team; the riders and the bike excel themselves. With slick pit stops, the race pace increased whilst others faded and the light blue #66 once again found reliability. Experience and relentless pace allowed GBmoto to pass the best of field and with just over six hours gone, Mark Smith-Halvorsen pitted having just taken second place away from HMR. With the leaders still 6 laps in front, Mick Godfrey and Roger Bennett combined to make the last hour a safe one (especially as the rear tyre had already provided 2 ½ hours traction), but still cut the lead to finish four laps down on Uprite Racing, but more importantly, four laps up on HMR Racing! So the scene is set for a winner takes all encounter at Silverstone on the 6th of October.

What next…

There will be hundreds of man hours now going into building a motorcycle, amassing the right spares, agreeing on a strategy, practising at Silverstone and physically training that will prepare us to compete at the front of a National 6 hour endurance race. In the meantime we are putting together some images and other marketing material designed to visually represent your involvement. That brings you up to date and we encourage you to contact us should you wish to come along to Silverstone to watch the battle, meet the GBmoto team and soak up the atmosphere.

Mark Smith-Halvorsen
Team GBmoto
www.gbmoto.co.uk
07968 420154

Team GBmoto would like to thank the following for their help and support:

CorporateFX Limited, Martin Williams & Co., BodyScience, Dunlop Tyres, Hideout Leathers, FW Developments, Micron Exhausts, YPE Power, B&C Express, Simon Narramore, Lazar Signs and Race By Design.