2012.

After 2011 ended prematurely, I was keen to get back out. A lot of preparation was done and along with support from Skinner Motorcycles I managed to secure more sponsorship from Dash of Colour and Tyres4Bikes in Spalding.

Again I was doing a few trackdays early March to prepare myself.

Then this happened.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SX8U2V9rpQ[/youtube]

It hurt :?

The bike was slightly 2nd hand.



So a new one was bought



Thanks to my sponsors it ended up looking like this.





I did a couple of trackdays to get back into it. They went ok.

The I entered a Derby Phoenix meeting at Croft. It went ok. I was very wooden and struggled if I'm honest. Was going ok in the first race then the gearshift broke. Repaired for the second race I finished but I was kinda just riding round. The third race was wet and I was crap. Another lap and I would have been lapped. I was last

So on to Knockhill for a KMSC Clubman event. I thought the Clubman class would be older bikes. What a mistake to make I was easily on the oldest bike there. Out in the Superbike class with BMW's and ZX10's. Still rain during qualifying helped level it out a little and I qualified 10th. The weather was changing rapidly making tyre choice a lottery. In the wet I did ok but in the dry I was struggling against all the modern machinery. In the last race of the day it was wet and I was determined to do well.



Starting 17th on the grid I was 11th at the end of the first lap and rapidly catching the next group. Then it all went wrong as I carried a little too much speed into turn one on lap two and the bike slid away from me. I ended up sliding down the hill with it until I was hit by Andy Belby. Thankfully he was practically stopped by then else it could have been messy. I was knocked about a bit but ok overall. Just annoyed with myself as I thought I was on for a good result.



With the bike repaired it was off to Donington for the Hottrax Modern Classic series. It was a great weekend. Running top five with a best of 3rd in the last race filled me with confidence for the next round at Cadwell.

At Cadwell I was looking to push for wins. I qualified well. 2nd row I think and was running well in the 1st race. I was fourth but there was no way I was catching 3rd. Was there? I managed to reel him in and on the last lap passed him up into Park corner. I couldn't hear him round Chris Curve and relaxed through the Gooseneck a little only for him to come under me into Mansfield. He was running wide though giving me the opportunity to squirt down to the chicane and get under him. As I tried to go under him, he turned into the chicane unaware I was there. I clipped him and down I went. Lying there my foot was in agony. I could feel it swelling up in my boot. This momentarily distracted me from realising that I'd broken my left collarbone. The marshalls and medics again were fantastic. They really do a great job and I for one appreciate each and every one of them. I was carted off to Louth hospital and later returned to the paddock for some pain killers.



Turned out I'd done more damage than first thought. I'd not only broken my collarbone but dislocated my shoulder and ACL ligament. My foot was broken too. I'd done a proper job. I needed an operation to bolt me back together again.



That was the season over. I needed cheering up so I went and bought a 675

Thanks again to Skinner Motorcycles. Massive thanks to Stef and Claire at Tyres4Bikes and Dash of Colour.
Also massive thanks to the Marshalls, medics and staff at Cadwell Park for their help and support. Cheers guys.