Tom Grimshaw: It's been a testing time
By TMX Archives on 8th Jun 16
This has been a heavy month not just in a riding sense but for school exams too which meant I have had a lot of revision. We had a system and I think it worked.
Dad was under strict orders from mum that I was to be left alone during this time. It was a big push as I was even revising in the camper going to and from the events so hopefully I've done well.
My first race of the month was a fun race held by the Northampton club at Long Buckby. It brought back some good memories as this was the venue for my very first race back in 2009 on my 65cc and it was my first time back.
My dad raced the same circuit as a schoolboy back in the early 1980s so I was filled-in on our track walk with, ‘We used to do this' and ‘We used to do that'! ‘Blah, blah, blah!'
The meeting was cut short due to dust as it was a very hot weekend but I still managed to get three races in which was fun.
The following weekend we were entered into the Eastern Centre Championship meeting at Blaxhall – that place was mint and really well done.
I was racing to gain my Expert points and I was in good company as Dylan Woodcock, Jack Bintcliffe, Ben Clark and other good centre riders were there doing the same thing.
The top 16 Juniors qualified and raced with the Experts in the main races. It was mega racing that netted me second overall in the Juniors, some good points and some cash too.
We then moved onto the Maxxis MXY2 at Hawkstone Park.
The track was in good condition considering the amount of rain on Saturday and I felt okay but wasn't racing that well.
I couldn't put my finger on it (dad said my head was in exam mode and not race mode) but I still managed 13th overall which was an improvement on the first round I raced.
I had my final exams that week so the weight was off my shoulders.
Also, DBC Motorcycles delivered a new 125cc Yamaha race bike so we returned to Long Buckby for a round of the South Midlands Championship.
I was able to win my finals allowing me to gain all my Expert points in the process and can now ride as a full Expert.
We made a last-minute decision at 3pm last Friday afternoon to race the Pirelli Masters at Landrake. After seven hours of travelling thanks to slow traffic and two road closures we finally arrived.
Pirelli is one of my major sponsors so it was good to race one of the championship rounds.
The 125 racing was great and I enjoyed the battles over the weekend, netting a solid fourth overall which I was pleased about as I was improving on parts of my racing.
I'm now all packed and ready for the third round of the Dutch Masters at the famous Markelo circuit this weekend.
This track is more sandy hardpack so I'm looking forward to racing it.
I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who comes up to me to say how much they enjoy reading my column – it means a lot to me.
