TMX Columnist: Tom Grimshaw - My new race bike is mega

We knew about Hawkstone months in advance and we were still rushing around. I didn't make things easy as I decided to race a local club event at Mepal the week before which went well apart from my starts being average. I raced the training bike which we decided to race at Hawkstone so we completely stripped the bike and gave it a lovely overhaul. 

We set off early Saturday morning with the weather looking shaky on Saturday and okay on the Sunday. Things didn't look good as we were all getting towed into the pits but the track was looking okay.

Sunday morning was a bit hectic as Scott Dunne (top man) took some mega pictures of the new race bike before timed training which were featured in last week's TMX. With the new race bike locked away we made our way to the waiting zone – it was good catching up with everyone in the compound and checking out new bikes, new graphics and new kit. You could feel the buzz and anticipation.

I was pleased with qualifying in 10th place and second 125cc to Taylor Hammel. 

The concrete start was super slippery so a good start was the key. I gated well and was lying in sixth place until the halfway point when my front brake started locking up. This made me make a mistake and I hit the middle infield tabletop wrong which binged me off. I hit the ground hard and knocked myself silly. 

My ribs were hurting and we suspected I'd cracked one. I still tried race two but pulled out after lap one knowing the pain was too great. I was gutted but got changed to watch some quality big boy racing.

Gary Ford and all the Salop team should be proud of their efforts as a huge crowed turned out to support the event. Dad got the van towed out of the pits and we sat in the queue to exit for one-and-a-half hours but it was worth every minute.

I took the following week easy and had the weekend off to recover from all the bruising but surprisingly I was healing quickly. Half-term week I decided to have a go at riding which went well so we ran the new race bike in which was mega. We will be hooking up with Roland at Hardcore Racing this weekend to do some bike testing and sort my set-up. It's the first round of the Dutch Open Nationals in two weeks so it's all happening thick and fast.

A big well done to my Hardcore Racing team-mate Harry Kimber for winning the Monster Energy Arenacross Tour 85cc title one round early. Also, I would like to say a big well done to my big sister Katie for passing her driving test – this means I have my own taxi service plus if we can get a day van she can take me practising! 

Apart from having some good-looking mates I knew she would come in handy some day.

Tom 61