Hi All
I’ve got a special discount code for all people wishing to buy any Fox Items.
Shop at www.foxeurope.com and select all items you require in your shopping basket.
Once it lists all your items and the total value please enter the promotional code 55555 in the box provided under the item list, highlighted in red. Pres…s UPDATE LIST and this will apply the discount.
Happy Shopping!!
CENTURION RACING LAUNCHES REMEMBRANCE DAY AUCTION FOR ‘HELP FOR HEROES’ (11/11/2009)
Centurion Racing is delighted to announce the forthcoming auction of two unique Arai Chaser Helmets, which have been precision-painted to showcase the stunning Help for Heroes Medal logo, and signed by some of the world’s top motorbike racers.
The helmets will go to auction on Ebay at 1100 hrs on 11 November, with the start of the auction timed to commemorate Remembrance Day. All proceeds will go to the Help for Heroes charity, which raises money to support members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded in the service of their country.
These helmets, donated by ‘Why-Arai’, are a ‘one-off’ design by specialist race artist Rich-Art Concepts commissioned by Centurion Racing. The helmets will be auctioned on Ebay, and bidders will have just 10 days to secure two very collectable pieces of bike racing memorabilia.
Both helmets are signed by riders from MotoGP, World Superbikes, British Superbikes and British Supersport , including:-
Bradley Smith
Leon Camier
James Ellison
Steve Brogan
Michael Rutter
Tommy Hill
Leon Haslam
Cal Crutchlow
Gino Rea
Stuart Easton
Simon Andrews
Ian Hutchinson and many more.
A number of other items have also been donated to Centurion Racing for auction including a miniature wooden motorbike signed by James Toseland and a miniature wooden motorbike in the Centurion Racing colours donated by Footprint Copy & Design Ltd, two sets of superb Arlen Ness leathers donated by Pink Express/Harpers, and a unique photo montage of the Apache Longbow helicopter donated by the pilots of the Apache Flying School at Middle Wallop.
Paul Rees of Centurion Racing said: “Remembrance Day seemed like a very fitting day to auction these items for Help for Heroes. I hope that race fans and supporters of our armed services will dig deep and help us to raise as much money as possible for the Charity through the auction. I’d like to thank everyone who donated these items, or gave their time or skills for this wonderful cause. As a team we will be doing more for the Charity next year.”
For further information about the auction, please visit the Centurion Racing website (www.centurionracing.net). To find the helmets on Ebay 11 November, search ‘Autographed Arai Helmet for Help for Heroes’ under the category Sports Memorabilia.
For further information contact:
Paul Rees, Centurion Racing, Tel: 07785 248934
Fundraising Night for Nick Crowe and Mark Cox
21st August, The Yorkshire Suite, Northallerton, DL7 8PP
The Auction night on the 21st August at Northallerton is all set to become fantastic evening with some very special auction items, including items signed by the great Agostini and Rossi! The night which has been planned is to raise money for Nick Crowe and Mark Cox who were injured in this years second TT Sidecar race will take place at The Yorkshire Suite, behind the Golden Lion Hotel in Northallerton, DL7 8PP.
Confirmed riders attending on the night include TT legend John McGuinness who is also expected to bring some goodies for the auction. He will be joined by TT star Ian Hutchinson, 2008 British Superstock Champion Steve Brogan and Brands British Supersport winner, James Westmoreland. Also hoping to attend are 2009 Senior TT winner Steve Plater and funny man Guy Martin. The hosts on the night will be Eurosport commentator Jack Burnicle and pit lane reporter Larry ‘Scoop’ Carter.
All being well and injuries permitting Nick Crowe and his wife Danny are hoping to attend as is the fiancée of Mark Cox, Amanda. An auction, raffle and disco will enable those attending to win some great TT and racing memorabilia, as well as non-motorcycling, but exciting, goodies!
The evening will kick off at 8pm and will run until late, with entertainment throughout the evening. Tickets are £10 each and entry will be by ticket only, which can be booked by calling Emma Hudspeth on 01969 625111 or Eve Vanner on 07518 021137. There are only 50 tickets left and entry is strictly by ticket only!
Commenting on the fundraising, the Nick and Mark’s families said, “We are overwhelmed at how generous people have been and we can assure everyone that the money raised so far, or the proceeds from fundraisers still in the planning, will not be used for our daily living. It will be used to buy the equipment that Nick and Mark are going to need to help them re-establish as much as a normal life as possible, as well as fund any costs incurred while the boys are injured. Thank you so much to everyone who has both organised fundraising activities, such as the sidecar pull around the Isle of Man and the evening event at Northallerton later this month, and also got involved and been so generous with their giving. We are truly amazed and humbled. Thank you.”
Auction Items so far include: -
Raffle Items to include
If you have Facebook you can view some of the items here: -
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=98699&id=507281865
or
http://www.carly-rathmell.com/gallery/?album=30&gallery=31
More items are due to be added over the next week and on the evening so don’t miss out!
If you have any items that you could donate for the Auction or Raffle then please e-mail me on carlyrathmell@yahoo.co.uk.
For more details and an update on the progress of Nick and Mark please visit www.honda-racing.co.uk
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Here we go again, the British Superbike season finally got underway last weekend at Brands Hatch, after a winter that seems to have taken an age to pass, I walked into the paddock at Brands and it felt like I’d never been away! It won’t be long I’m sure before the season is over again, wishing it away already, no not at all, bring it on I say!
I managed to pass the time in the winter and attended a number of off road events, including the first couple of rounds of the British Motocross Championship at Canada Heights and Langrish. Dad has put me in charge of the sponsorship side of things with our Gaerne Motocross boots, we’re helping a number of teams and riders during 2009 and so far, fingers crossed, the boys are going well and the Big ‘G’s are P1 in a couple of Championships so keep up the good work!
Brands, well it didn’t snow – that’s a good start. However, the fog was set in and looked like it was set to stay. The weather for the weekend was miserable. It was good to see everyone again; there had been a few new changes, new teams, new mechanics, riders walking into the wrong garages, new colours, new bikes and the odd new girlfriend and a few new hairstyles (suzy!!)! Keeps us all on our toes but it was good to be back.
I’m working for Leon (Camier), Brendan (Roberts – WSBK) and Centurion Racing for the 09 season and as always everyone was a little nervous before the first session on Friday morning. I stayed well out the way in the press room and kept a watchful eye on what was going on. The weather didn’t improve for the entire weekend up until the minute the racing stopped on Monday when the sun decided to shine – typical.
I was a little curious to see how Leon would get on with his new toy, a Yamaha that he’d never ridden until Friday and there he was banging in times, which saw him sitting near the top of the time screens. He was more than happy, unusually happy for Leon but I wasn’t complaining as a happy rider is a good one in my eyes! The weekend progressed and as did he, a fourth in race one with a trip through the gravel and a race win in the second race. It didn’t surprise me as I knew he’d be able to do it but not at the first race so fair play to him! Ok ok I was a tad nervous (well very!) before the first race. Let’s just hope the rest of the season will follow that path, fingers crossed.
Centurion had a steady weekend with Tom (Grant) and Dan (Cooper) but I’m very sure that things will head in the right direction at the remaining races, still a long way to go that’s for sure.
Brendan’s had a hard introduction to the World Superbike scene with two monster crashes, one in testing in Portugal and one during the race in Valencia. Both big high sides, luckily no major injuries but not the ideal start he was hoping for in his debut World Superbike season with Guandalini Ducati. I’m just hoping things will settle a little more as the racing goes on and that he gets the results we all know he’s capable of, have a good one Bren!
So it’s all go again and I’m hoping for a good season!
Cheers
Carly
Well another season has once again drawn to a close, the more the years go by the faster the season seems to become!
Here I am again thinking what to do before it all starts again but I have no doubts that it will be here before I know it.
I finished the last blog just after my trip away to Cyprus, that seems an awfully long time ago now and so many more things have happened since. Snetterton, a dry weekend for a change, one of the few last season. Also British Superbike win number one for the boy Mr Camier! What an awesome memory that will be, I paced up and down the press room for the entire race as he battled with his team-mate Shakey, who wasn’t letting him have it easily.
As he crossed the line I ran down into pit lane to by greeted by Storka, Mr Jewson and then Colin (Wright). I was trying to hold back the tears as it didn’t seem that long ago being with him track side at Cadwell when he broke his femur and to watch him take his first win was just magical!
That was a good weekend, as whilst Leon was taking his first win, Brendan was taking win number two in the European Superstock race in Germany, as I left Snetterton I ended up with six podiums between all my riders – perfect!
Mallory, that was a mixed one, Leon had a nightmare, but the Blade, Mr Rutter pulled it out the bag, after hurting himself crashing in race one, we were just hoping for a good top eight finish but Michael had other ideas as he shot off the start. That was it, he was gone and that race was without any doubt, his race, amazing for all the North West team as they all worked so hard all season.
Oulton and Knockhill seemed to be the weekends for my riders getting injured, Leon gave himself severe concussion at Oulton after a fast crash on the approach to Shell Oil and then at Knockhill by Friday lunchtime, J Lav had knocked himself clean out as had Dan Cooper. I spent the day nursing Dan as he was in cuckoo land for the majority of it, must have asked me 30 times if he crashed and what happened, like a broken record but luckily all were ok. The Blade notched up another podium for the boys and up to that point J Lav had been pretty dominant in the Privateer Cup Championship.
In between that I went to Brands Hatch World Supers and once again had to face the fear that we all hope never happens in our little racing game we play. Craig Jones, a good friend of mine since 2001 sadly lost his life in the sport he loved at one of the circuits he loved. Battling for the lead with Jonathan Rea and Andrew Pitt, Jonesy sadly rode his last race at Brands and crashed at Clark Curve on the re-started race. It’s the news you never wish or want to hear in racing and puts a downer on everything that we live for in our sport. He died doing what he loved on August 4th and he’ll live in my memory forever as the happy, go lucky person that he was. He’s up there in the racing heaven now and is in great company but it doesn’t ease the pain of losing another friend – read my tribute to him here: - http://www.carly-rathmell.com/memorial-page/craig-jones/
Sadly in this sport we have to pick ourselves up and move on as I know for a fact Jonesy wouldn’t want us just mulling around and being sad, I know he’s still with us and watching us and the racing.
We once again held the CJ Cycle race at Cadwell Park which was highly amusing and some of the outfits were more than worrying, why the lads have this obsession to dress up in lycra at the first opportunity is beyond me lol! We managed to raise about £8’000 that weekend which was perfect and covered us being able to pay for an Air Ambulance to be on the site for the entire weekend.
Leon made a great comeback at Cadwell despite his horrific accident there the year before and he secured two solid fourth places with Airwaves. He went on to take win number two and three at Croft and Silverstone respectively, as he watched team-mate Shakey take the title. We’d (Leon, Storka and myself) had been venturing out to a Chinese every Thursday night with Shakey, Petra and Reggie. Silverstone, was for us all one of the most memorable!! See win number three for Camier at the following link to find out what happened! http://www.leoncamier.co.uk/category/rider-blog/. He ended the season on a high with a podium at Brands, we waved goodbye to Shakey and the laughs we’ve had this year and wish him all the best for 09 and we’ll be backing him all the way!
Meanwhile, Brendan was having his own dilemma’s trying to win the European Superstock championship as disaster struck at Magny Cours when he was forced to retire from the race with gear box problems. This dropped him from Championship leader to fourth place in the series as he headed for the final round at Portimao, there was no option, he had to win the race and he knew that! Luckily the boy pulled it out the bag, set the lap record, took pole and the race win, which saw him lift the Championship crown. A very nerve wracking weekend, but he pulled it out the bag and hits the big world Superbike stage in 09!!
For me, the season carried on with me working for the Future West Supercross, The Dirt Bike Show and also the CJ Rider Fund annual dinner. All in their own way were great, I’m in my second full year of working for the Supercross and they raced at Sheffield, Liverpool and the O2 arena, all were great and the O2 brought a fantastic crowd in also which added to the excitement of it all.
It was my first year working for the Dirt Bike Show and it was a great honour and privilege to work with such a fantastic group of people, the show was a little down on numbers through the door but I think in the current times it was to be expected. The CJ Dinner once again was a huge success and everyone of the 520 plus people had a great night, all the riders turned up and made it the special night that it was. With cheque donations over the evening we reached a sum of around 50’000, which will be vital in the purchase of essential medical equipment for 2009 and beyond.
All in all, the 2008 season was a good one, bar the loss of friends! I just hope 2009 will be just as good if not better and that all the boys enjoy happy safe racing! I’m looking forward to it all starting again now and eager to get back out there! My next stop is the Hawkstone International MX meeting on the 1st March, maybe see you there!
Cheers
Carly
Once again it s been another busy season and I can t believe we re already half way through it. I ve been keeping busy writing for a number of riders this year but I m really enjoying it.
Where do I start, I guess at the beginning, the off season went pretty quickly as I kept myself busy doing some Supercross stuff, those boys are crazy but it took me to Sheffield Arena, the new Liverpool Echo Arena and the big O2 Arena in London. All were good events and hopefully the 2008 series will be just as entertaining.
The season started a little bit different to how everyone expected and that was snow, and lots of it! We went to Snetterton for the pre-season test ‚ it snowed and then to Brands for the first race ‚ and it snowed again! It was a bit serial really to see the track totally covered in snow, especially at Brands! I think the only person who was quite happy about it was Leon Camier as he was still getting over quite a nasty shoulder injury.
The season finally got underway at Thruxton and finally the weather was half kind to us, all-be-it a little on the cold side, but we were back racing so that was the main thing. The season all seems to have rolled into one since then. From Thruxton we had Oulton, Brands Hatch (re-run), the North West 200 (more about that later), then Donington all on back to back weekends. I felt like I lived out of a suitcase for six weeks but that wouldn t be far from the truth!
I ve been fortunate enough this year to work for the North West 200 Ducati team, which gave me the opportunity to go to the North West 200 race over in Ireland. I have to say it was something else, having never been to a pure road race before, apart from Scarborough. The NW200 is an amazing experience and if you get the chance next year to go then do! We were extremely lucky with the weather and the sun shone down on the Emerald Isles and it produced some of the most spectacular racing. Thanks must go to Mervyn White and Alistair Kennedy for putting on such a great show! Here s to next year!
After Donington I managed to get a week away to Cyprus to mainly catch up on sleep. I went over with Oli (Leon Haslam s girlfriend). It was nice to chill out and do nothing for a week, very hot though and I m not the best at sunbathing as I get bored easily! Back to reality now and Snetterton this weekend, I don t think we ll get weather like Cyprus but it d be nice if it didn t rain!
Cheers
Carly
!!NEW GUESTS - FOGARTY & CORSER!!
We are delighted to announce that four times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty and two times World Superbike Champion Troy Corser have agreed to attend the CJ Riders Fund Dinner on the 24th November.
Saturday 24th November
£50 per guest - Max 12 per table (you don’t have to buy full tables!)
5 Course Meal
Motorcycle Museum , Birmingham coincides with NEC Bike Show
Dress Code - Lounge Suit
Booking form at link below: -
http://www.cjnine.com/downloads/2007-cj-awards-booking-form.doc
Riders attending are as follows : -
Carl Fogarty
Troy Corser
Leon Camier
Chaz Davies
Jonathan Rea
Ian Hutchinson
Laverty’s - John, Michael and Eugene
John McGuinness
Craig Jones
Cal Crutchlow
Leon Haslam
Ron Haslam
James Whitham
Dean Ellison
Steve Plater
Tom Grant
Dan Cooper
James Westmoreland
Simon Andrews
Dennis Hobbs
Aaron Walker plus many more!!
Get booking! Tickets selling fast! Very few tables remaining!
*Notes - The CJ Fund has been set up to provide vital medical equipment for riders in the British Superbike series. After the successful purchase of a mobile X-Ray Machine during 2007 at a cost of £100,000, this was put into use on a number of occasions across the 2007 season. The Riders Funds next step is to provide an Air Ambulance Service at each race next season and further vital medical equipment - for more information see www.cjnine.com *
£33 000 raised for CJ Riders Fund
www.cjnine.com
Once again the Brands Hatch Chris Jones Finale Auction was a huge success. Over the two nights the Fund managed to raise a huge £33 000 and special thanks must go to all the riders and contributors to the auction, without them this stunning figure could not have been achieved.
Jolly Jack Burnicle, Scoop Carter and Mr Whitham put on a awesome show and Saturday night and the money was rolling in. Once again John ‚ Flint McGuinness bowled the crowd over by donating one of his very special and meaningful TT Replica medals and was baffled when it raised a staggering £3 000. This was the second year running that the 13 times TT winner donated one of his prize possessions to the Fund and it was greatly appreciated. On Sunday night they managed to get McGuinness out of the shirt he was wearing at the time and that was auctioned too! He was not the only person to be robbed of their clothes he was joined by Cal Crutchlow, Jack Burnicle and Clive Jones who movingly sold the his Chris Jones Race Shirt, only the second thing belonging to Chris that has been sold by the Jones family.
As leathers, boots, helmets, pictures, VIP passes and various other items rolled off the auction table the money came flooding in. A superb job was done by all involved on the evenings and thanks must go to everyone, from the riders, helpers of the Fund, the buyers and most importantly Pam, Clive and Lucy Jones who do such a fantastic job through, what is still something which is very painful for them. Without them the Fund would not exist. The initial purchase of the X-Ray machine has been used countless times throughout the 2007 season and most recently on Saturday by Chris Walker who was involved in a fast crash during the practice session, saying ‚ “Today I got to use Chris x-ray machine, it s mega! ‚ The Fund are continuing to raise Funds to provide more medical equipment for the British Superbike series, details of which can be found on www.cjnine.com.
The next big event for the CJ Riders Fund is the Bikesport Awards Dinner on the 24th November to be held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham, coinciding with the International Motorcycle Show at the NEC. Tickets are £50 each inclusive of a 5-course dinner, awards ceremony. Riders confirmed so far are Chris Walker, John McGuinness, Leon Haslam, Kiyo and Johnny Rea.
For more information see www.cjnine.com or download a booking form at the following link: -
http://www.cjnine.com/downloads/2007-bikesport-awards-booking-form.pdf
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Carly Rathmell
Crockstar, Beaton & Hernandez
www.fwsx.com
With an incredibly strong line up for the forthcoming Sheffield Supercross Event on the 3rd November, the first round of the Future West ACU British Supercross Championship, three more stars have been signed up to go head-to-head with some of the World s best Motocross and Supercross riders. Ulster superstar Gordon Crockard, Yamaha Canada s Kyle Beaton and Spanish Supercross ace Xavier Hernandez have all signed on to compete at what is set to be one of the most dramatic Supercross events to be held at the Hallam Stadium, Sheffield.
PAR Homes Honda rider Crockard is looking to better his third place which he secured at Sheffield last year. Beaton, former Cardiff SX winner with his run and gun, come from behind style is sure to excite the expected huge crowd and is sure to be a audience pleaser. Spanish SX star Hernandez will make his British SX debut on board a Wildmoor Yamaha, Hernandez a SX expert will be eager to make his mark on the British Supercross scene.
‚ “This is probably our best rider line-up ever as far as how close everyone is. I honestly can t think of a better more evenly rounded field in the past. We have the hardened, determined veterans of Supercross and the talented and hungry young guns all with their National Pride on the line. I guarantee this will be the best Sheffield Supercross event that we have ever seen. It is usually easy for me to predict the top three but this year I honestly have no idea who will be on the podium ‚ say an excited John Hellam of Future West.
Ticket sales for the Sheffield round of the Future West ACU British Supercross are stronger than usual. Tickets are available through the Hallam FM Arena box office on 0114 256 5656. Rider entries and filling fasts with some classes already full. If you haven’t yet registered be sure to log on to www.fwsx.com asap.
2007 Sheffield Supercross rider Line-up:
GBR TOMMY SEARLE
USA MIKE BROWN
CAN JEAN SEBASTIEN ROY
GBR LEWIS GREGORY
USA JEFF ALESSI
CAN COLTON FACCIOTTI
USA JASON THOMAS
GBR CARL NUNN
ESP XAVIER HERNANDEZ
ULSTER GORDON CROCKARD
CAN KYLE BEATON
CAN RYAN LOCKHART
GBR ASHLEY GREEDY
CAN BRADY SHEREN
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Carly Rathmell
Freelance Sports PR
Blog / Race Reports
I write for a number of Teams and Riders in the British Championship and also European Championship, to read my race reports please click below.