Crash Course!
Published: 13th August 2007
Author: Gordon Crockard
Gordy’s having trouble staying on two wheels – good job his swede’s safe in a Shoei…
Yeah, Whitby was more like Whetby – such a shame for the club and all involved in putting the event on. I enjoy the track there a lot and felt I could win. I qualified third and got the holeshot only for Billy 211 to get through on the inside of the exit of turn one. Second on lap one is still okay in terms of trying to win the moto but crashing on lap one and restarting the race in last is not okay when you have visions of winning.
The crash was a surprise to me - as I landed off a jump into a tight turn the front end just washed out which makes me think that maybe I landed on a rock. I rode my best and finished fifth which I can’t complain about seeing I was last on lap one. Then, towards the end of the second MX2 moto, the heavens opened and it was raining so hard for us that they stopped the race.
Factory Phil who mechanics on my bikes managed to injure himself pretty good on the Sunday morning at Whitby. His foot slipped off when he was starting the bike and he ran his calf muscle right along the kickstart. He was in a lot of pain and spent the morning in hospital getting stitched up but being a bit of a trooper he came back and hobbled around doing what he could but I reckon he was only able to do that because of the anaesthetic.
Sadly he then picked up a severe infection and spent the next 10 days in hospital so he missed the Italian GP. My thanks go to Geoff Davis at PAR Honda for getting my bike to Italy and preparing it and I’d also like to say thanks to my long-time friend Michael Gibson who saved me a major headache by mechanicing for me in Italy at short notice. So to Geoff, Gibber and Gavin – thanks Team G!
It was so hot in Italy it was almost painful – it was like riding around on a Aga. When I saw the track I thought it looked cool and riding it was good fun but I didn’t enjoy the style in which it was maintained over the weekend. My opinion falls on deaf ears so I won’t say too much but I personally disagree with how the tracks are prepared - the racing as a show suffers and for the riders it really sucks!
We flew back from Italy with one of the many cheap economy airlines – Jet2.com. At check-in for the Belfast flight I was surprised to see former Ferrari F1 driver Eddie Irvine behind me in the queue. He certainly made an effort to fit in with the other economy fliers as his appearance was like a man who’d just got off a desert island – long, tatty grey hair and homeless-style clothing was the look he was running and you’d need to know him to recognise him. The guy was recently listed as Northern Ireland’s eighth richest man – his last girlfriend was Pamela Anderson for crying out loud – and he’s flying on an economy airline he could afford to buy!
He couldn’t have picked a worse flight either as on our approach to Belfast the pilot announced we were diverting to Dublin as the runway was flooded. Then the captain decided to land at Belfast City Airport but we couldn’t disembark because they don’t have customs etc as it’s only a domestic airport. After refuelling which took an hour we were going to head to Dublin which would be a nice two-and-a-half hour drive back home but thankfully the weather at Belfast International had improved enough to land there. So, as you can see, not exactly the lifestyle of the rich and famous but at least we were home alive – although I’d be surprised if Eddie ever goes Jet2.com again…
After Italy we had a weekend off – the second of the year I might add – and I still managed to go racing only this time I was in a car! I was pumped at the chance to do the race although I didn’t really know what I was letting myself in for. National Hot Rod Championship was all I knew and how it came about was through my sponsor Red Bull. Tarmac oval racing in a rear-wheel-drive, 270bhp, 700kg hot rod! It was a serious rush of adrenaline for sure and loads of fun although I was worried about wrecking the guy’s car I was in. They tell me they’re worth over 40 grand and living off GP prize money I just wouldn’t have that kind of loose change…
As I wasn’t getting any practice before the race I asked for some advice. “If I give it too much will it spin out?” “Aye!” “If I stand on the brakes will it lock up?” “Aye!” “If I hit the wall will it roll?” “Aye!” “Is it hard to get off the line?” “Aye!” “Is it hard to pass?” “Aye!” “Is it easy to stall?” “Aye!” “Is it good fun?” “Oh aye!” Red Bull were doing some filming and were going to put it on YouTube I think and I certainly enjoyed the experience in full.
Next up on my world travels was Czecho where 10 minutes or so into qualifying I pushed out my first fast lap and had started on my second one only to fall on the big downhill step double. Amazingly I wasn’t knocked out but the impact was so great it cut my head open by my temple and split the polystyrene in two inside the helmet. In my eyes a Shoei helmet is the best and I’m glad I was wearing one. I also cut my back and arm and hurt my thumb.
My quali time was 11th but as I was lying on the track getting medical attention I slipped back to 14th! Still not a bad position but my body – mainly my thumb – couldn’t do the job in the races. I started both of them but pulled out as I wasn’t able to ride well enough. Then, to top the weekend off, the truck beside us reversed into my van on Sunday night, wrecking the open back door and nearly squashing the already hurt Phil and I!
Namur’s next – anyone want to wish me luck?