News

Tom Stanford to race in BSB 125 series for 2009

A very eager Tom Stanford is to step up in the Stanford Racing team in 2009, joining Ian full-time in the BSB GP125 series. Already a podium finisher in both the ACU Production and Open 500 New Era series, Tom got a great taste of racing the premiere British 125 class at Brands Hatch in October 2008, where he qualified 36th on the grid and finished 32nd.

Race report: Brands Hatch (Indy)

Ian: I again struggled with my confidence, but did take a huge leap forward and I was closer to the pace I know I should run at. I didn't make it into the race due to such a large number of entries, but now it's time to train over the winter and start afresh in 2009!

Tom: Brands was a great experience for me: to see the level the BSB guys are at. I qualified for the race and then had a great battle with two of the regular BSB guys. Can't wait for next year when I start in the series proper!

Race report: Silverstone

Silverstone was a difficult weekend for us, being the first one back after my injury. Every session I went out I was so tense on the bike it was unreal, and the more tense I got where I was trying harder, the more tired I got. I felt so weak! Needless to say in qualifying I ended up last on the grid but was looking forward to the race. The bike was performing perfectly all that needed to happen was for my confidence to catch up with the bike and back to where it was before. The race was again going better than practice, I had actually overtaken people! Unfortunately, I was very tense and had to pull in at half race distance because I was unable to move on the bike, but we took a step forward! Between now and the final meeting at Brands Hatch, I will be doing all I can to get my confidence back. I have actually just got back from playing around on a trials bike in Leon Camier's back garden. Just trying everything. We will get there, it is just going to take time. Fingers crossed for Brands now!

Ian out of action

As a confidence booster, we decided to do a trackday at Mallory Park. This was all going well until near the end of the day, when I had a highside in excess of 100mph exiting the first corner (Gerrards). I was knocked out and also sustained a bruise on my brain, which has unfortunately ruled me out of the meeting at Knockhill and possibly Cadwell Park (although not definite yet). Now I just have to keep fit and wait to be given the all clear to race again.

Race report: Oulton Park

Oulton Park went better than Mallory, but I am still not back where I want to be. Unfortunately, with so many bike problems and a few crashes, my confidence has been knocked. I am on the upwards slope though and soon I hope I will be back where I am meant to be!

Race report: Mallory Park

Next was Mallory Park. Again we struggled, not because of the bike this time but because of me. Sometimes things just don't come together and you end up beating yourself up so bad that you underperform. This was a weekend where I did just that. I ended up crashing out of the re-run of the Donington race and pulled out of the second race when I was unable to get the bike to do what I wanted it to. I'm flat out training now to get my head back in gear ready for Oulton Park!

Race report: Snetterton

Snetterton was going great through the Friday practice. We were going at a good pace and everything was spot on. Then it came to first qualifying and two laps in, the crank in my bike let go. I only completed one full lap in qualifying and ended up 31st on the grid. This was because in the second qualifying session, the clutch went due to a mistake made in the re-building of my engine. In the race, we had to gamble on a setup due to our lack of track time. Unfortunately, we were on the wrong gearing and at the end of the straight the bike started giving the warning signals that it had had enough, so I pulled in to avoid damage to the bike and myself!

Race report: Donington Park

Donington was unfortunately cancelled due to high winds on race day. This was a big disappointment for me as we had struggled all weekend with bike setup and we had finally found a setting that we were sure would work for the race. The decision to cancel the race was justified though, as the high winds with our light bikes would have been too dangerous. Next time out is Snetterton, hopefully not as windy!

Race report: Brands Hatch GP (re-run)

Brands was next (the re-run of the cancelled round 1), which we went to with high hopes because of my better qualifying. But the luck was not with us there. We had bike problem after bike problem, so when it got to the race we had to guess at a setting for the bike and, well, we were a mile out and the bike was very down on power (it was one of the slowest bikes out there), so I struggled home to a lonely 24th place. This was so disappointing for me as it is the first time in my racing career that I have finished lower than my qualifying position. Next is Donington though! A track I love! Last year in damp conditions I held pole position in qualifying for three quarters of the session. Fingers Crossed!

Race report: Oulton Park

Next was Oulton Park where we had a few setup problems with the bike. So, unfortunately, I again had a bad qualifying, ending up 37th of 44. But then in the race it all came together and I finished 16th! This we were more than happy with because it was only a 14 lap race and I had managed to make up 21 positions.

Race report: Thruxton

Next time out we went to Thruxton where I struggled to be honest. Because of me, nothing to do with the bike. I had a crash at Brands and it knocked my confidence a little, so when we went to Thruxton I couldn't get my head in gear. We ended up low down in qualifying, but then in the race I finished 21st; many places further forward than my qualifying position, so we were very pleased with that.

Race report: Brands Hatch GP

We have had a very up and down start to the season so far. Brands round 1 started off very well with us qualifying 19th of 44. Then the race (as I'm sure you know) was cancelled due to the snow; you couldnt see the track!