Thank you Gilps and Louigi (Sponsorship Plea)

**TP#12** · 26 Jun 08, 02:35 PM

Not wishing to steal the limelight from Harrie's announcement and I certainly won't harp on about it. I'm sure that's music to your ears ... ok ok

As far as anticipation for Brands goes I couldn't be more pumped. At the start of the year when Gilps offered me the bike it was always on the agreement that it wouldn't have any money spent on it because we're all broke and I'm the team's number 2 rider. I accepted the ride based on that agreement and have just tried to do my best on it with varied results. Sometimes it's been difficult to take because I've wanted to make various changes to the bike to get it to do what I want it to, to be able to afford new tyres for it instead of living off hand me down scrubs and also because the bike was slow in a straight line compared to the competition but I've always tried to remind myself that it's not my bike and I'm a very lucky boy to have someone as generous as Gilps letting me race his bike. Humility is not easy to achieve and remains an aspirational goal!

The Pembrey track day really highlighted the shortcomings in handling on the bike and I was really dreading going there for raceday to be honest. After the track day the tyres I had on there were fcuked! Especially the front. This is where everything started to change. Gilps called me on the phone and said he was happy with how I was riding and had decided to get the suspension sorted out for me. At Pembrey we had the forks pulled apart and the geometry changed, unfortunately we were still a long way away from where we needed to be with the fork springs and couldn't change them but the geometry made a big difference to the feel of the bike. I’d gotten some fresh scrubs off Trouty but that place is really hard on tyres, especially when the forks are rock hard, so the front of the bike was moving around a little bit on the series of lefts and I still couldn’t push through Honda and there’s a lot of time lost there. Trying to get past Kev (Senna3) showed just how slow the bike was in a straight line as I’d nearly ram him on corner exit and he’d just pull away down the straight-I couldn’t even stay in his slipstream. This might be explained by the problems with that engine which started playing up after that.

Gilps and Louigi have managed to scrounge the bits together and build another 583 engine out of bits and pieces in his workshop from what I understand and I’ll be helping them chuck it in the frame on Saturday. I can’t believe how lucky I am and I’m really hoping that it’s as fast as the others out there. Besides that though, I’ll have a set of sorted forks in the bike for the first time and we’ll be spending Saturday getting it setup. So thanks to Gilps’ generosity it looks as though I’ll be on competitive machinery for the first time this season so to celebrate, I’m buying new tyres! Just don’t tell all the people chasing me for money please!

We’ve done the first half of the season on tracks I’ve never seen before or only done a handful of laps at but now we’re finishing on four of my favourite tracks. All tracks I’ve raced on before and been fast on. So all the ingredients are in place for a change in fortunes for me and to say I’m excited would be a massive understatement. I’m stoked off my tits! Woohoo! I’m focused on what I want from Brands and I’m feeling very confident.

Thank you very much Gilps and Louigi for the bike and the work, Tim (Rattler) for the free scrubs and Trouty for the very cheap scrubs, Gerry at Racedays, Dom and Maria for your support and to Andie and Tara as well as Mike and Ant. I really want to pay back all your help and support with better results and I’m bloody sick of 3rd place trophies when I think I can do better!

**MartinH** · 26 Jun 08, 02:40 PM

Good stuff! I just found a part worn front in the garage you can have if you want it? Hoping to come to Donington in August so could bring it then. Its of last years bike so I cant remember how many races its done. Think it may just have done 1 trackday and the Cadwell meeting though. Free if you want it.

**TP#12** · 27 Jun 08, 09:07 AM

Thank you all for your support

I'm the most popular guy in the paddock!

**TP#12** · 27 Jun 08, 12:31 PM

And now I've cocked all this up. Grids are combined at Brands and I'm second reserve for the championship races on Sunday. That pretty much condemns me to not getting out on Sunday and to say I am gutted would be a massive understatement.

I've let everyone down, I can't believe it.

**Dan** · 27 Jun 08, 08:46 PM

Never say never TP, a lot may happen between now and Sunday morning!
Fingers crossed you get on the grid and get that illusive 2008 race win.

**JerryXt** · 27 Jun 08, 10:27 PM

TP, get a grip man!

Harden the f*ck up!

cringingly funny, but a little offensive - YouTube - Chopper - Harden Up Australia!

**TP#12** · 29 Jun 08, 10:27 AM

Hahaha, thanks for that. Apparently I'm 3rd reserve now, although I didn't ring New Era yesterday to confirm they had received my entry.

**TP#12** · 08 Jul 08, 02:37 PM

Help!

To say I'm struggling to keep paying for this season would be a massive understatement. I'm tantalisingly close to the front now that the forks have been changed and with a bit more track time to fine tune and get used to the bike I'll be on Cleggy and Matt. The thing is, I'm shuffling and juggling money about just to make my entries without doing testing days and I feel like I'm Gilps and Louigi a disservice by not giving myself the best chance at being at the front now.

I dearly want to do a test day at Donny, Snet and Cadwell prior to racing there so I can get me and the bike dialled in and ready to take those two on in the races and I need help to do it.

So, if you want to see a 3rd person take a win in Class B this year then please help me be that person and help me to do the test days. Of course I'll happily accept more sponsorship for entries, tyres and fuel to help pay back the money I already owe Gilps for these things!

If you'd like to help please get in touch.

Thank you for reading

**Tasminracer** · 08 Jul 08, 07:15 PM

I cant help, but I can sympathize with your situation..

I've only been out once in the Tuscan so far this year... The first race at cadwell resulted in a win and a bust gearbox, best i could do in race 2 was to 5th after starting from the pit lane and doing the entire race in 3rd !!!

The cost of fixing the box ( 2nd in less than 30 mins running), coupled with general skintness and some unrelated relationship issues ment the poor old things not been out of the garage..

The sponsors I do have have been very understanding ( aka didnt ask for their money back - good job i've spent it !!!)

But things are looking up, a little and Im hoping to be at Angelsey on 19/20th july and then Oulton for the season finalie...... and then maybe a drive in the silverstone 24hr If I can find some more money....

The sponsorship trail is hard at the moment so all you Ducati Bike racing fans...Im sure TP#12 would be glad of anything you can send his way... You'll be surprised how little can make a big difference at this level...

i.e. a couple of hundred quid would just about cover the coffee budget for a weekends BSB but would probably fund most of a test day at grass roots !!! and testing makes all the difference if your gunning for the front... The BSB guys are probably testing or racing just about everyday.. the Cluby is probably only on the bike a dozen times a year...

Hope you find some help

G

**TP#12** · 09 Jul 08, 09:05 AM

Thanks for your support.

You're right in saying every little bit counts. Entries for Donington Park stand me at £270 with the test day I want to do being £145.

So any help towards getting me testing would be greatly appreciated.

Not to mention tyres being £147.50 from Holbeach.