Pembrey
9th-10th July 2010 |
| Hi Guys n gals Row raced (tested) the Neatayam 250 at Pembrey this weekend coming away with 1st 2nd 2nd and 4th. Stunning results considering its only the 2nd time the little Yam has been raced and the first time Row has had any dry running on it! We practiced on Friday with somewhat inclement (wet!) weather so just shaking it down really Then a big crash in another group curtailed activities early (and yes the track had dried by then!) Just Prior to the stoppage Rowan managed 10 laps on a drying track on wet tyres. I think I swapped wheels 6 times during the day!!! Saturday was a case of wet drying slowly we managed to call the first race perfectly with Row on some soft race rubber on an 80% dry track - Row proceeded to win by 3.5 seconds (in class) 2nd race was 100% dry hooray! Row could not stick with the front running 125 but 2nd was good enough along with the feedback He could finally give us regarding the bike..... After a deluge overnight Sunday dawned fine and with a few tweeks to the chassis Row took some more time out of his fastest another 2nd place was good reward And finally the last race We decided that we would leave the now somehat ageing tyres on the bike rather than risk the newer compound tyres we need to test (that was part of the Friday plan), so Row spen the race having fun sliding and two wheel drifting the bike around the track and although the result was not as good as earlier Row further reduced his lap time to a 1:05, 6 10ths quicker than his previous best. We now have a better idea of the direction we need to go with the bike... so its a case of getting it done and getting back out there.. Pip PIP |
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| English rider conquers the Franciacorta circuit and sets foot
on the podium. MAY 21, 2010 The English rider Rowan Miller first set foot on to the Franciacorta track late Thursday night having flown out from England. By Sunday he had mastered its twists and turns, returning to the UK with a second place in the 2nd round of the Italian Cup preGP 125 Trophy. Please see a translation of the Italian pre and post race summaries below. Metrakit Italia – Italian preGP 125 Trophy – second race. Rowan Miller to participate in the Italian race. Circuit of Franciacorta 14,15 and 16 May 2010-05-20 Rome, 11th May 2010, Metrakit Italia restarts the organisational machine for the second race in this single series championship. Destination Castrezzato, in the province of Brescia, Daniel Bonara Circuit, immersed in famous area of “Franciacorta”. The track measures approximately 2.5km , built in an open cast mine at 12 metres below road level. The natural banking surrounding the track allows for a complete view of the track. The challenge continues between the young riders aspiring to the title. Same format: technical assistance provided by Metrakit Italia, motorbikes rigorously identical and standard, tutor (link between rider and Metrakit staff), with a interesting news; the starting grid is enriched by Rowan Miller, 14 year old rider from Waterlooville (UK). Rowan this year is participating in the UK, NGRRC and Thundersport GP3 in the saddle of a 250 4T. Metrakit is not new to him, in 2008 Rowan won the NGRRN F125 with a Metrakit. An interesting challenge, also for our young riders subscribing to the championship |
| It was off
to Brands Hatch for the first round of the NGRRC Championship with the
new 250 single project last weekend. The machine was only finished on
Thursday afternoon and with a test day booked for Friday we knew it was
gonna be a busy weekend. However by Thursday evening we were settled in
garage No29 and ready for Friday The weather decided to play it's hand so Row had to take to the track for the first shakedown ride with wets fitted on a progressively wetter track. Row did 5 laps then came in for a general check up and with all well then completed the first session "backs too hard Dad, I can't tell what else needs to be done" we take as much out of the rear spring as we can and send him back out for session two. Row completes the session in one run to get some miles on and get a better impression of the bike "backs still too hard, it pulls really hard out of the bends and has an advantage on the slower stuff, but with the slippery conditions I dont want to push hard" we agree to leave the bike as is for now, I go and search the paddock for a softer rear sping or shock we can try. Meanwhile Row goes back out to get another run. I manage to borrow a stock Honda rear shock for the rest of the weekend so over the lunch break we fit it, Row also remarked that the gearing seemed too short as the shift lights are coming on too early on the start finish straight, The afternoon wears on, after the shock change Row dropped his lap times by 3 seconds a lap! He can't tell a difference in the gearing change although when we changed it after the shock change he dropped another second. we sit out the last session as the bike has pretty much reached where its going to be for the weekend given that we already know which major changes are needed to inprove its overall performance, the lap times are already competitive for NG though. All looking good for Saturday. Overnight the rain really sets in and saturday is like really soggy! We leave the bike as is for practice although Row has to keep popping into the pits because of temprature drop due to the cool temp and the volume of water being sprayed onto it. with lashings of duct tape we get the temp drop to acceptable levels. RACE1 Now this weekend Ng have been deluged by BSB regulars so on the grid with Row are 10 full BSB spec bikes and riders, we know we are not competing with them - yet! Row has been placed 15th on the grid which is odd as he finished 6th in last years championship? anyway we dont care we know its only testing for us. Row takes his place - GO - the little 4 stroke belts off the line overtaking the lot in front of him but because of his grid position he gets baulked and drops back a little, Row just keeps circulating and spends the whole race in traffic and not wanting to risk anything brings it home in 15th place (by the time you take out the 400's and the BSB boys Row was actually the first NG GP125 home!) "it definately needs more top end dad but the handling is a revelation you can just point it in and it goes' lovely and stable as well" RACE 2 Its like propper wet now, Row takes his place on the grid - GO - once again Row gets a belter and settles in about 12th place He's gradually catching those in front when the engine starts to misfire so Row has to bring it back to the pits "it just started coughing and spluttering dad" a quick check shows that the water has found its way into the float bowl 5 mins later the bike is running strong again - problem duly noted to be fixed. So thats Saturday done, Row says that he still hasn't gelled with the bike because he needs some dry time to guage how hard he can push, he's only ridden it on wets so far. Saturday evening the bike is stripped and cleaned and prepped ready for Sunday, no problems found. Sunday Ahh at last although the tarmac is still wet the clouds have lifted so perhaps we can get some meaningfull testing done today. Row goes out and does a practice (still on wets) no problems. RACE 1 - Dry Hurrah but first time on brand new unscrubbed slicks on this bike - GULP!!!! Row takes his place on the grid - GO - Row makes it up to about 9th place nearly running into the back of Rob Guiver in the process! due to this (and tha fact that he is scrubbing the new tyres) the 125 boys get him back on the run up to druids back to 15th place but hard up behind 14th he then spends the rest of the race battling for 14th place finally getting the verdict by 3thou of a second! interesting that Row could easily out corner the other guy (riding around the outside at Clearways!) but would always gets done down the straight. "starting to suss it out now Dad I am having to change the way I ride the engine quite a lot" checking the datalogger we identify that he's now not quite getting full revs on the strsight so we add one tooth to the rear to try to help. RACE 2 Same position on the grid ----- GO ----- Row has clearly go the hang of starting this bike as he shoots from 15th to 5th off the line! he gets muddled up with the BSB boys and gets shuffled back a little but he's right on them and starts to close up then on the 4th lap coming out of druids the bike cuts out and Row has to retire - blast! Row brings the bike back to the garage - "It just died" a quick turn of the rear wheel shows that we have a mechanical problem which will need investigating...... Row says " The handling is awesome you can just throw it at a bend and it tracks round, at one point I just let the brakes off a rode round two people at druids! with the gearing change I felt I had a little more as well I could hold the Hondas down the straight as long as I got a good slipstream" Overall we are very pleased with the little bikes debut - we now have a list of major improvements we can make before the next outing, the engine is now on its way to the tuner for a post motem on what failed, have no fear this thing has potential! we also had some extra help in the pits this weekend - thanks to Emma and Her Dad Tony for spending the weekend with us, you were a great help hope we haven't put you off !! |
Hi everyone Just back from Cartehena, Row completed a 3 day test with no problems mind you we managed to take the english weather with us so we basicly sat out the first day due to the cold and rain, managed to get a little done on the second day apart from a wet to drying set up and on the third day the sun finally showed its face so we managed to start the testing we should have been doing on the other two days! a somewhat frustrating time but Row did manage some significant track time and got back to riding which was the main aim. Lucky Kid got to fly back from Spain whilst I had the lovely 20hour van ride/drive home - oohh me bum ached! Now for some good news... Rowan has been invited to join a new and exciting venture. Rowan has been asked to be the team rider for Neatafan
on a project to race a 4 stroke Yamaha 250cc machine in Thundersport
GP3 this season. Dependant on results they will also be trying to get
dispensation to wildcard and showcase the bike at BSB. Tigcraft (thanks
Dave) have finished the fabrication and the machine is now in the workshop
being finished off This will be the first time that such a machine will be seen in competition and should generate a huge amount of publicity once it hits the track. We plan to launch Row and the new bike at Haslemere motorcycles on 3rd March, they have a Bike Night which fits nicely with the fact that the bike is a Yamaha. |
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Rowan Miller Aged 14 DOB
17/09/1995
Winner 2008 F125 championship Racing in the U.K and Spain in British superbikes and
CEV |
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