Mike Bates Racing

Southern 100

Had 3 weeks to reflect on first ever road race but to be truthful I still haven’t adjusted back to normality yet! After getting obsessed with chasing results/signatures on short circuits, it felt great to just get over to the island remember and why I started racing in the first place. The event was incredible, very well organised. The track, WOW! Just wow! The best but scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life to date.

Monday and Tuesday practice went well with just a couple of teething issues mainly due to inexperience. But done what I’d hoped and qualified for the 600 b race.

Race 1 I retired on lap 6 of 7 due to the bikes clutch cable adjustment coming loose. Never thought that was possible but that’s how bumpy the track is!

Race 2 was going okay after one lap but I ran on at cross four ways which put me dead last by quite some time. Quite happy circulating on my own to be fair and did manage to catch back up with a couple of riders so finished 22nd with a fastest lap of 2:38. Was a second off the time I’d given myself as a target but was held up for half the lap so can’t moan.

Overall very happy enjoyed it and learnt an awful lot so can’t ask for more than that.

2020

One thing that was clear as day during the s100 was just how much of a disadvantage my bike and a couple of other pre injection bikes had compared to the modern 600’s. It’s definitely time to move on from the pre injection class whether that be a modern supersport or supertwin.

Because this means saving for a new bike and also having debts to pay I’ve decided to call it a day for 2019 and focus on being more competitive next year.

The plan is to focus on road racing from now on so next year will be a couple of meetings at Scarborough and over in Ireland, most likely tandragee 100. Will also do the post tt but the main goal is the southern and make some big steps forward