Kapital Moto Racing certainly proved their point at last weekend's Hottrax National Endurance round, held at the UK's Anglesey circuit. After barely completing the previous 6 hour event at Mallory Park because of reliability issues, the team's Ducati 1000ss bike took to the Welsh circuit for another 6 hour test. This time everything ran like clockwork, enabling Kapital Moto Racing to post the season's best result so far.
Post-Mallory diagnosis revealed a severely damaged alternator and flywheel which required a complete replacment prior to any further racing. The suspension on the Ducati 1000ss also received much needed attention, with new fork springs, a lighter spring, and customised ride-height adjuster added to the Ohlins rear shock. A complete geometry diagnosis meant the bike should have been in a near perfect starting configuration for Anglesey. Unfortunately, the only testing available was a rain-sodden affair on the Friday prior to race day. All three team riders were unhappy with the feel of the front end, and could only hope that with dry weather tyres, the situation would be different.
Fortunately, for the remainder of the race weekend, from qualifying through to the final chequered flag, the Welsh weather favoured motorcycle racing and the Michelin Power One tyres proved to be more than up to the task. After Saturday's qualifying session, all three riders pronounced themselves happy with the bike and ready for Sunday's 6 hour race.
With the bike 13th on the grid of 20, Kapital Moto Racing knew that there was a lot of work ahead of them, but 6 hours is a long time to race and anything could happen. Phill Clarke rode the first 50-minute stint for the team, and made the most of the Le Mans style start to enter the first corner in 8th place. Already bettering his qualifying time by over 3 seconds, Clarke had truly settled into a consistent rhythm, by the time the bike was handed over to Luke Palmer.
Palmer shaved further seconds off the team's best laptimes and was regularly lapping faster than many of the Japanese 1000cc four-cylinder bikes. “The bike feels great and some amazing lean angle is possible. While we're still outclassed in terms of outright power along any straight section, there's nothing to touch us in corner speed” quipped Palmer. Over the course of the race, he used two sets of knee sliders, as well as a good part of his boot and leathers, as they dragged along the grippy Anglesey circuit.
Jason Boswell completed the riding trio by posting competitive lap times throughout the day, to ensure the team remained in a solid position to challenge in the stages of the race. While the ‘Sweatshop’ team were clear leaders overall, Kapital Moto Racing fought for the remaining ProSuperbike placings with ‘120+ Racing’ and ‘East Coast Racing’, both on Yamaha R1s.
Going into the final hour, Kapital Moto knew that second in the ProSuperbike class was not a reality, as 120+ Racing were by this time 4 laps ahead, however there were still on track positions, and overall championship points, to be fought for. In the last 30 minutes, Luke Palmer put in some amazing lap times to overhaul the team in front by almost 10 seconds per lap, securing an overall 8th place of 12 finishing teams, and 3rd in the ProSuperbike class.
Such a strong result is very pleasing for this newly formed National Endurance team and the Anglesey round was a day when everything went right. The bike worked faultlessly, the riders rarely put a tyre wrong, and the whole teamed worked like a well-oiled machine. To the amazement of many in the paddock, the Ducati 1000ss lasted the entire 6-hour event on just one set of Michelin Power One tyres.
Thanks, as always, to all the team and our sponsors, without whom none of this would be possible. Special thanks also to Mike Dawson, of MD Racing Services, for the race bike preparation prior to the Anglesey round, setting up the suspension, and providing technical support to the track side team throughout the weekend. And to Max Eaves, from the teams sponsor TVT, who once again performed the on track Marshalling on behalf of the team, also added to his responsibilities by taking on the post-race barbecue duties.
Kapital Moto Racing will be back in action at Cadwell Park on July 4th in the Hottrax Motorsport National Endurance 3-hour event.
Kapital Moto Racing Best Lap Time: 1:14.445 (Luke Palmer)
Kapital Moto Racing ProSuperbike Points: 36 (3rd Overall)
For more information, photos, a full list of team sponsors and how to become involved, see
http://www.kapitalmoto.com
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