This one was really tough, but I won again. Keith Smith got a great start and found a huge amount of pace too. I was behind him for two laps and pretty shocked at how fast we were going. I passed him into Paddock Hill Bend and got my head down, but when I checked over my shoulder a lap later he was still there so I went faster. After a 50.3 lap he was still there again so I went flat out to the end and took no prisoners through the backmarkers. Smith even followed me into the 49s, which is remarkable on his bike.
That win makes a clean sweep of pole, lap record and four wins for the weekend, which is quite special at what I consider my home track. It also means I’m now 124pts in the lead of the championship with two rounds and 200 points left to go.
Thanks for all the texts and support.
Wilko

Another clear win for me, though this was a two-part race owing to a messy crash involving my team-mate, Nigel Davis. Although it looked bad, I’m glad to report that he’s fine and the bike isn’t too bad.
Chris Matthews was second in my class and Mark Andrew third. Barry Utting won class B.
In the Thundersport 500 class, my friend Sam won for the second time this weekend with another ultra-cool, battling performance against several tough rivals. Calm as you like, he set up the leader in the last corner, got better drive and won by 0.01s.
My last race will be at about 4.45pm. Wish me luck.
Wilko

Short version – I won!
The rain stopped an hour before the race and the sun came out so the track was drying fast. I checked the circuit with ten minutes to go and it was still damp so I went for my harder wets which work like intermediates. Thanks to brilliant help from good friends Rob, Sam and Martin I made the grid with seconds to spare and noticed that most other people were on dry tyres. At that point I realised that either me or them would be in for a tough time.
On the warm up lap I could see that there were still lots of damp patches but most of the track was dry. It doesn’t take much damp track to ruin your confidence on dry tyres so I knew I was on the right tyres, but also that the track could dry enough during the race that dry tyres could end up faster.
The tactic then was to bolt from the start and build up as much lead as possible while it was still damp. It worked perfectly and I pulled out a five second lead. Right at the end it had dried enough for the guys on dry tyres to be a bit quicker, but I had time to wait behind some backmarkers and win by three seconds.
It was a massively satisfying win, especially as two of my sponsors – RJW Consult and none other than the CEO of S&B Automotive Academy – were watching.
It was handy for the points too, as Matthews pulled in when he realised he was on the wrong tyres. Overnight, I lead by 110 points. I can’t wait for tomorrow.
Wilko

I hope none of you reading this find what I’m about to write in any way boring or predictable, because I rode my heart out and the result is really exciting for me.
I won. By 17 seconds. And I smashed the old lap record down to 49.6s. Before the weekend I’d thought how cool it would be to get under 50s on a Streetfighter, but I never imagined that I’d get so far under it.
Keith Smith was second, Chris Matthews third and Andy Denyer fourth. That’s boosted my points lead to 85 as things stand now.
There were quite a few crashes, including my team-mate Nigel Davis. What he didn’t know was that he was leading class B at the time as runaway points leader Barry Utting has already fallen. Happily, there were no injuries.
We’ve just had a downpour so the track might be wet for the second race. That’s ok as I have two options of tyre for damp and wet conditions. With a big points lead, I won’t be taking any risks. I’ll let you know how it goes later. Wish me luck.
Wilko

I overtook a BMW Z3 who then put his foot down. I gave the bike a bit more and got past with no more problems. I was riding at about 80 in a 60. I then saw a van unloading so I started braking and positioned myself to look round the van. There was an oncoming Transit, so I was coming to a stop. Then the Z3 arse-ended me, leaving a 30-foot skidmark, which I photographed on my phone.

I was sent for a medical report and thought I’d wait for the cheque. I missed an important Army course to get my promotion to Sergeant, but should be put back on the course next year.

Then my solicitors advised me that as I had overtaken and cut back in, the accident was my fault. They quoted Smith v Cribben, which says the overtaking vehicle is always presumed to be at fault. They are pressuring me to take a 50/50 split. If this is right it seems very unfair to me. Are they right?

Full Screw, Catterick

They are wrong, no question. The police report noted the skid, your photo is excellent. The Tesco van driver backs up your version of events and said so on the day to the police at the scene. The case your solicitors are referring to turned on very different facts, and the duty of an overtaken driver is to continue on a steady path. In Smith, a car driver went for an ill advised overtake, his car did not have the guts to complete the overtake before the dual carriageway came to an end, and ended up crashing. The Court of Appeal said, “If you get an overtake wrong you put yourself in that position and the driver being overtaken should just stay steady.” This is not what happened here. You had completed an overtake. You were riding briskly, fair enough, but you could come to a stop for a foreseeable hazard – and did so. The Z3 muppet couldn’t. He ran into the back of you. You should not accept any reduction. Your admitted speed played no part in the accident, as you were already stopping. You have done nothing wrong. The forensic evidence (the skidmark) the independent witness evidence (Tesco van driver) and the law all support your case 100 per cent. Get rid of your current solicitors because they are simply not representing you and your case well. The car driver’s insurance company are running rings around them and they have made too many howling errors. They have got the law wrong, cannot understand evidence or the effect of your injury on your trade as a soldier. With a back injuryto a young soldier you need to be seen by an orthopedic surgeon. Make sure the surgeon who reports on you understands the military role you have. What you cannot afford is a medical discharge five years after your case has finished because your back cannot withstand soldiering. Get it right first time because you cannot go back for more and get the justice you deserve.

Andrew Dalton
Fast Bikes
August 2010

It feels great to be back at Brands, the place I consider my home circuit. After last year’s bad luck I really want to do well this weekend.
Usual apologies for the lateness of this blog and the absence of a proper preview. It was another week of ridiculous hours at work and everything else had to wait.
Today we had practice sessions in the morning and first qualifying in the afternoon. It went very well and I’ll start each race from pole position.
Time for bed now.
Wilko

Meet Mark Stone, Britain’s unluckiest motorcyclist. Each month we tackle the legal aftermath of Mark’s riding mishaps. Today, he defies the righteous bollard of justice and crosses the line of fate

BIKE’S LEGAL EXPERT SAYS

Mark is in a difficult legal position. He is making an unusual and illegal move, so his duty of care increases. But the driver, also making an unusual manoeuvre, still owes Mark a duty of care.

The driver has a duty to signal his manoeuvre and to ensure that his signal is seen and acted upon before he moves. Mark’s riding is below the standards of a careful motorcyclist, but his manoeuvre is not unforeseeable.

Some case law says that Mark would be wholly to blame, but trial judges analyse the circumstances of each case before them. If the trial judge finds that the car driver should have seen Mark, had he looked from the correct position at the crown of the road, then the likely split is equal blame. Without the keep left bollard and double white line, Mark would most likely be found blameless.

Andrew Dalton

Bike Magazine

August 2010

Some photos from last weekend at the Stevenage Bike Fest at the Longfield Training & Development Centre in Stevenage. Andrew Dalton met with Guy Martin, IOM TT racer and there were demonstrations from Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Service

I’m signed up to a few of those regular emails that send you bargains from the biking world and recently, I confess, I gave in. I bought myself a new rucksack that was “on special”. But this is not just any rucksack … oh no … this is an all singing, all dancing motorcyclist backpack! The name is a real catchy number, don’t know how they came up with it – the “Cargo Lid Lugger Rucksack”.

When it arrived at the offices, I was initially a bit shocked at how large it was. However, it is so comfortable on (when in your bike gear) that you don’t notice the size at all. The straps are well placed across the chest and waist, and the whole bag seems to hug or envelope you rather than just perch on your back. And most importantly, whilst riding you barely notice it is there.

It is not the best looking bag by any means, however in terms of design features I think Cargo have done really well. The back section is moulded for comfort and for airflow, and so thankfully does not defeat the purpose of my air-flo jacket. It has a pocket on the front with a mesh lining that extends out and holds a helmet, which although I haven’t had occasion to use yet was the main feature that attracted me to it. In addition, the back of it has a solid lining which divides you from the contents of your backpack. This is actually somewhat comforting, as I ride along safe in the knowledge that should I have a spill when wearing it I won’t end up with pieces of my laptop or a set of keys lodged in my spine!

All in all, I am most pleased with my purchase, and in addition there was free delivery and a cargo net thrown in as a bonus Well done Sportsbikeshop!

Cheffy and Clare attended the Bulldog Bash last weekend, here are some photos from the event.