Martin Jessopp

Arriving at Cadwell I was once again really looking forward to the another weekend of racing especially as it is my favourite circuit in the UK. On practise day the sun was out I spent the day trying to get the bike set up around the up and down demanding circuit. By the end of the second session I was 21st overall and 3rd privateer on a time of 1.31.755 which was not so bad.
 
Sunday was qualifying and it had been raining most of the night but was sunny when it was time to get on track which meant it was very mixed conditions and only did a few laps like many of the riders. For Cadwell Park the organisers had introduced a new format to qualifying in which we have a 3 session knock out style to determine the grid. Myself and the team set out to try and make the second session which would ensure me in the top 20 at worst. I did this and set a best time of 1.31.246 putting me 20th on the grid and 3rd privateer. I was happy with this because I was getting a fair bit of pain from my knees which are from an old injury, years ago.
 
Race day was again warm and sunny and I was really hoping to again get a point in the main championship but knew it was going to be a tough task with everybody on a fast pace all weekend. I had a poor start in race 1 meaning I had to get back past some riders early on if I was going to make top 3 of the cup. I had pulled a 8 second gap on the guys behind but was 12 seconds behind the guys in front and was on my own the whole race. My times towards the end of the race were dropping off due to the pain in my knees. I finished 4th and 17th overall.
 
In the next race we kept with the same set up and tyre choice. Again I didn’t have a great start and had to get past some slower riders. Race 2 was just like the first as I was on my own with large gaps to the front and rear. I finished 3rd in the cup and 18th overall.
 
I am still 2nd in the privateer championship.
 
Next round is the flat and bumpy circuit of Croft which I really enjoy riding so hopefully I will be back up to where I want to be.
 
PTJ #40

Since Oulton Park I had really been looking forward to Knockhill as I enjoy the flow of the circuit and have had some good results there in the past years. I was finally back to 100% fit and ready to do battle and try and get to the top step of the podium. 
 
Friday was dry and it was important to get some good laps in because we knew it was going to be raining all day saturday. The first time I pitted of the day I said to my crew I had almost forgotten how fast these bikes are as I nearly came off the back as soon as I applied the power in first gear leaving the pit lane!!! I spent the day trying get consistent fast laps but was having problems at the last corner and losing 0.4 of a second there which was the difference between me finishing 16th instead of 22nd.
 
As predicted saturday was wet an raining all day which ment the grid was going to be determined on wet weather riding which is not usually a problem for me but this was not so on this day. The morning session was our last practise of the weekend and I was having some issues with traction exiting the last corner on the wet surface, we made some changes to the end of the session in hope to get it sorted ready for qualifying. Unfortunately we did not manage to get the bike any better and was still losing 0.4 of a second. I qualified a dismal 24th overall and 6th privateer.
 
Race 1 saw a wet track drying fast so everybody was using slick tyres but our lap times were down due to it still being quite damp. I had a poor start and had a few guys come past me which was not good as it took me nearly 10 laps to get past them and then I ended up in a race long battle with privateer rival Chris Burns in which we were overtaking each other on every lap but I made a first corner move on him on the last lap and made it stick to the finish. I was really happy with this result because I scored a couple more points in the main championship and finished 2nd in the cup taking some points out of the injured rider John Laverty.
 
Race 2 was a shortened race with a wet track and a small drying line. I chose to go on a intermediate rear and a wet front which ended up not to be a good choice as the track was bone dry towards the end. The team did not manage to get the wheels changed in time due to trouble with a spacer so I had to start from the back of the grid. The conditions were not good for my wet front tyre and the bike was so unstable but I got past 8 riders and in a battle with another cup rival Gary Mason. As like in the first race with Burns I overtook Mason into the first corner and made it stick to the finish line ending up 16th overall and another 2nd place in the privateer cup. I was happy with these results but still not on the top step of the cup podium.
 
We head up North again next round to my favourite circuit Cadwell Park so I hope to see you all there.
 
Cheers,
 
PTJ #40.

Going to Oulton Park I was still not fit due to re injuring my shoulder at boxing training a week before but this was not going to get me down as I love Oulton and was looking to regain the form I had prior to my crash at Donington Park in late May.

Friday was a pretty much dry and I was concentrating on getting up to pace straight away from the first session but a small crash at Druids did not make it easy for myself and was starting to really hurt my shoulder. I finished up 26th overall and 7th privateer.

Saturday was another day where we had mixed conditions and this looked like this was going to be how it was for the remainder of the weekend. The final free practise was wet and I went out to test our new wet map we have on the bike to try and make it easier to ride in the rain because we do not have traction control like most of the grid. I ended up 14th overall and 2nd privateer which I was happy with because I did not go out for the last 20 minutes. Next was qualifying and it was dry and for the 50 minute session I was pushing as hard as I could on a soft race tyre to get a time of 1.39.373 whish would put me 20th on the grid and 3rd overall. I was quite happy with this due to the small problems we had been having in the previous dry sessions.

Race day saw us having morning warm-up very close to the first race which ment there was no time for mistakes. I had an average start to the race and ended up in a battle with championship rival Tom Tunstall in which i managed to put a second gap on him and keep ahead of him to the finish where I ended up 16th overall and 2nd in the cup which I was happy with because I was in a fair bit of pain during the race especially on the left handers.

Race 2 was not such a great start as before and saw me drop back a few places and have to make them back up during the race and when Watanabe came past I tried to hang on to him for as long as possible dragging me up through the order to finish 20th and 3rd. I was quite happy coming away with a 16h overall, 2nd and 3rd in the cup as i really was struggling which my collar bone.

Next round is Knockhill in sunny Scotland where I have had good results before and am really looking forward to it so I will hopefully see you all there.

PTJ #40

I have just got back from sunny Spain where I had my first test of the year at Cartagena and Guadix. The new bikes felt very strange and different to what I am used to but as I did more and more laps they felt ‘more like my own bikes.’  
I am pleased with the performance of the bikes and myself as I have not been on a bike since the Macau GP. It will take a few more days yet untill we have the best possible package ready for the first race. The new Pirelli tyres worked well and our set-up was working good with the tyres as the tyres deteriated.
 
We will be testing again before the first race but at the moment we do not know when so keep looking and i will keep you posted.
PTJ #40

Hope you have all had a great Christmas and new year - I have!  We are currently building the new Superbikes and everything seems to be going to plan. When they are finished they will be to the same spec as the Stobart Honda’s apart from electronics, which we are having built again like the Ducati 749.
 
For 2008 we are welcoming a new senior technician to the team, James Walker who will work full time on the bikes from Bridgwater. We also have Greg Smith and Neil Dodden working again.  The team has booked a test for late February but most likely we will be out on track before then.
 
So keep looking on the website for more information.
 
Thanks, PTJ #40.

After Cadwell Park we are now having a three week break and with having a decent finish there and after having a pretty miserable season so far I’m really excited about Donington Park next weekend. I just want to get there now and get on with the job and try and get another strong finish!

Donington Park suits the Ducati 749RS and is one of my favourite tracks where I have had some good races in the past so I’m counting down the days. I have been working hard on my fitness, which I really enjoy for some reason! It keeps me occupied out of trouble and makes me feel better and stronger. I have been out on my motocross bike twice a week, running a fair bit and down the boxing gym. So I’m keeping my body and mind busy to make the long break a bit shorter.

Hope to see you all at Donington….. Martin. #40

It seems to have been a long time coming, my best result was at Brands at the start of the season but I had that taken away from me due to a minor problem after the race. I’ve had so many strange things happen this year on the racing front that it’s good to be back up there and getting decent points. I’m hoping that I will be able to get some more strong results at the final two rounds at Donington and Brands Hatch. It would be nice to finish off the season on a high note for myself and the team. I’d like to thank them all for working so hard this weekend it was very much appreciated.

Cheers, PTJ

Hi, and welcome to my new re-vamped site.  Here in the Rider Blog I’ll be posting my thoughts from time to time.  You too, can leave your messages and comments here.  Just click on ‘comments’ and comment away.

… now off to Knockhill.  Click here for the timetable, and check out the ‘live timing’ over the weekend - this link can also be found on the home page.

Cheers, PTJ