Argaum Racing Round 5

THIS IS IT!

The biggest round in the Minitwins calender this season

BMCRC Minitwins would be acting a a support race for the MCE British Superbikes

I couldn't wait to share a paddock with the BSB boys and race in front of the big crowd. More than that I also excited to finally get to visit the circuit known as the "mini-nurburgring" with its infamous mountain.

If I had known before hand what would happen on this weekend well.............to be honest I would still have gone.

Friday

The weekend started great with a perfect weather forecast and friends and family coming to watch me race. I had arranged to share a gazebo with fellow minitwin riders Tom Scheving and Geoff Learwood and after arriving at the circuit early waited for the guys to arrive.

Before our one and only practise session in the afternoon I had a few things to sort out:

1. Get new Michelin Pilot Ones front and rear (thankfully I won free front at Pembrey)

2. Pass through scrutineering

3. Receive our riders briefing - as we were at a BSB and not BMCRC event this meant a few interesting changes:

a) there would be a safety car (bunch of 72bhp SV's trying to keep pace with a 474bhp Nissan GTR)

b) there would be blue flags indicating faster rider behind you (my opinion was who cares)

c) if we crashed we could rejoin the race (providing the bike was still rideable).

With everything sorted I took it easy for the practise session and concentrated on scrubbing in my tyres and getting to know the circuit. However, even at this slow pace I felt that the bike was pulling massive wheelies going over the mountain and only hoped I would come out of the weekend with some good mountain photos.

Saturday

I was pleased with my performance in the early morning qualifying session and, despite having my chain break towards the end of it I managed to qualify 24th and 6th placed rookie - not too bad considering I had less than 20 minutes track time around Cadwell.

Although slightly frustrated after having to wait all day for our race, (qualifying at 9am and race at 6pm is not ideal),I was very excited on the grid and uncharacteristically got a good start to the race. However, after a couple of laps I overcooked it going into Park bend and had to run onto the grass allowing Peter Thornton and another rider to get past me though I quickly rejoined the track and caught up with them.

After this my weekend went completely wrong and as is always the case in racing there are 2 stories as to how the crash happened.

Peters story - after successfully overtaking another rider up the inside he turned into Park Bend whereupon I recklessly came up the inside of him going way to fast to take the bend and I pushed him off the track causing him to crash.

My story - I successfully overtook both bikes up the inside going into Park Bend and had just started to turn in whereupon Peter, who I assume had not seen me and having started his turn in earlier, came across the track and touched me. This forced us both to pick the bikes up and run onto the grass. When Peter hit the grass his front wiped out and he crashed. I hit the grass upright but unfortunately hit Peter's bike launching me into the air after which I landed in the tyre wall with my bike on top of me.

Whatever story is true is largely irrelevant the crash spelt the end of mine and Peter's weekend with both of us requiring surgery. I wish Peter a full and speedy recovery.

My own injuries were threefold and can be seen in the photos below:

1) Broken left clavicle (collarbone) which I had to have plated giving me an impressive 4 inch scar.

2) A fantastic (but at the time very painful) bruise on my left hip which disappeared surprisingly quickly.

3) Lisfranc Sprain to my right foot - initially undiagnosed but now meaning i have a sexy boot to wear.

It is now 3 weeks since the accident and I am confident that I will make a full recovery but will not be racing again this season.

Cadwell's Mountain - fantastic!

The first time this happened I wasn't scared............much.

Chicks dig scars

Ouch, yes it did bloody hurt

My sexy new summer look

Sunday

After getting fantastic treatment at the Cadwell Park circuit Medical centre I was sent to Grimsby hospital where I spend Saturday night and most of Sunday before reluctantly they released me to have follow up treatment in London.

At this time I was pretty helpless and could barely limp a couple of steps. I therefore owe a HUGE thanks to a lot of people for helping me out so in no particular order I'd like to thank:

All the Marshals and Medical staff at Cadwell Park.
Doctors and Nurses at Grimsby Hospital - particularly my ward nurse and the female doctor on night shift.
Doctors and Nurses at The Whittington Hospital, London - particularly Issie who kept in contact and got me into surgery as quickly as possible.
Tom Scheving and Geoff Learwood for helping to pack up my stuff and for their help through the season.
My wife Blu for putting up with me and all the stress I cause her.

I also need to say a very special thanks to:

Dad (Steve Jones) for staying with me at the medical centre and hospital and for driving me all the way back to London before going home to Plymouth - i'm sure he's sick of seeing his son getting treatment after bike accidents and even though he's a pain in the arse there really is no-one better to have by your side when things have gone wrong.

Geoff and Michelle who were absolute life savers and who I owe big time for all their help in getting all my stuff back to London and unloaded into my garage before having to drive back to Plymouth. True friends who really were incredible.

THANK YOU

I know a lot of riders will be interested to hear how the bikes doing. Thankfully it looks like the damage is limited to Rev counter, nose cone, sub-frame and seat unit (of which I have spares). It looks like the bike, having landed on me, came off quite lightly in the crash with most damage being to the rear sub-frame. I will update the site to record how repairs are going as soon as I'm fit enough to start working on the bike.