Daley Mathison Racing #104 Fuelled by Mercedes-Benz of Teesside 2013 Newsletter 7- Season Review November 4th 2013 This is the final Newsletter of the 2013 racing season and presents summaries of the year's meetings and race results and looks forward to the 2014 season. The 2013 season race results summary is presented in tabular form at the end of this document. When finalised, proposals for 2014 will be notified to sponsors directly and via the website. Overview The whole team put in a significant effort and were determined to make 2013 as successful as possible and all-in-all Daley is delighted with his performance and great results this year. A number of significant sponsors have come onboard and Daley's sponsorship portfolio is now well-balanced and his sponsors have contributed greatly throughout the season. Daley extends his sincere gratitude to all his sponsors and acknowledges that his success this season has been due to their contributions. Following a crash at Tandragee in early May several of the planned meetings had to be missed, but to compensate additional meetings at Armoy and the Manx Grand Prix were added towards the end of the season. Daley missed the TT but this was offset by a very successful Manx Grand Prix where he was extremely pleased with his 5th place finish in the Newcomer's A Race with a best average lap speed of 113.880mph. Of course, competing in the Manx this year is an excellent preparation for the TT in 2014 to which Daley is very much looking forward. The 2013 season ended on a high at the "Stars at Darley" meeting at Darley Moor circuit. Daley was delighted to qualify in Pole position for the Formula 600 Race on the Hol-Taj Suzuki GSX-R600 and also Cock o'the North Race at Oliver's Mount, with his 2nd position placing in the race itself. Scarborough Meeting Dates Spring Cup, Oliver's Mount, Scarborough - 21st April Cookstown 100, Northern Ireland - 26th-27th April Tandragee 100, Northern Ireland - 3rd-4th May Cock o'the North, Oliver's Mount, Scarborough - 20th-21st July Armoy Road Races, Northern Ireland - 26th-27th July Manx Grand Prix, Isle of Man - 17th-30th August Gold Cup, Oliver's Mount, Scarborough - 14th-15th September th th Stars at Darley, Darley Moor - 12 -13 October Jumping Ballaugh Bridge during the In addition Daley was involved in: Newcomer's A Race at the Manx Grand Prix The "Sunshine Superbike" meetings organised by Mick Grant in South Africa at Aldo Scribante, Zwartkops and Kyalami circuits from 23rd January to 10th February. Track time and testing at Oulton Park and Donington Park circuits in collaboration with Michelin Tyre PLC on 19th April and 18th October respectively. www.daleymathisonracing.co.uk │ www.facebook.com/DaleyMathisonRacing │ 0785 333 5991 │ [email protected] 6 North View, Murton, Co. Durham, SR7 9PF Daley Mathison Racing #104 Fuelled by Mercedes-Benz of Teesside 2013 Newsletter 7- Season Review The bikes A 2013 Suzuki GSX-R600 sponsored by Hol-Taj Exports Ltd and Team Classic Suzuki. This is a standard- engined road machine with the fitting of a quickshifter, Power Commander and race exhaust being the main modifications. Daley is highly appreciative that the sponsor replaced the bike mid-season as it was the one damaged in a crash at Tandragee. A 2011 Honda CBR1000RR which again has a standard engine and was fitted with a quickshifter, Power Commander, race exhaust and Nitron race rear shock absorber. For the Armoy Road Races in Northern Ireland in July Daley was fortunate to be loaned Honda RS125 and Honda RS250 machines for the meeting by Logan Racing. Website The very latest news and information from Daley Mathison Racing can always be found on the website which is updated regularly - even out of season - (www.daleymathisonracing.co.uk) in order to keep sponsors and followers fully informed. The website also archives all past news articles, race and meeting reports, newsletters, etc., as well as providing general information and useful links. Meeting Review Summary Spring Cup, Oliver's Mount, Scarborough - 21st April The team arrived at Oliver's Mount the day after the testing at Oulton Park. This testing had been invaluable as an opportunity to test both bikes before the first meeting of the season as well as for checking settings and becoming familiar with the new Michelin tyres. The Saturday at Scarborough was used purely to prepare both bikes for the practice and races sessions which were both held on Sunday. A problem of the Suzuki's front suspension bottoming out caused issues which were addressed in practice. In a pleasing start to the season Daley returned 7th and 11th positions on the Honda and an 11th place on the Suzuki. At the Memorial during the Spring Cup Cookstown 100, Northern Ireland - 26th-27th April A feature of practice day (Friday) at the Cookstown 100 was the weather alternating between bright sunshine and showers - some very heavy, if short - causing difficulties in deciding the best tyres to fit. Race day, Saturday, was drier with periods of sunshine making the roads more predictable. Daley was entered into the "B" group in the Superbike Open, Superbike and Supersport races and was absolutely thrilled to cross the finish line in 3rd position in the Superbike Open Race. He also returned 6th and 4th positions in the Superbike and Supersport races respectively. 3rd place trophy in the Superbike Open B Race at Cookstown www.daleymathisonracing.co.uk │ www.facebook.com/DaleyMathisonRacing │ 0785 333 5991 │ [email protected] 6 North View, Murton, Co. Durham, SR7 9PF Daley Mathison Racing #104 Fuelled by Mercedes-Benz of Teesside 2013 Newsletter 7- Season Review Tandragee 100, Northern Ireland - 3rd-4th May Billed as "the Best National Road Race in Ireland" Tandragee is often considered good preparation for the TT. Friday, practice day, was showery but not sufficiently so to warrant full wet tyres. Race day was much brighter but the field forming the paddock had by then become muddy. Daley was entered into the Superbike and Senior Races on the Honda and Supersport on the Suzuki. On the tight and twisting circuit Daley reported the Honda to be hard work but he was happy with his 19th position in the Superbike race. But during the Supersport race Daley crashed heavily on the approach to Castle Corner and the injury to his hand would subsequently require an operation and resulted in him missing some of the following meetings. On the Suzuki at Tandragee Cock o'the North, Oliver's Mount, Scarborough - 20th-21st July After the enforced layoff from racing following the incident at Tandragee Daley was excited to be back racing and the Cock o'the North races were to prove a very strong return. In preparation he had had outings at the Barry Sheene Classic meeting in June in parade laps and testing at Teesside Autodrome earlier in July, where strength and stamina were clearly returning quickly to his injured hand. Entered into 3 races in each of the two bikes the team had a very busy weekend and Daley was very pleased to cope so well with such a hectic return to racing proper. Daley was therefore delighted to finish in 5th position on the Honda in the main race of the weekend, The Cock o'the North. On the temporary replacement Suzuki, a 2009 model, Daley finished in 7th, 9th and 10th positions and in the remaining races on the Honda in 7th and 9th positions. The whole team were extremely pleased with such a strong performance from Daley in a weekend of consistent good weather. On the Honda over Jefferies Jump at Scarborough Armoy Road Races, Northern Ireland - 26th-27th July The Armoy races are only in their 5th season but have become very popular with many of the top riders. For this meeting Daley had the loan of Honda RS125 and RS250 two-stroke machines from Logan Racing in addition to the Honda and Suzuki. With four machines entered into five races the meeting was very busy but very successful and rewarding. Heavy rain late on Friday afternoon caused the postponement of four practice sessions into Saturday morning, but these and all the The Honda at the Armoy Road Races www.daleymathisonracing.co.uk │ www.facebook.com/DaleyMathisonRacing │ 0785 333 5991 │ [email protected] 6 North View, Murton, Co. Durham, SR7 9PF Daley Mathison Racing #104 Fuelled by Mercedes-Benz of Teesside 2013 Newsletter 7- Season Review planned races were accommodated. Daley was delighted with his performance in the principal race of the meeting – “The Race of Legends”, where he achieved a very creditable 12th position on the Honda in a field which included world-class riders. In the closely run 125GP race Daley finished 4th missing out on the second position he'd been holding until the very late stages by just 0.37s. In the 250cc Race Daley finished in 5th place and in the Open Championship 12th on the Honda, but the Suzuki suffered clutch failure during the Supersport Race causing a DNF. Manx Grand Prix, Isle of Man - 17th-30th August Having missed the TT Daley was excited to be entered into the Newcomer's A and Senior Races on the Hol-Taj Suzuki GSX-R600 at the Manx. Whilst still retaining his ambition to race at the TT, the Manx GP represents very good training for that event. Race numbers for each race are allocated by the officials according to "merit" so Daley was very pleased to be given #3 for the Newcomer's A Race and #41 for the Senior Race.