3-2-1... Blast Off - Croft - NEMCRC April 2016

After a long winter lay-off of 6 months, the RMKD Racing team went to Croft, to contest the first round of the North East (NEMCRC) club championship. We were entered in the Supertwin class, with 2 ER6 Kawasaki's. Our ZXR 400 was also present as a possibility for a second class if the weather was kind, but ultimately was never used.

Rider Nick Anderson qualified in 4th place for the weekends racing, after a wet morning session... which seems to becoming a regular thing every time we enter a meeting! It stayed wet for the rest of the day, and we were hoping for a good result on the Manx GP podium finishing ER6, until the clutch cable snapped on the warm up lap. A very rare occurrence, which Roger has never experienced in 'all the years' he has been attending race meetings!

Sunday saw better weather, and for the first race the track was damp but drying; so we brought out the newly refreshed carburated bike for the days racing. After having to start from the back of the grid, Nick rode a steady race to 3rd place. By the third race of the weekend, the track was dry. Nick took some time re-familiarising with riding in the dry and came second behind 2014 TT podium finisher James Cowton. By the last race, Nick was feeling more comfortable with the bike, as well as gaining confidence with the impressive but relatively new Avon Tyres. After leading in the early laps, a mid race problem saw him drop to 4th, before re-gaining the lead and winning the race.

Overall, a successful outing for RMKD Racing, leaving us feeling hopeful of more good results at Olivers Mount on 16/17 April.

Silver Replica winner FOR SALE - GPZ 600r

Our 1985 Kawasaki GPZ 600r F2 Classic race bike featured in November's issue of Practical Sports Bikes magazine is for sale. This was 9th overall and won a silver replica in this years Isle of Man Classic TT, and was the fastest 4 stroke F2 bike down the Sulby straight at 133.4MPH.

Price:
£2150

For details please contact Roger on:
Roger.middleton2@tesco.net
07809007881

or Nick on:
nick-19@hotmail.co.uk

Classic TT/Manx Grand Prix 2015

Photo: Martyn Parnell

Initially back in April, we placed an entry to race a GPZ 600r in the F2 Classic TT, but was turned down which was very surprising and disappointing, given that we were a Manx podium finisher the previous year.  Anyway, Roger had compiled some 'trick' parts to make a quick bike for the Classic TT, but having been declined these were then sold.

With three weeks to go, we thought we were organised in progressing the 2 ZXR 400s for the lightweight race. Nick then got a gratefully received email to say there was an outside chance of a ride in the F2 classic (thanks to Adrian Earnshaw) which was then confirmed by the organisers. We hastily found a non-running road bike off eBay and from then on it was a mad rush to get all three bikes ready for the event; still completing them upon arrival.

By the end of practice week, we qualified 2nd fastest on the 400 (although fastest through the Sulby speed trap at 139.5MPH), and 3rd in class on the GPZ 600 (around 12th overall), but was the fastest four stroke F2 bike down sulby at 133.4MPH.

In the Classic TT race, Nick came 9th overall and 2nd 4 stroke, winning a famous silver replica with a lap speed of just shy of 102MPH. Not bad going for a stock-motor'd bike that was a knackered none runner just a couple of weeks prior! The bike had no problems at all, and never leaked any oil or even missed a beat!

In the 400 lightweight race, Nick led at the end of the first lap with 106.2MPH average speed, with eventual winner Mark Purslow just behind. Purslow then took the lead, and after a slightly quicker fuel stop he led by around 15 seconds. Nick clawed it back to only 2 seconds starting the last lap, with the quickest lap of anybody stopping for fuel. Unfortunately the bike suffered a con-rod failure on the last lap whilst at Snugborough. Pictures of that random component failure to follow!

For a full lightweight race report, visit http://www.manxgrandprix.org/News/2015/September/04/SuperTwin-Lightweight-report and then scroll down.

Special thanks:
Mike Saunders
Colin Anderson
Steve Smith - Avon Tyres
Adrian Earnshaw
Mike Hailwood Foundation
Dave Whitaker
Chris Palmer
Johnathan Milner
Bob Farrington

Kawasaki ZXR 400 build and new seat unit design- July 2015

As a mid-season project, Nick and Roger at RMKD decided to turn a ZXR 400 non-runner out of Roger's workshop into a decent spec'd affordable race bike. After around 3 weeks work, in which the bike was completely stripped down to every nut and bolt to be serviced, the spec was upgraded to:

Stage 2 RMKD tuned RACE ENGINE:
RMKD spec race cams
Skimmed and gas flowed head
Profiled and polished inlet valves
Machined pistons

Race loom - freshly done
Beet exhaust system
Race rearsets
Braided hoses
Resprung R6 shock (with compression and rebound damping) works really well
Front forks stripped, cleaned, new seals and oil
New RMKD ram airbox
New race bellmouthes
New bodywork including latest style race seat/undertray
Freshly painted tank and wheels
Carbon fibre clock mount with digital temperature gauge
RMKD screen brace
New battery

Considering there are a lot of 'knocked about' race bikes going around at the moment, we didn't think this was a bad buy at just over 2k.

Take note of the seat unit... these are the latest design and available to buy now!

Kawasaki ZXR 750 - Barry Sheene Classic June 2015

Two weeks prior, this 1992 Kawasaki ZXR 750 J1 was a non-running shed. Roger at RMKD transformed  it into a Formula 1 Classic TT worthy bike thanks to a big clean up misson.

We got the bike to the Sheene Classic meeting at Oliver's Mount, but unfortunately had brake issues.

However, the meeting was rescued with a decent 3rd place outright in Sunday's supertwin race on the team's carburated ER6.

Rain Again - Oliver's Mount Spring cup - April 2015

The first proper outing since the Manx Grand Prix was the Spring Cup at Oliver's Mount, and Nick's first time on a bike in 2015.

We brought the 400 ZXR and two Kawasaki ER6 supertwins. It wasn't ideal that the rain fell heavily on the Saturday morning, resulting in a heavy crash for one of the Irish riders. This caused a long delay and meant that practice on both bikes was cancelled.

Qualifying on the 400 went well considering having no tracktime at all, putting it third on the grid and front row. The main problem was Nick having to get to grips with slipping the clutch out of the three tight hairpins, as the bike runs an SP close-ratio gearbox. The 650 supertwin qualifying took place as the track was drying out, and a choice of wets when it should have been dry tyres meant we qualified in 8th place.

By Saturday afternoon the track had dried out ready for both races. In the 400cc race, Nick came home in 5th place, which we knew could be improved on Sunday.

On Sunday morning, Nick dislocated his left shoulder on his first qualifying lap on the supertwin, and no lap time was set. Fortunately the problem was sorted quickly in the medical centre and he was able to make the start of the 400 race. We won outright by 10 seconds from Paul Owen on a Honda RS 250, and 44 seconds clear of TT legend Ian Lougher in very wet conditions.


The weekend culminated with the first outing of Roger's new home made tyre changer. This attracted much unwanted attention across the paddock; keeping Roger busy throughout Sunday afternoon. He even won a bottle of stale Russian bubbly for his efforts!

Island Debut - Manx Grand Prix 2014

The much anticipated new RMKD Kawasaki ER6 supertwin was ready for the teams debut at the Manx Grand Prix, in which our year has been based around. Changes to this bike was using the injected fuelling system, as well as upgrading to a Versys swing arm. In addition, the short circuit carbed 650 was brought, and a third stock ER6 machine.

After a traumatising ferry journey (especially for Roger) we were ready for the first evenings practice - starting with the speed controlled lap. Nick got as far as Braddan Bridge before a faulty valve in the front brake master cylinder brought him to an abrupt end - less than 2 miles into the course. An extremely frustrating outcome, especially as the bikes had been meticulously prepared in anticipation for the event.

24 hours later and the bike had been repaired after a successful test at Jurby (a good do in itself!). The team was very nervous as anymore problems on our second newcomers lap could bring an early end to the meeting for us. Monday evening and Nick completed the speed controlled lap with no issues, followed by his first lap of regular practice without an instructor and a lap of 94MPH average.

Tuesday and Wednesday evening practice went without a hiccup, steadily increasing the lap speed to an average of 102.42MPH. That turned out to be the last practice before the races, as two consecutive attempts on Thursday and Friday on the carbed bike were halted at St Ninian's and Crosby respectively with electrical gremlins.

The newcomers race eventually arrived on Tuesday evening, feeling like forever since we were last on track. Nick started first on the road for the 650 class, and after being passed by hard charging local rider and eventual winner Dean Osborne, he managed to stay on his back wheel until the Gooseneck of lap 1. A race average of over 105MPH and a fantastic 3rd place finish was the result. The injected RMKD bike also one of the fastest through the Sulby speed trap at 139.5MPH.

Also, for the first time using AVON tyres we were extremely impressed, offering fantastic levels of grip and durability. We found they allowed the bike to turn a bit better than the Pirelli's on the front end; and given their competitive price we recommend the 'Avon 3D Xtreme'. A huge thanks to Steve Smith is owed for helping us get sorted with the tyres.

The final race was the supertwins, again increasing the lap times, with a standing start lap of 106.8MPH. A 17th place finish was the outcome - slightly disappointing losing several places on the last lap due to several yellow flags.

Thank you also to the tireless help of Colin Peters, whom not only fueled for us but also helped in every aspect of the meeting; as well as keeping us sane and entertained throughout the fortnight. Also, thanks to Richard for his assistance in getting the bike ready for the newcomers race.

Thank you to Adrian Earnshaw and the Mike Hailwood Foundation for their help and generous contribution.