Desk calendar feature...

This great shot of Gordon by Racing Line Photography at Snetterton is featuring in the 2009 Desk calendar, if you would like one click here: 2009 Desk Calendar.

Woo hoo - I'm getting back on track...

With a bit of luck the Classic Club might let me get out for a run round in one of the Parades.
It is just a shake down to check everything is up and running after Slipstream have loaned a replacement engine.
Can't wait!

Action shot from Snetterton earlier in the year, by Racing Lines Photography

Gordon meets 'Brian'.

I was invited to take Gordon along to Poynton Motorcycle Club.

Phil Harold their press officer has his own SZR that we named 'Brian' on the night, and it was interesting for the club members to contrast and compare the two.

The club is well supported and raise plenty of funds for good causes, you can visit their site by clicking here: Poynton Motorcycle Club

Slipstream Uncles to the rescue...

Slipstream are aware of just how popular Gordon has become - and want to see him back on his wheels just as much as I and all his fans do.

Roy called at Brands today, where I was coaching Piers Hutchins, and dropped off a replacement motor to get Gordon back up and running.

Cheers, Martin and Roy!

Video archive

I have now gathered together most of the videos I have made over the last few years and put them all together in the one place to make viewing easier.
Click here to find the video blog, and remember to add it to your favourites: Mike Edwards Video

Brief, engine problem overview

Gordon goes 'bang'

On Sunday I concentrated on Gordon and didn't ride Ming, warm up went well and things looked good for the race. Another flying start off the line - leading the race on lap one, second corner, and it is all over for Gordon. The little end broke and the con rod punched a giant hole in the front of the motor breaking the crank cases, barrel and wrecking just about everything in it's path. Even the front engine mounting was badly damaged bending the mounting bolts. It's amazing how much force is involved when the motor lets go!

Sunday morning warm up.

Just had time to do two laps this morning, everything seems to be okay - just a check as Steve and I have fitted the new calipers, and the brakes seemed to be working...

Gordon looks so gorgeous that Rory from PB magazine just couldn't resist taking some photos of him.

I'm busy chatting to Matt from PB who is having his first go at Supermono racing.

2008 first supermono race

Out in the opening race of the season for Gordon.
He really does get off the line like a rocket.
Worked really hard dicing with Mark Lawes, I did manage to get past him at some stage.
Ultimately crossed the line 2nd.
Not bad for his first time out since October.

Saturday qualifying

Steve McNichol has been very patient with me - I inadvertently left some wheel spacers in my fleece pocket some 5 hours away at home!

This means that we have had to swap front wheels between 'Ming' and 'Gordon' for each and every session. Also swapped brakes everytime!

Gordon feels good - managed to run at the front for most of the single practice combined qualifying session - ended up 3rd behind Nick Chadwick and Mark Lawes.

Getting ready for Snetterton

Gordon is begining to get a bit anxious with 'Ming' about his return to the track this weekend.

He really likes his new 'lime and liquorice' colour scheme though.

Gordons new clothes

Gordon's new bodywork should be ready over the next few days ready for his first outing at Snetterton at the end of the week.

Colour-it-in are 'Wrapping' him like they did with Bill, vehicle wrapping is a novel way to colour the bodywork without having to spray the bodywork like normal.
It has advantages over painting, being basically a 'sticker' the coating helps to protect the bodywork from minor damage, stone chips and minor scratches. And in Bill's case when I have finished using him and is being returned to BMW we can remove the graphics and coating and reveal his original colour scheme.
Gordon is waiting at the garage for his new clothes, still feeling a bit naked after his rebuild but looking forward to his first outing of the year.

Gordon comes home

After a long rebuild Gordon has finally returned home.

Peter Day has spent many hours carefuly rebuilding him back to his former glory.

I now have to fit his new bodywork once 'Colour it in' have finished vehical wrapping it then he will be ready for action for the first round of 2008 at Snetterton April 12th.

Ming came along for the ride and it was a test to see how 2 machines would fit in the van!

Rider's Rider Trophy.

I am very proud to have been recently voted Rider's Rider at the British Supermono Dinner Dance.
The memorial tropy is in honour of Geoff Sawyer who was a long time motorcycle racing enthusiast and a great supermono stalwart.

The trophy is presented to the rider who, in the opinion of his fellow riders, has most epitomised the spirit and commitment of the Supermono class during the season.

Of course, it was only because of the 'Gordon' project that I won the trophy, and here you can see one of his mates trying to get it off me.

Peter has excelled himself.

Called in to see Peter yesterday and take some photos.

Gordon is just looking fantastic!

Gordon's new clothes.

This season I think I will try to keep Gordon looking more like an orgininal SZR; with just a half fairing.

It has been difficult to find something that would work - but at last I found Pascal at a French Company, BUB Composite that do a replica SZR replacement fairing.

Check out Pascal's website: BUB Composite for all you Yamaha SZR owners out there.

E-mail : mailto:bub.composite@wanadoo.fr

More work from the maestro.

The new airbox is completely redesigned, now rubber mounted and re shaped so as to separate the oil tank from the airbox.
As per normal, Peter's work is top notch!

New footplates, levers and pegs, even all the suspension linkages have been Galvanised with new bearings and seals in the suspenssion linkages.

The new Replicast seat unit is a prefect match for Gordons original tank shape.

Here Peter is lining it up before making the seat base frame, now the sub frame is completed.

A new MHP silencer is ready to go on as soon as we get the motor back from Slipstream.

Looking gorgeous...

Peter has been hard at work, fabricating stuff for Gordon.

His work really is spectacular.

Gordon looks gorgeous.

Peter has been working hard.

Called at Peter's to collect Gordon's motor to take on to Slipstream.

He has been working hard on him - lots of new and improved fabricated parts, as usual, I just can't thank him enough.

Getting on with the rebuild.

The good news is that there is a plan to get Gordon back out on track this season.
Peter has totally thrown himself into the re-build, and from what he has told me over the phone, I can report that Gordon will be even better this year.
I called at Replicast to collect some new clothes for Gordon.
Dave, an LC racer himself from the 'good old days' has done a fabulous job - Gordon is going to look really smart.
I am looking to fitting just a top or half fairing this season, not a full one.
Something that I can attach a screen to - any ideas what or which bike I could use something from?

Replicast have a great website, and can offer competitively priced bodywork for most machines, click here to find out more:
Replicast UK