Name |
Alastair Loomes |
Age |
39 |
Years Racing |
5 |
Team Details |
Team Cheese, a group of like minded racers that are now numbering 8 riders 6 helpers and 3 macots. |
Website |
www.bike-racer.co.uk |
Sponser Details |
Over Inflated salary |
Current Class |
Open and Powerbikes |
Current Bike |
CBR1000RR |
Race Number |
39 |
Racing CV |
|
First Race |
First Race Pembrey 2004 |
Favorite Tracks |
Thruxton (fast corners give me the horn!) |
Worse Tracks |
Darley Moor – never got the hang of it and start line crash experience |
Best finish |
2nd |
Worse Finish |
Me in the van with the blue lights – bike in a skip |
Proudest Moments |
So many - hard to say one? Better to be a racer for a moment in time than a spectator all your life! |
Lowest Moments |
Crashing at Pembrey in 2005 on GSXR6 – just as I was getting something like competitive in the streetstocks; broke the bike and my confidence in it…! |
Why did you start racing |
Fastest at Track days wanted to go faster |
Explain your Best racing moment |
Racing Shrek at Brands on slicks as the track got wetter and wetter; keep the speed up and the tyres stay hot is the theory so we went for it lap times not dropping despite the tarmac getting shinier and shinier – brain screaming SLOW DOWN competitive instinctive – GET ON WITH IT YOU POOF! stayed on and beat him… fantastic bragging rights only lasted a few hours though…got a 10 second jump start penalty to go behind him in the results. |
What is your average year’s budget for racing? |
£5000 minimum |
What are your Goals with racing? |
FUN till I get too old |
Have you been injured when racing |
Minor only; couple of broken digits – some colourful bruising and a still wonky knee |
What would it take for you to consider stopping |
Family comes first at the end of the day, although there is an ALDI being opened locally so the cost of living can be cut! |
What spec of bike would you recommend a Novice start with? |
Get an ex race bike with the suspension sorted, try and avoid brittle race engines though (Budget permitting of course) |
Have makes of riding gear to you recommend? |
Dont worry about fashion – get quality leathers and gloves, boots even if its second hand or looks crap! – Budget permitting get a quality lid as light as you can DON’T FORGET TO GET YOUR ACU DISCOUNT – if in doubt talk to other racers. |
What other gear would you say a novice would need |
Van, genny, tyre warmers All the above and listen to the advice available. Try and get a good nights sleep (mattress in the van or decent tent and air bed)
|
What are your words of wisdom for starting racing? |
Just do it… never an ideal time, but you’ll only regret that you didn’t do it earlier / younger when you were really competitive (RASH?) |
What do you wish you had been told when you were starting racing? |
Just wish I had taken up the challenge earlier in life – but then I am old |