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Road Racing Season 2002
After a cracking end to the 2001 season, which resulted in my first National wins, 2002 couldn't come quick enough. After a difficult winter where I was made redundant, everything turned out perfect, all be it, just in time for the start of the season. 2002 brought a change of class, with the purchase of a 2001 spec Yamaha TZ250. With both Bridgestone and Bel-Ray, two excellent new sponsors, we were all set. Despite not having rode the bike before the first round of the MRO (Motorcycle Racing Organisation) Championship at Brands Hatch the season started so very well. Racing for the first time with a race gearshift pattern (Opposite to road gearshift) I was delighted to qualify on the front row. Unbelievably things got better, when I took the lead from the start and pulled away to lead for over half race distance. I would end up finishing second after having defended the lead for so long and breaking the MRO lap record in the process, unfortunately I made a small mistake with the race gear pattern and with it lost the lead.
Round 2 would bring a premature end to what should have been an excellent season with my first broken bones in road racing in five years. Any form of motor sport has its risks, and motorcycle road racing is certainly no exception, when any small mistake can be punished heavily. I unfortunately received a broken wrist in a qualifying crash, when my bike seized up and sent me skywards in the process. The unfortunate set of circumstances that followed, resulted in it not being diagnosed until later in the year, left me with a year off to get back too 100% fighting fit.