BSSO Update
Paul Green gets us race ready just as the season begins.
The BSSO race season is around seven months long, traditionally lasting from the middle of March through to the traditional last weekend of September. Into those six or seven months is packed a test-day and around eight championship weekends, with a few other events here and there thrown in for fun, like the chance to sprint or hill climb. But what else goes?
The BSSO AGM and presentation has been moved to a pre-Christmas slot which allows rules developments and changes to be agreed and communicated early so riders and tuners can get going quickly and make the most of any new or amended rules. So once the AGM is out of the way it’s into the workshops to get cracking on next year’s race scooters.
Rebuilds
A full race season can be very hard on the machines and for most riders, the first job of the winter is to fully strip their race bikes and check every component for damage and wear. If the scooters have been crashed during the year then bodywork can be fully repaired and repainted, frames checked, and damaged body parts replaced. From the engine perspective, even if no major developments are planned the whole engine will require stripping right down to component parts to closely check and replace any worn or damaged parts.
Development work
During the race season, the tuners will be keeping an eye on each other’s work and new ideas. Despite scooters being raced for around 50 years, the pace of
development has never been faster than now. The rules of racing have always kept pace with new technology and ideas and have (in sharp contrast to vintage motorcycles) allowed the development of more performance and improvements in handling. The top tuners are notoriously secretive about their work but some things can’t be hidden away and others can start to use those ideas. With modern technology and regular use of dyno machines the winter is an ideal time to make and test new exhaust systems for example so some tuners will be making up new patterns and testing back to back to see how they work.
Emperor’s new clothing
For a racer, every once in a while adopting a new colour scheme, new leathers, boots, helmet becomes a statement of intent. So the close season is a great time to get all these changes made, whether they be for an individual rider or a whole new set of team colours.
New classes
The popularity and competitiveness of different classes has always had its ups and downs over the years. It’s quite common for riders to switch from one class to another for the start of a new season. Sometimes this is due to classes being dominated by a rider or team so people move to their classes, or sometimes riders have won in a class so need a new challenge or faster class. Of course, sometimes a top fast rider can be in demand to race a different machine or class if their skills are so great.
Race to the sun
Scooter racing over the years has become more professional, with bigger budgets involved. A few riders also own race motorcycles and use them to test and gain track time both in the UK but also in Europe where the better climate allows year-round riding in the sun. At the time of writing this, a couple of riders were spending time in Spain on motorcycles in the same way that the top motorcycle racers are keeping their hand in during the close season. For some riders, testing much faster motorcycles helps develop their skills despite the massive differences in handling.
Track days
Several UK track day companies will let scooter racers onto their motorcycle track days. Circuits like Mallory Park and Cadwell Park run regular track days even over the winter so for riders and teams this is a great way to get in some early year track time and testing.
Despite the often cold and wet UK conditions over winter and early spring, things can be learnt and experience gained. Sometimes riders and teams will be quite secretive, while others are more willing to test in public and encourage other riders along.
The SRP team recently had a weekend testing at Mallory which allowed them to evaluate some new tuning ideas on the race track. An early crash after only two laps for Chris Geyton didn’t help matters on the day, but it’s always good to get the first crash of the year out of the way!
The official BSSO test day
Just before the start of the new season the official pre-season test day takes place. Generally held at Mallory Park, it’s the first chance of the year for riders to turn up and pit their skills and winter developments against their competitors.
This year the test day takes place on Friday, March 24, at Mallory and is open to spectators if you fancy a day off work watching fast scooters at play.
The first race
This year the season opener at Croft takes place on April 1 and the next issue of
Scootering will feature a review. The first race is often like the first day at school as everyone finds their way into the season and gets familiar with new machines and new riders. Why not go along and check out the action More information about the BSSO visit: www.scooterracing.org.uk