quickbuck's road to ProLite racing

[quickbuck]

I have been asked about what it took to get into the ProLite Class so here goes:

It all started in Winter 2009. I was recruited as a mechanic for Team Air Force Racing at Taupo. Throughout the season my main focus was on the F3/ Post Classic Jnr bike ridden by Neil Chappell. The ZX6R ridden by Lee Bradford took care of itself more or less in comparison. The F3 bike took a lot of work, and everybody was trying to put Neil off his game.

Chappy won both F3 and Post Classic Jnr championships that year.

Then I organised a Mopedathon 6 hour Enduro on base at the end of the year.
I discovered on my Honda NS1 (50) all 3 of us could negotiate 1.1km of tyres and cones at exactly the same speed! So I thought I might as well get back into Racing one day.

2010 I volunteered to ride the Quad Bike for the Vic Club. While I was out in the middle providing "entertainment", and picking up fallen riders, I watched Ben Oxnam on the MotoRad Ninja 250R Dominate the ProLite class. I had been looking at the bike in the programme every round, thinking that would be a nice easy class to get into. Little maintenance to worry about, and relatively low cost when it comes to tyres etc.... So thought seriously about talking to MotoRad when I wanted to get my Race Bike.

I rang Carl at MotoRad and he told me they were selling the bike Ben was riding (2010 Ninja 250R). It wasn't really the plan, but Ben was leaving the class to pursue other things, so I took it.

The bike was sold registered and Wofed, and comes with everything for the road naturally.
It also came with a Gianelli Slip on muffler. MotoRad did all the race prep on the bike.
The Great thing is, it only takes an hour to get back to a road bike.

Once getting the bike home, and riding it on the road for a bit, I looked over it to see if there was any more I needed to do.
I changed the Oil, and redid the lock-wire on the sump, and filler cap, and that was about it.
Off to Hampton Downs for the first 2 levels of California Super Bike School I went.....
As I can't improve the engine, or suspension in any way, I figured this was the best performance mod I could do.

Since getting the Bike, I have crashed it once! Something Ben never did.
So I had to replace the road plastic with fairings from Race Fairings, and got the Paint Shop at Ohakea to paint them with the Team Air Force Scheme.
I also had to get some new Dunlop A12 tyres from Andrew at Forbes and Davies.
They will last all season!

So to sum up, if you are not mechanically inclined, it is best to buy a bike that has been prepped. I know the Hyosungs make about the same power, and on any given day with the same rider, there is very little in it. So, if you are keen you can talk to Billy (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php/11222-Billy)
about one. He has a few and doing great deals at the moment.

If you want to build up a bike for yourself, then there are a few out there. Then it is a case of opening the Rule Book (http://www.mnz.co.nz/download/2010_MoMS_Appendix_I.pdf) and removing a few parts.

I can honestly say it has been the most fun I have had on a motorcycle for years.

If you want any more advice or have any questions, please feel free to PM me.

[SWERVE]

Good on ya.
This class will be really big in a couple of seasons and a great way for all ages to compete on a level playing field.......... whilst being primarily to promote young talant into the upper ranks.
Sold the RG yesterday and the order has been placed for a 2011 Fi ninja........... not for me (to old & fat)
It will be run as a development bike for up & coming Juniors over the next few years.............. but only after Seth Devereux has put the number 1 plate on it for 2011/12.:woohoo::scooter:

[jaffaonajappa]

I can honestly say it has been the most fun I have had on a motorcycle for years.


Do you guys still get to pull out the spare 400 odd tyres and make a Bucket track, at Ohakea?

Now THAT was fun.

[quickbuck]

Good on ya.
This class will be really big in a couple of seasons and a great way for all ages to compete on a level playing field.......... whilst being primarily to promote young talant into the upper ranks.
Sold the RG yesterday and the order has been placed for a 2011 Fi ninja........... not for me (to old & fat)
It will be run as a development bike for up & coming Juniors over the next few years.............. but only after Seth Devereux has put the number 1 plate on it for 2011/12.:woohoo::scooter:

Hey Swerve, never too old and Fat....
Good on you for the plans putting another Ninja out there.
Seth's record at Manfeild got broken last Saturday too....

[quickbuck]

Do you guys still get to pull out the spare 400 odd tyres and make a Bucket track, at Ohakea?

Now THAT was fun.
Not for Buckets anymore, but for "Mopeds", in our Mopedathons.
The rules are anything under 50cc... Good to see some of the RG's make it out of the woodwork though...

Yes, Bucket racing was fun.... the fun I was sort of eluding to.

[jaffaonajappa]

hmmm. Are the mopedathons open to the public? Would be a Buzz to have a hoon around an air force base.

[quickbuck]

hmmm. Are the mopedathons open to the public? Would be a Buzz to have a hoon around an air force base.
Unfortionatly No, and for a huge amount of reasons that I can't really go into.

I am, however looking at the feasibility of holding such as event somewhere other than on an Air force base, that could be open to the public..... The entry will be a little, to cover the insurance cost etc, but it will be worth it.