Battle of Endurance pays off for racers
Racing for six hours non-stop is always going to throw up a few problems – so it came as no surprise the Double Two Racing team really had to earn their second-place finish.
Donington Park was the setting for the latest No Limits Endurance series, which has seen Black Country duo Pete Wright and Martyn Siviter dominate the Club 600 class.
The team arrived at the Derbyshire circuit full of confidence for round three of the championship after winning the first two rounds at Snetterton and Cadwell Park.
Wright, from Tividale, and Siviter, from Blackheath, drafted in support rider and Cup 600 championship leader, Scott Stevens – but from the off, things started to go a bit pear-shaped.
Wright said: “Scott was to qualify first but realised at the last second he had left his armband back at the sprint rider pits, so grabbed a pushbike to fetch it.
“But qualifying was seconds from getting underway so I hurriedly got ready and out on to the track.”
Wright posted a time good enough for first in class and 15th overall, but the drama was not over as Scott then started suffering severe gearbox issues, which meant Wright and Siviter would have to do the full six hours between the two of them.
Wright started the race and maintained first in class, which Siviter extended to a 60-second lead.
A two-lap lead had opened up as Wright cruised down pit lane but he had no idea his team-mate was now having major issues.
After the bike cut out three times trying to leave pit lane, the team decided to refuel Wright’s bike and send out Siviter on that instead.
“Time was ticking by and it took five minutes to get Mart out,” said Wright.
“We had lost the lead, second place and were really on the back foot.
“Mart had a good stint but in the pit garage frantic work was going on by the Track Prep team of Wayne and Josh.
“They’d stripped the other bike down to check the fuel pump filter, which looked okay but was changed just in case.
“Mart was now due for a pit stop in 10 minutes and the decision was taken to do another refuel on my bike, which meant a third back-to-back stint.”
The Track Prep team had discovered the CO2 sensor was kicking in due to a blocked air filter and as Siviter pulled in, Wright rolled out of pit lane after another four-minute-plus pit stop and set out to claw time back.
However, disaster again struck when a bike spilled oil right in front of Wright at Craners and after the front end tucked in and the bars went on full left lock, he was spat him back upright by the bike.
He got back on the gas at Swantz but with two more riders down in front of him, he put the bike in full opposite lock and again he was somehow managed to save it from crashing when the red flag came out and everyone was brought back into the pits.
Still holding third place and with the track rideable again, Wright went out but then Siviter was finally raring to go on a perfectly-running bike and he put in a stunning stint dragging the team back up to second.
Wright tried to catch first place but the gap was too big and Double Two Racing finished 60 seconds behind.
Wright added: “We want to take this opportunity to thank Track Prep Racing and super mechanic Wayne and trainee Josh, as well as the outstanding work of Mat Newell and Alison on pit board for the six hours, Ash Norrington for setting the bikes up and all the riders for giving it their absolute all
“Thanks to also to No Limits Racing, Barnsdale Leisure, Putoline Distribution UK, Cradley Kawasaki, RUS Scaffolding, Central Accident, REVS Suspension Services, PCR Performance, Demon Tweeks, AS3 Performance, Express & Star Newspaper, MBF Home Improvements, Lightning Express and UK Clubsport.”
Meanwhile, the family of Wolverhampton’s Darren Spruce have released a statement after he suffered a crash during round two of the Darley Moor championships on May 7 and was airlifted to hospital.
The statement reads: “The family of Darren Spruce would like to take this opportunity to thank all the marshals, officials and medics who worked so hard to look after him after his high-speed crash on the day.
“They would also like to thank all the riders and spectators for their good wishes.
“Unfortunately, Darren’s injuries are more severe than at first thought and he will have to spend a lengthy time in hospital.
“Darren and his family have asked that their privacy be maintained as they come to terms with his serious injuries.
“Darren is continuing to make slow but steady progress in hospital and the doctors are happy with his recovery so far.”
