Racer Wright ready for British Supersport championship challenge

After winning three endurance series with the No Limits Racing series, as well as picking up third place in the HM Quickshifter Cup 600 in 2019, Wright will be racing in the British Supersport championship for this year.

The Tividale ace, who rides for the Black Country-based Double Two Racing/DRC Race Leathers team, has also put lockdown to good use by building two new bikes as he prepares for a very busy campaign ahead, which includes competing in the No Limits Pirelli Super Series 600 championship.

"It's taken a lot of planning and a huge amount of commitment from all involved, including that of extra team members and our amazing sponsors," said Wright.

"Last year was definitely one to forget, for obvious reasons, but also because so much of the race season was cancelled.

"During the first lockdown, we'd resigned ourselves to not racing at all, but what went on behind the racing scene was, in a word, quite a lot.

"We still have a responsibility to promote our sponsors through our social media race pages and we even built a spare race bike from a bare frame upwards with a huge amount of help and parts from Lee Wedge, company owner of motorbykebitz.co.uk, in Wolverhampton.

"Some of the parts, which were dealer only, were supplied by our sponsors at Cradley Kawasaki.

"Both bikes are always tuned and looked after by Paul Curran and the team at Cannock-based PCR Performance centre.

"Our friends at MPW Motorcycleparts warehouse have been on the case, supplying us with a quick action race throttle, as well as race screens and tyre warmers.

"We also just received a support package from long-time sponsors at Putoline, which supplied us with a full season's worth of engine oil and filters."

Wright and the Double Two team will also have ongoing support from Simon Farquar, at insurers Properly Protected, while Novol Paints were behind a colour change for all the wheels.

The aim is to make the bike look the part on the undercard of the British Superbike series, which will be fully televised and seen by millions.

"Hopefully, we will be welcoming back spectators by the opening round staged, at Oulton Park, at the end of May, and our awesome custom race suit sponsors, at DRC Race Leather up in Sheffield, are super busy in making the new GP air suits in the instantly recognisable fluorescent team colours," added Wright.

"You certainly won't have any trouble spotting the bikes – and if any company would like to promote their business on a UK and even worldwide-scale, please feel free to get in touch and ask about our sponsor packages."

With so much going on, the new season looks set to be a real contrast with 2020 – which saw Wright hit by both cancellations, due to the pandemic, and then a bad injury.

"No Limits Racing pulled out all the stops to get the series started again last year and, with restrictions easing, they announced a shortened four-round series to start at Snetterton over the weekend of August 1-2," said Wright.

"It was to be one of the hottest days of the year, which might sound great, but from the first lap of testing the heat caused us all sorts of issues with front suspension.

"Nick, from race support Motor Mechanica, worked tirelessly all weekend to sort it and dialled out 90 per cent of the problems but we were always on the back foot and had a difficult weekend, which showed in the results."

Round two, at Oulton Park, in Cheshire, then went even worse when Wright clipped a curb into turn one on test day, which launched him down the track towards the barriers, coming to rest with two dislocated fingers and a broken left hand.

"It meant the weekend was over before it had begun," he said. "And three weeks later we were up north to the Lincolnshire circuit of Cadwell Park.

"Test day went fairly well and the bike was performing but the pain in my hand was rearing its ugly head.

"We hoped a bit of rest overnight would ease the situation and qualifying and race one were pretty good."

However, after the race, Wright's hand swelled up again and ominous bruising appeared.

The injury was assessed the next day and Wright bravely managed to compete in three, hard-fought races, but later that week it was confirmed Wright had refractured his hand, which meant he was forced to miss the last round at Donington Park.

"Since then the hand has healed and, along with a diet and training, I've dropped more than 15lbs in weight," said Wright.

"The bike has also had all new K-Tech DDS PRO suspension for the new season ahead.

"It's a massive year for the team and we are extremely excited for the challenge that awaits us.

"There'll be lots of updates, information and amazing photos courtesy of our official team photographer, Matt Sissons, of Chequered Flag Images, who takes all our stunning action shots."

Wright and the rest of the Double Two Racing team hope to be on the start line in March, with No Limits Racing, competing in the Pirelli Super Series 600 championship.

"We won't be able to do all the rounds at BSB due to work commitments but we hope to do the majority of them," said Wright.

"But for now we hope everyone stays safe and look after themselves and each other."

For further information about sponsorship opportunities with the Double Two Racing/DRC Race Leathers team, email petektm125@aol.com