EBC-Equipped Paul Charman Begins 2024 No Limits Racing Season at Snetterton

Snetterton 1000cc Super Series with No Limits Racing

“Out of season, our preparation with Dave Ogden at Phoenix Race Support has been busy to say the least, with many changes to our steed. With testing at Cartagena in the sun, I felt like I was hitting the ground running with a stallion of some pedigree, with a new Parkitt heart and pacemaker and revitalised LC Customs glossy coat to look at, not forgetting the almighty stopping power of the EBC discs and GPFAX brake pads. A special thanks to Dave, Team Boss and Graham and Anne – my ever supportive Mum and Dad – for help and support enabling all this.”

Friday – Test Day

“So, onto where the action happens and to Snetterton for Friday’s test day, which was really productive with Parkitt Dyno and Suspension helping with some electronic gismo setup changes which really helped with the bike. Plus, we had Alex from A.J.R. suspension, Penske Racing Shocks and Dave from Phoenix Race Support – the Team Boss – helping to dial in the new Penske gas front fork internals which are amazing. During the dry afternoon sessions I managed a new PB, at a track I seem to struggle with, so that has got to be showing the steed’s good bloodline.”

Qualifying

“We had still not got the bike to behave exiting the corners perfectly, and after a few chats with Dave and crew, Dave came up with a setting that he was convinced would work, and it did – it was a dream and on part-worn tyres I set a new PB of 1:57.4 and 10^th on grid (8^th on results) against several BSB riders of note.”

Race 1

“As we arrived onto the grid, the inevitable happened: it started to rain. Travelling back to the pits, we had tyre trails from the other bikes’ tyres, so some water had seriously gone down on the circuit. We had 15 minutes to change tyres. We opted for intermediates. Back on circuit, I noticed a wide variety of tyre choices, from wets to slicks and upon the warm-up lap it was apparent I should have opted for slicks.

“I made an OK start and managed to pass a few around turn one, riding as hard and stopping best as I was able to on the EBC Brakes-shod R1, finally finishing 9^th on track and 6^th in class with a lap time of 1:59.8.

Race 2

“The next day, I was on the grid in 9^th place. A dry race, but very cold temperatures. I made another fair start and overtook a few riders into turn one. We got to Coram’s on the first lap and I was feeling brave and managed to overtake four riders on the outside of the turn which got me into 5^th for a few seconds, before being out dragged down the start/finish straight due to a poor exit from the last corner.

“I was in a really good battle for positions throughout the race. On the second lap another rider tried to make a pass on me on the outside of the hairpin, ran in too tight and ran into the side of me, which forced me onto the curb on the inside which sat the bike up as I nearly lost the front, unfortunately this meant we hit again, nearly causing me to crash and the other rider went down. I lost a few positions in the meantime, with all this excitement unfortunately the race was red flagged on lap 7, with me finishing 10^th on circuit and 7^th in class with a lap time of 1:56:8 – a PB.”

Race 3

“We fitted another scrubbed front tyre on the bike as the existing tyres had expired. What a big mistake that would turn out to be. Another good start and I passed a few again around the first corner from 11^th on the grid, but noticed that the front tyre was not right – I felt like I had no grip and it was pushing everywhere meaning I was losing confidence all the time.

“I still managed my fastest ever time around Snetterton which speaks volumes as to the team’s possibilities. I was running 6^th all race and found the EBC brakes constant throughout, until the last lap when I was overtaken as my pace had slowed by over a second due to the pushing front tyre so I finished 7^th on circuit and 6^th in class, with a lap time of 1:56.1 – a weekend PB.”

Championship position after round one – 6^th