Race Report for #82 – Foo Hinnells

#82 – Foo HINNELLS travelled 100 miles to the UK’s world famous race circuit , Brands Hatch. Situated in West Kingsdown, Kent; it’s time for the longer Grand Prix (GP) Circuit and time for Rnd 4 with BMCRC (Bemsee) and the final round for the Season.

The weather was character building, with relentless rain but this did not stop the eagerness to set up. #50 – Fred McMULLAN was also on site and setting up. #82 – Foo HINNELLS was ready for the Team Manager, Ian Soilleux to arrive first thing in the morning.

Practice Day – Brands Hatch Indy

Ian Soilleux arrived with the two BD Racing UK CBR600’s prepped and ready to go. Tyre warmers were on, wets fitted and it was time to start the weekend.

Practice went well, albeit very wet and unpleasant but the bike felt good and it was great to be back.

Qualifying – Brands Hatch GP

Being first out, this was going to be interesting. The weather had not given up all night but enthusiasm was running high in Garage 30.

#82 – Foo HINNELLS headed to the collecting area for qualifying to start.

Each lap, #82 – Foo HINNELLS was setting a faster time and looked comfortable. On the last lap, #82 – Foo HINNELLS set a 1:57.349, qualifying #82 – Foo HINNELLS in P6. #12 – Cedric BLOCH took pole position with a lap time of 1:54.669; #86 – Paul WITHERINGTON in 2nd with a 1:55.038 and #710 – Craig HENSTOCK (Rookie) in 3rd with a 1:55.500.

Race 1 – Thunderbike Sport

The weather had not eased, so it was wets fitted still and after forming up on the grid; it was flags down, lights on and the race began.

After an incident on lap 2, the race was red flagged and restarted with a 3 lap race.

After the restart, #82 – Foo HINNELLS had moved up to 4th place, with #12 – Cedric BLOCH taking the lead; #351 – Sam DIGBY-BAKER in 2nd and #137 – Charlie CRAWT in 3rd.

After lap 2, #12 – Cedric BLOCH was still leading, with #22 – Matthew MAY moving up in to 2nd place. #82 – Foo HINNELLS had passed #137 – Charlie CRAWT moving up to 3rd.

With the chequered flag out, there was no change to the first 3 riders with #82 – Foo HINNELLS taking a podium place in 3rd.

Race 2 – Thunderbike Sport

Thankfully the weather had improved over the afternoon and the track had dried out nicely, so it was wets out – drys in and off to the collection area. #82 – Foo HINNELLS starting P5 on the grid.

After lap 1 it was #84 – Ricardo BRANCO in the lead, with #961 – Jack SIM in 2nd; #12 – Cedric BLOCH in 3rd and #82 – Foo HINNELLS in 4th.

Lap 2 saw no change in the first four, with the pack pulling away from #164 – Robert SALTMER in 5th place.

#961 – Jack SIM look the lead after lap 3, with #84 – Ricardo BRANCO now in 2nd; there was no change with #12 – Cedric BLOCH in 3rd and #82 – Foo HINNELLS in 4th.

With the last lap flag out, #961 – Jack SIM was still leading, #82 – Foo HINNELLS put in a great lap; moving up in to 2nd place. #12 – Cedric BLOCH remained in 3rd, with #84 – Ricardo BRANCO now in 4th.

With the top 5 riders encountering traffic on the last lap, #961 – Jack SIM took the chequered flag with #84 – Ricardo BRANCO moving up in to 2nd place; #82 – Foo HINNELLS claimed his second 3rd place of the weekend, with #164 – Robert SALTMER in 4th.

Happy with that !!!!!!!!!!!!

Time now to be spoiled by Lesley’s Cafe (Flying Fox Race Team) and relax for the evening in preparation for tomorrow. Garage 30 has one happy Foo.

Race 3 – Thunderbike Sport

Well, perhaps we should have brought a speedboat to Brands Hatch, Sunday morning and the weather is very wet. Ah well; lets do what we came here for………… Race!

#82 – Foo HINNELLS starts race 3 on the grid at P4.

After the first lap, it was #164 – Robert SALTMER leading the race, with #82 – Foo HINNELLS in 2nd and #717 – James SHEEHAN in third.

At the end of lap 2, #82 – Foo HINNELLS had taken the lead, with #717 – James SHEEHAN in 2nd and #62 – James KING in third.

Lap 3 and #82 – Foo HINNELLS still led the race, with #717 – James SHEEHAN in 2nd abd #12 – Cedric BLOCH moving up into 3rd place.

The top three riders did not change places after the fourth lap, with #82 – Foo HINNELLS extending the gap to 2 seconds.

And #82 – Foo HINNELLS takes the chequered flag !!!!!! Get in Foo ! 3 seconds behind in 2nd place was #12 – Cedric BLOCH; with #717 – James SHEEHAN claiming 3rd.

And it’s smiles all round !!!!

Race 4 – Thunderbike Sport

With the weather not improving, in fact getting worse; with standing water on the track, #82 – Foo HINNELLS took the decision to step out of the final race of the weekend; and the Season.

Congratulations to #12 – Cedric BLOCH on taking the win; with #717 – James SHEEHAN in 2nd and #137 – Charlie CRAWT in 3rd place.

Well done #961 – Jack SIM on winning the inaugural Thunderbike Sport “Covid” Cup.

Statement from Foo :

“Well, after the highs of a win in race 3; and the weather taking a turn for the worst I have no axes to grind in the championship, I decide to quit while on top and sit the last race out. What an awesome weekend and made me realise that I’ve still got it.

Thanks to all the BD Racing UK fraternity, without them I would not be racing this year. They’ve deffo given me the will to continue racing. Huge thank you to Ian Soilleux who made this all happen. Ian works tirelessly and to whom I’ve trusted with everything. Thanks to all the lovely people who continue to follow me and believe in what I do. You all have a piece of my heart. Right, onto next season “

What a season, and a final round!