MES Ltd join the Team

Ray and Lee Marchant of Marchant Engineering Services (MES) have confirmed their support for the Team in 2014.

Ray spoke passionately about his admiration for the team at the recent Aragon test. Over the last few seasons Ray and his wife Claudine have got to know the Team whilst sharing pitboxes at various classic events.

Ray commented ‘ I just like the way Sweatshop Phase One does things, the team’s approach is very professional and I have watched them get better and better.I look forward to following progress this season as they defend the European Classic Championship.’

Team Manager Russell Benney thanked the whole team for its efforts and stated again that by keeping to the same core principles that took it to WEC success, the sort of recognition received from MES would keep on coming. Russell publicly thanked Ray Marchant for the support received and explained that it would be used in the main to support the Teams biggest development year yet on the P&Ms. No stone would be left unturned in the teams efforts to better its 2013 performance. Already extensive modifications to suspension, brakes, electrics and in a host of other areas had resulted in Aragon times over 1 second faster than in October 2013.

On behalf of the Team, Russell welcomed Claudine, Ray and Lee to the Sweatshop Phase One family.

The Aragon two day test went well with Cormac Conroy, Hugh Brasher and Peter Linden achieving excellent times and with 100% rider reliability. A total of 137 laps were completed. Significant improvements were made with suspension and brakes, and with further testing due, the motorcycle specification will only get better.

Race one of 2014 is Le Castellet (Paul Ricard) over the weekend of 5th /6th April. Peter Linden and Cormac Conroy will represent the Team. Fly Easyjet to Nice. See you there. RB

Aragon Test – 7th – 8th March

Tomorrow, the team start the 2014 season with a two day test at Aragon involving all three riders. The test objectives are twofold: rider familiarisation and reliability testing of new developments. Over the closed season the team has worked hard on a multitude of technical areas and massive changes have been made. New forks, shocks, brakes, alternator, batteries, starter motor, petrol tank, wiring loom, wheels, exhaust systems and master cylinders have all been introduced and must be tested.

Currently the weather is fine and dry with daytime temperatures at about 15C, so conditions are close to perfect.

The team will be pleased to welcome new sponsor Ray Marchant of Marchant Engineering Ltd to the test. Ray has been around the classic paddocks for a few years now and some may know him as the owner of the immaculate, but noisy MV Agusta, that has been paraded regularly. On this occassion Ray will trackday his up to date 1000cc Suzuki.

Classic Racer March/April Issue

Malcolm Wheeler at Classic Racer has just published this fantastic article. It’s a credit to the whole team.

2014 ECS; Is defence harder than attack ?

I think keeping the ECS crown will be one of the Team’s greatest challenges.

But make no mistake, we are eager to take it on. Retaining the FIM European Classic title will be difficult and is unlikely to be as smooth as in 2013. However, no matter how bumpy it may get, our preparation and team philosophies will still hold firm and should keep us in line for the best result.

Already we know that the most important foundation stones are in place; team continuity, rider continuity and bike continuity. None of the essential ingredients have changed….they have just got better.

The team is unchanged from 2013, with the addition of a couple of new starters.

The rider line-up is again Peter Linden, Hugh Brasher and Cormac Conroy, with Stephane Mertens rejoining for Mettet.

The bikes are essentially the same, but will be even lighter and faster.

Furthermore, by now the winning habit will be cementing itself into the team’s psychi and that should be reinforced by the pressure and privilege of sporting the No. 1 plate.

We think the increased pressure bearing the No. 1 plate will simply bring out our best!

The winning support which we have received from our sponsor line-up, headed by Sweatshop and Continental, is reconfirmed and has been strengthened further by the addition of new sponsor Marchant Engineering Services Ltd

(this exciting new development will be elaborated on later)

We test at Aragon between 7th and 9th of March.

There are 4 ECS rounds and 3 non-championship events.

The race dates are;

Paul Ricard, 4hrs 4th-6th April ECS

Mettet 2 x 2hrs 16th -18th May

Spa, 4hrs 4th-6th July ECS

Oschersleben 4hrs 22nd-24th August

Nurburgring 4hrs 5th-7th Sept ECS

Classic Bol Magny Cours 2x2hrs 12th-14th Sept

Aragon 5 hrs 24th-26th October ECS

We will keep you up to date as preparations go forward. There will certainly be some interesting technical developments to report in the next month or so. In the meantime have a look at the Classic Racer due out in February, which should contain a nice feature on the P&Ms.

As always, anybody with an interest in joining the team, helping out in the workshop and/or coming racing , please contact Russell……we are in particular need of a caterer this season.

More later…..RB

Classic Bike

I am just back from Bridgwater where I found the December issue of Classic Bike.This news piece is on page 11 and is one of the most accurate stories on the team this year. It’s worth the read. Thanks to Ben Miller the editor and Jez Kane, who put it together.

Also, whilst on publicity, there is a lovely little vignette which Bauer media produced from when we went to Rockingham in September. Its a test between our P&M and a brand new out of the box 1000 Kawasaki, it too is worth a look. See the link below. Thanks to Tim Thompson and his crew for that one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntu5jaXPltY&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%
3Dntu5jaXPltY&app=desktop