May/June 2021

MFT: In Gear
BACK ON TRACK
Following last year’s thrills and spills on the tarmac, Made For Trade’s aspiring motorcycle
racer, Tommy Fielding, hits the circuit for his second season...
Last year was my ‘rookie’ season on a fullsize
motorcycle and it went with a great deal
of success, punctuated with a fair amount
of crashing.
My speed improved – which was evident through
regular podiums towards the end of the season
– and with it, my attitude before the race. I was
much more relaxed, which I learnt was key to
performing well under pressure.
Due to Covid, we only ended up with a fourround
championship, where I finished 4th overall
with two pole positions, one second place and
three third place finishes. 2021 sees an almost
complete calendar in the No Limits motorcycle
race series, which will feature seven rounds after
the initial season opener was dropped due to
lockdown restrictions. This year I have worked
very hard with my fitness and have shed a
considerable amount of weight, despite the fact I
did not have that much to lose in the first place.
This will hopefully pay some dividends in the
closing laps of the races when endurance fitness
can make a significant difference.
Racing a motorcycle is an extremely physical
MFT’s Tommy Fielding is ‘faster, slimmer and stronger’ for the
2021 season, not unlike the company’s Korniche lantern!
activity and often people don’t realise that trying
to get a 170kg motorcycle to change direction
between a set of corners at over a hundred miles
an hour takes a huge input from the rider, corner
after corner, lap after lap.
At the time of writing, I’ve just got back from the
first round of the season at Donington Park.
Due to lockdown, practice on the bike before
the race meeting has been
severely limited, meaning
I was not going there with
high expectations. I am
also moving up a class
(Protect My Income Cup
600 Championship) and will
need to ride even faster than
in my newcomer season.
The shared feeling in the
paddock on this first race
weekend was one of nerves!
Caused mainly by low
track temperatures leading
to reduced grip and the
thought of the infamous Craner curve. Craner is
a 4th gear left hand corner with an apex speed of
around 120mph downhill and a ‘blind’ approach.
That might sound terrifying in itself, but if you get
it wrong there – the chance of which is increased
exponentially in the colder months – your bike is
going to be a write off.
Barrel-roll or somersault
Riders usually get away relatively unscathed but as
the sliding bike leaves the tarmac on its side, when
it reaches the grass, the handlebars or foot pegs
tend to dig in, causing it to violently barrel-roll or
somersault into the air. This is quite a sight for the
spectators but usually leaves the rider with a hefty
repair bill and is often the end of their weekend.
My sponsor, Made for Trade, has joked that I am
mirroring the Korniche Lantern’s USPs of being
faster, slimmer and stronger this season! I just
can’t wait for it to be warmer...
Now to the actual racing: I went out for
qualifying – which is just a short 10-minute
session – and came home in 4th position, which I
was pleased about.
18 T I MAY/JUNE 2021 PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST