November/December 2021

MFT: In Gear
THE BIG FINALE
Made For Trade’s very own motorcycle racer, Tommy Fielding, takes us through the final two
race meetings of 2021. The podium is within his reach, but can he make it..?
Just like that, I am sat at my desk and the
racing season is behind me. What a year it
has been! Despite a few crashes, I have had
a great year and improved myself no-end. Things
look very promising going into 2022, when I will
be stepping up to the highest level.
The penultimate round of the year took place at
the prestigious Donington Park, a track which
is notoriously slippery when wet so of course,
it bucketed down… But before the rain could
take hold, a four-way battle ensued for
the lead in Race 1, with the sun beaming
above us. I briefly occupied 2nd place
but was relegated to 4th after a few laps,
dropping around one second to the lead
trio. I dug in, setting my personal best
(PB) lap times to get onto the back of the
leaders, passing one rival, Woodcock, into
the ‘Foggy Esses’. With one lap to go, I tried
to catch the two in front, but I could not.
The heavens really opened for Races 2 and 3. I
was sitting in second place before crashing out of
Race 2 in dramatic fashion, which was not good
for my championship aspirations, thanks to the
loss of a vital 20 points. However, we had the
“I dug in, setting my
personal best lap times
to get onto the back of
the leaders”
Tommy leads the
pack at Donington
parts to repair the bike and get back out for the
final two races.
Race 3 was stopped mid-distance thanks to
heavy rain and the high risk of aquaplaning –
which on a motorcycle is lethal. I was awarded
third place despite being in second at the time of
the stoppage.
A wet Race 3,
chased by rival,
Woodcock
The final race saw a real dog fight between me
and Andy Smart. Our bikes were clad with wet
tyres despite the track being 90% dry but with
puddles in places, meaning dry tyres would be
too dangerous. We traded positions a lot, with
me crossing the line as the leader on every single
lap. We were riding so aggressively, that we came
home six or so seconds in front of third place,
neither one of us willing to yield. Andy passed me
on the last lap, but I refused to give in; I knew I
Continued on page 18
16 T I NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST