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Race Reports
MMRA - The British Championship
FAB Racing Mini GP
Round 5
Ryan roars to victory
Ryan once again proved he’s on the way to the top this weekend (19/20
July 08) in Northamptonshire, competing in the FAB Racing Mini GP on his
Metrakit 50 won a second place trophy, the 11 year old has only been riding
this geared bike for 3 months. He was also riding two bikes in the MMRA
British Championship and gained second and third place trophies.
The first race on his Metrakit 50 saw Ryan make a rapid
start, he quickly moved into third place, and was battling for second
place with Sidney Hargreaves, although Ryan managed to overtake him once,
Sidney soon moved back into second place. On the last lap in a desperate
attempt to gain second place Ryan attempted a daring overtake round the
outside of Sidney, the paddock seemed to gasp as he moved forward, he
was just level with Sidney’s front wheel when the back end started
to wobble, Ryan had left the track and was riding on the grass. He struggled
to keep the bike upright and by sacrificing his overtake managed to keep
the bike running on the track to claim third place, well ahead of the
rest of the field.
Race two saw the promised sunshine turn to torrential rain, the race was
stopped after several riders skidded and fell off, to allow a change to
wet tyres. Once restarted Ryan pulled away from the grid in forth position
but quickly moved into third place, the whole race was at a slower pace
due to the slippy conditions with all riders being hesitant. Ryan moved
back into fourth place but by lap four had already lapped most of the
field, he overtook to third but then fell back again to fourth. The fifth
lap saw Ryan make a determined effort and so move into third place, which
he kept round the chicane, he didn’t let off on the power and pulled
away up the straight being pushed all the way by Sideney, who was in fourth
place, this meant Ryan started the last lap in third place which he held
to the end of the race.
The final race started in brighter conditions, Ryan took full advantage
of the dry track to take an early third place right on the back wheel
of Sidney in second. He managed to follow close to Sidney but lacked the
power in his bike to follow through any of the overtakes he started, each
lap saw him attempt to overtake on the back straight, he’d get halfway
past Sidney but each time Sidney found the extra power to retain his lead.
Once Ryan saw the last lap bored he knew it was now or never and with
his teeth gritted he opened the throttle as far as he could, the bike
responded and gave him the extra power he needed, Ryan shot into second
place, he said later that he knew he could not relax for a moment to give
Sidney any opportunity to overtake, so he put his head down, kept up the
speed and crossed the line in second place. Once back in the paddock Ryan
said “ It’s the best race I’ve ever had”. This
unexpected result gave him enough points to take second place over all
and a well deserved trophy.
In the Junior Production A class of the MMRA British Championship
Ryan came second overall. The first race, in heavy rain was an exciting
battle for first place between Bradley Ray the National Champion and Ryan,
who drew on all his wet weather riding skills, so although he came off
early on, he still managed to make up the lost seconds and overtake the
pack and then Bradley on the third bend of the last lap giving him a well
earned first place. Race two saw Ryan come in a disappointing third after
a crash in lap five cost him vital time, which he couldn’t make
up. Races three and four gave him comfortable second places which gave
a second place overall.
In the Junior Light Class, Ryan came second in race one after showing
some top class riding to move through the pack, race two was another second
place after a daring manoeuvre to overtake round the outside on the last
lap three corners from the end. Ryan took third place in race three after
being held up by a back marker, disaster struck in race four, a poor start
meant Ryan was already playing catch up when he crashed and dropped back
to last place. A display of superb riding skills were not enough to make
up and although Ryan passed most of the field he could only end in fourth
place, giving him third overall in the class.
Ryan and his Dad Keith, now have to decide whether to move their focus
from the minimotos to the bigger, geared bike racing. Keith said “I
never expected Ryan to be so good so quickly, but the gears gave him no
problems. Now we’ve got to decide which is the right route for Ryan
to progress along” but one things for sure whatever happens Ryan
will be leaving his mark on the junior racing circuit.
Round 3
Ryan was using this race weekend to gain valuable race practice on his Metrakit 50 geared bike, in the championship that nurtured Scott Reading the 15 year old 125 GP sensation. Having only ridden the bike a handful of times no one expected the results Ryan gave them, a third place trophy. Race one saw Ryan fly off the grid to go straight into fourth place, chasing for third place through the chicane. By the second lap the gap between Ryan and the main group of riders had increased and the gap between him and third place had decreased. In lap five the second place rider came off, putting Ryan into third place. Ryan made good use of the situation to overtake the next rider to move into second place. He held second place for two laps but in lap eight the re mounted rider overtook both the third place rider and Ryan to return him to third place, which he held for the rest of the race.
The second race saw Ryan pull off in fourth place again, then disaster struck and he high sided on the third bend, although he valiantly struggled to pick up his bike, the race was red flagged and a re start ordered. Ryan had no time to collect his thoughts before he was back on the grid and seemingly in a replay, again pulling away in fourth place. Keith his Dad and mechanic watching from the pit lane said “I was so impressed by the way he struggled to get the bike going, like a true professional although I could tell the crash had unnerved him. On the restart I could see he was nervous going into the corner, but he seemed to give himself a shake, put his head down and just put it behind him.” By lap three Ryan was catching up to third place, he continued a wheel to wheel chase until lap five when he managed to coax a bit of extra power coming out of the second hair pin to take third place. He continued to push his bike for every bit of power it had and gradually he increased the gap between himself and fourth place to cross the chequered flag in a comfortable third place.
By the third race the damage Ryan’s bike had sustained in his crash was beginning to tell as he made a slow start off the grid in sixth place, when he dropped to seventh place in the second lap he knew there was something seriously wrong with the bike, but he still managed to pull back to take fifth place. Despite his crash and the fact that his bike had taken a heavy knock Ryan took third place overall. This from a boy, who only got his geared bike in May, competing against boys with several years experience.
Ryan was also racing two minimoto bikes. On his Prody in race one he put in a show of knee sliding skill which enabled him to take second place. In the second race more disaster loomed when he crashed after the back straight, loosing him his second place position but at least he was able to finish the race in fourth place. In the third race he kept up the pace to come in third. Ryans race hopes were nearly wiped out in race four, where on a daring overtake round the outside Ryan was forced into the dirt at the edge of the track, the bike wobbled seemingly uncontrollably, but amazingly Ryan not only held on to it, he kept it upright and running, meaning that after only a few heart stopping seconds he was back on the track and was once again chasing second place, but unable to make back the seconds he’d lost he came third. Ryan was awarded a well deserved third place trophy.
On his 4.2 minimoto he gained a third place in race one. Race two saw Ryan valiantly complete the race, despite a puncture, gaining valuable points but a disappointing eighth place. Race three gave some close action through the chicane with Ryan’s skill in the bends enabling him to move up the grid to take fourth place. Race four signalled the start of a final nail biting finale in a battle for first place, as Ryan and another rider swapped between first and second place throughout the race, the final lap found Ryan desperately chasing him up the final straight to cross the line a fraction of a second behind him to take second. This made up for the puncture and gave him a very respectable fourth overal
Round 2
Ryan continues on his quest for glory
Ryan Brain the 11 year old Solihull minimoto racer earned 3rd place in
round 2 of the MMRA Britsh Championship on Sunday 27th April. Ryan was
racing his GRC 4.2 minimoto at the track at Kinsham, Powys, South Wales.
This was his first time at this track, and even with unsettled rainy weather
he proved he is still very much in the running.
Ryan had an excellent start in the opening race gaining
second place after a hard battle with Zac Corderoy and Jake Archer. This
continued through races 2, 3 and 4 giving him 3rd overall on the day.
With Ryan consistently on the podium the championship is still within
his sight.
The Chapelfields schoolboy said “Its ace to bring another trophy home, I’m running out of space to put them, I’ll have to ask my Dad to put up a shelf”
Ryan would like to thank his sponsors Arachsys Specialist
Internet Service Provider who host his web site, Jon Wishart Motorsport
Photography, MAW Building Services and his Dad for all the effort he puts
in.
Round 1
Snow can’t slow Ryan
Ryan Brain, aged 11 from Solihull, did not let the bad weather of the
weekend beat him. He won second place in the MMRA British Mini Moto Championship
in Llandow, South Wales on 6th April 2008.
Ryan was racing on his mini moto bike against children from all over the country. Mini Motos are miniature Grand Prix racing motorcycles. The race mirrored any Moto GP race with plenty of action, high speed overtaking on the corners, nail biting races up the straights and riders crossing the line within a fraction of a second of each other. Ryan fought for his second place, beating off more experienced riders, in a display of riding skill that enabled him to overtake faster bikes. Ryan said “I’m so excited to have done so well, racing for the finish line through a snow blizzard is something I will never forget.”
The Solihull schoolboy started racing mini
motos last Summer, he quickly showed real talent and worked his way steadily
up the leader board. In February he came third in the National Winter
Championship 07/08. Not even the British weather can deter this determined
sportsman.
Phoenix Championship Race Reports
