The Biker Place

As part of our “Interview The Racers” series we are happy to bring you another interview, with young racer Tom Weeden.

The Biker Place would like to thank Tom and his dad Steve for taking the time to do this interview, leave any comments you might have at the bottom of the interview.

If you missed the previous interviews, you can find them here.

What first got you interested in motorcycle racing and who inspired you to get involved?
My dad was the person who first got me interested. He used to take me on pillion on the back of his bike at about 6 years old. This made me love bikes. I also went to see BSB and WSBK when I could. When I was about 11 I saw a company renting out mini moto’s during a WSBK meet at Brands Hatch and I asked my dad for a go. He let me and when I was out there the company saw that I was riding really well for my first go ever. They saw I had potential and they decided to give me 30 more minutes on the track for free. They watched me get faster and faster and they decided to let me have a trial at a bigger kart circuit. So we went to Lydd International Raceway and there were about 5 other people there also for the trial. By the end of the day I had the quickest lap times and they decided to allow me to race for their company.

You started racing minimotos in 2005, what advice would you give to anyone out there who would like to get involved in racing but doesn’t know where to start or who to get in touch with?
Get in touch with Phoenix Racing Phoenix Minimoto Racing about the organisation. Also MMRA, which is another, race championship. Havoc Racing or Minimoto to buy the bikes. If your not sure whether racing is your thing then buy a cheap Chinese one before purchasing a racing Italian machine. Minimoto Club go on this forum to find out information about track days and the mini moto racing community.

How much time do you put into training/practicing to be a competitive racer?
I am part of an athletics club and go 3 times a week to that. On Mondays and Thursdays I go running and on Wednesdays I go to the gym to do weight work and also to use the treadmills etc. I also compete regularly in cross-country races and in the summer 1500m and 3000m when I am not racing. I also ran for Kent in Year 7. I go to as many track days I can on kart tracks but due to my age I cannot yet do track days at “big tracks” but my dad maybe able to rectify that this year with a season of experience behind me.

Since racing have you had any battles or rivalries with any other particular riders?
Yes, many! When I first started mini moto’s and I was in the junior class it was Brad Ray and Wayne Ryan. Then when I moved up to the senior mini moto class I had lots of great battles with Sam Cherry in 4.2’s and Mike Corderoy and Phil Canessa in the proddy’s. Also Shaun Winfield at the last round of the British Mini moto championship in the wet at Llandow.

To date what has been your most memorable moment/achievement in racing?
It would probably have to be winning the Junior 4.2 championship in my first year of racing and then in the next year winning the 4.2 Senior championship! Both by round 7 of 10! Or my 1st win on the Jawa 70 at Oulton Park in ACU Motostars.

And, what has been your worst/most disappointing moment in racing?
On the Jawa at Anglesey I was winning after a hard battle when on the last corner after the corkscrew my gearbox hit a false neutral and I dropped a place with no chance to make it up (we later found out it was a broken spring in the gearbox and not me)
On the minimotos: I was having a great race with Bradley Ray at Wildtracks on my proddy (I was yet to win a race on my proddy) and I was in the lead going into the last corner but unfortunately my bike cut out because of dodgy fuel. I was really annoyed because it would have been my first win on proddys. We drained the fuel and put new stuff in but again the same thing happened and my bike cut out when I was in the lead! Luckily it didn’t happen in the 3rd race but due to a slipping clutch I could only manage a 3rd.

Give us a little run down on where you will be competing and on what bike(s) for 2008?
I will be racing my newly purchased Honda RS125 in Club Thundersport and also EMRA rounds. My main series will be the Club Thundersport. Also we hope to have a wildcard round at Mallory Park BSB. And if time and funds allow I would like to do a few Short track races on a CCM230.

What are your aims or what do you think you can achieve in 2008?
My aims are to get onto my National licence before the Mallory Park BSB round so that I can have a wildcard at Mallory. I also want to try and get more sponsors to try and help my dad’s wallet survive this season!

What would be your ideal career path in motorcycle racing from where you are now?
This year I will race Gp 125. Next year hopefully Bsb 125 and then 125’s in Spain and then onto Moto Gp 125 and above.

Any people in particular you would like to thank or mention for getting to where you are so far?
I’d like to thank my Dad and Mum and all my family for support. Liam, Ant and Cheryl Delves for support. Ngk Spark Plugs and Hein Gerike Maidstone. Brooky at Academy Gp. Phil at Lydd International Raceway. Mark Keen KRP for prepping the bike Jon Wishart for some great photos at Emra. If I’ve missed anyone out sorry but thanks anyway and The Biker Place for my profile.

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