MIXED FORTUNES FOR THE BROTHERS OVER EASTER WEEKEND

The Easter weekend is always a busy time for the contenders in the National Championships. It would be the first time Christopher English and his younger brother Robert had taken part in the traditional Easter weekend meetings as fully fledged GP125 Clubmans/National riders.

With the Bishopscourt meeting being held over two days for the first time, on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, both boys had plenty of time to set their bikes up, and with a single race on Friday after practice a few extra points were there for the taking.

On Friday both boys took a bit of time to get dialled into the race, but at the end of the 8 laps, fifteen year old Robert finished in third place, the first Clubmans rider home. He was only beaten by two men with many seasons racing at International level behind them. Christopher, who is now 18, was the third Clubman home, registering a useful seventh place on the road.

Things turned bad, however, for Chris, when in the first race on Saturday he was involved in a fairly minor collision with another competitor. Both riders went down, but it was soon apparent that all was not well with Chris. He had a nasty arm injury, and was detained in the Ulster Hospital, where he is due to have skin grafts on Wednesday.
    
Robert, however, ably kept the teams interest alive and after a great race with Drew Jamison, himself a former Clubmans championship winner, the Randalstown lad again was the first Clubman across the line, in fourth place on the road.
    
The final race on the Saturday was judged by some spectators as one of the best of the meeting. Three riders Mark Lunney, Drew Jamison and Robert diced wheel to wheel for the 8 lap distance. At the finish, Lunney was the winner, Jamison second and English, once again the first Clubmans home, in third place. Just .3 of a second separated the three.
    
With Christopher in hospital, Robert was the teams sole rider at Kirkistown on Easter Monday.
    
After practice, with the bike well sorted by his Dad Paul and Tim Stott, Robert went into the first race confident that he was now able to run with the leaders. After a 10 lap race, which is slightly longer than he is used to, the youngster finished third, again beaten by Lunney and Jamison, but having broken the four year old Clubmans lap record!
    
Better was to come in the final race of the weekend. Shortened to eight laps due to the race programme running slightly behind time, Robert took second place, yet again beating the lap record he had set just a couple of hours earlier! The new speed of 87.835mph, gave him a time of 1:03.379, a full half second off the lap record that had stood for four years!
    
With the ISB series taking a few weeks break due to road races, it will allow the English Brothers/Stiff Kitten Nightclub team time to get themselves sorted out for a renewed effort, and will also allow Christopher to get back into fighting shape for the latter stages of the season.

PAUL ENGLISH - Team Owner, English Brothers/Stiff Kitten Racing
' I was very upset when Christopher fell on Saturday. No Father wants to see his son getting hurt, but with Robert racing as well, we had to keep going for him. The Doctors at the circuit were fantastic with Chris, and looked after him brilliantly. We are in their debt. Robert has had a fantastic season up until now. He has done everything we could have asked for. He hasnt been beaten as yet in the Clubmans championship.
Hopefully Chris will be able to take in a track day before the next race meeting, so it will allow him to get back into it before the pressure of racing.

ROBERT ENGLISH
' It bothered me when Chris got hurt. I didnt know he was off till I came round on the next lap and saw him walking to the ambulance. I am able to run with Mark (Lunney) now, and with following him Im learning where hes quick and where I am. I was happy enough with the way I went at Bishopscourt.
     
Kirkistown was awesome. Dad and Tim had the bike flying, and after practice they didnt even touch it. Tim is class with the laptop. When he tells me its going OK, thats all I need to hear. To be honest, I didnt even think about the lap record. I was surprised when I hear I had broken it. When I broke it again it was an even bigger shock. To take a full half second off a record that had stood for 4 years is brilliant.’

CHRIS ENGLISH
' The whole weekend was a disaster for me. It was a simple mistake, but just shows that thats all it takes. It was my fault. I came in behind Andrew (Irwin) and thought I would be able to get by him when we were slowing for the hairpin. He shut the door, and when I caught him I realised that I was carrying far too much speed. I ran into his back wheel, and took him down. Im sorry about it, but also glad that he wasnt hurt.

On the other hand, I was well pleased about Robert. I think hes going to be the one to answer to in Clubmans this year. Tim has the bikes flying, and Robert is riding well. He is able to mix it with Lunney, Jamison and those boys, and thats hard enough to do. Hopefully I can get myself sorted out and get back out again at Mondello.’