Friday 15th June

This weekend saw round four and five of the ACU Supermono Championship unfold at Pembrey circuit in South Wales, the team arrived on Friday afternoon to set camp for the weekend, The Smith’s brothers as always made us feel very welcome as we borrowed their spare marquee and we shared the weekend with Mike “Spike” Edwards and Gordon who by now was looking much better than the last time I had seen him which was in bits at Snetterton after a spill during a practise session.

This circuit is one of Glen’s favourite from when he won the Classic Championship so we knew that we were going to have some real fun. Just less than 1.5 miles of sweeping bends and hairpins the track suited the Tigcraft Minimono bikes. It rained all night Friday until 8am. Our first practice was at 9.30am and Glen chose wets based on the amount of standing water still on the track. Glen reported back that the 450cc felt good and it was back for a refuel and a swap to slicks for the timed practice.

Saturday 16th June

Glen qualified on pole with a 1.03.16 with Dan Rosamond, Spike Edwards, Nick Chadwick and Alex Hutch all in the 1.03’s Aaron Easter making 7th on the grid, he was our threat for the weekend. We were 19 points clear as we started the weekend and our aim was to build on our advantage without running to many risks.

The race started after lunch by which time uncle Jimmy had arrived to prepare and preheat Glen’s tyres as he had for many years. The weather had turned, with a blue sky and ever warming sun team boss Joe McBurnie and I made our way to the pit lane for the start of round 4. Spike Edwards having to retire after the sighting lap due to an electrical fault meant the front row had just got smaller and Glen was focused on one thing, getting round Hatchets first.

The flag was dropped the lights went out and with a roar of 4 Stroke Singles they were away Glen making a fantastic start taking the lead with Alex Hutchinson and hot on his heels Mark Lawes closing them down to take the lead into Spitfires, Glen regaining the lead a moment later at the Dibeni Bend, all this and we were only 30 seconds into the 18 lap race.

On lap 2 Aaron Easter had a mechanical problem and parked his bike up at the Honda Curve leaving Glen to scrap it out with the 2006 European Champion Mark Lawes (Team James) for the next 10 laps. 1st and 2nd place changed between Glen and Mark up to 3 times a lap, Mark on his Team James GRC-BMW 726cc and Glen riding the designdatamanager.com sponsored Tigcraft Minimono 450cc. Mark clearly quicker on the Speedway and Park Straights and Glen darting inside him around the bends and hairpins on the more nimble Tigcraft.

With six laps to go the places where 1st Glen English, 2nd Mark Lawes, 3rd Nick Chadwick of East West Racing and 4th Dan Rosamond from the Tigcraft works team. Five laps to go Glen started to pull away from Mark Lawes through the back markers. The race was a real spectacle and a thrill to watch, both riders and machines inching towards each other and the line with the same goal that only one of them could have!

The race finish was nail biting with Glen English taking the win and Mark Lawes only 0.10 behind in second, Nick Chadwick taking third and Dan Rosamond fourth. The 25 points moving the team more out of the danger zone and Glen happy with the bikes performance we set about changing the tyres, re prepping the bikes and taking a well earned break for some much needed refreshments in the paddock with our hosts the Smith’s Brothers and several of the other teams.

Sunday 17th June

With Saturdays win and now 37 points ahead in the Championship our strategy for Sunday was to do much the same, with the race being after lunch we had some time to enjoy the practice run in the newly rebuilt engine in the smaller 426cc bike. The 426cc rode well and we put wet tyres on in anticipation for more rain, this didn’t happen and by the time we had to make a choice on tyres the track was damp with a dry racing line, the Sidecars had been out for a 30 minutes before to help with this so although it was a close call and with the backing of the team Glen decided on slicks.

The red lights faded and it was go go go! Lap one Glen takes the lead followed by Mike “Spike” Edwards (Gordon’s Alive), Jeff Claridge and Dan Rosamond. By lap 2 Spike takes English on the Park Straight putting Glen into 2nd and Nick Chadwick of East west was 3rd.

Leaning over the pit wall several laps in with pit board I saw Spike come out of the Honda Curve 1st expecting Glen next, I was shocked that it was Nick Chadwick and counting the seconds like minutes it was clear that Glen was missing and in the blink of an eye we went from shear excitement to absolute silent concern. The red flags were out and the race was stopped, at that moment are only concern was is Glen o.k., Joe and I ran from the pit lane towards the Esses where we could see a bike down, passing race control an official confirmed a rider had crashed and was up walking, was it Glen? if so was he hurt? As we got to the crossing point we could see our man starting to push the now broken 426cc bike back towards us Uncle Jimmy leapt the fence to bring Glen home and we were grateful that he seemed not to badly injured.

What happened next really showed the difference between a winner and a champion Glen shouted to us to start the 450cc bike, and with that we knew that our racing for the weekend was not over yet. The spare bike had no fuel and cold tyres but within seconds it was ready. Glen joined us in the tent dusting himself down determined to race again. We started the bike and were at the end of the pit lane ready to join the back of the grid once the race had started. The pack passing us for what seemed like forever before the official waved Glen and another rider out onto the track.

Running on complete adrenalin we all stood on the pit wall watching as Glen from the back of 23 riders started to pick them off one by one, the race now reduced race of 12 laps we could not believe his pace and line.

He took Aaron Easter, Scott Richardson and in the final moments of the race even Mark Lawes for a valiant 4th place, not only that but he set the fastest lap of 1.02.67 seconds and all that from cold tyres and a start in the pits at the back of the pack. Nick Chadwick took 1st with “Spike” taking 2nd and Mike Payne 3rd.

The fact that Glen did what he did and came home with only cuts and bruises made him our champ for the day, pulling it out of the bag at times like that true strength and commitment.

After going to the medical centre to tape up his cut fingers and give him the once over we could start to relax and pack up before the journey home, leaving South Wales 39 points clear in the championship happy with what we had achieved. Donnington is next and we can’t wait.

Lee Andrews Scorpion-DART Racing