Category: Crew On Two

It is one of the most incredible stories surrounding a team formation in recent years. A business owner from Hornsea on the picturesque Holderness Coast took a huge risk in backing a certain rider in British Supersport last season – admittedly knowing little about the world of motorcycle racing. From tears and cheers to heartbreak and despair, as well as the graft and hardwork, Everquip Racing formed to become a full-time team in the British Supersport championship in 2017, with South African star Bjorn Estment as their rider. But the journey undertook to get to the championship is simply incredible. This is how Everquip Racing came together to be part of one of the most competitive championships in the world.

Stuart Everard, one of the owners at Everquip Garage Equipment, has been in business for over two decades. Carl Crisp, a former racer, is a Director at Everquip, along with Lyndon Blackburne. However, unlike Stuart, he has a fond interest in motorcycle racing.

The Hornsea bike event of 2015 would be the start of the interest in the world of bikes and bike racing. Thousands of people from the area and elsewhere descended onto the event, leaving Stuart thinking, ‘if only the event had a sponsor’.

Meanwhile, South African Bjorn Estment was thinking the same thing, this time however, it was about himself. Estment has been one of the stars of tomorrow for the last couple of seasons but he has never been allowed to showcase the talent that many know and believe he has. Due to his lack of interest in the sport, Stuart Everard reluctantly sponsored Bjorn, who at the time was riding for East Coast Construction – the same team that Lee Johnstone brought success to from the road racing scene.

On the return to the 2016 Hornsea Bike Event, Everquip sponsored the festival. Bjorn was also in attendance, with his bike at the time (a Triumph). This was the first time that Stuart had personally met Bjorn. Instantly impressed with the South African’s ability to charm people and his determination to succeed in the motorcycle racing world, conversations instantly became serious. Everard recalls having a few pints at Cadwell Park last season and falling off his much loved van, laughing about going full time for 2017. The subject was discussed but no promises are made.

I first learnt about Bjorn’s lack of ride at the Hornsea bike event last year but told him to go to Donington Park. The South African joined Fred Clark on the circuit commentary throughout the weekend, announcing that there was discussion about coming back to the British Supersport Championship. Everard, during a journey from Knockhill to Sheffield, told me that he wanted Bjorn to take a step back from racing at Donington Park, to reset more than anything. To get a taste of the action, Everard and business partner Carl Crisp went along to Assen, The Netherlands; one of the most iconic circuits of all time. As well as getting an idea about the effort, he was getting an idea about branding and what it takes to become a successful team in BSB.

In typically Dutch weather conditions, British Supersport qualifying began. The track was drying and times were getting quicker and quicker. Suddenly, Estment went top, which was half expected as the drying conditions helped all out on circuit. However, nobody who crossed the line after him could beat the South African’s time. In their first proper weekend together as a team, Estment and Everquip were staring down the barrel of pole position. Although Mason Law and David Allingham would pip Estment to pole, it was a stirling effort which nonetheless put him on the front row of the grid at what I dubbed last year as “The Cathedral of Dreams”. Everard recalls the moment in his own words:

I remember being in the pit garage thinking that this could be something really special. What I did not expect was the reaction of the team. Grown men crying in the garage, I’m thinking ‘what the hell am I getting myself into here?’. When I saw how much work went into Bjorn and how much passion there was in the team, I thought, ‘this is what I want to do next year’.

The season would come to a sticky end at Brands Hatch, with a 14th place and DNF. Tempers ran high, with fallouts amongst various different team personnel. But this wasn’t enough for the team to break up and dissolve. An announcement was made on the Saturday of the meeting that the team would be a full time feature in 2017. The emotional connection and bond had become too strong.

When MarTrain Racing announced their immediate withdrawal from motorcycle racing, it became the perfect opportunity to buy a motorbike which had proven success. The bikes and the spare parts were snapped up and the formation of Everquip Racing was underway. A Michael Dunlop engine was snapped up and now it was finally happening. Along with the purchase of the parts required to actually go racing, branding became important. Racking up the views on Facebook and Twitter, the team was gaining respect and presence in the paddock. Their launch was made in front of over 500 people in Hornsea, where it all began in 2015, from a local businessman wanting to do good for his community.

Then, the real racing began. Testing in Cartagena was far from a lads holiday. A fuel leak almost caused a major disaster for the team but thankfully they avoided the calamity. Bjorn then arrived at the first race of the season where he crashed the bike straight away. However, it would be more pressing circumstances that would act as a wake up call for the rookie team.

But the frightening prospect is overcome by Bjorn’s passion and drive to succeed. “The inspiration that Bjorn carries with him makes the whole team pull together to do well”, said Everard, as we now arrived back on the English side of the border. “I’m not into bikes but I’m passionate about Bjorn. The thrill of racing and excitement to the point where you feel sick compared to wanting to do well and get podiums is the best. The sheer balance is incomparable”.

Not many riders have been given the massive opportunity that Estment has. But, that said, he doesn’t take that for granted at all. A life long supporter of MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi, Estment always has a spec of fluorescent yellow on his leathers. If you’re privileged enough to experience the Everquip Racing Hospitality Unit, then you will notice a yellow piece of flooring surrounded by grey and orange. The yellow is Bjorn, whilst the grey and orange around him is the team. Estment is incredibly grateful for the team but also for the backing that saved his career. He is a real team player. So many riders have struggled with sponsorship over the years that has restricted their efforts to grow, like Luke Jones for example. You just need a break and Estment has got that. Likewise, the team have got Estment, one of the biggest stars in motorcycle racing to come.

Here is what Bjorn had to say about working with the team and the opportunity he has been given:

As a rider you literally grow up hoping, dreaming and believing that one day you will get the opportunity so many strive for and few are fortunate enough to be given. Few are presented with an opportunity to achieve success and greatness in ones given passion!

My said ‘passion’ is motorcycle racing and at the the back end of 2016 (arguably one of the toughest seasons) I was thrown a life line of great proportion with the chance to run with the full backing of market leading inspection pit and garage equipment company, Everquip Garage Equipment ltd. This chance/opportunity that I have been given is a remarkable turn of events after previous campaigns and seasons where due to many limiting factors, I could only show flashes of skill and potential that many believe I posses. After years of hard work, dedication, desire and a relentless will to achieve and get to where I believe I should belong, Everquip Racing have given me a much needed chance and I am eternally thankful to them. I will not let them down! Also, a massive shout-out to Total Building Services, Pro Air conditioning and pulse engineering – my loyal personal sponsors who have supported me through the tough times and the good times.

Looking back at what seems like a whirlwind season already, I believe we have achieved so much in such little time. We as a team can be proud of our debut effort in British Supersport, and we’ve delivered a number of solid results which potentially, could’ve been even better had Lady Luck been on our side at moments along the way.

We have made our presence known and felt as a team and provide consistent entertainment to many friends, fans and followers. I believe we are well liked as a group and an asset to the British Superbike paddock! I certainly believe we will be a force to be reckoned with in the very near future with a run of circuits that play right into our strengths.

My father once said and continues to say to me, “We see so far because we stand on the shoulders of giants”. Everquip are mine and my boys giants and together, as a unit, we will dream. We do believe and we will certainly achieve.

We hope you all come along for the ride, support us and enjoy the roller coaster that is Motorsport, motorcycle racing and more specifically, British Superbikes

The team have a great working atmosphere however. Having experienced the whit and banter of mechanics Derek Rhodes (lead mechanic) and Mark Hill when they gave me lifts from Dunfermline to Knockhill and back throughout the weekend, the team oozes drive and positivity. Mark is also a sponsor of the team, with MHP Exhausts. The food is all cooked by Stuart’s wife Andrea, alongside Jane Gough and Sarah Kennedy, who, after spending sometime with them both and other members of the team on Sunday evening, really pushes for success and strides for the best. The team is everyone’s first concern. Ryan Estment, Bjorn’s brother, is Team Manager, whilst Joe Bolton is a third mechanic. James Grantham is a loyal sponsor of Bjorn’s, who attends all rounds with the team. The only thing Stuart believes is missing, is a data technician.

Sponsors besides Everquip are Michael Barraugh Steel, Pneumatic Engineering, Watts Mix and Total Building Services. Without these sponsors, racing would not be made possible and it goes again, down to the will to give Bjorn and the Everquip Racing Team a big break.

The team have massive plans. There’s discussion of buying a the new Yamaha 600cc machine, as well as progressing through the British Superbike paddock, remaining with Bjorn. Everard admitted that it is a steep learning curve and that he “wishes he knew more about bike racing”. He said he “regrets not getting into bikes sooner, but I always wanted to work in F1 driving the trucks”.

“When he wins, there will be a huge party! We believe in becoming successful so much that we will keep going until we achieve that goal. Resilience is so important. The risk and the stress is far greater than I had imagined but it’s that edge-of-the-seat aspect that makes us want it more”.

From not knowing much about motorcycle racing to being fully immersed in it, Stuart Everard hasn’t just embraced the BSB culture with welcome arms but he’s allowing someone to go all the way. The transformation of the team is absolutely remarkable. They could never have imagined being so successful, so soon – with 6th place at Oulton Park being their last result following Bjorn’s frightening accident in Knockhill qualifying.

It’s an inspirational journey. A journey that has seen tears of joy and moments of anger unite a team together for them to set off in achieving one, end goal. In the words of Stuart Everard coming through Newcastle on Monday morning after the Knockhill weekend: Allowing someone to fulfil their dreams is one of the most amazing and satisfying experiences and it is an honour to do something for a lad who simply wants to ride his bike and win.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

Having had two years away from the Island, Josh Brookes returned to Snaefell Mountain Course, achieving his best finish to date with 6th in both the Lightweight TT and the Senior TT, for Kawasaki and Norton respectively. Besides the results, the Australian sensation spoke to me about his experience whilst over on the Isle of Man, particularly with how he adapted to riding such a vast range of machinery. He also talks about how mental and physical strength can be pushed to the limit when track time is limited.

How would you sum up your Isle of Man TT experience?

It was a frustrating couple of weeks. The weather wasn’t very kind. I kept thinking that the top guys such as Hutchy and Dunlop wouldn’t be too bothered because they’ll use their experience and they’ll only need 6-8 laps. After that, they’re in their rhythm, they’re in the groove, they know the track and the bike is sweet. However, I think they were spending a lot of time trying to set their bikes up the way they wanted them so they probably wanted more laps too.

In any case, for me, I wasn’t really looking to make a lot of changes to the bike because I was happy with the way it was working. I just needed laps for myself and get calm within the circuit. Having two years away meant that it was very difficult to remember how deep you went into each corner at what speed to make it through, not necessarily which corner was up next. It’s very difficult to explain to people who haven’t ridden the bike or the circuit. Even if you have done either of them, it is still very hard to grasp exactly what it is that you lose. Lots of people think that you’ve forgotten the track so you go slower.

However, although you might know the corners coming up and the sequence, the problem is that you’re trying to remember from the last time. You may get into a corner at 150 km/h but when you arrive and brake a little bit too late, that’s because you thought you could get to a certain point that you were at last time. You have to ride slower and then build up to it; obviously, it’s a long way round and a lot of corners so it takes a long time to remember the whole circuit and the succession of approaches and exits. It’s a little bit like a new CD. You won’t know what song is coming up next but once you’ve listened to CD over and over again, you anticipate the song coming on and sing word for word when the song does come on.

As the week goes on and you get more practices, you know what’s next and feel relaxed and kind of prepared for what is coming next. Having so few laps in practice determined my success I think. Considering all that, I had a really good race and to come 6th in the Senior TT with the bike and the first time I’ve ridden it and after all the problems regarding the weather, it was a great finish. I’m pleased and proud with everything I’ve done.

It’s not just knowledge either, you do adjust too. Your body acclimatises to the experience. At the Sulby Straight, you know that on a Superbike, you can go flat out right to the end on any bike. However, it takes about eight laps before you dare do it. Even though you know it can be done, things are going passed your head at that speed and your self-preservation kicks in. Even if the bike isn’t much better and you’re not much better, it makes it easier to ride at that speed than what it did before.

Was returning to the TT harder than when you first went?

It was harder when I first went, for sure. Don’t get me wrong this year was still hard and I was surprised. It did give me a lot more respect about what I was able to achieve in the first year. The first year wasn’t actually a very good year either. The first day was wet. The second day, my teammate was killed. The third day was wet. We was quite late into the week getting any form of practice then as well, which emphasises even more the success of this year and of my debut year. Even then, I set my fastest lap during the race, which at the time was the newcomers lap record. I didn’t realise at the time what I had done. So, coming back this year was almost like being newcomer all over again. When I was building the feeling up again, I thought ‘wow’, because I must have been going through the same feelings I went through as a newcomer because it’s very difficult to learn. It wasn’t as hard as learning it for the first time but it wasn’t an awful lot different.

In the 2013 Superstock race, I pitted with a chain issue which forced me to retire. In the Senior TT, there was a fault with the electronics and I didn’t carry on. The only full race I got was after three days of practice and a condensed load of laps. I didn’t recognise it was such an achievement until now, having had two years off, where I can really appreciate that year because it was my first time. Coming back this year felt like I was re-living that same process. I felt completely at ease with my knowledge and feeling of the track by the Senior TT.

It must have been hard to adapt to so many different bikes around one of the most difficult circuits in the world?

No, not really. The Honda that I raced wasn’t too bad. I had rode the CBR 600cc bike to third in the World Supersport championship behind Andrew Pitt and Jonny Rea, with a win at Donington Park that year and because the bike is relatively similar to how it was then, it wasn’t too difficult. What realistically should’ve been three new models hasn’t worked out. I hopped on a bike that felt like my own.

Also, the difference between a Supersport, Superstock and Superbike, as varied as they are, isn’t too much. Therefore, it isn’t too hard to adapt. It feels different but it is something that riders have to be able to do. To be a good rider, you have to have a certain amount of adaptability. I found it more difficult with the lightweight. The speed, the weight and the gears were so different. It was also a bike that I’d never ridden before – I only had two laps to qualify it and then raced it. I think I rode the bike well. Again though, the start of the race was slow because I just needed more time with the bike. It’s the kind of bike where you need to use every single inch of road to really make it work. It’s not physically difficult to ride because the engine in the bike is lighter.

One thing many people don’t understand about motorcycle racing in general is weight. The weight of a 1000cc bike on scales may be the same as a 600cc, however, the gyroscopic weight is massively different. Therefore, as a rider you have to adapt and try and control that gyroscopic weight so then, a 600cc feels really easy to ride. However, the 650cc is on weight, heavier but the gyroscopic weight makes it easier to ride than a 600cc bike because it had a two cylinder crank, so it’s narrower and feels so much better to ride.

These elements of the bike make it feel easier to ride but you have to take more risks, because to make it work. It was a bit of a rock and a hard place really. As I was learning the bike and willing to push the limits with the track, I got quicker but unfortunately, you need to go from the first lap. As soon as you get the tap on the shoulder, the quick guys are off and that’s when experience, skills and track knowledge comes into play. I feel I’ve always been stereotyped as a risk taker but actually, I think that’s inaccurate. I feel more reserved and calculated than most other people; my riding style in earlier years may have promoted the idea from a spectator point of view as, “Wow! He’s on the edge!”, whereas I’d look at that and think that’s how that bike needed to be ridden at the time. A bit like Marc Marquez with the Honda. I feel like I only take risks when I’ve calculated them and I believe that it is that approach that keeps me safe on the roads.

Did the difficult weather make it more physically and mentally demanding?

The problem was that when I did get laps, it was all on one day. Instead of doing five laps, having a night to sleep it off and coming back the next day to talk about it and let it all sink in and digest the information before having another go, I was like “missed yesterday, missed the day before, missing tomorrow” and suddenly, I had 9 laps in one day. After that, my head was absolutely fried. I needed the laps, yes, but I didn’t dare do another one! I was physically fatigued, my mental ’data’ was completely maxed out. There’s no more room for information. Even if I did another lap, I wouldn’t have gained anything. This year, the TT was a fight against time.

Does skill alone win you a TT or do you need a lot of experience?

My riding skill is as good as everyone above me and my learning skills is pretty strong – being fastest newcomer in 2013 proves that. Riding different bikes means that I can also adapt and that has been a consistent trend throughout my career. At the end of the day, it does come down to experience. That’s what I needed more of.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

Josh Brookes will return to the Suzuka 8 Hour race at the end of July this season, riding a brand new Yoshimura Suzuki alongside Suzuki test rider Takuya Tsuda and fellow British Superbike returnee, Sylvain Guintoli. The star-studded line up comprises of riders who have all had world championship experience in the last two seasons.

Josh Brookes comes off the back of an incredibly successful Isle of Man TT, where he achieved a personal best of 6th place in the Senior TT, also becoming Norton’s fastest ever rider around the 37 mile Mountain Course. Brookes rides for the Anvil Hire Tag Racing Yamaha Team in the British Superbike championship, where he currently sits in 4th place. The BSB championship returns this weekend at Knockhill.

The Australian competed in the event last year, finishing 3rd with teammates Tsuda and Noriyuki Haga, who has been dropped for 2017. The event will highlight Brookes as one of the most versatile riders in racing, having successfully competed on a range of manufacturers already this year, such as Norton (TT) Supersport 600 (TT) and Yamaha Superbike (BSB).

Sylvain Guintoli is set to make his Suzuka 8 Hour debut alongside Brookes. Guintoli flew out to Malaysia to test the Endurance configuration for 3 days in January, in preparation for the event.

The Frenchman has had three races over in MotoGP, riding the Factory Suzuki in place of injured rookie Alex Rins. Having had a difficult start to his British Superbike season on the new Suzuki, he will be looking to gain confidence and gel with the bike over at the Suzuka 8 Hours, a race that Yoshimura Suzuki haven’t won since 2009 with Daisaku Sakai, Kazuki Tokudome and veteran, Nobuatsu Aoki.

Takuya Tsuda is Ecstar Suzuki’s test rider in MotoGP. The Japanese rider made his debut in MotoGP at Jerez earlier this year, finishing 17th.

“Suzuka is a bit like a love-hate relationship. When I’m there and I’m riding the bike and it’s really hot and I’m exhausted, I think to myself, ‘Why do I out myself through this?’ There’s so many years I haven’t ridden and I’ve been gutted I’m not there. If I was to stop going without winning it, I’d be giving up in effect and I’m really not like that! I don’t want to give up on the challenge. I had to beg to get my first ride, saying ‘pick me, pick me’. Even if I won I probably wouldn’t stop going! Because I’d want to do it again and try and better myself.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I’m scared to do it but I’m motivated to do it. I’ve set goals throughout my career and this is another one. To win this and already have a BSB title would be incredible, then I’d really want to win a TT! It’s good for me that I haven’t got everything I ever dreamed about wanting. If I had, then I’d be a bit like Casey Stoner. Retired and very boring. I’m sure he’s not that bothered but I’d be a bit of a lost soul without these kind of goals in my life”.

The Suzuka 8 Hour Race will take place on the 28th – 30th of July.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko