PalliMoto Mini Bike Racing

05/09/2026

British Mini Bikes Championship Round 5, Whilton Mill. Final round of what has been a frustrating season for reasons on and off track, both contributing factors. However, a track you’ve never been to means expectations arriving were modest. We aim to end on a high though - Whilton Mill is a great facility and the layout is already one of my favourites after just one day. 👌🏻

DAY 1: Free Practice. With the track clearing the early morning rain, grip could be found in the right areas and exceeded any expectations I could have had. As per usual, some components from ‘the Far East’ decided they didn’t want to function any more but with a bit of quick diagnostic work alongside Barry from Team Linley Racing and Craig PlazCutz Racing we managed to finish the day strong as the bike was now sliding on corner entry and exit in one or two corners, with several observers saying how soft the suspension looked….would explain why! So heading into day two, a few changes to firm-up suspension to find extra grip in and out of corners and allow Otto change direction even quicker is essential. A few basic maintenance bits to keep the bike healthy and we head into official practice and qualifying with a clear and positive mind. 💡🧠 🚀

04/08/2026

ARRRRRGH. Where to start with the weekend’s racing!?!? A tail of two halves, negative and positive.

The negative: missed out on a first podium in Race 1 by a hair to Michael Judkins who rode super smooth and consistent, used some very clever racecraft to keep me behind in 4th - genuinely, well done mate. 👏🥉

Race 2, bike misfired and ‘kangaroo’d’ it’s way out of the holding area for the sighting lap but appeared to clear by the point of reaching the start, to form up. As the revs rose in anticipation of the lights going out, the misfire returned and just about got it launched but was obvious going into turn 1 and 2 that something was definitely wrong. Persevered with it, got on the back of Mike and Dean Poulter and had a great battle with them until exiting Hyde corner on lap 5 when the revs just dropped, but bizarrely, would idle? Race over. The pink/blue bullet connector to the CDI loom had come loose and was barely connected. The pace was there for another podium battle. Gutted.

The positive: was able to compete for a podium, on a borrowed bike, unfamiliar brakes and suspension - much, much firmer than I’m used to, underpowered engine didn’t help but looking like we have the fix for that. Learned a lot about riding around problems, pushing my levels of perseverance, some decent compliments from fellow competitors about how far my riding has developed, considering the lack of seat-time this season, with everything else going on away from track.

Massive thank you again to Aiden Walker and his girlfriend, Grace for the use of the rolling chassis - saved my weekend, for sure. To Jamie Smith for all his technical assistance in getting the bike straightened out as best as it could be, and keeping me calm when everything went wrong! 😣😂 Also to Michael Medd who put in plenty of Dyno time and advice to assist resolving all the issues. And, to Team Linley Racing for bits borrowed, and general mockery & banter to get me through the weekend! 😂

Great shots from BMB Snap Shots as ever. 😎

02/08/2026

Ok, British Mini Bikes Championship round 4 at Three Sisters Circuit…bit late with the updates, it’s been a busy one! The story so far:

1) Friday free practice - really starting to get to grips with the Malcor 160cc bike, especially at my favourite circuit. Tried a few different settings with the suspension and managed to do my best ever lap time of a 1:02.6. However, I chose to have the bike Dyno’d and discovered it to be 0.3-0.4 over the HP limit, so an engine change for the spare 145cc engine was to be needed for the Saturday practice/qualifying and Sundays racing. During this, it was discovered the frame had cracked in a critical area and the decision was initially made to withdraw. Luckily, thanks to the generosity of Aiden Walker and his girlfriend, Grace, they were able to lend me her Symoto SYK rolling chassis - so in went the 145cc.

2) Saturday Official Practice and Qualifying - having not ridden this particular bike and with suspension settings far firmer than I’m used to, this was a challenging day learning its behaviour and what I could as quickly as possible, to push it as fast as I could, ending the day with a best of 1.04.6. The engine didn’t feel particularly healthy and a Dyno session with a jetting change could only give a disappointing 13.8 HP.

Taking the positives, to set that lap time on a bike I’d not ridden, underpowered, with much firmer suspension than used to is something I’m damn proud of. My riding, considering lack of seat time this year has come-on, far, far more than I could have wished for. Also, the debut of the absolutely amazing DRC Race Leathers in the 2003 Valentino Rossi-inspired colours are absolutely amazing. Fit, comfort and almost certainly an addition to the confidence to push-on a little more. Thank you, Jay. # # # #@@

Race day Sunday, and the task at hand is nothing short of enormous for a decent result, so we go out to enjoy the day and what will be, will be but rest assured, it won’t be for lack of trying! 🥊

16/07/2026

So, Norasport British Supermoto Championship Round 5….Went with zero expectations, a ‘new’ bike, no setup time with a bike that was ‘as built’ and wow - absolutely blown away by my own performance and that of the bike. With seat-time being the greatest necessity, the pace I could run and results from this weekend were far, far beyond what I could have reasonably expected. Started every race brilliantly, save for getting boxed-out into turn one, in race 2.

Race 1. Great battle with Aiden Walker, just pipping him to 5th after a nasty crash in front of us put us both on the grass, taking avoiding action.

Race 2. Boxed-out into turn one from the start left me losing momentum and was passed by Craig Louth who did the best defensive ride I’ve ever seen and just couldn’t get past - well done! 👏 finished 7th.

Race 3. From 12th on the grid to finish 3rd in class after an amazing battle with championship leader Adam Hilton, missing out on 2nd by only 0.060! A wheels-length over the line! Without doubt, the best experience I’ve ever had on a bike, my best finish to date and first ‘podium’ finish.

Missed out on 3rd overall for the day by only a few points to Neil Taco who was so smooth and consistent the whole weekend - thoroughly deserved, Neil!

With a few changes and tweaks, some more seat-time there is potential to achieve some incredible results in future. What a journey this has become. The lows have been very low, but it’s days like that this that instil real belief. We look forward to British Mini Bikes Championship, also at Three Sisters Circuit (full layout) at the start of August in the veterans class, go in with significantly improved confidence. The dream is very much still alive. 🥇🥈🥉

11/07/2026

11/07/2026

So, the recovery continues with a day out at Three Sisters Circuit for the Norasport round 5 and a first proper outing for the Malcor bike. Sure she looks pretty, but the task at hand is pretty large so with the mindset of ‘a glorified test session’ is absolutely fine be me, so zero expectations. In great company too with Aiden Walker, Adam Hilton, Craig Louth, Craig Wright and Neil Taco.

05/07/2026

Day two at Mallory Park Circuit done, way more track time today, thank you! Top job from Plop Enduro organiser Laurence Evans for getting us sorted and hope everyone enjoyed the slowest spectacle on two wheels! 😂 Loads of knee-skids through Edwina’s Chicane and the Hairpin on these little things always makes me giggle!🤭 Bike from Turkish and the Delights - Plop Enduro Team was great and is ‘closer than it is far’ from being a front runner at the actual enduro events. Felt good to blow the cobwebs off!

05/07/2026

Anyone at Mallory Park Circuit, be sure to catch us on track!

04/07/2026

04/07/2026