Mike Bates Racing

20/08/2020

Update. I’ve raced in 2020! For 1 lap...
The Barry Sheene meeting at Oliver’s mount was shaping up to be a good meeting really. First time at the track but gelled really well with it. Practice and qualifying went well, done a 2.08 with wet tyres in mainly dry conditions which put me row 5 of the b race(37th of 62 600’s overall). Pleased with that really as a newcomer on the only carbed bike in class.

Unfortunately race 1 was a disaster, got swallowed up off the line then going into mere harpin first time another rider had a moment and ended up parking his bike sideways in front of me and I dropped even more place to nearly last.
Had an issue going into mountside harpin. Bike kept on driving forward when I was off the throttle which made me run deep and struggled to turn, ended up using the grass on the exit. To be honest I’d assumed I got my glove caught or something and hadn’t shut the throttle properly so carried on.
Going into mere harpin start of lap two same thing happened again bike just kept driving but this time trying to get it stopped I’ve lose control and slid off. Probably smallest crash I’ve had up till now but I’ve actually managed to brake my collarbone, potentially due to my leathers being too tight for the airbag est 🤦🏻😬 so that’s was weekend over already and a trip to Scarborough a&e.
Disappointed with not being able to get a good result, was definitely achievable to get near the front of the b race and get under the 2 minute lap time.

10/06/2020

Morning all.
Obviously this year hasn’t gone to plan but does look like they’ll be some racing soon. Not sure what I’ll be doing short circuit wise because it looks like racing at Anglesey isn’t happening this year.
The good news is though that there’s going to be two 3 day meetings at Oliver’s mount in August and September which I’ll definitely be entering. Went up to Scarborough yesterday to look at the track. Will be great fun but does demands a lot of respect for sure.
In the middle of replacing the frame on the bike I purchased for this season as I wasn’t 100% confident in the one in it. Should be a great bike once it’s all finished though.
I’ll update more nearer the time to race season finally getting going 👌🏻

29/02/2020

Just brought the bike home from P3 Tuning. Absolutely delighted with the outcome, improvements both in power and torque as well as sorting a fueling issue in midrange 👌🏻👌🏻
Johnathan and Paul’s knowledge when it comes to getting the best out your bike is right on the money. I will be going back with the other r6 later in the year 100% and let them work there magic with that bike.

On top of the work they’ve done for me this week, they have very generously offered me support for the coming season. In bike racing help wherever possible is invaluable and I am extremely grateful to have been offered this help.

Please have a look on there social media pages or visit there website www.p3tuning.com to see the services the offer both on road and racebikes.

Also if your a bike racer yourself or know of one I strongly suggest getting in touch. They’re genuine race fans and want to do there bit to help if possible

22/02/2020

Hi all. Forgot to post a few weeks ago but I’ve got a later model r6 to race this season on the pure road races in the Isle of Man/Scarborough along side the old pre injection r6 I’ve run last couple of seasons.

Dropped the new bike off at P3 Tuning this morning to have mapped. The lads there have looked after a couple of friends bikes in the past as well as some of the top race teams/ riders about. So I’m more than confident I’ll get the bike back running like a dream 👌🏻.

First outing of the year will be the first Wirral 100 meeting on the 21st/22nd March. I’ll be taking both bikes. The new one in Formula 600 just as more of a test and get a set up I’m happy with. The old one will be entered in Golden Era suspersport and pre injection classes, both of which I’ll be doing full season in with the aim of being in contention for the two championships.

I’ll update more as the season goes on 🙃

11/01/2020

Hi all. Happy new year, thought I’d jump on the bandwagon and let everyone know my plans for 2020.

It’s going to be quite a lean year really compared to 2019, most likely just the 3 meetings. Post tt and Southern 100 are the only races I’ll definitely be entering. The other being either 1 jurby road round if the club get the go ahead (fingers crossed 🤞). If not then more than likely one Scarborough. Only real target is to get a good lap time at billown. On a better bike and with more laps under my belt I think 103mph average isn’t unrealistic.

Reason for doing less is mainly saving for a more modern 600 which hopefully will mean being more competitive. I’ve also already got one eye on 2021 which hopefully will be the year I get to enter the Manx GP as a newcomer. This is something I’ve been building towards for 13 years now and the reason I took up racing in 2016. So keeping this year pretty quite should with any luck allow me to put maximum effort into preparing for the Manx and being in the best position possible for a result I’d be happy with.

I’ll post an update if anything exiting happens between now and June. Although I’m not seeking sponsorship for this year I naturally will need any help possible for Mgp. So all I ask for the time being is for people to give me the odd mention and share posts from this page etc. Hopefully results will improve from DNF’s and can look at advertisement with interested party’s in the future 👌🏻

📸 by Peter Faragher

13/08/2019

01/08/2019

Southern 100

Had 3 weeks to reflect on first ever road race but to be truthful I still haven’t adjusted back to normality yet! After getting obsessed with chasing results/signatures on short circuits, it felt great to just get over to the island remember and why I started racing in the first place. The event was incredible, very well organised. The track, WOW! Just wow! The best but scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life to date.

Monday and Tuesday practice went well with just a couple of teething issues mainly due to inexperience. But done what I’d hoped and qualified for the 600 b race.

Race 1 I retired on lap 6 of 7 due to the bikes clutch cable adjustment coming loose. Never thought that was possible but that’s how bumpy the track is!

Race 2 was going okay after one lap but I ran on at cross four ways which put me dead last by quite some time. Quite happy circulating on my own to be fair and did manage to catch back up with a couple of riders so finished 22nd with a fastest lap of 2:38. Was a second off the time I’d given myself as a target but was held up for half the lap so can’t moan.

Overall very happy enjoyed it and learnt an awful lot so can’t ask for more than that.

2020

One thing that was clear as day during the s100 was just how much of a disadvantage my bike and a couple of other pre injection bikes had compared to the modern 600’s. It’s definitely time to move on from the pre injection class whether that be a modern supersport or supertwin.

Because this means saving for a new bike and also having debts to pay I’ve decided to call it a day for 2019 and focus on being more competitive next year.

The plan is to focus on road racing from now on so next year will be a couple of meetings at Scarborough and over in Ireland, most likely tandragee 100. Will also do the post tt but the main goal is the southern and make some big steps forward

01/04/2019

Done the senior open for the first time at round 1. Missed out on top ten by 0.4 of a second but still came away grinning ear to ear. Reckon my Nan could win on this r6 and there’s still more to come to make it even quicker 👌🏻

30/03/2019

Photos from last Sunday. Some company logos would look good on those fairings!

20/03/2019

Entry has been accepted! So excited to start doing some pure road races. Roll on July 🇮🇲🏁🥳