Croftons Solicitors LLP

Jeff Palmer, a Partner at Croftons Solicitors LLP, went to the Silverstone Arena last Sunday after Croftons made a financial contribution to support the endeavours of Sam West’s first season in the National Superstock 1000cc Championship this year.

Sam, aged 22, is actively pursuing his passion for motorbike racing alongside studying mechanical engineering at Coventry University. Last season, he was the Class B champion in the DesmoDue Championship, proving that he had returned to form after breaking his leg and when asked by Roy Armstrong, owner of Ital Sport, to ride one of his 850cc Ducati motorbikes in the National Superstock Championships 2010, his answer was a resounding “yes!”

Jeff was a guest of the Water Lane Physio Team and says “I had a most enjoyable day, having the opportunity of seeing close up the mechanical preparation that goes into the Ducati motorbike, the final preparations as the tyres were heated for the race and also watching Sam as he prepared himself both physically and mentally for his race.

I was struck by the atmosphere in the paddocks; the sense of tension, the noise of the bike’s before they entered the race circuit and then the background noise of motorbikes going around the circuit at speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour. It was all really intense!

Unfortunately for Sam, during the race, his bike’s gear leaver toe-bar became detached, which meant that he was unable to change gear effectively. He was disappointed that he hadn’t been able to ride the bike to its full potential. Yet despite this, the bike’s on board computer recorded speed in excess of 175 miles per hour along one of the straights of the circuit! If Sam can ride a bike at these speeds, with a missing gear leaver toe-bar, he must have a great future ahead of him!

Talking to Sam afterwards, I was struck by his quiet self confidence in his undoubted ability to ride motorbikes of this size and power, which to the casual observer seemed breathtakingly dangerous.”

Posted on 22.06.10

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