BHS Racing

Aiden Hopkins

Aiden Hopkins

Sunday 15th June Barbagallo Raceway - Chad Peters Junior Road Racing Series.

Rocking up to Barbagallo Raceway short track on Sunday 15th June for Round 3 of The Chad Peters Junior Road Racing Series the weather was pouring down and set for a very testing day indeed.

This event had me racing on the short track which I had not competed in before and had to quickly learn along with riding someone elses bike due to my Morowaki motor blowing up 2 weeks before. Thankfully we were able to lease a bike for the day to ensure that my championship lead was not threatend (all thanks to BHS Engineering).

Practice 1:
Going out for Practice 1 the rain was coming down hard and I had to learn the new track. It was difficult to learn in the rain but luckily with past experience I knew most of it having ridden the long track on a number of occasions. I came in nervouse that I didn’t know the track that well, but I knew that other junior riders did not know it also.
Practice 2:
Rain continuing to pour down I went a little faster but still not confident.

Time to grid up for Race 1:
I was on Pole and the weather was still raining hard, I did not think it was going to stop. I got the worst start and went into turn 1 in sixth place. I tried to make my way back up but riding an unfamiliar bike put me behind, however got 3rd which I was happy with under the wet weather conditions.

Race 2:
At last the rain had died down a bit but the track was still very wet. Once again I got a bad start but this time I made my way back through the field as I did not want the leaders to get way. Going into turn 7 I took over to move into 2nd place under brakes and on the same lap I took 1st place on the main straight and lead the rest of the race winning by 25 seconds. Of course this was due to 2 riders falling off behind me.

Race 3:
With my confidence high and finally it was dry I still coudn’t get my starts right, yet another bad one however I made my way similar to race 2 and won it by 3 seconds.

So going away with the short track lap record for the day and boosting my lead in the championship by 61 points I couldn’t be happier.

I would like to give a huge thanks to BHS Engineering, Trackdayz and Pete, Ray & Tom Hatton and of course Mum and Dad as without them I would not have made the Start Line.

Until we meet again at Round 4 Collie on 13th July…..

Aiden Hopkins # 14

Contacts for sponsorship:

Glenn Hopkins: 0419942537

Leanne Hopkins: 04193240504

Home: (08) 95620528

Email: hopkinsg@brightontown.com.au

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Sunday May 25th was round 2 of the Chad Peters Junior Series at Barbagallo.

We turned up in the morning with a bike me and dad had spent 2 weeks getting ready thanks to my last meeting crash. I was confident I could do well, also my main threat for the year Ben Millington was out with a broken ankle, so it was all on me to do my best and morning practise went well topping the time sheets on a cold track.

Race 1:
Starting from pole I was real nervous cause of my recent jump starts, but this time I nailed it and was never challenged to win by 5 seconds.

Race 2:
This race was different, I blew the start and was 5th into Turn 1 but, passed everyone on the outside and led from then on for a 11 second win and new personnel best lap time of 1.17.330 helped also by 2 jump starters.

Race 3 .
I was real confident by now and really wanted a 3 from 3 result just like BHS Racing WA Superbike Champion Matt Battista a week earlier, and that’s what I got, winning by 3 seconds over Mason Coote and a great end to racing.

With maximum points from the round it now gives me a great points lead , but there’s still a lot of racing to go yet .

Thanks to Barry and Myra from BHS Engineering (BHS Racing), TRAKDAYZ (the new helmet is great) Laro leathers , Rick Gill Honda and mum and dad for the support in 2008 .

Seeya at round 3 in 2 weeks time

Aidan #14

Junior racing at Round One WA State Superbike Championships 27th April 2008

Turning up to a cold wet track for round 1 of the WA Superbikes Champs was nerve racking because I don’t have a lot of confidence in the wet. The juniors were first out in the morning . The track was wet and I was pushing it too much with cold tyres. So on the first lap I high sided in the Esses turn 2 and 3.

So we got the bike back to the pits and fixed it as quickly as we could thanks to BHS Racing and the Gardner family for all the spare parts and to Tom Hatton for his spare helmet as I wrecked mine. With moments to spare I just made it out for qualifying I only got 2 laps in but I still qualified 3rd.

Griding up for race 1 was nervous after my crash in morning practice. I got the hole shot leading into turn 1, but Jarred Gardener made a good pass around the outside of me on turn 4 the only left hander on the track then I got him back going into the basin turn six. This then allowed me to pull away from the pack winning by 22 seconds, I was happy about that.

Race 2 I was starting on pole but having a complete opposite start from race 1. I stalled on the grid but I had enough speed to restart my bike. I was leading by lap 2 and on the next lap I saw a board saying I jumped the start and I got a 15 second penalty I couldn’t make it up and missed out on first place by 2 seconds I took second which was good with a 15 second penalty.

So leaving the day with 2 trophies and a overall win was a big turn around from how the day started. I would like to say thanks to my dad for missing his warm up session to fix my bike and BHS Engineering who are going to make me a heap of spares for my bike. I’d also like to thank Ray Hatton for getting me new tyres for the last round, and Trakdayz for there awesome support .

Thank you to all you have supported me, Tom and Ray Hatton, Trakdayz, the Gardner family, mum and Dad, Barry, Myra, the BHS team and Laro leathers.

The Juniors will be at Barbagallo on:

25th May for Rd 2 with HCMC.
15th June for RD 3 Barbagallo
13th July for RD 4 at Collie
17th August for RD 5 Barbagallo
4th, 5th October for RD 6 in Collie?? TBC
20 to 23 November at Barbagallo?? TBC

We are hoping to get in with MCRCWA in November 8th, 9th for their Major race meet. But will keep everyone up to date on this.

I’ll be at Trakdayz on:

11th May in Collie (without the bike as it needs paint work and some TLC)
17th May in Baragallo (If the bike is ready), Also the next day is RD 2 for MCRC
1st June Barbagallo
13th July Barbagallo
27th September Barbagallo
26th October Collie
29th November Collie

Until next time Aiden Hopkins #14

Easter weekend 22nd March to the 23 March.

My first round of the year kicked off at Collie, I was going out there for my Saturday practise, but i wasn’t at all confident at how I was going. but I was going to try my best, and got faster as the day went on with Tom Hattons help. On Sunday in the freezing cold i couldn’t wait to get on the track. I went out for my first 10minute practise and I was on the pace. Going into the races I was on pole position on the grid.

RACE 1:
I got a really good start leading into turn one, I just rode as smooth and fast as I could leading the whole race and winning it. I turned back to notice Mason Coote behind me about half of the main straight, I didnt think I would have managed to win by such a lead from Mason. I was so delighted to win and lead a race, as it was my first race I had ever won apart from last year at Barbagallo when I ran out of fuel in the basin. The second race was the same, winning that one and leading from start to finish, but the third and final race was different, as I was leading with 1 lap to go, I turned back to see new rider # 107 Ben Millington come out of nowhere and went around the outside of me and took the win. I didnt now where he came from it was such a shock, but I’m happy for him as it was his first race win as well. So coming away from the first round of the Historic season with two wins and a second was a really good start to the season.

Sunday 30th March
The Juniors were invited to MCRC for their Club Race day. It was a Great day for all and alot of fun. In My first race I took the win thanx to Ben Millington jumping the start.
Race 2:
It was my turn to jump start, so got hit with 15seconds penalty, finishing with a 3rd and 2nd overall for the day giving me and dad ( and Tom ) a few things to try as we get ready for ROUND 1 OF THE WA STATE SUPERBIKE CHAMPS April 26th - 27th and Round 2 later on in May.

Thanks to BHS Engineering and Laro Leathers for my new suit, Trakdayz for there support , Tom and Ray Hatton and of course the specail people mum and dad .

See you all at the WA Superbikes.

Aidan #14