GB Racing Inter-Services Motorcycle Racing

You will spend many hours working on your fitness in the company of the PTI and if you show any aptitude for a given sport you will be encouraged to reach the highest levels that you can.

Many years ago, as soon as you formed up on day one of your basic training, you were asked what sport you played and to what level.

If you were one of the lucky talented ones you were fast tracked after your training into one of the services teams, even being posted to a unit that had other good players in your chosen sport.

These days that doesn't happen as much due to the financial and size restrictions on our military, but if you want to perform at the highest levels there are elite pathways for you to achieve your goals.

Historically the Navy, Army and Air Force have produced world class athletes that have gone on to represent their country at the highest levels. 

Rory Underwood who balanced a career as a fast jet pilot in the RAF whilst playing for the England Rugby Team. Dame Kelly Homes started her training in the Army winning Olympic Gold, and Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Peter Reed who won Gold in three consecutive Olympics are a few that spring to mind.

So why are military personnel, not just from the UK, but from all over the world encouraged to take part in competitive sport? It's simple when you think about it, fitness, team spirit, loyalty and camaraderie are the pillars that the armed forces are built on.

No matter what branch of the armed forces you represent you will want to be the best, and there is no better way in demonstrating that than by taking on other athletes in your chosen sport.

The pinnacle of competitive sport within the armed forces is the Inter-Service competitions. You might have seen the Navy, Army and Air Force rugby matches broadcast on the TV from Twickenham, where 80,000 will turn up to watch the final - many in fancy dress.

The best costumes I saw were the two guys who had lost legs, both came dressed as pirates, very dark humour but very funny.

We didn’t quite get the crowds that Twickenham does at Cadwell for the Inter-Services Motorcycle Road Racing final, and I didn’t see anyone in fancy dress.

However, there were quite a few that looked like they were about to tackle a track up Everest as the weather was, let's say, changeable, bordering on horrific Saturday afternoon. 

The rain was that bad at the end of Saturday when the Inter-Services race was due to take place it was postponed until Sunday!

Going into the race, the RAF team were leading the championships by a good margin from the Army and the combined Royal Navy and Royal Marines teams.

The military racers weren't just there to take part in one race, they were all competing within their own individual classes and race series in the Thundersports GB Road Racing Championships. 

Due to, you guessed it Covid, the championships had been cut down to four events with double points on offer at the final rounds at Cadwell.

Prior to the final meeting we managed to capture the guys at Mallory and Oulton Park. The Mallory meeting was held over the weekend of the 5th & 6th September with Oulton having practice on Friday 25th September followed by race day.

Saturdays race winner Leon Wilton #51 leads Dave Langley #60 out of the Hairpin in the early laps of the race on his way to his second win of the weekend.

Eric Telger #519 and Dave Langley #60 finished close behind.  Mallory is a great track for the spectator photographer, the Bus Stop provided an ideal spot for close up shots of Sam Cartwright #62 and Colin Wilson #131 with his camouflage livery.

At the Oulton Park round held on the 26th September James Leslie #32 had the early lead ahead of Dave Langley #60 and Eric Telger #519 but the positions were reversed by the final lap with Telger getting a narrow sub 1 second win over Langley.

It was dominant performance for the RAF as they took the top 5 places.

As the last race of the day was run we were treated to some glorious late sunshine and long shadows at Knickerbrook.

The parting shot of the day from Oulton Park is Brian Fuidge and James Alder heading up Clay Hill.

With double points on offer at the final rounds at Cadwell and with 32 riders lining up on the grid astride 500 twins, to the latest inline four 1000cc machines, it was going to be an interesting race.

Leon Wilton from the Army was leading the Individual Championship going into the final round and was on row two, qualifying in fourth place right behind pole sitter Paul Cunvin #8 representing the RAF.

Wilton came in fifth as the chequered flag dropped for the last time this year, and that was enough for him to be crowned the Inter-Services Individual Champion.   

Winning the race after qualifying 9th on the grid, #32 James Leslie for the RAF came in first on his 600cc Yamaha, followed by #30 David Leith for the Army and Dave Langley who was the runner up in the Individual Championship for the RAF, taking the last podium place.

Just over a second separated the top three - racing doesn’t get much better than this! 

After all the maths were done, the best of four races out of this year's five count towards the individual championship - the worst result is dropped. 

In the team race it’s the top eight riders, so with a very respectable 653 and a 211 point lead, the RAF were declared the Inter-Service team champions for 2020.

In closing, here are a few pictures of Andrew Castle who took a tumble on Saturday.

He was fine and I had a chat to him later after he had dusted himself off to represent the RAF in the Inter-Services race on Sunday, he reported for duty on Monday.

One final thought for you to take away. All of this competitive racing is great and I'm sure the Royal Navy / Royal Marine and Army teams will be back stronger next year to knock the RAF off the top spot.

However, some who wanted to race never made it back from overseas operations, some came back with visible injuries as well as hidden ones. 

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