Welcome To The Yamaha Past Masters Racing Club

2010 dates revealed

Written by Tony Hoare Tuesday, 19 January 2010 12:20

The Yamaha Past Masters racing calendar for 2010 has been made public by Bemsee.

The eight-round series will take the YPMs to Oulton Park, Pembrey, Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park and Snetterton. There will be two visits to Cadwell and three to Brands, one of them on the prestigious GP circuit.
Each date will be preceded by a Friday test day. It works slightly differently at Oulton Park, where Friday’s practice will be included in the price of entry for Saturday’s one-day race meeting.
Full 2010 dates below.

April 16-17: Oulton Park, Cheshire*
May 1-2: Pembrey, Dyfed
May 15-16: Brands Hatch GP, Kent
June 26-27: Cadwell Park, Lincs
July 24-25: Brands Hatch Indy, Kent
August 14-15: Cadwell Park, Lincs
September 4-5: Snetterton, Norfolk
October 2-3: Brands Hatch Indy, Kent

Norfolk Line continue YPM backing

Written by Tony Hoare Friday, 08 January 2010 21:41

Norfolk Line ferries will continue their lucrative title sponsorship of YPM into the 2010 season.

The £1500 prize fund for Norfolk Line YPM will be split into two equal pots. The first £750 will be shared among the top three in the final championship standings, while the other £750 will be awarded in the form of spot prizes at each of the eight 2010 rounds. Every rider in the series will be required to carry a Norfolk Line sticker on their bike’s screen to be eligible for the spot prizes.

Norfolk Line’s freight director Wayne Bullen, a former YPM racer, said: “I’m delighted to continue the association with the series, which offers grassroots racing at its best. Our package makes a big difference to the club, which is going from strength to strength.”

The spot prizes are awarded on the results of the second race of each Saturday event. A pre-arranged matrix ensures that each finishing position from first to 30th will win a spot prize once in the course of the season. Stickers will be available through the club at either the Bemsee rookie school in February or at the season-opening race.

Postie Ken wins Whalin award

Written by Tony Hoare Monday, 30 November 2009 12:54

Ken Lawrence was awarded with the Danny Whalin Trophy at Bemsee’s season-ending presentation on Saturday. The Trophy is awarded each year to the rider considered to have best represented the spirit of the Yamaha Past Masters Racing Club. It is named after Danny Whalin, the YPM racer who was sadly killed in a racing crash in 2003. The TZR250-racing postman has been with the YPM class since 2007 and has become a vital part of the scene. Whenever a fellow competitor needs assistance, Ken is one of the first on hand to offer help and spares. His TZR250 road bike is also a regular sight in the paddock and a frequent donor of parts to struggling rivals. An emotional Lawrence collected the award from Danny’s sister Chloe Whalin.

Champion Herron Collects Trophies

Written by Tony Hoare Monday, 30 November 2009 12:52

New YPM Champion Pat Herron collected a haul of trophies at Bemsee’s annual awards presentation on Saturday, November 28. Herron, who overhauled Mike Smith in the final race of the season to win his second YPM title, collected the main championship trophy, the club’s 350 Shield and the Paul Hogan Memorial Trophy. He also won the YPM Steelie Tour for riders on steel-framed machines. He was joined on the championship podium by third-placed Dan Wright, who also won the TZR Tour. Championship runner-up Smith was unable to attend the presentation ceremony.

Power limits approved for 2010

Written by Tony Hoare Monday, 30 November 2009 12:49

The popular TZR250s will be limited to 53bhp in 2010 to ensure RD350s have a power advantage that compensates for their poorer handling characteristics. The RD350’s existing 59bhp power limit will remain in place, and there’s an additional new limit for the TDR250, which will be capped to 56bhp. This limit reflects the extra weight of a TDR over a TZR and its poorer aerodynamics. All figures relate to the DynaPro dyno that will be used at Bemsee meetings in 2010. The TZR and TDR limits were voted in by riders in the Yamaha Past Masters Racing Club’s annual ballot. It achieved just under 70% approval, enough to see the limits introduced.

Read more: Power limits approved for 2010