Good Enough To Win But Not Good Enough To Race BSB -18/3/01

Steve Allen, racing his Suzuki GSX-R 1000, in the first race of the season, stole the show at the MRO (Motorcycle Racing Organisation) National Championship Series at Donington Park last weekend and earned the respect of spectators and competitors alike.

Steve’s first and main race of the meeting was the Superstock, a new class in the MRO series, which sees virtually road standard bikes raced in close competition. These bikes are about as close as you can get to the machines you ride on the road and are strictly controlled in terms of tuning and performance.

Steve took his machine onto the track for the 18-minute qualification session and took pole position by 4/10ths of a second.

He dominated the race from the start leading the field from the first to the last bend in comfortable style, putting a 5 second cushion between his machine and the Yamaha R1 of Dave Johnson by lap 4 and after that cruised the new Suzuki home for the remainder of the 14 lap race.

Later it emerged that Steve’s application to enter the British Superbike Series in the same Superstock Class had been rejected because they considered him too inexperienced to race in the major British series and in order to secure entry to, at least, Round 1 of that competition he entered the MRO as the first three in that race get automatic entry to the following round of the BSB.

So Steve had proved his critics wrong and had safely secured his entry for the meeting, for which he had been rejected, to be held at Donington in three weeks time

Speaking after the podium presentation, Steve from Perth, said, “I was disappointed to be rejected by the BSB as last year I entered the last 4 rounds and did quite well finishing 9^th at Knockhill, my local track ” 

An excellent result for Steve who still does not know if his entry for the series will now be accepted or whether he will have to enter each MRO Round in order to win his right of entry to the BSB. If he does have to do that he doubts he could complete the year without the support of a main sponsor, “We will have to live from one race to the next race” said Steve.

Bikermag spoke with Julie Kimpton, the BSB Event Manager, who, when told of Steve’s performance, said, “I have spoken with Steve about his registration, and the position will be reviewed after the Donington round. If he rides like he did in the MRO he’ll be in a good position anyway”

Having won his main event he bravely entered the Powerbike race, the big action class for big 4 strokes with unlimited tuning, 1000 cc for production models and 750cc for superbikes. As Steve pit it he wanted to “have some fun” this though, would be far from fun as it was the equivalent of taking a standard showroom car and competing in the British Touring Car Championships.  A David and Goliath type struggle. 

Steve had surprised everyone by getting third on the starting grid and all eyes were on him and his Suzuki. He did not disappoint, with 40 others roaring into Redgate Corner at the start, he and Francis Williamson, the favourite, commenced a scrap for the lead. Williamson completed Lap 1 at the lead with Allen close on his tailpipe, by Lap 3 Allen had managed to take the lead from him only to return it on Lap 4. Williamson then led the field until the rain started during Lap 9 and when it really began to pour during Lap 12 the Race was red flagged. A good win for Williamson but a very impressive second place for Allen. To have come anywhere near the front in such a field is impressive but to lead for a while and then finish second is exceptional. After the presentation Allen walked along the pit lane to return to his garage, as he did so there was a unconcealed display of mutual respect from many top class riders, the nod of acknowledgement, shout of congratulations here, the pat on the back or shake of the hand there. 

What is for sure is that if Steve could get some strong backing and a proper ride he would be something even more special to watch.

JJA1