By Dennis Smith
September 7 2005

From the snows of Snetterton in March to the blazing sun at Brands Hatch in September, TCG Motorsport has battled through all weathers, accidents, mechanical failures, setting up a brand new team mid-season, as well as the normal cash shortages that go with racing at this level. But despite it all, the team has pulled together, pooled their resources and achieved a third in the Rookie 600 Championship - and scored notable successes in the Forza Extreme class and the Clubman 1000-600 Shootouts.

Tom Gazzard, long time leader in the Rookie 600 class, eventually gained third place in the championship, behind winner John Angel and second place Pat Sheridan. This has proven to be a superb result, considering his two main adversaries were riding brand new bikes and Gazzard had to do his best with the five year old machine that was bought to replace his original GSXR-600 - wrecked in a bad crash at Cadwell Park half way through the season.

Gazzard’s weekend at Brands got off to a steady start with a third place behind his main rivals. However, his second race lasted only one and a half laps as he came to grief on the exit of Druids and his bike was hit by Oli Henderson, who had nowhere to go. The petrol tank was crushed and split open, ending racing for that day at least and his hopes of improving his championship position.

Sunday dawned and, to most people’s surprise, a #27 bike was on the grid looking very secondhand but fit for racing. The TCG crew had worked tirelessly throughout the evening sourcing components and hurriedly putting the bike back together, to ensure Gazzard didn’t have to end the season sitting out the last few races. Gazzard repaid these efforts by giving his all, and fought his way from the back of the grid up to twelfth place by the chequered flag. His final race of the year brought a seventh place after a stirring ride to instill confidence for 2006 wherever this talented rider may go - sponsorship and his RAF commitments permitting.

Stewart Willetts’ season ended on a high with an awesome first place in his class in the Clubman 1000-600 Shootout. As we have come to expect, Willetts made a superb start from the third row, forcing his way into third at Paddock Hill bend on the first lap and, whilst race leader Sam Bishop cleared off on his 600cc Yamaha at the front, Willetts was locked in battle with fellow 1000cc competitor Lee Cross for most of the race.

Cross made a mistake coming out of Paddock Hill, which was Willetts’ opportunity to carry his speed through Druids and pull off an incredible manoeuvre around the outside of Cross at the off camber Graham Hill bend. Certainly not one for the faint hearted and much appreciated by the supporting crowd! Willetts then set about trying to catch Bishop. With the laps running down too quickly for his liking, he eventually finished 0.534 seconds behind Bishop, but with another class winner’s trophy for the sideboard and his fastest time of the day at 50.531.

Earlier in the weekend Willetts had shown he was on the pace when he finished only 3.2 secs behind the Saturday Shootout race winner, Stephen Thompson. His final race of the day resulted in a commendable eighth place behind old adversary Cross in the competitive Forze Extreme class.

Having finished on a high, Willetts is looking forward to next year, and desperately trying to attract some sponsorship to enable him to compete at all the Bemsee rounds - unlike this year where he has been forced to miss half the season. With the right package behind him, Willetts can be confident of at least a top ten in the Forza Extreme Championship, and will be a definite title contender in the 2006 Clubman 1000 class.