Started stripping the XR ready for the new gears.. Hoping they'll turn up in time for me to race it at Dirt Quake..

Looks like the only damage from lunching 3rd gear at the last race is a bit of light scoring to my new forged piston, but it'll live to fight another day..

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Took the DirtBlade out today to meet a couple of mates at Newlands Corner. Some muscle turned up with a couple of stunning Corvettes..

Also spotted a lovely Velocette..

Stopped at my local spot on the way home and killed what was left of my tyre.. sparky..

Now I'm off to finish stripping the XR engine.. Dirt Quake's only a few days away!

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Apparently my gearbox has made it through UK customs so there's a chance it'll turn up and I'll be able to get it fitted and race on Saturday.. 

Short Track UK have kindly said they'll keep my entry open in Thunderbikes so fingers crossed!

I've started stripping the bike to get it ready for it's new gearbox.. I don't have a shed so I cleared a space in the studio.. now I can turn up the bass and work late into the night!

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Just in time, I was about to start looking for some fire proof underpants.

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New stuntcage from Pez at Stuntbikestore.com. Should come in handy when I'm racing the blade at Dirt Quake.

Next on the list is a bigger rear caliper and hand brake!

Time to start my tarmac drift practice..

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Well after a bit more poking about turns out my 3rd gear well and truly lunched itself and is now floating around in little bits in my oil..

Got to split the cases and replace the broken bits. I'm going to order a replacment transmission from California so depending on the post it might not get sorted in time for the next round, which is gutting but it's got to be done!

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Just been to Rye House Speedway practice.. Was good to see the Station165 boys Flynn, Scottie and Dave turn up on their flat trackers and Chris on his Royal Enfield getting some track time in before racing in the Inappropriate Road Bike Class at Dirt Quake.

Chris was looing good..

Scottie made his tank too it's a work of art..

I had some major problems with my bike so didn't get any practice, Scottie diagnosed it and said it's likely that some of the teeth have stripped from 3rd (which explains why I couldn't run in 3rd at the last GNC races). That's not good news and needs the cases split to fix.. I'm going to try to gear it for 2nd I can at least make the next round at Coventry (and hope it doesn't lunch itself!).

Jamie #29

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The work on Dirtblade continues..

New BMX grind pegs to fit to the Stuntbikestore rear sub-cage (coming soon)..

A trick ProJection Components ACU approved shark's fin (it fits next to the chain to prevent fingers and toes being chewed up in a crash)..

Replacement Robbie Moto Engineering quick throttle tube and throttle cables after my last set were mullered. Luckily Moto46 had a spare throttle tube lying around..

Hopefully the cage will turn up soon, then it'll be ready to hit the dirt track!

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Attention2Detail fitted a set of Michelin race wets to my Blade to race in the inappropriate road bike class at Dirt Quake.. Hopefully they'll have decent grip on the shale. My SBS stunt cage should turn up next week..

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Going for a shakedown run at Rye House speedway practice this Sunday with Driver Chris. He'll be coming along to try out his Royal Enfield for Dirt Quake's Irresponsible Road Bike class.. 

All flat trackers welcome, just turn up on the day.. £40 on track from 11am to 3pm.

Been trying to get the Fireblade ready, I'll be racing against Chris at Dirt Quake, (as well as racing the XR in Thunderbikes). Got some Michelin race wets and Pez at Stuntbikestore will be sorting out my UK designed and fabricated SBS stunt cage, can't wait!

Really looking forward to getting the XR on the dirt this Sunday, haven't had many chances to practice so far this year!

This is Sideburn's preview vid for Dirt Quake with music by The Vicious Cycles..

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I totally shredded my old race hoodie at the last race in Leicester, just got a replacement from my awesome sponsor ProJection Components. Their new logo looks really cool..

Just have to get my race number on the back and I'm all set for the next STUK race at Kings Lynn next Saturday!

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Dirt Quake looks mental.. Not often you get the chance to race a Fireblade on a speedway track! I'll be racing it in the 'inappropriate road bike' class..

Bring it on!

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Some more upgrades for The Bastard:

I've fitted bar risers so it'll be easier to lay it down..

A dry-break fuel line coupler..

A crankcase breather filter.. I saw it on Stu's Co-Built XR and had to have one..

I've now got a 19" Excel rim and lightweight hub for the front wheel, very kindly donated to the cause by Chris (thanks Chris!!). Just have to get it laced up and get a couple of spacers made up, luckily my front spindle already fits perfectly!

I can now lose the heavy, ugly front Comstar and have matching wheels..

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Right bad news first.. I turned up at the track just in time to fit my front number board and roll out for practice and didn't stop all day so didn't get a chance to wire up the Bastardcam... so.. no footage... sorry..

I'll make sure I fit the camera before heading to the track for the next race.

Ok, so the bike was running great, loads of grunt and flying down the straights, just need to work on myself now to improve my cornering!

I had one crash, almost a highside, but kinda saved it and managed to lowside it.. shredded my old flat track hoodie..

About time it was retired anyway..

Also cracked the numberboard, but was helped by Mark and John Calder who made such a good job of sticking it back together I think it's an improvement!

The track was awesome, really nice place to race, and it was good to be out in the Thunderbikes, and watching the Novices it looks really competitive this year, there were some really fast guys racing for the first time...

I was about mid-pack in the Club Thunderbikes, but after the crash in the B final the bike started stuttering in Third gear, (think the float bowls didn't like the crash), so I ran in fourth gear for the GNC, but it didn't go very well at all.. Still, I feel really positive, the bike's great (well it will be once I sort the carbs out!) and I'm going to work hard on my weak areas at Rye House, then I'll start pushing for better results over the next few rounds..

Anyway, I had a blast, it was great to catch up with the STUK faces again, and I can't wait for the next round at King's Lynn..

The ProJection Components pipes sounded great, now they've got that cool blue tinge from the heat..

The pits were full so we were spilling out into the yard..

After getting some advice from the very fast Alan Birtwhistle and ex-England speedway star Les Collins I'm going to increase the right lock on the bars by grinding the lock-stop, and also toe-in the rear wheel to get better drive..

Looking forward to the next race already..

J

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Got up to Rye House yesterday for the Flat Track practice organised by Mike at Station165. The bike was pretty lean on the dyno so I put in some 145 jets (though the problem might be the small DT175 fuel tap).

Once on track the bike was running great, it starts first kick and the back wheel was still spinning up at the end of the straight. Had a few problems getting the drum brake set up, but by the last session I was starting to get back into it.

All ready for the first race next Sunday at Leicester Speedway Stadium!

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