The Journey comes to an End

Hi Folks

You have probably noticed that the 2012 season was a bit of a disappointment for me, initially not being able to compete after falling during my annual snowboarding trip in February and when I could ride, I struggled with fitness as the injury was causing me problems.

The doctors have finally given me a clean bill of health in relation to my shoulder, the MRI scan picked up a fracture which has now healed and no longer gives me any pain, so no surgery is required. It's still not 100% but I'm hoping this will improve over time.

Whilst I've not been racing I've thought long and hard about the whole scene, the cost, the effort, the hard work and the fact that I've had some annual leave left at the end of the year and I've come to the sad conclusion that I'm not enjoying it enough anymore to justify it all.

So I have cancelled my gym membership and decided to hang up my leathers and announce my retirement from road racing with immediate effect. Its not something I've taken lightly and I'm not quite sure how I'm going to fill the void or re-create the buzz of competing.

It's been a long road, 12 years of ups and downs, tears and tantrums, some trophies, a lot of hard work, a lot of travelling and lots of fun, but it's time to try something else. I'm not sure what, but I'll think of something!!

The list of personal thanks could be endless, and apologies if I have missed anyone out, but in no particular order there have been some very special people around me, my girlfriend Louise who helped make it all possible, my parents, my brother Stuart and Claire, Cheryl Ruddy, Big Ju, Charlie, Sean and Big Daz for twirling spanners over the years, Claire for the endless cups of coffee, bacon butties and van cake, Paul Meadows for all his art and web work, Grandad Albert Hornbuckle RIP, Richard Glover for his amazing photography, Nicola, Paul and Karl Gatenby, Rob and Janet Hall, Sue Pollin, Shiela Oldfield, Steve Tomes for his advice and Phil Murden for inspiring me in the first place .

I am not forgetting Kerrigan Read #100, Stu Hall #17, Rob Oldfield #28, Kingsley Ruddy #29, Graham Taylor #17, Jamie Harrison #91, Rob Simcock #31 and Lee Wilson #80, Christian "Bomber" Slater #166 and Alan "Bez" Beresford for some amazing racing and paddock support, everyone else I have raced with or against over the years, all the EMRA, New Era and Derby Phoenix officials and medical staff. Dr Nikki Thomas, Marshall's Sue and Paul Hunt, Orange Simon (& Ree) and the rest of the Orange army. Without your support none of us could do it! Mark Wright at Holbeach Tyres, Gary Hartshorne at Bridgestone Tyres, Gav Goddard at GIA Engineering, Colin Davies at Shockwave Suspension; Dave East of East Engineering Ltd; Jamie and Paul at Granby Motors, Chris Utting (for the paintwork) and John at BTK Leathers.

Finally to all my sponsors who have remained loyal and helped me over the years KBC Helmets (Connie, Loz and Amanda); Sprint Dampers (Jono); NGK Spark Plugs; SPR Dyno (Sam and Pete); Chatsworth Signs (Paul); Lindstrand Leathers (John and Anders); Censol (John & Andrew); Pidcock Motorcycles (Mark, Chris Pidcock and Sam).

I'd just like to say a BIG THANK YOU to you all for your support, assistance, guidance, friendship, sportsmanship and most of all being there. Its been one hell of a journey.


Jagger
#19

PS: Louise will be publishing details of the Jagger Racing Fantasy Riders competition for 2013 in the next couple of weeks. Look out for the email.

Fantasy Riders Update (Aug)

Hi All

Just to give you the latest league table for the Jagger Racing Fantasy Riders Teams.  Still a couple of months for those of you trailing to catch-up.  Use your extra £10m to boost your teams.

Cheers
Lou

Fantasy Riders Update

So, we are coming up to the half way mark thorough the 2012 season. There's been six World Superbike, five MotoGP and four British Superbike rounds and the current Championship leaders are Max Biaggi, Jorge Lorenzo and Josh Brookes but who will it be in a month's time? or at the end of the season?

This weekend is the British MotoGP at Silverstone, anyone going? Will it rain? Phil and I are thinking about it, weather depending! Will Cal Crutchlow shine in his home round?

Here's the current Jagger Racing league table. Maybe it's time some of you reviewed your teams, I'm not normally in the Top Three!!



Regards,

Lou

Donington Park - THIS WEEKEND!!

Hello All

We've been busy preparing for this weekend's “home round” at Donington Park in Leicestershire on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May 2012.

After the disappointment at Cadwell, the bike was repaired, although to be honest, not too much damage.

I had a track day last week as a shakedown prior to this weekend's meeting, considering it is my local track I've not ridden there since 2008.

The track day itself was quite tricky with very cold temperatures and a damp track. The first two sessions were on intermediate tyres, it was then dry enough to change to a dry set up, only for the weather to change completely and it poured down, meaning another tyre change!

After lunch, the sun came out and the track had dried, I ventured out onto a dry track. However, despite the repeated advice of my pit crew, I hadn't drained the belly pan of the water from the wet session, convinced that it would be OK and evaporate ....it didn't!! As I tipped into Coppice the remaining water tipped onto the track with me gracefully slipping to the side. Luckily it was only an 'out' lap and I wasn't traveling too fast. As the red flags came out to stop the session, rather embarrassed, I rode the bike back to the pits.

A quick inspection revealed no damage and after emptying the belly pan of gravel, I was back on track for the next session. This session went really well, but the final session of the day was missed as a hailstorm hit us and turned the track into a skating rink, just before we were due to go out.

I'm quite looking forward to this weekend's meeting. Fingers crossed the weather stays sunny and dry as predicted, if you fancy a day trip out, hope to see you there. We'll be in one of the garages.

Cheers

Jagger


PS: Here is the updated Fantasy Riders Jagger Racing League Table. Well done Karl, keep up the good work, and I've just nicked second place from Lou!

Cadwell Park - 14/15 April 2012 - This Weekend!

Hello All

Further to my previous blog regarding my shoulder, after having physio, I've now had the all clear to race and am heading to Cadwell Park this weekend.

Testing on Friday 13th, with racing on Saturday and Sunday.

For any of you that can make it, please come and join us in the paddock.

Cheers

Jagger
#19


Fantasy Riders results after two World Superbike and one MotoGP and British Superbike rounds.

2012 Season soon to start...

Hi All

I hope you have all had a good start to the New Year and are well rested after the closed season.

There has been plenty of things happening away from the racing world and whilst not directly affecting my racing it has taken my focus off the track. I hope to remedy this and also update the blog on a more frequent basis.

Things took a slight turn for the worse during my annual snowboarding trip earlier this month when I fell and suffered a separated AC joint (roughly translated to a dislocated collar bone and damaged the attached ligaments). I put the collar bone back into place in the shower and I'm currently rehabilitating/strengthening the shoulder. As you can imagine this is quite painful and is restricting my preparations and especially my training. I'm hoping to make the first round at Snetterton on the weekend of 17/18 March and will update on my progress and final decision nearer the time.

Meanwhile the Fantasy Riders competition starts this Friday at Phillip Island in Australia with the World Superbike grid lining up. Those wishing to join in with the league, please click here. You only need to choose your WSBK team for now as the British and MotoGP season doesn't start until early April.

Our Jagger Racing league is number 42 and the password is 19derbyp

Thanks for reading this and for your continued support.

Cheers

Jagger

Fantasy Riders comes to a close - 2011 Season

So, its all over for another year, there have been some laughs, some corking racing and some very sad moments, Marco Simoncelli (forever in our hearts #58) and the final round shocker crash yesterday at Valencia. Ducati really lost out.

The final results are here, well Done Dino, congratulations, and also to Sean for making the top 100 (I just missed out).



Well done to all the riders in MotoGP, World and British Superbike and all the supporting classes, which are equally important, just not included in Fantasy Riders.

We look forward to 2012.

Lou

Fantasy Riders Rounds 33-34

So, Tommy Hill finally got his British Superbike Championship title and Casey Stoner took the Moto GP title, Well Done to Tommy and Casey.

However, our Fantasy Riders championship is not over yet as there are still two rounds of Moto GP left to go, Malaysia and Valencia.

Who will top our league? Choose your finalist carefully and good luck all.

Lou

Fantasy Riders Rounds 31-32

Another Showdown round at British Superbikes at Silverstone this weekend saw John Hopkins & Josh Brookes take wins. Hopper is currently top of the standings with only one round left to go at Brands in October.

With Max Biaggi sitting out Imola, Johnny Rea & Carlos Checa took wins. Checa is now nearly 100 points clear of second place Marco Melandri and looks set to win the Championship, but there are two rounds left yet.




The penultimate round of World Superbikes in Magny Cours and Moto GP in Motegi, Japan are happening this weekend, cut off final 5pm Friday 30th September.

Fantasy Riders Rounds 21-30

So whilst we've been away there have been quite a few rounds of the MotoGP, World and British Superbike Championships. Below are the current league standings:-

Fantasy Riders Rounds 19 & 20

The World Superbikes at Silverstone saw British Superbike rider John Hopkins shaking up the precedings by taking the Pole, however, Carlos Checa took another double win with Eugene Laverty & Marco Melandri also taking double second and third place.

The British Superbike triple round at Brands Hatch saw Josh Brookes, Shane Byrne and Tommy Hill taking the wins.

Moto GP is back from summer break at Brno in the Czech Republic this weekend with the others now taking a short break. Deadline for entries is Friday 12th August. Good luck.

Fantasy Riders Rounds 17 & 18

MotoGP at Sachsenring in Germany saw Dani Pedrosa take the win and in the USA at Laguna Seca, Casey Stoner triumphed. British Superbikes at Oulton gave Tommy Hill another win, with race 2 being abandonded due to bad weather!

World Superbikes at Silverstone this weekend. MotoGP riders now on summer break.

Fantasy Riders Rounds 15 & 16

With Lorenzo shining at Mugello in Italy, John Hopkins and Ryuichi Kiyonari getting the top spot at the new Snetterton 300 and Marco Melandri and Max Biaggi taking victory at Brno in the Czech Republic its been a busy couple of weeks.

Next weekend is Sachsenring and Oulton Park, with the MotoGP and British Superbike competitors taking to their respective tracks, Sunday 17th July; the cut-off for changes will be 5pm Friday 15th July.

Fantasy Riders Round 14

Interesting MotoGP racing at Assen on Saturday. Ben Spies takes his first win of the Season with Casey Stoner & Andrea Dovisioso rounding of the rest of the podium.

This weekend sees British Superbikes head to Snetterton and the 300 circuit and MotoGP back to back at Mugello. Deadline 5pm Friday 1st July.

Fantasy Riders Round 13

With top results for BSB Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill Knockhill, he takes Pole position, fastest lap and two race wins!

In World Superbikes Champion leader Carlos Checa has his first DNF and Max Biaggi takes his first win at the half way mark in the Season. Leon Camier and Marco Melandri share to podium too.

The next race is MotoGP at Assen, Saturday 25th June. Race weekend cut-off will be 17:00 Thursday 23rd June (this is a day earlier, Assen is Saturday NOT Sunday race).
This weeks standings in the Jagger Racing league are below:-

Fantasy Riders Round 12

With the disappointing crash from Cal Crutchlow in his home GP at Silverstone, his team mate Colin Edwards, also with a recently plated and pinned broken collar bone, did him proud by achieving a podium third place. First and Second went to Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso. Casey now leads the Championship.

World Superbikes at Misano gave us yet another double (2 in a row, third this season) for Carlos Checa on the Ducati. Carlos is now 72 points ahead of Biaggi.

This weekend is another World Superbike round 7 at Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain and the British Superbike teams head to Knockhill. Entry Deadline is 5pm Friday 17th June.

Fantasy Riders Round 11

With Stoner, Lorenzo & Spies on the Podium last weekend, who will shine at Silverstone. The sun?



Fantasy Riders News is that Colin Edwards will be back in action for the British GP this weekend, however, no Dani Pedrosa. Deadline 5pm Friday 10th June.

Fantasy Riders Round 10

With no racing on the weekend of 21/22 May there was double this weekend.

With a double for Checa in World Superbikes at Miller Motorsports in Utah, USA and a team two/three for Smrz & Guintoli (Effenbert-Liberty) and the same for Camier & Biaggi (AlItalia Aprilia).

British Superbikes saw Michael Laverty & Shane Byrne share the wins at a wet Thruxton. The current Jagger Racing League standings are below:-


This weekend sees the return of Moto GP and round 5 at Catalunya, Spain. Deadline for entries if Friday 3rd at 5pm.

Fantasy Riders Round 9

Well I've not actually seen any of the races from British Superbike at Croft and MotoGP at Le Mans but its sounds like they were interesting. Lou

Fantasy Riders Round 8

Latest results after World Superbikes at Monza, Italy.
Deadline for British Superbikes at Croft and MotoGP at Le Mans, France is 17:00 hours, Friday 13th (ooh, scarey). Good luck!