Olie Linsdell tested a 125cc at Croft at the tenth round of the British Superbikes in preparation for his entry into the Gold Cup road races at Scarborough next weekend.
The Flitwick rider continued his regular participation in the Metzeler National Superstock 600 championship for Team Blackhorse Yamaha whilst also gaining valuable track time on the Honda for his next challenge.
The 20 year old can’t get enough of two wheels, of any sort.  After starting motocross at the age of five he first moved into club level before progressing onto the 600cc in 2006 in the Virgin R6 Cup.  His career has already seen him race on 125cc, 250cc, 400cc and 600cc machines.
Clocking up wins along the way Linsdell additionally has taken part in numerous road racing events including the North West 200 and Manx GP, last season he also entered into the classic CRMC National championship
“I like riding a variety of bikes and combining the results from them all.  They are all different, it gives you experience and helps you when you have problems with one bike because you have a better understanding of things and a wider knowledge.”
Regarding his weekend and jumping between the two bikes Linsdell said: “I am riding the 125cc in Scarborough and I have never ridden one before.  We thought we should try and test one so we jumped in at the deep end and brought it here.
“It’s brilliant, as I’m quite big it feels like a mini-moto.  You can push quite hard as you haven’t got the power like a 600cc and your wheels keep in line, it’s really opened my eyes”.  Even though he’s approximately eight miles down at the speed traps he qualified 12th out of 36 and only two seconds off pole position, but did not take part in the race.
When asked if he favours any particular type of racing he said: “Most racers would probably say the one they are best at, but I don’t.  Racing on track can’t be compared to road racing.  They are a completely different buzz.  I just enjoy stringing a good lap together on the road and that feelings the same as a good result on track.”
“It can be difficult switching between different types of racing like this year I had a month road racing before coming to track.  You are re-learning at every point, 130mph feels slow, Snetterton is one of the fastest tracks yet at the start of the season it felt slow.”
“You then make mistakes like braking late which causing you to over run.  When you go back to road racing you have to do things a second in advance and you have to re-calibrate your brain and it then seems so fast as everything whizzes by.”
Linsdell is now coming to the end of his first year in Superstock and results are forming.  Linsdell said: “I am mentally fit and have improved as a rider.  I am a person that has to keep chipping away no matter how long it takes me.  At the end of the day it is making me a much stronger racer.”
“Things are coming together now and I’ve had a laugh with Ian [Lougher – Team Owner] and all the team, they have been friendly and I want to go as fast as I can for them.  As for next year that is unknown at present, but I want to get the best results I can in the last three races and we will see.”