This year, the Metzeler National Superstock 600 championship was designed to bring fresh, ambitious riders onto the British national scene who want to go all the way to a factory ride. One of the 2008 contenders who has taken the giant leap from club racing is RAF Avionics Technician Tom Gazzard.
Gazzard started racing in 2005 on a Suzuki GSX-R600K1 in the Rookie 600 category of the British Motorcyle Club (BMCRC), finishing third overall. Due to funding he has been unable to do a full racing season since, but has continued to enter numerous rounds within the MRO and BMCRC championship, obtaining nine wins amongst his total of 29 podium finishes.
This year his skill and pure dedication has earned him full sponsorship from Aquatherm UK based in West Sussex creating the team Aquatherm Racing, giving him the first major opportunity in his racing career to-date. When asked how he is finding this year compared to club racing he said: “It brings you on, everybody goes quicker. It forces you to pull your finger out. It's quite exciting riding with these people.”
In his debut weekend at the start of the season at the snowed off Brands Hatch, Gazzard qualified 28th out of over 50 riders with which he finished 21st in the rescheduled race in April. Following non-qualifying rounds at Thruxton and Oulton Park he raced on the unknown, complex circuit of Donington Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
After major improvements to the bike setup and successfully learning the tasking track he qualified 37th before passing the chequered flag in 24th place come race day. He said: “I'm not estactic about qualifying on the last row, but I like racing, I enjoy the looking and trying to overtake”.
Talking about his year so far he said: “This weekend Maxton suspension has been a great help and also team Maxxis. I am a lot happier and I am going quicker now. It's a learning year for me. I don't know half the circuits and I am also doing a course in aircraft engineering and if I crash that would put me back six months so I have to think about that. But come next year I will be able to go for it and will have the experience.'
Gazzard will return to one of his favourite circuits, Snetterton, this weekend. For more information log onto www.aquathermracing.com.
