Hurricane Howie full works ride at Monza

[feejer222]

Howie Mainwaring was contacted by the MV factory from Italy this morning (Tuesday), and was asked to attend the Monza circuit this weekend to ride in the World Superstock event on a FULL WORKS BIKE. Howie says he feels like he has won the lottery. He flies out (all expenses paid) with 3 of his team from the UK on Wednesday to commence testing ready for the weekends racing.

Until the flight Howie is under team orders not to leave his place in front of the team Play Station and learn the Monza circuit.

They are taking all their own suspension parts from the UK bikes so it should be a matter of bolting them on and the bike will feel just like the one in the UK.

I have known this kid some years now and have always known he had something special, he just needed the chance to shine. He did that last weekend and now is his chance to shine on the world stage. Hurricane Howie has arrived batten down the hatches!!

 

[feejer222]

Friday practice.

Howie was 25th out of 39 in free practice this morning. This was his very first time on the track so it aint bad. At 14:30 he went out for the first of 2 qualifying sessions. He was lying at 35th on the timing sheet and came in for a new rear tyre. When he went out he leapt to 25th then 22nd inside 3 laps. I doubt if he would have got much higher as this was right at the end of the session.

On the last lap, Howie lost the front without warning at about 170mph. According to his dad, he was very pale and beaten up but hasn't broken anything. The bike was completely destroyed, as were his brand new leathers.

All in all he was only on about his 30th lap on a new track to him and against a world class field he was climbing the timing chart steadily. Had this not happened, who knows where he might have been tomorrow. Lets hope there is another bike, and lets hope he is not too bruised and shaken.

I can't see them taking him all that way and there not being a reserve bike. Had he been at 35th when it happened maybe they would not give him another bike, but he was looking good at 22nd only 2.5 seconds off the pace.

36

 

[feejer222]

Saturday AM

Howie is on a flight home, too beaten up to ride any more this weekend. The MV bosses say the bike is not a problem and were impressed with Howies professionalsim and speed. Hopefully there is more factory interest to follow.

Good luck lad!

 

[madmike2]

Good news and sad news all in the same thread! Racing is brutal in its assessment, isn't it? One would think that MV understands the issue and is looking at the talent of the rider. If he's that good, he'll be back.

 

[feejer222]

Good news and sad news all in the same thread! Racing is brutal in its assessment, isn't it? One would think that MV understands the issue and is looking at the talent of the rider. If he's that good, he'll be back.

Job done Mike. I have spoken to Howies dad tonight and Howie has been contacted by the MV factory and assured that he has a ride with MV of one sort or another next year, possibly with the Foggy team, possibly with his existing team at a higher level.

He has made his mark.

 

[Clark Kent]

Howie Mainwaring was contacted by the MV factory from Italy this morning (Tuesday), and was asked to attend the Monza circuit this weekend to ride in the World Superstock event on a FULL WORKS BIKE. Howie says he feels like he has won the lottery. He flies out (all expenses paid) with 3 of his team from the UK on Wednesday to commence testing ready for the weekends racing.
Until the flight Howie is under team orders not to leave his place in front of the team Play Station and learn the Monza circuit.

They are taking all their own suspension parts from the UK bikes so it should be a matter of bolting them on and the bike will feel just like the one in the UK.

I have known this kid some years now and have always known he had something special, he just needed the chance to shine. He did that last weekend and now is his chance to shine on the world stage. Hurricane Howie has arrived batten down the hatches!!