Twickenham’s Kapital Moto Racing was unable to repeat their stellar performance at Anglesey when they visited Lincolnshire’s Cadwell Park for Round 4 of the Hottrax National Endurance Championship. 

Post-Anglesey inspections revealed a small oil problem on the Q-Build-sponsored team’s Ducati 1000ss, when oil was found in the machine’s bellypan. The bike was checked over and a complete engine inspection was made to ensure there were no additional oil leaks. Ultimately, the oil leak was traced to excessive pressure from the engine’s crank, so the team found what they thought was a solution in time for the Cadwell Park round.

Unfortunately, Friday’s testing at Cadwell Park revealed all was not well. The team was black flagged twice due to a smoking bike throughout the day, and frantic work was undertaken to resolve the problem. The oil overflow was re-routed to another standalone catch bottle, but, it was then discovered that a small oil seal behind the main cambelt pulleys was also leaking oil. Neil Barrett from Ducati workshop Cornerspeed, travelled to the Cadwell Park circuit on Friday evening to replace this faulty seal.

Race day morning dawned bright and clear, with high hopes for a strong result in this shorter 3-hour event. All did not go to plan as the team’s qualifying was cut short with oil continuing to leak from the 1000ss, although the team did manage to qualify 25^th on the 29-bike grid. With the race underway, and pitting after only 7 laps for safety checks on yet another solution to the oil leak, the KapitalMoto Racing machine appeared to be in good shape with the problems resolved.

With Luke Palmer on board, the team steadily climbed up the order to 19^th position by the time Palmer pitted for fuel and a rider change around the 45-minute mark. Sadly, a quick check revealed the oil problems had returned, so the race had to be abandoned and the Cadwell Park round of the 2009 National Endurance Series was over for Kapital Moto Racing.

Bitterly disappointed to record a DNF at Cadwell, Kapital Moto Racing’s Jason Boswell commented “Mechanical issues are part and parcel of racing, but we are all nevertheless frustrated at not being able to complete the race, especially as the whole team had again made such a great effort to get the Ducati on the grid and support the riders. But we will be back and raring to go next month!”

Kapital Moto Racing would like to thank Q-Build, Digit, and TVT for their continued support, and will be contesting the next round of the Hottrax National Endurance Championship at Pembrey Circuit on 1^st and 2^nd August.

Kapital Moto Racing would like to pass on their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lucie Stone who died in a motorcycle accident on Sunday, July 5th. We are especially thinking of Lucie's life partner Tony Couch.

Kapital Moto Racing riders Phill Clarke and Jason Boswell both knew Lucie from the Ducati Desmodue paddock, where she raced in Class B on her florally decorated Ducati 583 machine. Phill in particular has fond memories of dicing with Lucie regularly throughout the latter half of the 2006 season.

The team saw Lucie, Tony and friends at the Cadwell Park round of the Hottrax Endurance series this past weekend, on Friday July 3rd and Saturday July 4th. Lucie and Tony were good enough to lend Phill a motorcycle jacket to enable him to collect the Kapital Moto Racing Chief Timekeeper, Agenese Kruzenberga, from Lincoln Station on Friday evening. It was the last favour we ever had the chance to ask her.

Words can never be enough to express the sadness of someone close passing away, but all our thoughts and sympathies are with those who were close to Lucie.