My Race History
by Lea Gourlay

"Hello there.
I've been asked to put together some information about my racing history. It's not something I was keen to do, but I've been pestered by friends and supporters, so here is a brief resume of the fun I've had over the years:"


Early days
I began racing at the end of 1994 on a 1978 Yamaha RD250, a converted road bike which I built and tuned myself. My first meeting was at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire. I led the first race for a few laps and managed to finish 3rd and then 4th in the second race.
The next 4 meetings I attended that year gave very similar results. For the 1995 season I bought a 1981 Yamaha TZ 350 which was as good as it gets on the finances available!!
I had a reasonable season, winning 58 races out of 68 starts. (Editors comment - Reasonable! A little more than that I think!) I managed 6 Club Championships, Rider of the Year and Novice of the Year.

With the results of that year, I caught the eye of sponsor Aden Mercutt who supplied me with a 1993 Honda RS250, which I campaigned in 1996, the bike was sadly underpowered and with my lack of finances I struggled to compete up at the sharp end. I managed to score points in 9 out of 20 races, my best result being a 10th.

Lea on the Honda RS125

The 1997 season came and I started on a Kawasaki ZX6R in the British Supersport class. This didn't last long though - I was plagued by crashes, due to inadequate tyres and to cap it all the crankshaft gave up the ghost after 5 rounds.
However, this opened the door for me to race again on my Yamaha TZ350, and on that I was unbeaten for the rest of the season, winning 14 races and the FRC Championship.

I began the 1998 season on my TZ350 with the FRC (Forgotten Racing Club). I went on to win all the races I entered apart from 2 when I suffered mechanical failure. About half way thru' the season I managed to raise the funds to buy a Yamaha 1993 TZ 250 Yamaha. On this bike I won 10 races from 10 starts at Club level and also won the Clive Webber Trophy.

In 1999 I went on to ride a Honda RS250, winning the GP National Cup and becoming the National Champion in that class. (8 wins, 3 seconds and 4 thirds). In 2000 I won the 250 GP MRO Championship on the Honda, with 3 wins, 4 seconds and 2 third placings.


Classic Racing
It was 2001 when I decided to have a go at Classic Racing. I did well, becoming the Champion on a TZ350 Yamaha and TZ750 Yamaha, taking 18 wins out of 18 starts on both machines.
At the Post TT meeting that year I was the winner in the 350 Factory Class, I won the Clive Webber Trophy and also the John Birkitt Trophy on a TZ500 Yamaha.

Lap records fall
That year I also managed to get the outright lap record at Cadwell Park in the 350 and Post Classic classes. Lap records at Mallory Park, Snetterton, Ty Croes, Darley Moor and Donington Park were also broken by me. I went on to win the Rushden Query race on a 500 Manx Norton at that year's Post TT meeting at Mallory Park, the 350 Post Classic race on a TZ350 Yamaha as well as the Unlimited Post Classic race on a TZ500 Yamaha.
It was that year that I also broke the Cadwell Park 500cc lap record set by the late great Barry Sheen, which Barry had set back in 1980.

2003
In 2003 I became the INCA 350cc Post Classic International champion and the 350cc National champion on Ken Platt's 350 Bultaco. I was second in the 500cc National championship, won the 750cc Championship and was also the CRMC Race of the Year winner (750cc). At the 2003 Post TT meeting, I won the 350 Post Classic race on a 350 Bimota Ringhini and won the Rushden Query race on Rob Lidgate's 750 Triumph Trident.
I also won the Unlimited Post Classic race on the Trident.

Europe
I drove over to France and Belgium to compete there, where in France I had two wins and got fastest laps in each class at the Magny Cours circuit. In Belgium, at the Chimay circuit I had 5 wins and got the outright motorcycle lap record and was the first racer ever to go under 1 minute 50 seconds there.

There are numeous other races I've raced in and won, but these are the few which immediately spring to mind"


All the best
Lea Gourlay
2004