Ash races out of Hyde in Greater Manchester and made his track debut in 2018 at Darley Moor, on a bitterly cold day in February this year he took to the beautiful Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire on a No Limits trackday and immediately impressed many experienced riders as well as the attending instructors with how quickly he adapted to the undulating track and the speed he showed throughout the day where he went quicker and quicker in each session on track and even a small 'off' at the end of the day didn't take anything away from confidence he had found on what was a very productive day.
Q1 - Race number? 84.
Q2 - Club / Championship? Darley Moor and Tonfanau. Also as a sidecar passenger the Ant Eades for Green Ant Racing. We were entered for the first round of the Wirral 100 Championship together but due to the Coronavirus the event was cancelled.
Q3 - Class / Classes? Pre-Injection 600 and Darley Open, F1 Sidecar passenger.
Q4 - Debut? March 2018, the first round up at Darley Moor in Derbyshire.
Q5 - Honours / Titles? I'm trying hahaha! I did win the Newcomers race at Darley Moor in that first year (2018) and I have had a 1st and 2nd place at Tonfanau as sidecar passenger.
Q6 - Favourite Circuit and Favourite Corner? Oulton Park and Shell Oils.
Q7 - Boyhood heroes? John McGuinness and the A-Team!
Q8 - Toughest rival? I don't really have one, I haven't been racing long enough.
Q9 - If I could swap places with any other rider? John McGuinness.
Q10 - Biggest accident? Up at Darley Moor at the 'Stars' round. Just after Townleys, I came off at a fair pace and slammed into the tyre wall feet first and broke my right ankle.
Q11 - Biggest influence on your career so far? Ant Eades, he got me into the racing scene, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have started at all. He's been there from start to date.
Q12 - Rossi or Marquez? It's a hard choice for me, I followed Rossi from being a kid and what he's done has been amazing but WOW Marquez can ride!
Q12a - If I wasn't racing I would be? Bored hahaha.
Q14 - Nickname? Gibbo.
Q15 - If money were no object I would? Tour the world with the Mrs in a camper, obviously taking my race bike along and racing every track possible.
Q16 - Brown or Red sauce, Coke or Pepsi? Brown for breakfast, red for tea. Carlsberg!!
Q17 - If I could be one person for one day I would be? A Genie so I could give myself 3 wishes!
Q18 - Cost to race per season? Shhhh….best not to say, the Mrs will read this!
Q19 - Dream bike? Yamaha R1 M.
Q20 - Training regime (Gym rat or bike fit)? Bike / Beer fit!
Q21 - Dogs or Cats? Dog - more loyal. Mans best friend.
Q22 - From October to March I can be found doing? Likely to be found working on my bike in my garage or having to do jobs around the house!
Q23 - Dry track, wet track or not fussed? Not fussed rally, I enjoy every race.
Q24 - Best ever race? When I won the Newcomers race in my first year at Darley Moor. Great battle with Adam Salt (Salty), we must have overtaken each other 7 or 8 times, it was a great race and even better for me!
Q25 - Special thanks to? Ant and Jez Eades at Green Ant racing - getting me started and working on the bike, they're a massive help and support.
My wife Linz - putting up with my highs and lows!
My mate Daz - who's hardly ever missed a race or trackday, big help and support.
My sponsors - Beer Shed, G2 Metric and MS & J Motors.
A big thanks to Ash for putting the time in to answer the interview questions, hopefully he can continue to gain experience with at least a few rounds on the 600 and in the chair before the 2020 season is over. Up next is another Darley Moor regular and race winner in Chris Cooper of Coops Racing.