BSSO season finale: Lydden Hill | ROOKIE’S REPORT

Saturday morning I got all my technical stuff done and just about managed to get all my documents signed before the stock practice/qualifying.

Unfortunately, it was so cold I couldn’t get the Targa Twin started quickly enough for me to get out on track to start with the others. I did get a lap or so in, but didn’t qualify. So, back of the grid it was for me.

#18 Jon Holt has given George some good battles this season

Supers Qualifying

This session went a lot better, I got to grips with the Targa again. A few things needed improving, but I was in my groove once again. Jumping back and forth with Jon Holt on his Proddy machine. He could make up some speed down the hill and round the last corner compared to me. On the rest of the laps, I could see his mudguard make an appearance every now and then. I think it must have been a tactic to intimidate me. Wiggling in and out of a few people, building lap by lap, I found myself qualifying in 14th. Considering I haven’t been out in a few meetings and it was goddamn slippery, I’m proud of that result. A change of tyre pressures and we’re on to the Stock race.

Barrie Braithwaite #78, George #229 and #87 line up on the grid

Stock Race One

On the stock grid, I got placed at the back. The plan was to use the twins’ torque to pull me along, sort of like a slingshot. On the grid for the warm-up lap, I got away quite nicely, but I didn’t give it my all. This was to see what everyone else would do. As usual, warming up my tyres and brakes before the actual start. Lining up on the grid in neutral, selected first gear and… jumped the lights! Even if you jump the lights and push yourself back to your position, the penalty still stays. So the best thing to do is take advantage.

I got right behind John Howe, following him and Chris Geyton. Trying to make a move was impossible, as I was just too far away and taking too many chances trying to catch up. I felt I was pushing too hard, so I decided to slow it down a little.

George leading the pack, with #18 Jon Holt on the outside, #90 Andy Walker, #99 John Howe and #83 Jer Crew in the mix…

Supers Race One

In the first Supers race, I got a good start off the line, keeping up with John Howe. Adie was just behind with his camera on, recording the first three or so laps before him, and Simon Palmer got the upper hand on me through Paddock Bend.

With John Howe still ahead, he was my target. Gaining on him every corner, I found myself making a move at the top of the hill. Whilst on the outside of John, I noticed that Sean Collison was just behind but unable to jump in and join the fight! I got in front going down Hairy Hill, keeping it fully pinned as the checkered flag went out.

The best part was when, on the way into the pit lane, John Howe decided to give me a friendly tap on the back. I didn’t know he was trying to do that, so I got a little freaked out, and once I had twitched, it caused John to actually fall off in the pit lane! Bloody plonker… We had a laugh, and I offered him a hand working on his scooter as he’d broken his clutch lever.

Veteran of the sport, Bob West and young whipper snapper, Barrie Braithwaite, battle it out…

Stock Race Two

Another fantastic start, getting in front of Bob West and leading into the first corner, taking the outside line rather than the inside, just scraping past Andy Walker. I was using the power of both cylinders to try and make my way to the left-hander before him, but didn’t quite make it. Diving into the left, I got past Andy on the inside and then stuck just in front of him for the next couple of laps before Sean Collison came up the inside of me. Unfortunately, he grounded out his exhaust. It spooked me (and him I think) but I got the upper hand and was able to slip by him just before the finish line.

Saturday night’s presentation

In the evening, there was a BSSO presentation where all the trophies and champagne were given out, not only to the championship winners but also to the newcomers who had ridden enough meetings to remove their orange novice bib.

Septuagenarian, Keith Terry #23, always wears his Sunday best at race meetings…

Sunday shennanigans

The final day of the final meeting at Lydden is a little different from a ‘normal’ race meeting. They mix it up a bit with non-championship fun.

Dave Bristow won the 4e Championship, the first rider to do so on a Vespa!

The Le Mans start race

For the Le Mans-style start, I got pole position! This weekend, I didn’t go with my parents, so my partner in the dream team was Darren Glenn, a good friend of the family. I even cooked my bacon on his grill in the morning.

The plan for the start was that Darren would hold my lanyard in a big loop in the air so I could just stick my hand through it and reach the throttle. As I went down to the holding bay, I made sure the Targa would start by putting both chokes on, little did I realise that two carbs make things complicated! So it was Joe Palmer’s children to the rescue.

Jimmy McNally won the 2025 BSSO championship in grand style and took the number 1 plate off his sister Nikita (by the way, congratulations on the birth of your son a few days ago, Nikita).

Lining up for the warm-up lap, it was mayhem. On pole, I dropped the scooter to Darren and lined up on the opposite side of the track, ready to run. On the Union Flag, off we went! For the first corner, I led the pack, and Graham just got me going into the Devil’s Elbow before the hill. Once Graham was past, it took a good lap or two before I started seeing the faster riders like John, Dave and Jimmy, followed by a few others. Making my way round nicely, I found myself with Adie Horrocks. We battled it out the whole race back and forth with each other before the final lap. We were both pushing massively before Adie pipped me to the line by 0.0213 of a second.

Memorial Race

The memorial race had a handicapped start, so they let each row go off 15 or so seconds apart. Despite a decent set of lap times, I was placed on the third row back out of four. I got a fantastic start though and used all the might of the Targa Twin to push for a good couple of laps. Catching up to Andy Walker and Jeremy (Jer) Crew towards the final laps of the race, I was able to make a move on Andy but not quite catch Jer.

Lord of Lydden

This race still had a handicap start, but it was more of a reverse-grid than anything special. Being mid pack with John Holt right in front of me, along with a few others like Bob West and Jer on my left. I nailed the start and got in front of everyone but Jon Holt. Following John around, I realised how much of a good rider he is and how comfortable he is on that Proddy scooter, absolutely flying. After the first lap, he was gone!

With Jer just behind, I could see his front mudguard now and then as he tried to make his move, but he couldn’t get past me. I think Andy Walker was in the mix as well, so I kept it pinned. We all made it past the line safely, which was amazing, as Jer was having some bad mechanical problems all weekend. We had a good laugh and some great battles during the last few races.

With that race over, that was the end of the 2025 season! What an amazing year.

Thanks to my sponsors

Thanks to SRP RaceTech, TeamGeorge Scooters, ScooterNova Magazine and of course the one and only ScooterLab! Thanks for all your help over the year, and hopefully next year I’ll come back stronger.

Words: #229 George Fielder

Photos: Paul Naylor

Championship roundup

Look out for a BSSO Championship roundup later today…