Paul in Pole Position
Added on Wednesday, September 29th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Paul in Pole Position
It’s cost him £75,000 and many broken bones but that hasn’t put the brakes on Paul Turner’s ambitions to notch up his 12th motorcycle racing championship.
This Saturday October 2, the bike garage boss will battle for 2010 Road Race Championship title at Lancashire circuit, Three Sisters. Paul is currently leading the 350-750cc and needs only a podium place to secure the honours in the hard fought league.
Paul, who works for Altrincham-based motorbike insurance giant Carole Nash as head of its Repair Centre, has a 16 point lead over rival Jason Markham with up to 30 points available for a podium finish in the championship’s final showdown. Paul is in with a chance to win the 501-750cc class should rival John Blundell falter.
Backed by his employer through sponsorship and use of its garage facilities, Paul is hopeful he can snatch victory on a Suzuki SV650, a former Carole Nash courtesy bike, which has been heavily modified and loaned to him for the season from team mate John Goode of Josal racing.
“I just need to hang on for a top three place and the title’s mine,” he reports. “Mind you, the last thing I want to do is have another off; it hurts!”
In fact whilst his five year amateur racing career has seen him collect plenty of trophies, many of Paul’s breaks have not been of the lucky kind. “I’ve broken my collar bone, wrist and my hand in five places and dislocated a shoulder and a hip,” he cheerfully recounts. “But I love racing which is why I’m happy to jump back on again and spend so much on the sport.”
He estimates that each race costs him around £700 which is why support from Carole Nash and Josal Racing is vital. “At this level racers like me are dependent not just on dipping into our pockets, but on the generosity of others,” he added. “I reckon it has cost about £75,000 for me to race since 2005.”
Whilst not anticipating a professional career if Paul does win, he’ll be following in the footsteps of other Three Sisters veterans who have gone on to great things. British and World Superbikes champion Neil Hodgson enjoyed his first win at the Wigan circuit whilst two times WSB titleholder and former MotoGP rider James Toseland also tore up the track in his early racing days.
Paul can count on more support from work colleagues, not least two of his own Repair Centre team, Lee Vernon and Rob Knight, who are also keen racers. Lee, aged just 22, races a Triumph 675 and Honda RS250 and earlier this year won the 400cc & Mini Twins Modern Machines class at the Barry Sheene Festival at Scarborough’s Oliver’s Mount circuit. Rob, meanwhile also races an RS250, RS125 and Yamaha R6.
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