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Jenny Tinmouth is competing
in the British 125cc GP Championship which accompanies
the British Superbikes.
"Racing at the moment is going really well,
I'm enjoying every minute and I'm riding quicker
every time i go out, I'm getting more interest
in me and some more sponsor's which helps loads,
I'm just a bit gutted about crashing at Knockhill
because of the time it takes to heal up, I can't
wait to get over it and get back out."
" My ambition is to be fast enough to compete
in British Superbikes or World 125GP, I realise
I would need to be in a team or have good sponsors
to do this so I'm going to try and ride my bum
off and hope I get good enough for someone to
take me on." |
When did you start biking?
I when I was 17. My dad lent me the money to buy my
first bike, a TS125X, I passed my test and ragged
around the road and off road using it ( I fell off
it a lot as well). My racing ambition started just
before I bought the TSX but I had no money or idea
how to start so I joined a Motorcycle mechanics college
course when I was 19 and trained to be a mechanic,
thinking that if I wanted to go racing I would need
to know how to maintain and fix my own bike. I also
began to save up for a VFR400. Half way through the
course I began to work Saturdays at my local bike
dealership; soon I had a full time job there and completed
my college course on my days off. One of the mechanics
at the shop pointed me in the right direction to start
racing and I competed in my first race in 1999 on
the VFR400 I had bought.
What’s your racing
history?
I started racing in 1999 on a VFR400, I used it on
the road as well as raced it and quickly realised
that it wasn't very competitive, and too expensive
to fix every time I binned it, so I sold it and got
a 1992 Honda RS, I raced that for the rest of the
1999 season and in 2000. In 2001 I bought a 1998 Honda
RS and decided to race in the MRO series to
improve my riding abilities and to get closer to the
British Championship, which was where I wanted to
be. I did another year on the same bike, competing
in the MRO and at some club meetings, I broke both
my wrists that year and missed a couple of months
racing. In 2003 I bought a 2000 Honda RS and moved
up to British level, again dropping myself in the
deep end to improve my riding abilities. I had a nasty
crash in August at Cadwell Park, braking my right
collar bone, left arm and left ankle and had to miss
the rest of the season, so I was chomping at the bit
for the start of the new season in 2004. I have kept
the same bike this year and so far it has been my
most successful year of racing yet, even with my dodgy
right arm - which I have had since the Cadwell crash
and which has only just been sorted out last month
after some treatment. I'll just have to get over my
latest injury and all will be well!!
Who are your racing inspirations?
My racing inspiration has come from loads of different
places. The bike side of it has come from my dad as
he has always had bikes and the racing side from my
cousin Gary. My brother and I were brought up listening
to stories about all of the things Gary, Gary's dad
and my dad have been up to in cars or on bikes. We
used to watch Gary race his “classic”
TVR against the latest ones - he always used to win
to the point where they wouldn't give him the winners
trophy as he'd won it too many times. He was and still
is mega fast in a car, and anything he gets involved
in is always fun. He was a big influence for me when
I was growing up and because of this it seems normal
to be doing what I'm doing now.
Do you have a racing team?
To start with it just used to be me and my mum, but
last year my boyfriend Brad got involved and he is
a massive help He has halved my work load by doing
all the mechanics on the bike. He is the best mechanic
I know and is good moral and emotional support (well
he puts up with me when I'm in a mood!). We communicate
really well too which helps when we're setting up
the bike.
Who are your sponsors?
I have got some good sponsors this year the main one
being Ron Donovan who owns Data Network Associates
and the www.tyrefinder.co.uk website you will see
on my bike (although the site’s not up and running
yet). Ron used to race himself and I think realises
the uniqueness of a girl in the sport and its advertising
potential. He also has some idea of the costs involved
which makes it a bit easier when asking for money.
There's no way I would be able to do what I'm doing
this year with out his help and I can't thank him
and his wife enough for their support.
Another sponsor is Dave Holland M.D of Tamworth Auto
Electrics. He has helped me for a few years, even
before I started to race in the British championship
and I'm glad he is still involved. Again I can't thank
him and his wife enough for there support.
The local pub to the bike shop where I work also supports
me - Steve Mortimer, the owner, is a total bike nut
and helps me out whenever he can, and I'm also extremely
grateful to him.
I've possibly got some more sponsors on the way I'll
keep you posted!!
What are your plans for
next year?
I'm not sure what I'm going to do after this season.
I have always wanted to race in the bigger classes
such as the Supersport or higher still but the costs
are enormous, so I can't do it without sponsors and
you don't generally get sponsors unless you do well,
so I'm going to see what this year brings, try my
hardest to do well and hope for the best.
Who are your mentors?
My Kenny Roberts training video, John Reynolds (he's
got some good articles in Racer Mag at the moment),
Casey Stoner and of course Valentino Rossi. But I
generally look and listen to most racers and try to
pick out the best bits which I think I can and should
apply to myself. I look up to loads of people in racing
for loads of different reasons, like John Renolds,
Ukio Kagayama, Michael Doohan, Casey Stoner, Katja
Poensgen, Frankie Chili… there are too many
to list, but mainly Chris Walker and Valentino Rossi.
What do you do in your spare
time?
I only really get any spare time in the winter but
I like going out clubbing when I get chance, mounting
biking or riding my motorcross bike and going to the
cinema to chill out.
Who is your favourite racing
hunk?
Ben Bostrom’s definitely a bit of a hunk! But
I've still got a soft spot for Walker. |
