IT’S fast approaching that time of year again for the Richman family, of Wellington, with the 2019 motorcycle race season just round the corner, writes Kerry Rawson.

It’s been a busy but long few months for both Bradley and dad Shaun during the winter, as there’s no rest getting everything prepared for the new season ahead.

During the winter young Bradley had the honour of being nominated for a nationwide motorcycling magazine’s “Rookie of the Year Award” which was voted for by its readers.

It was a close call and UK Clubsport’s readers voted Bradley into second place, narrowly missing out on first, which is a great achievement and shows just how much Bradley was noticed in 2018.

With their motorcycles prepared for the new season ahead it was off to Cartagena, Spain in February for testing.  This was vital preparation especially as later this year Bradley will be progressing to a more powerful machine, so with Spain’s rules being slightly different to the UK, the family took the opportunity to try Bradley’s new Kawasaki 600 which he loved riding and can’t wait to be able to switch in June/July.

In the meantime Bradley will again be competing for the first half of the year on his 400 machine in the Open 500 Class and the Formula 400 races with North Glos Road Racing.  

Shaun is still on the Kawasaki 600 this year and he will be competing in the Open 600 class and the Phoenix Open. Father and son are so excited and waiting for Pembrey in July when they will both be competing on the same machines in the same races, as they both had a great time at the test in Spain following each other and learning the track together.

Both riders have missed riding so much during the winter but are now on countdown until the first race of the season at Brands Hatch this weekend and can’t wait for the season to start. We look forward to following their progress again during 2019.

Kerry Rawson

(Words and picture)