Thundersport Superteens’ Jayda Howe – 2021 Season Round-Up

Sam — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 09:32:55 +0000

15-year-old Howe has used 91��ý components on her Yamaha R3 throughout the season

Ipswich-based Jayda Howe has been making waves in the motorcycle racing world in the past few years. At just 15 years of age, she once again competed in the Thundersport Superteens series for the 2021 season, finishing with great results.

Howe uses 91��ý’ GPFAX pads, X-Series floating discs and SRK clutch kit on her Yamaha R3 race bike.

She explains how her year has unfolded in her own words below.

“It seems a long time ago but the season got off to a rocky start with Covid still hovering over us, and it cancelled the pre-season practice day and first round at Brands Hatch.

“I was really looking forward to getting going this season after the engine upgrades to the GYTR kit over the winter to see what the bike was capable of, but the season seemed to take forever to start.

“After my first season on the R3, I was also keen to improve my strength on the bike so had been putting in the extra effort on my fitness during the winter months. With gyms shut, I came up with my own workout from home and got stuck in. I think the extra effort really helped this season.

“We finally got underway with the first round at my local track, Snetterton, at the start of the May bank holiday weekend and I was really excited to be back here. With lack of pre-season testing, I just had to dig deep and get on with it. I did not expect what happened.

“The second race at Snetterton was really wet. I sat on the grid with a smile on my face (as you may know I love the wet). I’d messed up the start in race 1, so tried something different, but then stalled the bike on the grid. I quickly restarted it was but was furious with myself. I pushed very hard and caught the rest of the field much quicker than expected, quickly overtaking them – I guess they were being cautious and not as angry as me!

“The race settled down and I kept pushing and could see I was putting in some good lap times but had no idea where I was. It wasn’t until I pulled into the holding area at the end of the race and saw my dad holding up three fingers that I realised I had my first podium position! What a way to start the season and a massive boost to get us underway.

“I went to the second round at Cadwell Park full of confidence, but a silly crash during practice quickly reminded me of the highs and lows of racing. I was coming under the bridge towards the corner before the mountain but was slightly off-line and carrying too much speed. I grabbed a handful of brake and next thing I knew I was on the ground with bike on top of my leg. After getting up I immediately felt some pain in my wrist and neck. We repaired the bike and I got back out on track finishing all the races but by the end of the weekend I was sore.

“I rested up and thought I was okay for round 3, but after the weekend at Mallory Park, I could tell there was still something wrong and a trip to A&E after the event confirmed I had some tendon and ligament damage (fortunately no breaks). The doctor said I had to wear a splint for a few weeks so I rested up but wasn’t going to let that stop me and was back out at Donington Park for Round 4. After a steady weekend, I got my second highlight of the season – being awarded Rider of the Weekend. Obviously, people could see I was pushing on despite the wrist.”

“Things really seemed to click for me from this point on. Back to Anglesey, a track I love and was gaining speed and confidence all weekend and able to get my knee down wherever I wanted.

“This really set me up for a good end to the season. I was getting closer to the bikes in front of me and had some good battles at Oulton Park during the race, I really enjoyed this close racing and swapping positions. Back to Cadwell Park for the final round and I set myself some goals. I’m happy to say I smashed the times I set for myself and achieved my other goal of finishing every race of the season. I was the only rider to finish every race and super proud of myself for that.

“Being my third season in this championship, I set myself some pretty high expectations. Looking back, it was a very competitive season again (the bar just keeps getting higher) and I loved every minute of it. I finished sixth overall in my class, with a lot more points than seasons before, and I beat my personal lap times at every track. The podium and the rider award just finished it off.

“I have made some great friends around the paddock and this season we all seemed to get on very well and help each other on and off the track. Having sponsors, family, and friends back in the paddock has been amazing and really gave me the boost I needed. I really enjoyed this season and cannot wait for next year to follow on from what I achieved this year.”

“I’m really looking forward to winter testing in Spain. What championships I’ll be entering is still unknown. It’s time now to rest, repair my broken body and get ready for 2022 – I’m coming for you bigger and faster than ever!

“Massive thanks to all at EBC for their support.”

Connect with Jayda Howe for more news and information:

GPFAX Sintered Race Pads

GPFAX Sintered Race Brake Pads are for RACE ONLY use.��This is a blend of brake pad that has higher friction and far better grip than any other brake product on the market.

SRK Aramid fiber Sportbike

The new SRK series includes a full engine set of aramid lined friction plates, heavy duty clutch springs of either the coil spring or diaphragm type, together with a full engine set of steel separator plates.

X-Series Floating Motorcycle Discs

Ultra lightweight floating rotors that have become one of the world’s best-selling, lightest and best-performing discs available for all modern sport bikes.

The post Thundersport Superteens’ Jayda Howe – 2021 Season Round-Up appeared first on 91��ý.

Race Report: Jayda Howe Reaches Podium

ebcbrakes2021 — Mon, 10 May 2021 09:51:45 +0000

14-year-old EBC-equipped racer competed in the Superteens class of the series at Snetterton

With optimism and determination flowing through her veins ahead of another competitive season, it seems that paid off during the debutant 2021 round of the Thundersport GB series, where she is currently competing in the Superteens class on an 91��ý-clad Yamaha R3.

Held at Norfolk’s Snetterton Circuit, the weekend saw mixed weather conditions and plenty of other thrills and spills thrown at the riders. Despite this, Howe managed to secure some impressive positions across the races carried out, including a third-place finish on the Sunday.

Howe recalls the weekend in her own words below.

”There were mixed weather conditions for Saturday’s practice, I spent the day re-learning the bike after having the GYTR performance kit fitted over the winter. This was the first time out on the bike and it felt so much faster. It had been nearly two years since I’d ridden Snetterton and last time here I was on the Aprilia. The bike felt amazing and I couldn’t wait for the race weekend to start.

Sunday started nice and sunny with a dry track for qualifying, I managed 20th on the grid and 8th in class. Race 1 didn’t start the way I wanted; the lights went out and as I pulled off the grid the front wheel came up in the air. By the time I sorted it out I was at the back of the pack. I kept going and got up to 7th in class and 14th overall in the Junior Cup. I must have been pushing hard because I set my best lap time of the weekend in the race!

”Just before Race 2, it started to rain very heavily making it horrible conditions to race in. I didn’t want a repeat of Race 1’s start so used less revs but this time stalled it on the grid. I quickly restarted the engine and was furiously playing catch up again. I caught the pack up pretty quick and knew I was putting in some good times from my lap timer. I finished well but it wasn’t until I pulled into the holding area at the end of the race and saw Dad holding up three fingers that I realised I’d got 3rd place in my class. I couldn’t believe I’d got my first podium at Thundersport. I even finished the race in 11th overall, scoring points again in the Junior Cup. I was so happy to get my first podium in the Superteens class.

On Monday, we woke up to a cold and damp morning and I didn’t feel too well – maybe it was all the excitement from Sunday. The plan for warm-up was just to sort out my starts. In Race 1, I got a much better start and finished 8th in class and 16th in the Junior Cup. In Race 2, like the day before, the heavy rain came just before the race but I knew I had to do the same as Sunday’s wet race. I had another good start and was just getting settled but unfortunately the race was cut short by a red flag, but I achieved 4th in class and 10th overall.

I had an amazing weekend for the first weekend back racing and was able to knock 28 seconds off the time I set here two year ago. Unfortunately, Uncle Alan wasn’t at the track but I had the next best person to step into his shoes, so a big thank you to Vince for all your help and support this weekend.

Now I can’t wait for Cadwell Park on 29-31 May.

The post Race Report: Jayda Howe Reaches Podium appeared first on 91��ý.

Superteens Archives - 91��ý