Noise Guard Racing press release:

“Leading up to Round 3 of ASC at Sydney Motorsports park, I was very keen to get out on the bike as it was the second time we had been there for the year, meaning I had previously rode the Noiseguard Yamaha R6 at the track and had experience there. We hoped to have a good setting allowing us to run closer to the front guys.”

“Friday practice was all about familiarising myself with the bike again, and looking at our set up. I had experienced a problem with the downshift on the bike from early in the year and we hoped we had fixed it. That was not to be the case we blew up the gearbox in the last session Friday after struggling all day with the intermittent problem. We thought we were done for the weekend.”

“The generosity of the Levy family got us going again. They loaned us a spare engine, and Matt, Ian and Chris busted their gut getting it fitted late into Friday night. We had a few minor things to finish off Saturday morning, and headed out for warm up to see if everything was ok.”

“It was I wasn’t! I honestly can’t tell you the reason why, but I folded the front going into turn 3 and cartwheeled the bike through the grass completely wiping the two ends off it. A lot of other riders crashed on the same corner, and it’s speculated that there might have been something on the track we all hit.

“To be honest, even I didn’t think we could come back from that. My team had other ideas. Once again, The Levy family offered up the parts from the bike we borrowed the engine from, and the team got to work repairing the bike. The parts list was very very long and we just didn’t have all we needed and without Keith and Mitch Levy we would have been packing up and coming home early.”

“We missed race 1 whilst repairing the bike. We had a small issue with the clutch in Race 2 but managed to complete a full race distance in race 3. That allowed me to set a time for Sundays qualifying and at least get on the grid”

“Sunday was a lot less dramatic and less stressful. I am the first to admit my confidence level was way down, and I wasn’t prepared to push the bike as hard as I needed to run closer to the front. I just wanted to finish the day with no more work for the team, nor spend any more time laying in the gravel trap.”

“I need to make special mention of my Mechanic Chris Cameron. He comes to ever event, was instrumental in me winning the FX300 Championship last year, and does it without a complaint. I know sometimes I come in cranky and frustrated, but Chris understands that and helps me get the bike, and my head in the right spot. Thank you mate for everything you do”

“So Im in Japan writing this whilst I get ready for round 3 of the Asian Road Racing Championship this weekend at Suzuka. I will be riding the Finson Motorsports Yamaha R25 in the 250cc Production Championship. Its my first time in Japan and will admit, it’s a long way to travel. I have a few days to relax before heading to the track Thursday to get set up. I am hoping myself
and the team can improve on previous results and show what we are truly made of.”

Brando #11