Thursday 18 November 2010

Persuit of ultimate coolness

Cooler than a cool thing in a very cool place. How awesome is this Panasonic pursuit race bike? Sorry that was a stupid question, mega cool with a massive dollop of style and beauty is the answer to that one!

Mat.

Fixed it is then! Miles.....

A short film about a bike ride from Grand Rapids to Mackinac Island (Michigan USA) 270 miles in 2 days. "FIXED BABY"

A beautiful video about friends riding, just how it should be.

Hope you enjoy.
Mat.

Tuesday 16 November 2010

A breath of fresh air

This guy for me has provided the top class with a breath of fresh air this year. He's my stand out man of 2010 by far and i look forward to seeing more of his determined riding style in 2011, or am i just looking forward to his style! whichever it is, i can't wait.

250 world championships the building blocks for MotoGP success.
 
Mat.

Thursday 4 November 2010

Preparation

This image was taken at Oulton Park by my Grandad. It's a great picture, it really captures the moment.



Mat.

Wednesday 3 November 2010

End of a great learning experience!

During our first year running a proper out and out race bike we've learnt so much, not just about bike set-up but about riding also, and just when you feel like your getting the hang of it, you run out of money and the season draws to a close. Having ridden one of these fantastic machines for a season you can really see why 95% of MotoGP world champs came from 250. Long live proper race bikes!!

Mat.

Posted via phone.

Thursday 28 October 2010

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Ti Peg Stands

I just want to say a big thank you Mark Toon @ Race Component Development for fabricating these fantastic Ti Peg Stands for the team.

The stands are for sale and are available through www.rcd-tec.com and will fit most models of machine.


Mat.

The price of progression and stupidity!!

A brief summary of the last round of the 2010 season......It went like this........

FRIDAY: 
Traveled down to Silverstone form the field, narrowly avoiding a large crash on the mega busy M1. Arrived at the track to find loads of space in the massive Silverstone garages, if every track could have the same facilities!

Once unloaded me and Mark started to prep bike, just final checks and filling of fluids removing links from chains ect...

Then it was time to get off to my folk’s motorhome and grab some food. My folks kindly come to every meeting to support us, massive thanks to them for all their help on and off track.

Back in to the garage for final checks on bike and draw up a little bit of a plan for Saturday’s practice, qualifying and race.

With that all done it was time for us to retire for the night and get some shut eye.

SATURDAY:
Up at 6:30 to start getting things ready for the day, we were greeted by gray rain filled skis as usual, but as the sun came up it eased. Usual tasks needed doing, like bleeding water system checking tyre pressures, mixing and working out fuel. We dropped the warmers on both wets and slicks in the hope the track would dry for practice but it was a bit optimistic to say the least.

PRACTICE:
Nine o'clock soon came and so did practice the track was still mega wet and we were thankful for that, there's nothing worse than part wet part dry track.

Practice panned out quite well, the track felt like it had got plenty of grip and the bike wasn't a million miles off either, we finished up 14th.

QUAILIFYING:
Qualifying conditions were marginally better but the track was still nice and wet. The session was timed and lasted 20mins. Right from the off set the bike felt good and this encouraged me to press on and slowly build the pace lap by lap. Also as the laps passed the track started to dry as the track dried the pace of all the riders grew including me and with this the bike started to warm up as i noticed that the temp of the engine had risen above normal operating temp the bike lost a little power as this happened i thought just get it back. I only had the back straight and two corners to complete and i was home and dry, just as that thought went through my head the engine seized and threw me off.

Luckily I was okay and the bike only suffered cosmetic damage, the internal damage was a little more severe.

It was a classic seizure! Ring, piston and barrel all wrecked.
Unfortunately this was the end of our meeting. We ended up qualified 12th which is great progress.

I'm not disappointed. All I am, is looking forward to next year.

I would like to say a massive thank you to all the people and sponsors who have helped over the year and the years passed. "THANK YOU"

www.racefit.co.uk 
www.rcd-tec.com
www.lmplastic.co.uk
www.silkolene.com
www.twowheel.co.uk

Valencia 06

Could Carlos Checa repeat the amazing form of Troy Bayliss at the last GP of 2006.
"I really hope so"


Mat.

Monday 4 October 2010

Moto2?

Is this the team thats gonna be the first Moto2 world champs? We think so and so do many others, what a team what a rider!

Posted via phone.

Monday 20 September 2010

Oulton Park Summary 18/09/10

To say I expected more is an under statement! You always expect more from yourself every time you race but looking at it logically I really shouldn't this was only my sixth time out on the bike, but excuses aside my results from Oulton were mega disappointing. The last time i had results like this it was nine years ago and it was my first year of racing. I admit i don't feel very comfortable on the bike and it is totally different to anything i have ridden in the past due to most of my racing experience being on production four strokes but if you can ride a bike then you can ride a bike if you know what i mean. Even after just six outings I'd be expecting so much more from myself, i don't enjoy just riding round not having fun, because having fun on motorbikes is what it's all about and i haven't forgot that. I think for the first time in my short but fun racing career i really let the great people who spend their precious time helping, DOWN! And this, i don't enjoy at all. I've had some stinking races over the years but this goes number one, it was as if I'd forgot all i had learnt, and the little i could remember i didn't apply or i just didn't apply myself. There's a few things that could be the cause of my appalling results and inconsistent riding.

1.I've lost my bottle. 2.No testing/ Practice. 3.The bike is set up very badly (Really doubt it). 4.Confidence is blown to peices.

Which ever it is I need so sort it pronto! Because, and don't hold me to this but i would rather pack up than run round at the back!

Don't for one minuite think I'm talking about myself like I'm anything special or like Iv'e had any ground braking results. I'm just a normal bloke that has spent most of his life racing bikes to some degree of sucsess and gets really disappointed when he realises he's just not hitting the mark and performing anything like he can.

I'm going to take some advice from a certain Mr Rascal and "FIX UP LOOK SHARP" learn how to ride a proper two stroke GP bike and rediscover what it's like to ride a bike at racing speed or just speed for that matter.

With all that said watch this space...... I really hope the next time i write about racing motorcycles it will be in a more positive light.

Mat.

Monday 13 September 2010

MOD IT!

If it doesn't quite do the job, then modify it! or as its know in racing, development. The All Japan 250 Miu Honda Team made a quick mod to route air around the riders hands.

Photo-Official MJF Fan Site.

Saturday 4 September 2010

Front Page!

Here's the first peek a the Raceworxz Mag.....Just the front cover and some info up to yet but more will come soon!

More info available @ http://l-mracing.com/


Copyright L&M Racing.

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Two of the best!

Two of the best brands in the industry side by side and lucky for us they both support L&M Racing.



Copyright Mathew Dakin

http://www.racefit.co.uk/
http://rcd-tec.com/

Posted Via Web.

Harris

Just another classic, from a classic meeting. Some of the classic race bikes were outstanding and here's just a great example!


Picture copyright Mathew Dakin.

Posted Via Web

Monday 23 August 2010

Honda NR750

This picture was published by Honda to show the the engine internals of one of the finest production bikes ever made, it defo has a place in my top ten!!


Picture (Honda motor corp)

Mat.

Kawasaki Z

I snapped this fantastic Z at Donington last weekend at the first motorcycle race back at Donington since the closure, it was great to see Donington up and running again not only from a racers point of view but from a fans as well.




Pictures copyright Mathew Dakin

Posted Via Web.

Friday 20 August 2010

#29

No one would have put money on this guy being up front at the start of the season.
Posted Via Phone.

"IT FITS YOUR LIFESTYLE"

"It fits your lifestyle" or if it doesn't it soon WILL....... RACEWORZX It's a lifestyle
Coming Soon!

ONLY "HRC"

This picture was for a advertisement produced by Honda, and what a advertisement it was.
The mighty RC211V.

Mat #72

Posted Via Web.

Rudge

My great grandfather "POP" was a factory Rudge rider back in the day and I'd only ever seen the bikes he rode in old pictures until i stumbled upon this amazing machine at Donington last week. This is just like the one he rode. I really hope I've inherited some of his speed somewhere because he was a champion! and i haven't managed that yet, but there's still time.......


Mat. #72

Tuesday 17 August 2010

It's a lifestyle......!

Just a taste of things to come from L&M Racing and raceworxz....
It's some times easier to explain with pictures than words!





All images/logos copyright L&M Racing
Raceworxz brand L&M Racing

Monday 9 August 2010

Logo

Here's a new logo i've designed for RCD, luckily they liked it and its made it on to their latest T-Shirt.

Posted Via Mobile.

Spanny

Build from Ti wrapped in carbon, what a mixture! two of the greatest materials to hit the industry in one beautiful component.

Posted Via Mobile.

Sunday 8 August 2010

Qik Live!

I will be streaming video's of our racing activities throughout the remainder of the season using Qik video i've pasted some info about Qik below to give everybody a overview.http://qik.com/matdakin-lmracing

 

Product Highlights:

Qik's focus is on developing the perfect mobile video platform, providing the highest quality live video experience across all mobile devices and networks. Qik’s services are built on top of a patent-pending platform and we are in constant pursuit of innovation. Qik’s goal are to be:

Fast:

In order to offer a truly live video experience, we tag the video stream at every path it takes, from the instant a person clicks the record button to the moment the full video appears on the web. The entire path is then analyzed, weighed against various parameters and optimized to ensure speed of delivery. This has led to us achieving latency as low as half a second to three seconds for our live video streams.

Best Possible Quality:

Our developers are obsessed with quality. We are developing the best possible video quality from mobile devices using several techniques for which we have filed patents (#60/989,711). These techniques concern examining and assigning importance to the resources available on the device and network, making multiple passes at the stream to ensure good quality. This is focused not only on the live stream, but also on progressively improving quality for viewers who start viewing mid-stream and for playback after the stream is completed.

Most Reliable:

We understand that every moment is important and being able to capture that reliably is of paramount importance to our users. So, whether your phone battery dies mid-stream or you are in a place where there is no network—Qik has you covered. We have innovated on multiple techniques to enable this capability and reliability, and we have filed patents for them (#61/082,457).

Simple and Secure:

From getting started with Qik to streaming, sharing and interacting with viewers, we keep analyzing each step so that every action is quick and simple, yet ensures the security and privacy of the user. We have filed patents for the techniques we have pioneered in this area (#60/989,716)


Friday 6 August 2010

Exquisit

Check out this exquisit front brake arrangement on this Aprilia RSW125 GP bike.

Picture copyright Mathew Dakin.
Posted via mobile.

Brands

Two fantastic motorcycle brands side by side on a proper race bike. Brembo/Dymag.

Picture copyright Mathew Dakin
Posted Via Mobile.

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Mr Bono with the foot jam!

Bono pulling a mighty foot jam while out riding at one of the fields most favoured street spots, the legendary BOWL.
copyright Mat Dakin 2010

New Design.

This is the start of a new design I'm working on for some new team T-shirts that may go on sale through our website L-MRACING.COM it doesn't look much yet but watch this space!

Posted Via Web.
copyright Mat Dakin 2010

Final Evolution.


Copyright Mat Dakin 2010

This is the last in the line of the mighty RSW Aprilia's, i snapped this shot in 08 but these fantastic race machines really didn't have any development right to the end or their time at world level. I was lucky enough to speak to a couple of Aprilia race mechanics recently and spoke extensively about the 250 project and when i asked where are all the Aprilia 250's now, they replied "sleeping in Aprillia" they speak with so much passion and i think this is what the 125-250's bring and this is what racing's big wigs are pushing away, the passion. I understand the finance situation but this is racing and to race you need passion and motorcycles that promote this need to be in racing.

Posted Via Phone.

Flatty!

Really had to share this photo of my good friend Bono nailing a flatty at the local plaza. I've got more photo's from riding that day and i'll share them soon.......

Copyright Mat Dakin 2010

Posted Via Web.

Racing Engine?

What makes an engine a racing engine? For me its the purpose and intension! Is it built to go racing or is it built for riding down the street.

Posted Via Phone.

The Change!

From Yoshi to Aka..... Did it really make a difference, only they will know?

Mat.
Posted Via Phone.

Thursday 29 July 2010

HRC

You know it's special when it's got this mark on the side......HRC



I really hope that these engines live forever and I'm going to do my best to keep the passion and love for these fantastic race machines at the four front of every body's mind, WHY!! because they are proper racebikes and we can really only say that about two class at world level today 125 and MotoGP, this is a real shame and a sign of things to come, but don't worry just like all good things, they come back round again and there even bigger the second time, i just hope I'm around to enjoy it.


MAT

Wednesday 28 July 2010

L&M On Your Desktop.

L&M Racing on your desktop. We have designed some desktop wallpapers just for something a little different, if there not used as a wallpaper there a collection of cool pictures and some publicity for our sponsors, hope you like....



Saturday 24 July 2010

Twitter

Just another plug for the team and myself:) if you have a couple of minutes please check out my twitter page and follow me, it will be worth it! its good to stay connected.

Friday 23 July 2010

Starter Solution

This is certainly a starting solution but not a complete solution. This starter is fine while the motorcycle is on the ground but as we know Two Stroke Racing motorcycles spend most of there time on a workbench and need to be started in situ to be check and examined. We at L&M Racing working with RCD-TEC.COM have a solution to this. COMING SOON!

Wednesday 21 July 2010

RACE COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT

I would like to say a massive thank you to Mark (RCD) Toon, one of the best, if not the best Engineer I have ever come in to contact with. Mark turns out the most exquisite products on the Race market to date, his ideas designs are in a league of there own, solving racing problems with his engineering solutions ....

Mark has been kind enough to supported Team L&M Racing throughout the 2010 with technical assistance at the track and also with machine development.

"RCD, solving RACING problems with engineering solutions"
 Some examples of RCD products. ALL PRODUCTS DESIGNED & BUILD IN THE UK....

A FULL RANGE OF THE PRODUCTS CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.RCD-TEC.COM


 

Stripped!

I just thought it was necessary to share these two shots of a grand prix bike and a wanna be grand prix bike in there partially stripped states.....I'm not bitter honest!



Sample

This is just another sample from my I-Candy gallery, get to it via www.l-mracing.com

Monday 19 July 2010

Living Breathing.

Perhaps this its just me or it maybe just my sheer passion talking now, but since owning what i call a proper Race Bike a GP spec machine, i've seen these fantastic pieces of engineering in a totally different light. The bikes seem to have a heart and soul the fantastic 2stroke engine reacts to the slightest change and smallest adjustment the machines are like a living organisms that crave attention and thrive on maintenance.

Mat.
Posted via mobile.

Wednesday 14 July 2010

Trails

We found ourselves at the local trails the other day and this is what went down.......

As usual Mr Jono"Bono"Gamlin stole the show

We're lucky enough to have some mega local trails and it's always a pleasure to meet up with the Gamlin Bros, thanks for inviting me boys....