Shelton says this is the year for a title challenge
Arnie Shelton at Cadwell Park Photo: Ian Boldy
Motorcycle racer Arnie Shelton is targeting a top three place in 2013 after picking up team backing for the coming season.
Shelton will compete with E3Motorsport in the British Motostar Series, which is raced alongside the Superbike races.
The Haconby racer finished 14th in last year’s championship with a fourth place at Cadwell Park his best result.
Shelton said: “The bike that beat me in that race is what I will be riding this year.
“I think I can get good results.
“I will be disappointed if I’m not in the top three.”
He had planned to move from 125cc bikes to larger bikes this season but the arrival of new backing prompted a change of heart.
“My plans had been to move up to a Triumph 675cc,” he said. “I had been looking at renting a bike but the day before setting it up, I had a call from a team and they offered me a ride.
“It was an opportunity that I could not turn down.”
Cost was a big issue with Shelton expecting to have to fork out up to £20,000 of his own money to race the bigger-engine rides.
He’ll still face significant costs but the support of a dedicated team will, he believes, give him a realistic shot at the title.
Shelton, who will be 25 by the start of the season in April and is one of the oldest racers in the series, says the backing of a team will allow him to spend less time working on his bike and to focus on his riding and overall fitness.
He will be testing his bike at a meeting of the North Gloucestershire Road Racing Club at brands Hatch in March. Within weeks, Shelton will then be racing at the fastest tracks around the country including Silverstone, Donington, three rounds at Brands Hatch and a round in the Netherlands.
“I’ve no excuses any more,” added Shelton who missed three of last season’s 12 round series.
“This year I’m going to race them all. It’s a quick bike and the team had champions in the past.”
The first race will be on the Brands Hatch Indy Curcuit on April 7.
Shelton thanked his backers which include Trev’s Tyres, Bourne Tile Centre, Glyn Jones and John and Linda Pateman.
Anyone wishing to sponsor Arnie should call 07725 563864.
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Weather for Bourne
Thursday 23 May 2013
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