Mark joins Team Purple to compete in the
KRC Endurance Championship

February 16, 2005 – Hazel Drury has today announced that Team Purple Endurance will be competing in the 2005 KRC Endurance Championships with two riders being members of the Adopt a Racer scheme.

The KRC Endurance Championship is now the UK’s only motorcycle endurance racing series. Traditionally comprised of 1 eight-hour and 4 six-hour races, it is Britain’s only endurance racing series and a stepping-stone for teams moving up into the World Endurance arena. This year, however, instead of an 8-hour race, KRC are launching the UK’s first 24-hour race, scheduled for June 25th and 26th at Snetterton.

The team line-up will be the two Adopt a Members Hazel Drury and Mark Bamford along with Yoav Tzabar, a consultant anaesthetist from Carlisle who lost his novice bib racing with Team Purple on an RS250 in 2004, being the third rider.

For the Brands Hatch race, MRO Mille Champion, Daz Jones has volunteered to stand in for Mark Bamford, who will be unable to race on that date. Daz won the 2004 MRO championship right down to the nail on the last round at Brands after crashing on the first lap at Paddock at 100mph. Despite this he restarted and earned enough points to be crowned champion.

Hazel has always been around bikes, but it wasn't until she nearly died following postoperative complications in 2001 that she decided to race herself. Following a year where she overcame physical and personal adversity, she entered her first race in 2002, crashed and was instantly hooked. She raced with Wirral 100 and EMRA in 2003 and 2004, although the latter season was cut short when a rider crashed in front of her causing both her and her bike to retire for the remainder of the season. In addition to the endurance, Hazel will also be competing in the Derby Phoenix Championships in 2005.

Mark started racing in 2002 after reading Neil Ronketti's racing diaries. In 2003, he finished 9th in the F400 and 5th in the 250 Championship and in 2004 gained his National Licence. Mark will also be making a serious challenge in the Andreas Racing F400 championship and will be entering 4 Road Races on the Isle of Man, as well as competing with Team Purple Endurance.

The new team recently went to Spain for some pre-season testing where they had a productive 2 days. Team Manager, Hazel, said: “All of us managed to get our times down and the bike did us proud. We are looking forward to making our debut at Brands Hatch.”

For more information on the KRC Endurance Championships, click here. To keep updated with the progress of Team Purple, click here.

Click the icon below to adopt Mark for as little as £10.00!