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Neil Ronketti is one of a kind. Born in Suffolk, his main raison d'etre has been riding and rebuilding motorcycles. He started life with the obligatory CB100N when he was 17 but got fed up rebuilding it after the third engine expired whilst chasing a friend on an RD125.

The CB100 was replaced by a TS100E which was thrashed mercilessly around the back roads of Suffolk. After a year of this he upgraded to a CB250RS which kept him relatively happy. Eventually though, the top end gave up the ghost, and while it was off the road, he borrowed his brothers CB250N and nearly killed himself and a good friend on the A134 to Sudbury when he thought the bike had as much ground clearance as his RS. Eventually, the RS got rebuilt, and before it had chance to blow up completely, it was part-exchanged for a GSX1100EFE. He crashed this, too.

After a year of blitzkrieg straight line performance and utter terror every time a corner approached, Neil decided that enough was enough. The GSX was sold, and he bought a TZR250 in it's place. At the same time he booked a place on the Cadwell race school to learn how to ride properly. The TZR lasted about a year, and was then swapped in against a ZXR750. Six years later, in 1997, he decided that the time was right to take the plunge and go racing.

The rest is history and detailed in his infamous The Race Diary, a wonderful recount of his racing, which has inspired many of rider to try racing. It's a thoroughly recommended read but to give a potted history:

Neil became hooked on racing after his first 4 races in 1997, competing on a TZR250. In 1998, he again competed on the bike and had a fantastic year, finishing 4th in the TZR Tour. So enamoured with the TZR tour, Neil ran it in 1999, attracting lots of new blood into the series where he himself finished 7th overall.

In 2000, he achieved his ambition of riding a GP bike and entered the BMCRC and MRO GP250 championships while still running the TZR Tour. He had a fantastic time, which continued into 2001 when he had 2 big accidents at Castle Combe and Oulton Park, putting him out of action for the year.

In 2002, he ran out of money and returned to building bikes rather than riding them but it was short-lived. Neil could simply not stay away from the circuit and returned to TZR250 racing in 2003.

He "retired" in 2004 following the birth of his second daughter but is once again making a comeback in 2005 by racing in the KRC Endurance Championships.

Sponsorship will allow Neil and his team to present a more professional image, as he feels that presentation is always the first thing to be compromised when money is tight. Neil also says that having help with his racing costs might leave him with a little extra cash to treat The Lovely Faye for putting up with his hobbies for so long.

Note from Kailah: Neil is someone who is always helping his fellow riders. Last year, he helped keep one of the AaR members on circuit by lending him a bike for an indefinite period of time. Without Neil's help, "The Colonel" wouldn't have raced and he wouldn't have come 5th in the YPM championship. This is just one of many things Neil has done for others. I reckon it's time for something to be done for Neil. Please dig deep and help this very kind and noble racer.

Click the icon below to adopt Neil for as little as £10.00 per month!