Founds steps up the class

Nov 7 2002 By Christopher Beesley, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

MOTORSPORT: AFTER completing their second season in the FIM Superside World Championship, Team Founds are confident of more improvements next year.

A change in engine specifications to a 1080cc limit is also likely to benefit the Ellesmere Port-based outfit who already use a 1000cc four-cylinder, four-stroke Yahama.

Driver Chris Founds said: 'The idea is to create a more defined class with engines that are more in tune with what is be produced today.

'The majority of teams have been running with big 20-year-old 1200cc engines. Hopefully, the new restrictions will help encourage more manufacturers to come on board and the existing machines can be modified rather than just going to scrap.

'Overall, the changes will make the class safer and easier to police. We've already done two years of development work so we won't have to make any major changes like some of the other outfits, but by no means have we done everything. We've got the reliability, we just want to make our engine a bit faster.'

He added: 'The new rules should produce a more level playing field and I can't wait for next season. I think we had an above-average year but we were not as good as I would have liked as the competition was so high.

'I was disappointed to miss out on the South African round as it could have been a good points opportunity. But if I had gone, I might not have been able to fund the rest of the season.'

Founds picks out qualifying in ninth place at Assen after originally being in 17th as his highlight of the season. But he also enjoyed the race at Silverstone and competing at Monza.

As well as competing among the world's elite sidecars, taking part in the Superside Championship also threw up several light-hearted moments for Chris and his crew throughout the course of the season.

He said: 'While returning home from Misano, we ended up helping out a Spanish lorry driver who had broken some part of his airbrake system.

'Fortunately, we had some spares in the back of our truck that we use for the bike and we were able to fit them to his vehicle. We were rewarded with six big water melons, which were very welcome in the Mediterranean heat.

'The last race of the season took place at the historic Imola circuit which is surrounded by hundreds of horse chestnut trees.

'They don't play conkers on the continent so their ground was covered with them and myself, Steve Webster and Steve Abbott enjoyed a trackside conker tournament to the amusement of our Italian hosts.'

Team Founds also enjoyed meeting their German supporters' club in the village of Stemmer, situated between Hannover and Dortmund, en route from the World Championship rounds in Oschersleben and Assen.

Chris said: 'Their hospitality was second to none and the whole village came out to see us. We are something of a novelty for them and over a 100 of our 300 fan-club members are based in Germany.'

Although the season has now finished, the team will stay busy over the winter months and there is still plenty to do ahead of the start of the new campaign next March.

Chris said: 'Our last race of the year was at the Festival of Sidecars but I've been asked by some sponsors to take the bike to exhibitions.

'I've got a few modifications still to do on the airbox and after racing for two years at this level, there are a few little things that you like to change.'

Chris' brother Pete has yet to confirm whether he is able to commit himself as passenger for next season because he has taken up a work-sponsored mechanical engineering degree at Liverpool John Moores University.

Chris said: 'Pete will stay on as an active team member but his studies mean that he is currently unsure whether he'll be able to compete over entire weekends.

'He'll give us a decision by December and if he is unable to take part as a passenger, I have a couple of other options to choose from. With the engine changes I've got to be looking for at least a top-eight finish and be pushing for the top-six placing.'