 Time to talk bikes here on Highland Radio this week and I'm delighted to say we've got a young Donegal writer who continues to compete in the BSB Championship across the water in England and in Britain. That's young Richard Care. He's going to tell us all about an exciting year ahead for him. Richard, you're welcome to Highland once again. It's good to see you. Right. Thanks for having me, Alishen. You've moved to AMD Motorsports. You'll be competing under that banner for 2021. You've also stepped up in machinery as well. Tell us all about the move, Richard. So, yeah, as you said, for 2021, we're going up to the SuperStop 1000 class and the British Superbike Championship. So it's basically, it's all, you have all different bikes and it's similar obviously racing. It's just on the British tracks with, you know, 1000 cc motor bikes and somewhere over 1000 cc. So it's, you know, basically same bikes, obviously just a lot more higher and you know, they're over 200 horsepower. So there's plenty of going. Yeah. This is the first time that you've stepped onto a 1000 cc bike. Is that correct, Richard? Yeah, never rode one before. You know, the fastest bike I've ever rode before was a Triumph last year. And the first time I stepped on it was around April started this year. So it was definitely a big difference like, but I'm enjoying it so far. Yeah, it's a Honda as well, isn't it? It's a new Honda 2021 model. So it is. So it's a great bike. Yeah. This, of course, is a, it's a big move for you. You know, a lot of people in the BSB paddock you've been running there for, for six years or so. So you're gradually moving and building all the time through the ranks you are, Richard? That's it. Yeah. I mean, obviously when I first went over in 2015, we started off in the 250 cc class. So it was one of the smaller classes in the championship and then over the years moved up to the 600 super sport and now we're in a stop 1000. So we're, you know, the race is definitely not getting any easier. So it's just sort of moving up in the paddock to, you know, closer to the super bike class. Yeah. So you're just one level below super bike now. Is that correct? Anyway, yeah, it's the closest you'll get to the super bikes. That's not a super bike. You know, obviously they're the same production based bikes only they haven't, maybe a bit less power, but they're still, you know, lap times wise. There's only a couple of seconds and even some of my lap times from the tests in this year has been quicker than some of the super bike riders. Yeah. So how many goes have you had on the bike or ahead of the season which starts at the end of the month? We've done, we've had six outings this year. So we've done four official tests. So we have, and we've done a couple of other track days as well. So we've got plenty of miles and obviously at the start of the season and not being a way to spend like we normally would be do the COVID restrictions. We've done a lot of tests in the UK, you know, which is obviously quite important because it's a brand new bike to me. And it's one of, you know, it's a far more powerful bike. And it's also a Honda like so me riding the Triumph for three years and obviously it'll only be in a 600 class. You know, it's a completely different way of riding. So we're just trying to get as many miles under the belts which we have done. So we'll be ready to go racing and just over a week's time. Yeah. Obviously Fraser and Mary Dykes who are spearheading the AMD motorsports team have a lot of confidence in you. What can you guys put together this year for 2021? What's the aims in the hopes, Richard? It's kind of difficult. Before I even turned the weight in the bike, you know, throughout before I went test and I was sort of saying to myself, you know, if we can get inside, you know, it's a big class. I mean, the last official test, there was a 41 bikes on the grid. So, you know, and obviously also, you know, 41 on by riders are really quick and, you know, the top 20 are very quick if I make sense. So, you know, it's hard to tell because the times are so close. I mean, one second we can separate the, like the, my final test, I was 14. So it was at Dunnington Park and I was there, I was 0.6 seconds off the quickest lap time. So that's just over half a second, which you can, you know, even a stopwatch would barely pick it up, you know. So it is that type of times. But before I turned the weight, I was sort of thinking, you know, if I can get in the top 20, you know, that would be like the top half of the race, you know. But so far, all the tests until Dunnington, I was top 10. And then Dunnington, I ended up 14th, but it being the track it was, you know, I mean, another 0.3 could have put me in the probably top six, you know. So it's literally, you know, it's nothing real worth chatting. But when it comes to tests, you know, it only matters. Will the race and be that close as well? Come out in the Dunnington Park, isn't it? Definitely qualified and the race lap times will be, I mean, everyone will be obviously on the pace in both sessions. But the hard thing is, you know, the riders at the front will do those lap times every single lap will come to the end of the race as well and worn tire. But there's a lot of riders that can do it for one lap and just kind of go all out for one lap and do it. But, you know, to do that 20 times in a race, you know, is not as easy. So obviously the guys that are able to be consistent will and do a quick lap time will be at the front. So it's not going to be, you know, it's not going to be 20 people going over the finish line with, you know, less than 10 seconds between them. But there will be everyone will do those lap times. Like it's just to see who can do them every lap. Can you get on the podium this year, do you feel? Alton Park was a venue last year on an Asan as well. And Holland was another. Will you need to repeat that and do more of what's going to happen? At the minute, like, you know, we're not far away. I'm considering for the amount of like, there's not many, there could be maybe only five newcomers sort of in the class. It was the first time on the 1000cc. So I think I've been ahead of everyone that's new in the class. And, you know, to be within 0.6 of a second for only, you know, only having raced the bike yet when you're racing against guys that have been in the class five or maybe more years. So considering the amount of experience I have, I think, you know, coming into the year with a bit more experience, you know, I hope I definitely get quicker and if I can just keep improving, I do believe, you know, there is a chance here. Yeah. Of course, as we said at the start, I've been going to England now for the last six years to be part of this BSB paddock. And a lot of people have helped you along the way, Richard, and have sat in the sidelines and keeping an eye on you, how your career has been progressing and certainly continues to be on the way up. No, definitely. I mean, I'm very lucky, you know, obviously, from here in Donegal, to race in one would be just as popular as most other sports. So to me, you know, from an area that's not involved in the motorbike and the things as much, you know, I'm really lucky to have as much support as I do from local businesses here. And, you know, and people that are well that have, you know, want to see me do well and you'll do that a bit extra when it comes to fundraising stuff. So I'm really lucky with all the personal sponsors and obviously, you know, AMD contracts and they're based in Dumfries in Scotland. So, you know, obviously, as people in the motorsport will know, there's a lot of money even to get involved in buying a competitive bike. And, you know, before you can get to a track, then you'll have safe tires and fuels. So obviously, they're giving me an opportunity that not many others would, you know, be able to. And I'm sure there's plenty of people that do want to, but like I said, there's a lot of money tied up in it, like anything to do competitively. So really lucky for AMD Motorsport. And obviously, and definitely for all the personal sponsors here to keep me, you know, at the sharp end and give me this great opportunity to be competitive about it. Yeah. For you to be at the sharp end and competitive over the 11 rounds, you have to keep yourself in good shape too, Richard. How do you do that? What's the trend unlike? The trend is good. You know, we're just, obviously, I've worked five, six days a week whenever I'm not on the bike. So obviously, coming out this summer, you know, the evenings are longer. So we get out for cycling and do a bit of running, mountain bike and just your average, you know, some days are hard. They work some days, yeah, you're kept in your toes like the other day. So it's just a bit of everything. But what across would be that at the weekends would be probably the best for warm fitness because a lot of people think, you know, it's an easy sport. You're sitting in a bike and twist the throttle, but it's like, it's easy to do that if you just want to ride around for a bit of crack. But whenever, you know, it's like, you can run the easy, but if you run really hard, it's going to be a lot harder. So the more effort you put into it, it takes more to your body. So it's just to keep yourself, you know, injury free and, you know, don't be too, you know, eat healthy and obstacles. Yeah. And as for the Honda, does that take a lot out of the body when you're racing it and what you've seen so far? Is there a strain on the body when you're putting that bike on its full throttle? Definitely on the full throttle. I mean, the thing, you know, that's Snedderton, I was doing 180 miles per hour down the back straight. So, you know, and that's that straight's not even half a mile long. So it gets to that speed very quick, obviously, and it's pulling arms off you. So, but as in like the bike itself, it being obviously a larger bike, I thought it is a slightly heavier, but it actually turns really well, you know, and I expected it to be a lot harder to ride than the Triumph. So I'm really happy, you know, for the first time on the bike, not ridden one, actually find it quite easy to ride. You know, everything is Honda UK built the bike. So it was ready to go racing and they done a great job of that. And so far, I'm really enjoying it. I've most have enjoyed racing a bike at the minute. You know, it's just like I'm just clicking well with it so far, but that could all change. Obviously when I come racing, I might be then the opposite. But so far, it's been really good so far. Good stuff. Well, listen, Rich, it's just good to talk to you. So it isn't good to see you again. And all we can do is wish yourself and of course, the team, AMD Motorsport, all the best with the season ahead. All right. Thanks, Josh.