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Army Motorcycle Road Team
Army Motorcycle Road Race Team
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Scribe: Sgt Spencer-Fleet (3 CS Bn REME)
The Army Motorcycle Road Race Team (AMRRT) managed to have a very successful 2021 season considering the uncertainty in today’s climate. With the start of the season off the cards, we were finally given the green light in June which saw the AMRRT- E (Endurance) visit the beautifully sunny Croft Circuit, Darlington and the AMRRT- S (Sprint) visiting the short but snappy Mallory Park, Kirkby Mallory.
The AMRRT encompasses all cap badges and REME riders and pit crews are spread throughout the team. Sgt Richard SpencerFleet competing in Ducati Tri-Options at British Superbikes and in the Sprint team in Inter-Services. Sgt Leon Wilton and LCpl Palmer competing in the Inter-Services, Sgt Andy McSweeney and LCpl Celvin Heaver in the Endurance Team.
All riders competed at some iconic tracks throughout the UK with podium finishes at almost every meet! Here’s how each REME rider got on within their respective classes and disciplines.
Joined the Endurance team back in 2014, winning not only the Rookie 600 but Clubman 600 endurance championships that year with numerous other podiums in other classes. Since then he has moved up the ranks into National level racing, competing at British Superbikes in Ducati Tri-Options championship since 2018. The 2021 season saw ‘Spence’ have a great year racing on the British and the World championship calendar. He also came back to his roots and race with the sprint team in the Inter-service Championship. He was crowned individual Inter-service Champion winning all bar one race entered. ‘Its been a fantastic season, getting the opportunity to race in the British superbike paddock gaining top 10’s, getting to race at World Superbikes, then to win the Inter-Services Individual Championship, it’s been Epic! Really looking forward to seeing what 2022 has in store’.
Sgt Spencer-Fleet’s trophy haul, including 2021 Army and Inter-Service Championship Winner’s trophy
Sgt Andy McSweeney (Electronics Technician Class 1)
Sweeney joined the team in 2015 alongside his team-mate Celv. The pair worked together as pit crew for 4 years before taking the leap to team riders for the 2019 season. The pair won the All-
Sgt Spencer-Fleet
other teams were too far out of reach to compete with for the season. He and Celv finished the season in a respectable 5th place of the Clubman 600 Endurance Championship.
Sgt Leon Wilton (Metalsmith Class 1)
Leon began his racing career with the AMRRT(E) back in 2015 where he began learning his race craft on the Yamaha R6. After a successful 3 years within the Endurance paddock, Leon decided to make the move over to the AMRRT(S) team in 2018.
From here Leon became a faster and stronger rider, which naturally led him changing to the bigger Yamaha R1 machine to race with. In 2021, Leon was unfortunately plagued with technical issue which resulted in some DNF’s however this
Rookie Endurance Championship in their first year and he set about making some big changes as the pair moved up to the clubman class.
Sweeney went into the 2021 season eager and excited, but after missing the first few rounds due to work commitments, he arrived at Cadwell Park determined to make up for his late start to the season. On board his new Yamaha R6, that he’d spent all lockdown fettling with and upgrading, he was beating his PB’s lap after lap! This however came to an abrupt ending, just 3 minutes before the chequered flag of a 3hour race, making a late manoeuvre on a worn tyre saw him crash out of the race. Sweeney spent the following few rounds trying to regain the confidence lost from the crash. By the time he was back on pace the
Sgt McSweeney
Sgt Wilton
never dampened his spirit and he pushed on with the season. This was rewarded with a 3rd overall for the season in the British Military InterServices Championship! Along with this, Leon impressed himself by beating all his previous personal bests at ALL of the tracks he visited in the season; most notably at Trac Môn Anglesey Circuit, Wales where he knocked a full 2 seconds off his previous best! Leon is eager to get back on track in the 2022 season where he hopes to collect more trophies, break more PB’s and most importantly have fun!
LCpl Liam Palmer (Vehicle Mechanic Class 1)
Liam joined the Army Motorcycle Road Race Team in 2015 as pit crew. He remained pit crew for 3 years
building up experience to prepare himself for racing. In 2018 Liam started racing on an R6 doing a few wild cards in the preinjection championship with the sprint team and then moving in the following years to the Stocktwin Class on a Suzuki SV650. 2021 saw Liam come 4th in the championship, gaining many podium places including his first ever win. Within the InterService championship Liam managed to be the highest scoring in his class.
“2021 was a brilliant year for me although I narrowly missed out on the top 3 steps in championship, I managed to gain a lot of experience racing against much more accomplished riders. This has set me up well for the 2022 championship and I’m really looking forward to seeing what it has in store for myself and the team.”
LCpl Celvin Heaver (Vehicle Mechanic Class 1)
Celv joined the team back in 2015 as a Craftsman along with Sweeney whilst posted to his first unit in Colchester. They worked as Mechanics within the pit crew until 2019 where they made the choice to step up and become riders. Racing on the Yamaha R6, Celv received some great results which he shared with Sweeney and eventually these results accumulated to them being crowned 2019 Rookie Champions.
Fast forward 2 years thanks to the Coronavirus outbreak, he found himself back in the seat for the 2021 season! On the Yamaha R6 once more, Celv began breaking personal best lap times at some of the greatest tracks in the UK and enjoyed every second of it. With a bike change at the end of the season due to plans for 2022, Celv raced a wildcard event with the AMRRT(S) at Cadwell Park on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX10-R where he picked up his first trophy of the year. A 3rd in the Thundersport GP1
LCpl Heaver
LCpl Palmer
Sportsman race followed by a 1st in the British Military Inter-Services race. As to be expected he is very excited to get back on the bike in 2022 and take the amazing opportunity of racing for both the Endurance and Sprint teams!
With the 2022 season almost upon us, the team are always looking for up and coming talent within the Corps. If you feel like you could be pit crew or dream to become the next Inter-Service champion, like and follow the team page on Facebook and Instagram (Army Motorcycle Road Race Team).
All enquiries will be responded to and hopefully open the doorway to a new a new and exciting sport for you within the Army!
Alternatively, please email the following POC. REME Road Race Secretary:
Richard.Spencer-Fleet781@mod.gov.uk
Arte et Marte.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Are you ex-serving REME? Did you have a partner or family who were in REME? Where Are They Now? is a new feature, giving you the chance to share your stories with the wider REME Family. If you have a story to share, email it to craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
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