Gary Bailey from picman.co.uk takes a look back at the 2011 Valencia MotoGp
ButtonWith 125 cc MotoGP Racer Harry Stafford
With 125 cc MotoGP Racer Harry Stafford
Gary writes:
At the 2011 Valencia MotoGP I just had one last set of pictures to take of Jorge Lorenzo and then the weekend was free for me to enjoy the racing, or so I thought.
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Harry is sent back out to with a bike that should now run at full power.
However, Harry returns after one lap, which is not enough track time to set a qualifying time.
It is clear from his body language that the bike still has problems.
The laptop is plugged in and Harry looks on knowing that time is running out.
All three bikes are readied for the last attempt at qualifying.
The weather started getting damp, but tyres are already prepped for immediate use
Harry is back on pit lane, but his body language tells the story that the bike hasn't been fixed.
Wheeling out Harry's bike for the warm up session it's time to set off and check everything is ok after last night's rebuild.
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Harry checks the progress of the riders as he removes his helmet.
The long wait for the bike to be returned to the pits for repair.
The bike arrives through the back door and is rushed to through the pitbox.
The engineer goes straight for some tools and spare parts to try and sort the problem.
The mechanics think they have found the problem and fixed it.
The bike is taken to the garage door and the engine tested.
It won't rev freely.......
.....so it is brought back in.
Niall Mackenzie and Harry's dad chat on pitlane.
I was waiting for Harry to return down pit lane, but to my surprise, I turned around to find him sat in his chair again. I daren't think what was going through his mind in this picture.
More gravel dust on the tyres. The bike had failed again.
The bike had only lasted a few corners.
The session was over, but Harry hadn't managed to get the bike up to speed.
The engine played up at every attempt to open the throttle.
There were only a few hours before the main race, so the bike was quickly stripped again.
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Several laps into the race and Harry pulls into the pits. The look on everyone's faces tells the story of the weekend.
The engineers start taking the bike into the garage.....
...but Harry knows that it is too late to sort the problem now.
Harry follows the bike into the garage with his head down.....
....there is nothing that can be done, and he has to accept a retirement from the race