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.

I was taken to the Ongetta Centro Seta MotoGP hospitality area. 

After a quick meeting that Friday morning I ended up agreeing to do a reportage on English rider Harry Stafford who was in his first and only year of MotoGP 125 racing.

After shooting Jorge, I arrived in the garage to find the team gathered around the monitors to watch the qualifying session.

All three bikes were out on track when I arrived. The team and sponsors were watching the riders progress.

It becomes apparent that Harry's bike has developed a problem.

So he came back in, and within 2 minutes, changes are made to the bike to sort the problem and he is sent back out.

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.

Qualifying isn't over, but the bike is put on the bench for a "post mortem"

It doesn't take long before the bike is dismantled and the technicians try to work out what the problems are.

On closer inspection, it is decided that a cylinder head bolt was at fault.

Overnight the team preps all three bikes ready for the following day's riding.

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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.

Harry fastens his helmet as the bike is being started.

Just a few seconds until warm up commences.

Just a few corners into the lap and Harry is in the gravel.

Harry returns to the pitbox quickly, and looks to the engineer for answers. The bike didn't last a lap before it packed in again. 

The bike was leant over in a corner at the time. The engineer responds with "that's racing", but I don't think Harry was ready to accept that comment - I know that I wouldn't have.......

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.

More parts are swapped in an effort to clear the problem.

Lots of attention on the bike, none on the rider.

Harry stares out of the garage as the team try to sort the issue......... time is ebbing away.

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The body panels are replaced and the bike is nearly ready.......or so Harry thought....

His teammate returns partway through the session...........

and then leaves again - all whilst Harry is still sat waiting.

Eventually, Harry's bike is carried out to pit lane.......

......where he is given a push start to rejoin the session.

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.

The bikes are warmed up again, this time for the Marco Simoncelli tribute.

Harry sported a pink helmet for the tribute and the race, in support of the riders for health  - the Viva Valencia trip. The helmet was to be auctioned a couple of weeks later at Motorcycle Live at the NEC.

Seconds before the bike is needed, it is still being worked on.

The pit lane is declared open, and the riders start to make their way onto track.

Harry leaves pitlane with Valentino Rossi.

Pitlane is very busy as the bikes and riders return from the tribute.

Harry is known as a pleasant character in the pit and paddock, and manages a smile, despite the problems with the bike that are likely to affect his race in just a few minutes time.

The bike was playing up on the parade lap, so off come the fairings again.

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Cutting it a bit fine. the tyre warmers are on, but the tank is still off  whilst they try and sort the bike. Harry checks his new pink knee slider that match his numbers and helmet.

2 minutes until pitlane closes and all the bikes have to be on the grid.

The team, sponsors, and family of the riders, all gather around the monitors in the default position as the race begins.

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

I think this picture just about sums up the poor lad's weekend. Bike in bits in front of him, staring out of the garage wondering about what could have been had the team got the bike right for him.