2017 has been an eventful year for the Rowe Racing Team. Contesting the early rounds of the South Australian Road Racing Championship, Royce’s times on-board the new Triumph had begun well.

 

With race preparation taking a lot longer than expected for this year’s Manx GP expedition, the team went into practice week far more under the pump than they had hoped.  While Royce was on personal best race-pace, his accident occurred which dictated the rest of his year be spent in recovery mode.

PIC: Royce struggled to hit the required pit-lane pace

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While it’s been an unfortunate turn of events, Royce’s spirits have remained high and he’s focusing solely on getting his body back to 100 percent, then jumping back on two wheels… just not the same two wheels he was on while at the IOM (see pictures).

 

While it’s been a tough road, the time spent in the Isle and then since returning home to more physio, has been made a lot easier by many people. Rowe Racing would like to thank the whole Kneen family, especially Will and Carol, for their amazing hospitality while on the Isle of Man, the Halsalls Family, the Union Mills Methodist Church, Pauline and Eddy, Andy Fenton, Lee and Tracey. A special thanks to the Manx Grand Prix Supporters Club whose objective is to help injured riders and who have been an enormous help and support to us.

PIC: The oldest team in the recent Adelaide 3-Hour race of Greg Pitt, Alessandro Malatesta and Nic Borrelli, were able to give Royce some handy tips on the use and maintenance of mobility scooters

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We’d also like to thank Ali Hay who made trips to and from the mainland to see Royce and Debbie. Another gem has been Michelle Rhook from AON, who has arranged our FIM insurance the last three years, and in particular Kate Ellis from Proclaim who got in touch with us the day after the accident and was a reassuring contact when we were stuck on the other side of the world in a difficult situation. Kate has been an enormous help in sorting the insurance side of things.

 

Cath Davis of Rex Physio, Joey Dunlop Foundation, Friends of the Hyperbaric Chamber Charity, Tracey Killey, Steve McDonald, Nick Wheeler, The Mike Hailwood Foundation, Mac Park, Alessandro Malatesta, the Lock Family, Ken Baines, Pete Wyles and Brian Rosser have all helped in their own way.

PIC: What happens when a front disc passes through an exhaust pipe and radiator into the engine cases!

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All of our team sponsors have been a major support the whole year through, including Velocette MCC, Phoenix MCC, Atujara MCC, Bears Motorcycle Racing Club, Mac Park, GC Motorcycles, Kessner Motorcycles, BJR Racing Products, Hoey Racing, Auldana Foundations, Cresta Plastics, KP Signs, Custom Refinishers Australia and Underground Designs.

 

Of course, the broader Rowe family, Royce’s partner Beth who is now pandering to his every need, and all the family’s close friends who have come to visit in recent weeks and enjoyed a drink or a chat – it’s all made the experience much more bearable. In particular, all the kind people who came to visit on the Island too who made the stay a little bit easier for Royce and Debbie.

In upcoming events, the Velocette MCC has kindly offered to host a Fundraiser for the Rowe Racing Team since returning from the 2017 Manx GP.

It is being held on Saturday, February 3rd at the Velocette MCC clubrooms, 74 Drayton Street, Bowden, SA.

The event starts at 2pm and everyone is welcome to attend – the more, the merrier! Royce will give a talk about his experience at the Manx GP and present an on-board lap cut from footage taken at the 2017 Manx Grand Prix.

There will be a number of guest speakers, including fellow South Aussie Dave Johnson. ‘DJ’ is a Factory Norton rider and currently the fastest Australian around the Isle of Man course. He also competes in the British Superbikes paddock, while taking on other extreme road races around the world, like the recent Macau GP.

Speedway legend John Boulger will also be giving a talk. ‘JB’ won nine SA Speedway Championships, four Australian Championships, captained the Australian team which won the 1976 World Team Cup, and raced in the British Speedway League from 1967 to 1979 captaining the Leicester Lions.

Entry is only $5, which includes the chance to win the door prize of a rare bottle of Manx Spirit, with other raffles happening on the day too. Bar facilities and a sausage sizzle will be available.