The 2010 Season

Unfortunately, Bill badly broke his ankle at the end of January 2010. He was out getting fit after a knee cartilage operation in January and slipped on ice. This hampered his quest to get fit for the 2010 season and he was out of action for about 8 weeks. Yet again, Mick Gillott sponsored the team – Thanks very much Mick!

The season started off for Bill and his regular Belgian passenger Bert Vloemans, in April at Croix En-Ternois in France. Despite Bill suffering a lot of pain, they managed two 2nd places. Then in May it was off to Mettet, Belgium. They had two very good races and finished 1st place in both.

In June Bill & Bert were invited to take part at the Sidecar GP revival at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, which is part of the annual Bikers Classic meeting. It was a very relaxed weekend of parading, with lots of ex sidecar & solo GP and world champion riders and teams.

In July it was on to Chimay, Belgium. Bill & Bert won their race on the Saturday. However on the Sunday, on the last bend of the last lap, the drive belt broke and they stopped. Luckily they had the presence of mind to push the bike over the finishing line to finish in 9th place, thus salvaging some point towards the Championship.

In Early August they were invited to take part in the parade and a couple of races at the Sidecar Festival at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, Germany.

Then later in the month it was on to Gedinne, Belgium, where it was crunch time for the Belgian & CRMB Championship. It was essential that they finish both races. Unfortunately for Frank Schoonderbeek and Maria Van Den Bor (Bill & Bert’s main rivals), their valve seat fell in, so they were not able to take part in either race. Bill & Bert put up the fastest practice and had poll position for Saturday’s race, which they won. The pressure was off slightly, all Bill & Bert had to do was finish and get some points! After a fantastic start from the second row of the grid, they were in 1st place by the 1st bend and then led the race all the way to the chequered flag , winning the Championship!

Bill & Bert’s last outing of the year was at Assen, where they were very lucky to be invited to take part at the 2010 Centennial Classic TT.

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