Following the overwhelming success of last years TZR Tour, organised and won by Daz Mowat, I've decided to try and keep things rolling for 1999 by continuing the good work. Daz decided at the end of last year to bow out, and let someone else have a go, both at the writing and the winning[1]. As far as the winning goes, I'll leave that up to the fast boys amongst you.

The idea behind the Tour is a smaller, 20 round series at a variety of circuits, all hosted by BMCRC and run to BMCRC rules. As with last year, the 2nd and 3rd races of the day will count for the tour, unless there are only two races. In which case they'll both count, giving 20 scores, the best 17 of which are to count. This ability to drop your three worst scores will no doubt come in handy when Paul Ling gets out there.

	This will in no way detract from the BMCRC championship. In fact, I'm hoping that the added competition will help to make things a bit livelier... A word of warning though - Racing TZRs can make you look like this: No, that's not the famous snooker player Jimmy White after a hair transplant. It's none other than last years champion Daz 'gentle wind' Mowat in a dodgy hired suit.

The TZR Tour rounds are to be held at:

15th May	Oulton Park
12th/13th June	Brands Hatch (GP) (Woohoo!)
7th/8th August	Cadwell Park
4th/5th September	Snetterton
19th September	Mallory Park

The more astute amongst you may have noticed that there's only 16 rounds accounted for so far. The final four are up to you. Maybe a weekend at the sinuous Lydden track, that suits TZRs so well? Or how about the party atmosphere of the Croix meeting? Maybe a day at Brands Indy and a day at Silverstone? It's up to you. Let me know, and the most popular suggestion gets the vote.

Points scored will be 10,9,8... down to 1 point for 10th place. In addition, each rider will be allowed to specify, in advance, one race where they are entitled to play a joker, and their points will count double. As with most good championships, in the event of a tie, the most wins will take the place and decide once and for all who can ride around in circles quicker than anyone else to get back to where they started from.

To cover my costs, there will by a £10 registration fee. Anything left over from this will go towards the trophies for the first three places, and maybe a mystery prize or two. (Pre-season rumours of the 'James Mead' award for trying to take the Gooseneck flat in fifth are all hearsay). If, at the end of all this, there is anything left in the pot, it will almost certainly go towards an end of season party at the Lord of Lydden meeting. If I can get my act together in time I'll also try and arrange for some TZR tour merchandise, T-shirts etc.

If you're interested, write to me or e-mail me on neil@neil.nu. The whole idea behind this is to have fun, so if anyone has any suggestions, comments, or ruthless piss-taking, I'd be happy to hear from you.

Alternatively, pay a visit to my new online application form, fill in the details, and just post me a cheque, or give me a tenner at a race meeting somewhere along the line.

[1] We've now discovered exactly why Daz has decided to call it a day. He can no longer handle the ferocious power of modern motorcycles, as was demonstrated at the bemsee Moped Mayhem meeting at Lydden. Daz was doing his bit for the public by working the recovery van for the day, when a hapless C90 pilot decided to pay homage, and threw himself at the feet of Our Hero. With scarcely a thought for his own safety Our Daz compltely ignored the stricken rider, instead deciding that a carefully run-in, low mileage C90 would go quite well in the Mowat shed. Showing superhuman strength he picked up the C90 with just one hand. Sadly he had not noticed that the engine was still running, and the bike proceeded to accelerate towards the tyres. Thud. The bike hit them. Thud. So did our Daz.

Worra twat.