HIGH FIVES - Lewis Tombs
April 24, 2008
Lewis Tombs the 17 year old from Portsmouth takes his first step into adult racing this year when he competes in the Maxxis MX2 class against several grand prix stars. I caught up with Lewis at round three of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship at Waggadon Farm, Torrington to see how things were going.
MOTO: You had a very successful season last year winning the BYMX championship and this year sees you competing in the Maxxis British Motocross MX2 class and MMX Under 21’s Class, how have you found the change in competition and have you altered you training regime in anyway for this season compared to last years?
“I’ve defiantly found the transition difficult due to the calibre of riders I’m up against and being on the 144 machine at the beginning of the year I found that didn’t help me, but I’m confident throughout the year my confidence and speed will become greater.”
MOTO: All through the winter period you have been riding the 144 machine and you competed on this in both the opening rounds of the Maxxis MX2 class at Donnington Park and Under 21s round at Little Silver, now though you have changed to the 250f machine, can you explain why you have made this decision and how do you feel the bikes compare?
“When comparing bikes I found the bottom end of the 144 was much faster than the 250f machine and was much easier to ride and suited my riding style more. I found the 144 defiantly helped keep my speed up throughout the corners to. After taking all this into account I took the difficult decision to go onto the 250f machine though because I felt it was more competitive.”
MOTO: You’ve had Martin Barr living with you for periods during the winter season and regularly been going out practising together at Winterbourne Gunner and Tonymoto etc. Have you managed to learn much from his riding techniques, training regime etc?
“I found Martin helped me a great deal, we often went to the gym together and we trained together. I found with him, we could chat about anything really. When we went riding he would show me some of his lines which I found broadened my style of lines within the track. We often busted out 30 minute motos when we went out riding together which was important because that was the length of the races at Maxxis.”
MOTO: What are your top 3 motivational songs that either helps you during training or that helps get you fired up before a race?
“Eye of the tiger, Want you bad by Offspring AND Sandstorm by Darude.”
MOTO: What has been your biggest influence throughout your career and how did it all begin?
“Biggest influence has been my mum and dad who without them none of this could of happened. Justin Morris has helped me a great deal through training schools and Steve Dixon has supported me greatly throughout the last couple of years and has had faith in me. It all started on the peewee when I was aged 3. I used to go practising at the golf course which was at bottom of our garden. Then one day I was out practising on my 60 and my dad asked me if I wanted to race. My decision was yes and my first race was at Fobdown farm and that leads up to now.
Thanks Lewis and good luck for the rest of the season.
Interview and images Stuart Cawse MOTO web reporter
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