*11/01/06 Part 2 added below

Welcome back to MacFadyen racing for the 2005 season. We would like to start by saying a BIG thank you to all the sponsors for their continuing support in 2005. We would also like to welcome new sponsors Cameron & Paterson Homes Ltd, Inverness Refrigeration, D.Steven & Sons and Thistle Fire Protection.

Don is starting this season on a new K5 Suzuki 1000 supplied by Harry @ Capital Fire & Security. Much to his delight, the race preparation begins with many hours spent tinkering away in the garage. Jeff’s beautiful paint job (Riverside Motors), ensures the bike is soon ready to race.

Knockhill – 2nd & 3rd April

Scottish Sports Production

It's the first time out on the circuit and Don has 2 good practice sessions to get used to the new bike and is very happy with it. In the 3rd practice as Don came out of the chicane he high sided. He took quite a bashing and realised he couldn't put weight on his right foot and had a very sore hand; the bike was a mess too. We were all absolutely GUTTED. Adrian and Andy patched up the bike for the race next day (BIG THANKS GUYS). Don had to get checked over by the doctor on race day and she decided he couldn't race for his and every one else's safety. So, it was time to head back home very disheartened. It wasn't until the Thursday they discovered that Don had broken his hand and ankle. With a plaster on for the next 3 weeks it meant we would miss the next 2 Scottish rounds. It couldn't have been a worse start to the season ‑ damage, injury and the bike hasn't even been ridden in anger yet!

Oulton Park 30th April ‑ 2nd May

National Superstock Cup

It was dry for the Friday practice but Don was struggling with his hand and ankle, and to add to that the bike wasn't handling very well either. In the 1,t qualifying session Don came 34th and was still experiencing problems getting the bike set up. In the 2d qualifying he moved up to 23' place which made him a lot happier. On race day the weather was quite wet to start with, but started to dry out a bit, so it was down to the wet or dry tyre dilemma. He opted for the wets but after doing the sighting lap, he realised dries should have been the preferred option, so it was in to pit lane for a very quick tyre change. Unfortunately it wasn't quick enough, so he had to start the race from pit lane. On lap 4 he had to pull in as another bike threw up gravel which burst Don's radiator, if it wasn't for bad luck he would have no luck at all.

Northwest 200 17^th – 21^st May

It's back over the water for some Irish road racing ‑ let's hope some of that Irish luck rubs off for this meeting! It was wet for the Tuesday night practice. In the superstock class Don was 13th quickest and 53rd in the superbike class, not so good. It was a dry Thursday night practice and in the superstock he dropped to 28th but went up to 43rd in the superbike class. 1^st up on Saturday was the superbike race, which it stayed dry for. Don enjoyed the race, but between the rough ground and weak hands he did have a struggle, finishing exhausted in 28th place. In the superstock race Don took off in the 1^st wave which he led for 2 laps, putting him up to 12th position overall. On the 3rd lap he had to pull in as the rear tyre had shredded. As we stood on the grid for the second superbike race the heavens opened with hailstones ‑ the conditions were terrible. With each lap just under 9 miles long, some of the course was soaking, and other parts dry. After 2 laps Don decided to pull in, with the lack of luck he's been having it wasn't worth the risk.

Croft 3rd - 5th June

National Superstock Cup

It's back down the road again for another BSB round. It was dry for the Friday practice and Don was 34th quickest. On Saturday in the first qualifying session the conditions were damp but drying, and Don was lying in 17th. The conditions stayed about the same for the 2m session but Don dropped to 19th. He was still finding things a bit tricky with his hands feeling so weak, you could see the "difference" in his riding as he started to tire. Now the two sessions were over for the day, and it was time to fit the new Arata full exhaust system and power commander to the bike. These were kindly delivered to the paddock that day (thanks Danny!). On race day it was dry and Don managed to get up to 17^th position, as he started to tire he dropped back and finished in 23^rd. He enjoyed the race; on the last few laps he had a good dice with fellow Scotsman Scott Young, but had no strength left to overtake him.

Knockhill 25th ‑ 26th June

National Superstock Cup

Don's been frequenting the gym religiously for the last 3 weeks trying to rebuild his strength. It's a once a year occasion that the BSB round is at our "local" circuit, and Don was totally focused for a podium finish. On the Friday he was 2nd quickest in the practice, but wasn't comfortable with the bike set up. That evening Dave (0z) form Crescent Suzuki kindly popped round and gave Don some sound advice (thanks). It was dry for the first qualifying session and he went 1.3 seconds quicker than he did yesterday, which saw Don in 3rd position. In the second qualifying session Don didn't manage to go any faster but did secure 3d position on the grid. Race day was here and the nerves were running high. Don's was the first race of the day. He got a good start and was leading into the first bend, but unfortunately another rider out‑braked himself and ran into Don's path, nearly putting him off the circuit. Don quickly found himself back in 4th position. Within another 4 laps he managed to get up to 3rd place. By lap 5 he was up to 2nd place and by lap 7 he dropped to 3rd . On laps 10 to 15 he managed to stay in 2nd place, but by lap 16 he'd dropped to 3rd again. The battle was truly on, and Don was riding really well. It was great to see him back on form. As they started the final lap Don got back up to 2nd place but as he came into "Seat" the first bend, (formerly Duflus Dip) he lost the front end and had a huge crash. Don went flying through the gravel and the bike was sent spinning through the air! Thankfully (and surprisingly!) Don had no injuries. 1 think even HE was surprised at that. The bike was wrecked; there wasn't one bit of fairing left on it by the time it stopped tumbling. We were all just devastated. There was one good thing to come out of it all ‑ Don was awarded Man of the Race and got a free set of tyres.

After assessing the damage Don reckons he will need to spend £2000 to fix the bike which needs fairings, wheels, complete exhaust, top yoke, front & rear sub frames and a fuel tank, not to mention loads of other bits & pieces. In the time it will take to get and fit the parts we will not be able to make the next Scottish meeting at Knockhill.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been helping Don to repair the bike and hope that we can bring some better news in the near future!

*11/01/06: