RTTC National Closed Circuit 10 Mile TT Championship, 12 Oct 2025

The last race of the season (perhaps) – a 10 mile time trial at Croft Motor Racing circuit, a favourite course, traffic free and a great surface. The weather forecast was good, and in fact was a little conservative. The temperature was 15°C but felt like 19 with a 2.2km/h ESE wind. Possibly the best conditions of the year for Croft although it is renowned for having its own micro-climate.

On arrival I signed in, got my numbers (one for body and two for each arm) and had an hour for the warm up and some food. I followed the pre-race warm up, put the turbo in the car (minus the front wheel block which I forgot) and headed off to the start, which being supported (there is a first time for everything) I was already clipped into the pedals. All I needed to concentrate on was accelerating out of the pit lane and onto the circuit. My strategy was to go as fast as I could obviously, but in a controlled manner, first lap to set the pace, and then to maintain for the next three laps, finishing with a flourish for the fifth and final lap. I roughly managed this, saving the best lap until last, however, while I was pleased with roughly even times across the 5 laps, my overall time was slower than I had hoped for. However, it was a personal best by 11 seconds, which considering it is the end of the season and I peaked back in May for the European Aquabike Middle Distance Championships, it’s a result which is really pleasing.

The 25 minute barrier remains, but is now only 9 seconds, or two seconds per lap away.

Next year has already started to get interesting!

Bryan Harding