Dreams can come true
The magic of the Goodwood Revival.
A World Stage, a World Class Rider and Works Racing
The Goodwood Revival is a world class motorsport event, seen as the best classic motorsport event in the world. It attracts the who’s who of current and bye gone motorsport champions with the best classic motorsport vehicles. The motorbike race is a 2 rider race, with 2 races combined to give a final verdict. Of the 2 riders, one is a ‘star’ the other the owner ‘club racer’. For the stars think ex-MotoGP, World Superbiker riders alongside current and ex British Superbikes and TT racers. Freddie Spencers, Dani Pedrosa, Kevin Schwantz against Troy Corsa, Leon Haslam, Tommy Bridewell and Josh Brookes against Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison. What a mix! Works Racing has been paired with friend of the team Michael Rutter for a number of years and in 2023 it was time to put our race faces on.
— Michel Rutter
Works Racing, for once, was focused on the end prize. To win the Barry Sheene trophy race at the Goodwood Revival. Our normal status of living for the adventure was now a secondary state; it was time to flex and see what we could do. The weather was as hot as the competition for what must be THE classic bike race of the year.
The ‘Ruttells’ as the commentator called us qualified well in 3rd, 0.8s of Davey Todd/Thomas bike and 0.4s of Steve Brogan/Bain bike. We were in the hunt, and the Works Racing No. 1 bike felt good. But there are some big names behind us, key teams to look out for were Steve Plater/Glen English combo, and despite the MV Agusta not qualifying well, the Michael Dunlop/Andy Hornby bike would be up there.
Race 1 turned out to be ‘humdinger’, with the ‘pro’ riders starting the race and a pack of 6 riders unseparable. Michael Rutter's job was to stay with them, avoid the chaos and look after the bike. Goodwood is a long weekend. But the Works Norton was flying. After the rider changes, it soon became a 2 rider race between Michael Russell and Glen English, a friendly but very competitive rivalry stretching back years. In a last corner move, Glen won the race by less than 1s. Game on.
Race 2 on Sunday was crunch time. After a steady start Michael Russell was down to 6th on the first lap, Glen already in the lead. Over the next 8 laps, Michael moved into first and pulled out a 10s lead by the changeover, putting in the fastest lap of anyone over the weekend, 1:28.8. Michael did everything we needed, winning the race by more than 11s and securing the overall victory. The Works Norton proved, over the lap, to be the fastest bike of the weekend. What a weekend.