Lee Clayton AKA Clayts #9
Aged 32
Bike 450cc Honda 2008
Expert Status 1993 – present
Started racing in 1983 on a Suzuki 50cc.First race Golden barn with the Horsham club. Can’t really remember this year but I know I loved every week. In 1986 I won the Portsmouth school boy championship on a 50cc Honda.(The same year the 60cc Kx came out). In the same year I finished 3rd in a two day meeting called the Champions of Champions in Devon. I do believe that a young Paul Malin won the senior class.
When I went up to 80cc bikes in 1987 I was racing every week all over the country. This took its toll and I wanted to do something different and packed up racing.(Played football)
I went back to racing in 88 on an old 80cc Yamaha. Racing at swanmore!. Slowly got back up to speed and in 1990 I rode a Honda 80 with a 100cc bore kit on it in the 100cc class. The bike kept braking down. So I got a 100cc KX. I went on to win the 100cc Portsmouth championship without loosing a single race. I came 3rd at the east Kent national 2 days at Canada heights.The following year I was in the 100cc class again and again wining the Portsmouth championship. This is my most memorable year. Wining week in and week out. Never got tried unlike these days. I finished 3rd at a national at Chippenham park. Finishing 3rd behind winner Carl Nun and second was Carl Harris who now races superbikes. Once the Portsmouth championship was won I upgraded to the senior class against the 125cc bikes. I was on the 100cc bike struggled somewhat but finished 6th.
My last year in the school boys was mixed. I raced the 125cc Honda. Not a memorable year and one a few races along the way but I new as soon as I was 16 I would be on a 250cc and in the adults.
I had a new 250cc Honda in 1993. I rode a few SMX before the season started. I trained with Energy plus (Dickey Dye). First junior race was at the early birds meeting at Canada heights which I won. The second junior race was at Culham and this was my last. I won both races and with enough points to upgrade me to expert.
I rode The Ken Hall in this year can’t remember what place I finished.
In 1994 I rode another 250cc Honda and raced a few Mid hants quad club and now known as Hampshire motocross club!! Not a great year but won a little money on the way. Swooped to a 250cc Suzuki in 2005 and raced more Hampshire finishing 5th in the 250cc and d 11th in the championship.
In 1996 I went back down to a 125cc bike to compete at British level. You had to do a clubman championship in these days to qualify for the British. I did qualify by the end of the year for some British rounds in 1997.I finished 7th at Hampshire with only doing a hand full of meeting.
In 1997 I raced a few British rounds scoring a whopping 2 points. I also raced Hampshire and one the 125cc championship and came 3rd in the main championship being Tony Tunnel and Neil Huston.
In 1998 I raced a 250cc KX and just raced local meetings and even one, one or two races at Hampshire. Towards the end of the year I crashed hard and injured my knee and ended up giving up racing.
Got bored and came back to racing in 2001 and back on Hondas. Only raced SMX and finished 3rd in the championship.
In 2003 I switched to the 450cc Honda. Raced Hampshire abit more finishing 17th in the championship. In 2004 raced now and then (Got Married)
In 2005 tried to race the 2stroke rm 250cc. Struggled all year. Changed back to Honda 450cc in 2005. In 2006 I raced only Hampshire and finished 2nd in 500cc and 8th in the main.
In 2006 I finished 5th 500cc and 7th in the main and last year was 5th in the 500cc championship and 9th in the main championship.
This year I am racing a little more and things are going ok and hope to be in the top 3 in MX1 and top 8 in the main and a few Expert races along the way. But the best thing is that i am really enjoying my racing and my son comes every week and loves it. I suppose racing will end and if my son wants to race like i did i will give him all the support my parents gave me.Till then i will see you at Hampshire
Injuries Broken collarbone
Broken wrist
Broken hand x 3
Broken toes
Broken fingers
Dislocated knee
Dislocated fingers
Broken Nose
Torn knee ligaments