Sylvie & Me: From wannabe to racer; the long road to racing

"I was approaching way too fast, with no time to stop. I didn't even try; I simply let Sylvie charge into the gravel full tilt, coming to a remarkably fast stop. Half a dozen marshals stared at me wide-eyed. I watched their arms raise as I sunk into the welcoming stones. With the wheels buried axle-deep, I lost my balance and keeled over, Sylvie resting on top of me. I flicked the kill switch and everything went quiet."

"Sylvie And Me" is the dramatic, humorous and candid memoir of a fool who always wanted to race. At the age of fifty-six and a half, Steve Male decided it was a good time to start motorcycle racing. With no real experience, he bought an old Suzuki SV650, got his licence and joined the local racing club with some very modest goals:

1. Take part in at least one race
2. Complete at least one race
3. Don't crash
4. Don't finish last
5. Don't die trying

Armed with nothing but over-optimism and an ageing bike, he entered the 2019 Bemsee Rookie Minitwin Championship, hoping to scratch a 40-year-old itch. Not only did he do that but he managed to squeeze a lifetime's worth of experiences into six short weekends. Follow his progress from wannabe to race licence holder. Share the highs, the lows and the dangers he witnessed, proving that even someone as poorly prepared as he was could still come out the other side and say, "I am a racer".

Steve Male is a middle-aged father of two and obsessive motorcycle fan. Inheriting his father's enthusiasm, he has owned bikes since he was 14. He rekindled an interest in bike racing in his forties, supporting a number of young racers via his GP Future website. He lives with the ever-patient Cheryl and their two dogs in East Sussex but his heart belongs to the race track. Or so he thinks.