Hawk Speed

In episode one, Hawk - the official Kawasaki team - prepare to throttle into their 2005 season, and you are invited along for the ride. Team principal Stuart Hicken introduces you to his carefully selected team, from the riders and their wives, to the technicians, lorry-drivers, brolly-dollies and kitchen staff; the world of the Hawk Kawasaki team is blown open and showcased for you to see. Follow the riders as they gear themselves up for the season with their eyes on the prize. Witness the family of technicians get ready for the season as they construct, test, fine-tune and unleash their latest superbikes in pre-season preparations as the stage on which they craft their art draws ever closer.

Episode two picks up where one left off and the clock is still ticking down to the first race. Hawk Kawasaki's dedicated team of technician's power on in an effort to ready the bikes, whilst the riders prepare themselves during pre-raceday qualifiers for the fierce battle that faces them on the racetrack come the season's start at Brands Hatch, Kent. Entering the race less prepared than they would like, race one finally arrives and the racetrack, as well as the flocks of fans and supporters, beckons. Rolling up to the starting grid very much the underdogs, Hawk riders Glen Richards and Dean Thomas have to battle through their building nerves and tensions and take their passion to the stage as the season gets off to a roaring start.

With the pleasing start to the season at Brands Hatch at the forefront of their minds, Hawk Kawasaki race towards the second race at Thruxton, Hampshire, gunning for a repeat performance. A podium finish for Glen Richards has spirits running high, yet the ride journey to Thruxton proves far from smooth. After the gamble on Dean Thomas' bike at Brands Hatch backfired, the team work tirelessly to find the optimum set-up for race two whilst a visit from Kawasaki Japan during the pre-race qualifiers has everyone on their toes. With memories of 2004's heart-breaking crash out of the Thruxton race fresh in Glen's mind, and a strong desire to rectify himself for the gamble at Brands Hatch for Dean, the riders carry the Hawk banner to the racetrack, where they desperately battle for another podium finish.

Expectations run high as race three brings Hawk Kawasaki to Mallory Park - their home circuit. Dean's physiotherapy continues as his muscles continue to pose a threat, while a new tyre is introduced from suppliers Dunlop. While the team strive to test them and optimise performance, British weather kicks in and preparations grind to a frustrating halt. After fantastic qualifying performances land both bikes on the front-line of the starting grid, a string of bad luck and red flags during the race look to ruin the good work the team have done and, with tyres and patience running at an all-time low, it is down to Glen and Dean to pull through and match the high expectations with even higher finishes.

With the success at Mallory Park still ringing in their ears, Hawk Kawasaki turn their attentions to Oulton Park where, season after season, they have come undone. Chief technicians Paul Hallas and Bruce Godfrey try to take their minds off the upcoming bogey circuit by taking on some trial riding challenges, before heading on to Oulton Park with the rest of the team. Surprisingly good runs in the qualifying stages put Glen and Dean in good positions during race one, but will the coming rainstorm ruin their chances and make them succumb to the curse of Oulton Park?

After falling foul of the Oulton Park curse, the team jump aboard the ferry and sail across to Mondello Park, Kildare, Ireland, where round five awaits. Whilst Glen performs well during the qualifiers and secures a front-line start, Dean continues to struggle with the settings on his bike and cannot quite find his sweet-spot, and pays the price with a third-row place on the starting grid. Race one brings heartache and frustration to the team and, after more crucial changes are made, the hopes of the entire team rest on Glen and Dean's shoulders for race two, where it will be down to them to break their run of bad luck and chase the victory. Whatever the outcome, a night in Dublin awaits, where Hawk Kawasaki will either celebrate or commiserate.

A chance to let their hair down after the disappointment of Mondello Park is warmly received by the team. Despite the bad luck they suffered, Hawk Kawasaki remain in good spirits and look forward to putting race five behind them. The championship takes them to Croft, North Yorkshire - another swift, twisting circuit. With promising starts to the sixth race, Glen and Dean have to grit their teeth and bat off the competition in order to secure the big points on offer. But with the lack of financial investment in the team, maintaining high positions against more powerful superbikes grows increasingly difficult and, with rain on the way, Croft gears up to be yet another intense battle for Hawk Kawasaki.

After top ten finishes for both Glen and Dean, the team travel with smiles on their faces to the season's north most venue - Knockhill Race Park, Fife, Scotland. Dean's performance goes from strength to strength as he secures yet another second place, front line start. But the celebrations do not last long as Glen dramatically crashes in the qualifying rounds, sending his bike skittling across the gravel and into the fence. Further problems with Dean's bike means the technicians have a tough night ahead, racing to fix the bikes for tomorrow's meeting. With the sun shining and the bikes well-nursed, the seventh meeting gets off to a screeching start, but Knockhill is one of the tightest circuits in the season, and the fight for a podium finish is not going to be easy.

After the tough round at Knockhill Park, Hawk Kawasaki travel south to Snetterton - a much faster circuit where top-speeds are essential. But the string of bad luck continues as Glen crashes during test runs, breaking his collarbone. With Glen out, Stuart frantically searches for a replacement rider, whilst Dean and the technicians continue the search for the best settings on the bike. As the tournament reaches its halfway point, the need for a top end finish grows ever more desperate; a slip-up here will push the championship further out of Hawk Kawasaki's reach. The stakes are high as Dean and new rider Lee Jackson step up to the track, and the struggle against the more powerful bikes means the challenge is as great as ever.

A five-week break in the 2005 season calendar means riders Glen and Dean can focus on their fitness, training with renowned athlete-specialist Judy Sturgis at Stripes Gym. The technicians mother the bikes to full-health, preparing them for an intense string of tests ahead of race nine at Silverstone. With both riders performing well, confidence runs high as the competition resumes and, despite another scare from Glen during qualifiers, Hawk remain in a good position to claim some much-needed points. Yet frustration is never far away, and after strong starts for Glen and Dean, the waving of red-flags in both races could undo all the hard work the team have put in.

As the bikes undergo meticulous examining at the hands of the mechanics, the Hawk team look forward to the tenth meeting at Cadwell Park, a picturesque yet tight and tense circuit where they clocked good test results earlier in the season. The thirst for a podium finish grows ever stronger for the entire team, boosted by a great first race for Glen and a good finish for Dean. But as rain looms on the horizon, the challenge gets significantly tougher, and with very few places to overtake and the race getting extremely tight, the team fear they might not be able to grab the points they so desperately need.

With only three races left in the 2005 season, the Hawk team nervously travel back to Oulton Park - the scene of one of their most disappointing meetings of the entire tour. But as the technicians tweak with the bikes while a guest team member makes the teas, things start looking up and, after good practise rounds and better qualifiers, hopes are high that there won't be a repeat performance. After a good first race for Glen, the team congregate at the pit garage where a disappointing run for Dean boils down to his boot size. With some quick enhancements made to his bike, both riders head back out where they will do anything within their grasp to avoid the Oulton Park curse and bring some crucial points home.

After breaking the curse of Oulton Park - Hawk's bogey track - the team head to Donington Park Grand Prix circuit, Derbyshire, for the twelfth race of the tour. As the season's end draws near, passions run high as the top teams all battle for the podium, and Hawk Kawasaki's dreams of victory hang in the balance. After overcoming poor weather conditions and clocking good qualifying times, things look good for jockeys Glen and Dean. But as the race kicks off to a messy start, with riders dropping like flies all over the circuit, Hawk's Donington bid could quickly come to a bitter end, and with it their hopes for championship glory.

The final chapter of the 2005 season arrives, and the team travel to Brands Hatch, Kent, gunning for another podium finish. With the championship still very much in the balance, the whole team frantically prepare themselves for the challenge and, following the ordeal Glen's bike went through at Donington, the mechanics strive to ready them for the qualifiers. But with the stakes as high as ever, it is down to the riders to keep their cool and step up to the challenge where, only seven points behind, they have everything to lose but so much more to gain.