Interview – Russell Hampton up and racing

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Former World Track Cup winner with GB, Russell Hampton from Essex, is off and racing in 2014 thanks to valued sponsors including Onimpex/Bioracer

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Interview – Russell Hampton up and racing

A win last week in a time trial, and a battle with time trial king Matt Bottrill this weekend in the first of the CTT’s Circuit Series, Russell Hampton’s season outside of a pro team is getting busy.

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Russell raced in the Roy Thame and Jock Wadley recently where VeloUK caught up with him. “It has been a steady winter for me and it was good to get racing again” he explained. “I was a bit rusty and the Roy Thame was quite tough with the wind. Today (Jock Wadley) was very fast but it was good to get some racing under the belt.”

The kit that you will see Russell racing is from Bioracer thanks to Ken Jones at Onimpex and the Essex rider explained that he has a lot of special people supporting him this year including his kit suppliers. “They provide me with everything I need to ride my bike” Russell explained . “Bioracer is very well known for its aero kit, world renowned for their speedsuits, and all that fits in well with my needs this season in racing.”

2014_RussellHamptonRussell explained that Ken Jones from Onimpex came up with a kit design and we went through making sure everything was in the right place to give all the sponsors the opportunity to see their name on the kit. “The kit is very light to wear, breathable and a very good cut”.

Russell added how in the past he has struggled to fit in the kit provided because of his physique. I have to have really small jerseys but then don’t have the length in them so with Bioracer I have gone for a fit that is how it should be, nice and tight. When the kit is done custom like this, you look a lot smarter in it and that’s important for the sponsors.”

“We have the speedsuits for time trials which will come out for special occasions” says Russell. “As soon as I started to talk to Ken, he knew what I wanted. He has a good eye for his customers needs and the knowledge of how to do it.”

Looking ahead to the season, Russell says “my immediate goals are to be in form for May and June to get going. The Premiers will be a big hit and also the National Time Trial and Road Race (he was 3rd a few years ago) which will be a big hit”.

Coached by his father, Russell has created a methodical run up to this targets and because he is not part of a team, he has the freedom to be strategic in what events he races and how he races them. One of those stepping stones will be the first round of the RTTC Circuit Time Series where he’ll be chasing Matt Bottrill, sorry, Matt will be chasing Russell LoL; around the course in Essex.

Good luck to Russell in 2014

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