It's almost 24 hours on and I still can't see how this can be allowed to happen in the "fair" sport of New Zealand Road racing so I'll throw a scenario at the masses and see if someone can't explain it for me. I'll try and lay it out as factually and unemotionly as I can for ya.
At sign on and scrutineering, every rider got a little event pack with a program, a race schedule and rule pamphlet, a heap of advertising crap and a bag of rashuns. The riders schedule and rule sheet states under Practice, it is just that, practice. Please take this session to learn the track and guage the conditions, these lap times will NOT count towards you qualifying time.
During the riders briefing, we were all told the same and told, "If you choose not to ride in qualifying, you will start from the back of the grid, no exceptions"
Qualifying rolls around and it's soaking wet. By no means dangerous but a little slippery. All the privateer bikes were out there giving it their best shot, sliding around and riding hard to be as far up the grid as possible. Qualifying times come back and we'd all done well. Jason Hulme had a blinder, as did Carey Briar qualifying 3rd. I finished 7th right between David Lees and Neil Martin on the second row. Jay did well as did Glen Wiliams. We were all pretty happy as if you start from the front two rows here, you've got a good shot not getting trapped in the first turn off the start.
We all arrive at the dummy grid to take our positions, I'm told you're 12th on the grid. I said, "No, you're thinking of Stroud, I'm 7th and far better looking" Lady says, "No, we've amalgamated your first practice and qualifying times. You're 12th."
The three Bernard team Yamahas, NONE OF WHOM RODE IN QUALIFYING are accross the center of the second row ahead of us and a black K6 750 with a number one plate has travelled from the third row to the front row, bumping most of the privateers back at least one row, in some cases two.
After race one a group of us descended on race HQ to make our opinions heard. After lengthy discussions we were told that "We've made our descision, that's how it stands, we're not changing it and what could we do anyway" It was suggested that the riders who had gained so much through the impromtu rule change perhaps loose the results to that race or start from the back of the following race but we were told "No, those riders earned those positions, we can't take it away from them now. It's no use complaining as our descision is final"
We asked who the riders rep was as I'm sure it wasn't mentioned in the briefing and no one could tell us. An hour later it was announced over the PA that it was Darryl Dowman.
I'm wondering how coincidental it is that the major event sponsor is also the main sponsor for the team that the rules were changed to suit?
Alot of rider and sponsors threw a heap of money into getting to this event, put up with the changing weather, rode and made descisions is in a calculating manner and their efforts were for naught. They also miss out on a good chunk of prize money that was potentially theirs.
So, please discuss, tell me I'm wrong to feel cheated and give me a good reason.
On another note, a huge congratulations to Craig Shirriffs. There was a bit of talk he'd find it tough on the thousand 'round there and once again, he stamped his dominance on the field. The man's a legend. Hat's off to you buddy.
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Originally Posted by boomer
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