Deano
23rd June 2009, 08:56
Drew and I were busting to break out the new Team colours, and got plenty of great feedback from people over the weekend. Except Tony OK who is now rethinking his bike’s colours. You just can’t please Honda riders ;)
The weather was looking good – cold but clear.
Practice/Qualifying
I have to admit I love the long track. The two corners on and off it play with my head a bit, mostly due to the bumps. I spent the weekend trying to find a good line off the back straight onto the long section.
I had a great qualifying and was stoked to see I had qualified on Pole – my first time ever. Drew had qualified 3rd behind Shirriffs and Fitzgerald, so the Team were looking good for some top results.
Race 1
Boy did I feel conspicuous sitting on the number 1 spot on the grid. To be honest, I think it played with my head a little and while I am usually pretty good at my starts, Geoff Booth had a blinder and I chased him and Trevor Delaney into turn 1. I held 3rd until the second hairpin where Neil slipped up the inside, block passing me. So I stayed out wide hoping to get back inside him on the exit. He got a great drive and cut back across in front of me. I chased him hard through the left hander onto the back straight and drifted wide and onto the grass.
It is amazing how much goes through your mind in the short time that things are going badly, like:
Shit – this is going to hurt.
Cory (Crazefox) is not going to be happy .
Hang on – I’m still upright and not in the tyre wall.
Don’t touch anything, the bike might just sort itself out.
Which it did, to my surprise and sheer delight.
I came back onto the track at the apex of the sweeper in 7th position.
I put my head down and charged really hard after the group in front – I new there were plenty of laps left and was able to pick them off, finishing 3rd overall and 2nd in pro twins.
Supersport Race 1
I had entered SS for shits and giggles. I knew that the power advantage of the 600’s would not be so great on the long track. I qualified 15th and this was probably the most fun race I had all weekend. There was no pressure to get points, I was just out there having a ball. Even more so when Phil Snowdon, who had started in last place came past me. We ended up having a great tussle and swapped positions several times.
Race 2 (pro twins)
I seemed to get a worse start and got caught dicing with a few others. We swapped positions a few times and I ended up third in PT, finishing behind Ashley Payne.
Race 3 (pro twins)
My goal was to beat Ashley and take 2nd for the weekend. However, I got a crap start with the bike popping out of second gear, and I ended up into turn 1 about 8th. I again got caught dicing with a group – Mark Boyes, Zane Brooks, Paul Buckley and Ozzy. Ash was just in front of this group.
I swapped positions a few times but ended up at the back of the group across the line, in a slightly disappointing 5th.
I can see that I really have my work cut put for me this year if I want to get onto the podium. I am currently 2nd but only 8 points ahead of Ash.
There are 12 points separating Ash, Mark, Zane and myself, and the way these guys are riding, I will have to lift my game. But that’s all good.
Congratulations to Neil Chappell and Geoff Booth for setting new lap records in F3 and PT respectively.
Well done to my Team mate Drew also, who did very well despite 2nd hand tyres. You are really getting to grips with the new toy bro.
Big thanks to the Team’s sponsors, Vic Club marshals and helpers, Neil, Malcolm and Allan in the pits, and my lovely wife for giving me a weekend pass while she toiled away at home with the kids. Hopefully you can join me at the track again soon sweetie.
Get well soon Phil and Nicksta !!
The weather was looking good – cold but clear.
Practice/Qualifying
I have to admit I love the long track. The two corners on and off it play with my head a bit, mostly due to the bumps. I spent the weekend trying to find a good line off the back straight onto the long section.
I had a great qualifying and was stoked to see I had qualified on Pole – my first time ever. Drew had qualified 3rd behind Shirriffs and Fitzgerald, so the Team were looking good for some top results.
Race 1
Boy did I feel conspicuous sitting on the number 1 spot on the grid. To be honest, I think it played with my head a little and while I am usually pretty good at my starts, Geoff Booth had a blinder and I chased him and Trevor Delaney into turn 1. I held 3rd until the second hairpin where Neil slipped up the inside, block passing me. So I stayed out wide hoping to get back inside him on the exit. He got a great drive and cut back across in front of me. I chased him hard through the left hander onto the back straight and drifted wide and onto the grass.
It is amazing how much goes through your mind in the short time that things are going badly, like:
Shit – this is going to hurt.
Cory (Crazefox) is not going to be happy .
Hang on – I’m still upright and not in the tyre wall.
Don’t touch anything, the bike might just sort itself out.
Which it did, to my surprise and sheer delight.
I came back onto the track at the apex of the sweeper in 7th position.
I put my head down and charged really hard after the group in front – I new there were plenty of laps left and was able to pick them off, finishing 3rd overall and 2nd in pro twins.
Supersport Race 1
I had entered SS for shits and giggles. I knew that the power advantage of the 600’s would not be so great on the long track. I qualified 15th and this was probably the most fun race I had all weekend. There was no pressure to get points, I was just out there having a ball. Even more so when Phil Snowdon, who had started in last place came past me. We ended up having a great tussle and swapped positions several times.
Race 2 (pro twins)
I seemed to get a worse start and got caught dicing with a few others. We swapped positions a few times and I ended up third in PT, finishing behind Ashley Payne.
Race 3 (pro twins)
My goal was to beat Ashley and take 2nd for the weekend. However, I got a crap start with the bike popping out of second gear, and I ended up into turn 1 about 8th. I again got caught dicing with a group – Mark Boyes, Zane Brooks, Paul Buckley and Ozzy. Ash was just in front of this group.
I swapped positions a few times but ended up at the back of the group across the line, in a slightly disappointing 5th.
I can see that I really have my work cut put for me this year if I want to get onto the podium. I am currently 2nd but only 8 points ahead of Ash.
There are 12 points separating Ash, Mark, Zane and myself, and the way these guys are riding, I will have to lift my game. But that’s all good.
Congratulations to Neil Chappell and Geoff Booth for setting new lap records in F3 and PT respectively.
Well done to my Team mate Drew also, who did very well despite 2nd hand tyres. You are really getting to grips with the new toy bro.
Big thanks to the Team’s sponsors, Vic Club marshals and helpers, Neil, Malcolm and Allan in the pits, and my lovely wife for giving me a weekend pass while she toiled away at home with the kids. Hopefully you can join me at the track again soon sweetie.
Get well soon Phil and Nicksta !!