Chrislost
2nd November 2009, 19:43
I got to Taupo at around 12 on friday night, found my bunk and closed my eyes. Opened them again and saw blue sky, Yippie, last years pre 89 GP race was a 12 lap 4 way battle with another VFR, an FZR430 and a TZ250, this was going to be good!
Went out in the practice/qualifying with one goal, to not crash. Stayed behind a bike, I think it was a 400, for the first lap under yellow flags, being very good as at riders briefing they said they will fine you $250 for passing under ANY yellow flag! Going down the front straight a RZV500 went flying past and I got stuck behind it for the next 3 laps, As nice as 2stroke smoke smells I ended up going through the pits to get a bit of clear track, and ended up qualifying 2nd to some Mr. No name, and ahead of Chris Sales on his XR motard. The guys from last year were nowhere to be seen.
Race 1. Taking the tyre warmers off I noticed a 50c sized burn in the outer material, and looking under it a 10c sized hole in the tyre. ^^$ *( # $(*# @$& *(%$!! Had a real close look at it and noted it wasn’t right through the tread so I decided to race anyway, gave it heaps in the warm up lap and it felt sweet so I lined up on the front row. Using the lights is wicked! I managed to get a good start and be 2nd (by about 50m!) to Sales, who just managed to put the front wheel down in time for turn 1. All I could do was pedal hard and hope that the ZXR behind me wasn’t going to pass me, because that motard was gone. Did my laps, and that’s how the race ended.
GP Race. Got my knee down leaving the pits and the front tyre still felt sweet so I continued for the rest of the lap at full tit, almost took the 20 second penalty for jumping the start and kept going but thought the better of it and lined up. Start was the same as the last race, and I spent the whole 12 laps hoping Chris’s motard would blow up or he would overshoot something, but no, he was too good for that! Finished in 2nd with a reasonable best lap time of 1.45.6.
The Post classics club put on a BBQ and some beer afterwards, which was a good chance to meet some of the other riders and have a laugh about the days racing.
Went out in the practice/qualifying with one goal, to not crash. Stayed behind a bike, I think it was a 400, for the first lap under yellow flags, being very good as at riders briefing they said they will fine you $250 for passing under ANY yellow flag! Going down the front straight a RZV500 went flying past and I got stuck behind it for the next 3 laps, As nice as 2stroke smoke smells I ended up going through the pits to get a bit of clear track, and ended up qualifying 2nd to some Mr. No name, and ahead of Chris Sales on his XR motard. The guys from last year were nowhere to be seen.
Race 1. Taking the tyre warmers off I noticed a 50c sized burn in the outer material, and looking under it a 10c sized hole in the tyre. ^^$ *( # $(*# @$& *(%$!! Had a real close look at it and noted it wasn’t right through the tread so I decided to race anyway, gave it heaps in the warm up lap and it felt sweet so I lined up on the front row. Using the lights is wicked! I managed to get a good start and be 2nd (by about 50m!) to Sales, who just managed to put the front wheel down in time for turn 1. All I could do was pedal hard and hope that the ZXR behind me wasn’t going to pass me, because that motard was gone. Did my laps, and that’s how the race ended.
GP Race. Got my knee down leaving the pits and the front tyre still felt sweet so I continued for the rest of the lap at full tit, almost took the 20 second penalty for jumping the start and kept going but thought the better of it and lined up. Start was the same as the last race, and I spent the whole 12 laps hoping Chris’s motard would blow up or he would overshoot something, but no, he was too good for that! Finished in 2nd with a reasonable best lap time of 1.45.6.
The Post classics club put on a BBQ and some beer afterwards, which was a good chance to meet some of the other riders and have a laugh about the days racing.