Deano
19th July 2010, 14:00
This was going to be an interesting round as my team mate Drew Mair was entering an SV650 in the F3 field, and I would be there in pro twins.
Luke and Jimmy Mair (and a number of others ) were keen to see how things developed and were watching the live timing from the comfort of their lounge.
Qualifying
Track was pretty damp with a lot of patches of cement/lime covering antifreeze or oil spills from a few days earlier. Although a dry line was appearing in some parts, I knew a good qualifying time would be important so went out on wets.
I had a brain fart and forgot that I had a new rear tyre that had not yet been scrubbed in. So at the end of the first lap, exiting the sweeper, I got a bit over excited and gave it a handful in order to get a good drive onto the front straight for my first timed lap.
I had the biggest slide of my life as the back came around and my bars crossed up – I thought this is it – I’m definitely crashing this time. The bike even seemed to have started to drop to the right – it happened quite slowly and thankfully I didn’t roll off the throttle, so when it gripped and hooked up again, the resulting flick back (near high side) was not too violent. Just a bit of a tank slapper and I got thrown off the pegs and into the tank with my chest.
Carried on and managed to get a couple of clear laps, hoping that it would be enough to get on the front row.
Later in the garage Drew got a txt from Jimmy saying he was 2nd……..damn I thought, he’s faster than me straight out of the box….but then he continued saying I had got pole position….MINT.
What an awesome team debut !!
Race 1
Got a good start and chasing Geoff Booth. Rob and Daniel both came by 2nd or so lap and I tried to stick with them. I was doing ok but then Paul Duncan came up the inside at splash and I had to choose between running across all the cement or go around it. I chose to go around which slowed me and I lost another 3 places.
Finished 5th and not very happy.
Race 2
Got a good start again and chasing Geoff and Rob. Daniel came past again a couple of laps later and I could not quite keep up with them. Leigh (F3) came by as well and I stuck with him for the rest of the race to take 4th.
I was pleased with my time 1.16.8, only a tenth off my personal best in somewhat dodgy track conditions.
Race 3
Got a good start and looked to my left to see Drew, Geoff and Rob all lined up 4 wide for turn 1. Geoff and Rob again took the front and predictably, Daniel came by not long after. Pretty much a replay of race 2 really. I made a mistake going into splash on the last lap and took a sneaky peek over my shoulder to see Leigh Tidman and Paul Duncan hard on my heels, but I was able to hold them off to the flag to take 4th again.
So I was a little disappointed I couldn’t get on the podium and need to find another second a lap in order to challenge the top 3.
Thanks to Robert Taylor for his help with the set up – the new fork springs helped a lot and are no longer bottoming out under braking. Thanks to Rob Berrington Smith for the loan of an axle nut or I wouldn’t have raced at all. Thanks also to my supporters below, my lovely wife, team mate Drew, and everyone who helped in our garage.
See you all at Round 4. Hopefully we will be looking the part with both bikes in team colours and can replicate our qualifying…..and convert that result into the races.
Oh the title should read Round 3 too......whoops.
Luke and Jimmy Mair (and a number of others ) were keen to see how things developed and were watching the live timing from the comfort of their lounge.
Qualifying
Track was pretty damp with a lot of patches of cement/lime covering antifreeze or oil spills from a few days earlier. Although a dry line was appearing in some parts, I knew a good qualifying time would be important so went out on wets.
I had a brain fart and forgot that I had a new rear tyre that had not yet been scrubbed in. So at the end of the first lap, exiting the sweeper, I got a bit over excited and gave it a handful in order to get a good drive onto the front straight for my first timed lap.
I had the biggest slide of my life as the back came around and my bars crossed up – I thought this is it – I’m definitely crashing this time. The bike even seemed to have started to drop to the right – it happened quite slowly and thankfully I didn’t roll off the throttle, so when it gripped and hooked up again, the resulting flick back (near high side) was not too violent. Just a bit of a tank slapper and I got thrown off the pegs and into the tank with my chest.
Carried on and managed to get a couple of clear laps, hoping that it would be enough to get on the front row.
Later in the garage Drew got a txt from Jimmy saying he was 2nd……..damn I thought, he’s faster than me straight out of the box….but then he continued saying I had got pole position….MINT.
What an awesome team debut !!
Race 1
Got a good start and chasing Geoff Booth. Rob and Daniel both came by 2nd or so lap and I tried to stick with them. I was doing ok but then Paul Duncan came up the inside at splash and I had to choose between running across all the cement or go around it. I chose to go around which slowed me and I lost another 3 places.
Finished 5th and not very happy.
Race 2
Got a good start again and chasing Geoff and Rob. Daniel came past again a couple of laps later and I could not quite keep up with them. Leigh (F3) came by as well and I stuck with him for the rest of the race to take 4th.
I was pleased with my time 1.16.8, only a tenth off my personal best in somewhat dodgy track conditions.
Race 3
Got a good start and looked to my left to see Drew, Geoff and Rob all lined up 4 wide for turn 1. Geoff and Rob again took the front and predictably, Daniel came by not long after. Pretty much a replay of race 2 really. I made a mistake going into splash on the last lap and took a sneaky peek over my shoulder to see Leigh Tidman and Paul Duncan hard on my heels, but I was able to hold them off to the flag to take 4th again.
So I was a little disappointed I couldn’t get on the podium and need to find another second a lap in order to challenge the top 3.
Thanks to Robert Taylor for his help with the set up – the new fork springs helped a lot and are no longer bottoming out under braking. Thanks to Rob Berrington Smith for the loan of an axle nut or I wouldn’t have raced at all. Thanks also to my supporters below, my lovely wife, team mate Drew, and everyone who helped in our garage.
See you all at Round 4. Hopefully we will be looking the part with both bikes in team colours and can replicate our qualifying…..and convert that result into the races.
Oh the title should read Round 3 too......whoops.