Cr1MiNaL
9th December 2010, 21:31
We knew from the start that we needed more track time before the race hence a couple of weeks ago we attended SBK School and practiced techniques we learned the day after at a HDRD track day.
Race day was hot, the track was hotter & sweat was pouring off my forehead before the morning was done. We pitted with Travis Moan #888 and his team from Motostyle (our newest sponsors) at the far end of the skid pad at Hampton Downs.
Did not know what to expect at qualifying with the likes of so many 600'ds and about 4 liter bikes lined up next to me at the dummy grid, on a start stop track like HDs. Thought it best to get away from them and find my rhythm. Was very relaxed after 1 lap and was getting into the groove without pushing at all. Came up on a few bikes and was wondering what they were doing as we were first to get on the track, but anyway passed them and kept going. Surprisingly qualified first on the grid.
On Saturday when I was practicing my SBK School lines I discovered something... they were quite crap in practice as some of the F1/F2 lads were zooming up under me as I took the wider line to get better drive. Seemed alright in theory, but with other riders blocking the racing line there was little point of having better drive as you just had to back off anyways for half a second so you didn't go into them, and in that half second they were hard on the gas and got away easily. Although SBK school taught me many good valuable things, I would not recommend the lines they teach from a racing point of view if you want to win. T2, T3, T6 are big passing corners and you need to be able to block the racing line. Perhaps they are better if there was noone on the track at all, not when a bunch of hoons want nothing more than go up the inside!
Race 1. Got off to a bad start and Scot Moir on his motard and another motard got past me going into turn 1. I passed one of the motards back immediately and passed Scott going into the braking point of turn 2. Just as I was tipping in, he comes drifting past me and shuts the door on my face stealing my line from right under me. I have to hit the brakes mid corner to not go into the back of him. Our elbows knock and I have to back off as I wanted to play a sensible game. Sit behind him and try to go under him at Turn 5 but he lets the rear loose and shuts the door on me again. That put me off slightly so I didn't get as good drive as I had planned and was in the wrong gear. Was also aware that it was my first lap so didn't want to push the front to out brake him as he was strong and late on the brakes. Sat behind him past the sweeper and got a wicked drive out of turn 6 passing him wheeling onto the front straight. Made good time from there on in, set the track record for our class and set my PB of 1.12.147 not really trying to go any faster. Won this race comfortably with a 14.763 second lead on no2 Dean Hodgson.
Race 2 got a better start but Scott still passes me last minute and takes the inside line forcing me to give him room (bloody motards) Dean Hodgson takes advantage of this and passes me on the outside... however he runs it wide and I pass him back. Don't try and out brake Scott into T2 as he is way loose and front and rear are going two different directions and I like to see that from behind! :yes:However I pass him after T5 as his 650cc? motard is gutless compared to our awesome GSXR 1000s ponies. After about 4 laps I look behind and there is no one in sight. Jase from Motostyle had asked me to save my strength, tires and not try and push for the 11's as I had planned. So reluctantly I didn't.
Race 3. A much better start, lead from start to finish. Was feeling lazy after lunch and a bit hot. The tires were starting to get a bit hot and were spinning up out of corners more. Backed off a little and took a look behind me, Dean was ten bike lengths behind me after lap 4. 2 laps to go I knew I could slow it down a little more, however he really wanted to take first by the looks as he got real close and made a move on the outside of T5 going into the hairpin. However he could not see past the blind hump & another bike we were going to soon lap & had to slow it down. I took the opportunity this presented & made a move on them both to win the race by not such a big margin - 0.466 seconds to be precise.
A good days racing and we are happy with our results. We lead the clubmans championship by 48 points with two rounds to go!
A big thank you to Jason from Motostyle (www.motostyle.co.nz) and Travis moan who offered some very good advice on pressures and his Team Manager Ivan for helping me out in the pits.
Also thanking Metzeler tires - I have never EVER ridden on tires as grippy as the slicks I am currently running. Last time round HD I was lapping 24's on other tires. That's 12 seconds amazing! Try them.
If you have seen some of the carbon fiber look water transfer print on my bike or would like to see some pictures for yourself go to our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Firestarter-Racing/170598819620860 Fluid Coatings do the water transfer printing www.fluidcoatings.co.nz These guys will transform the look of your bike for very affordable prices. Call for a no obligation quote or see me in the pits.
Project Digital for all your website needs. They are building our new website which is www.firestarterracing.co.nz and will be ready in a month. Their website is www.projectdigital.co.nz
Maxima Racing Oils (we use the same oil that the AMA superbikes use) & we change oil every race meet.
& last but not least New Plymouth Motorcycle Center thank you for your continued support and guidance.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!
Cheers,
Raj (Firestarter Racing).
Race day was hot, the track was hotter & sweat was pouring off my forehead before the morning was done. We pitted with Travis Moan #888 and his team from Motostyle (our newest sponsors) at the far end of the skid pad at Hampton Downs.
Did not know what to expect at qualifying with the likes of so many 600'ds and about 4 liter bikes lined up next to me at the dummy grid, on a start stop track like HDs. Thought it best to get away from them and find my rhythm. Was very relaxed after 1 lap and was getting into the groove without pushing at all. Came up on a few bikes and was wondering what they were doing as we were first to get on the track, but anyway passed them and kept going. Surprisingly qualified first on the grid.
On Saturday when I was practicing my SBK School lines I discovered something... they were quite crap in practice as some of the F1/F2 lads were zooming up under me as I took the wider line to get better drive. Seemed alright in theory, but with other riders blocking the racing line there was little point of having better drive as you just had to back off anyways for half a second so you didn't go into them, and in that half second they were hard on the gas and got away easily. Although SBK school taught me many good valuable things, I would not recommend the lines they teach from a racing point of view if you want to win. T2, T3, T6 are big passing corners and you need to be able to block the racing line. Perhaps they are better if there was noone on the track at all, not when a bunch of hoons want nothing more than go up the inside!
Race 1. Got off to a bad start and Scot Moir on his motard and another motard got past me going into turn 1. I passed one of the motards back immediately and passed Scott going into the braking point of turn 2. Just as I was tipping in, he comes drifting past me and shuts the door on my face stealing my line from right under me. I have to hit the brakes mid corner to not go into the back of him. Our elbows knock and I have to back off as I wanted to play a sensible game. Sit behind him and try to go under him at Turn 5 but he lets the rear loose and shuts the door on me again. That put me off slightly so I didn't get as good drive as I had planned and was in the wrong gear. Was also aware that it was my first lap so didn't want to push the front to out brake him as he was strong and late on the brakes. Sat behind him past the sweeper and got a wicked drive out of turn 6 passing him wheeling onto the front straight. Made good time from there on in, set the track record for our class and set my PB of 1.12.147 not really trying to go any faster. Won this race comfortably with a 14.763 second lead on no2 Dean Hodgson.
Race 2 got a better start but Scott still passes me last minute and takes the inside line forcing me to give him room (bloody motards) Dean Hodgson takes advantage of this and passes me on the outside... however he runs it wide and I pass him back. Don't try and out brake Scott into T2 as he is way loose and front and rear are going two different directions and I like to see that from behind! :yes:However I pass him after T5 as his 650cc? motard is gutless compared to our awesome GSXR 1000s ponies. After about 4 laps I look behind and there is no one in sight. Jase from Motostyle had asked me to save my strength, tires and not try and push for the 11's as I had planned. So reluctantly I didn't.
Race 3. A much better start, lead from start to finish. Was feeling lazy after lunch and a bit hot. The tires were starting to get a bit hot and were spinning up out of corners more. Backed off a little and took a look behind me, Dean was ten bike lengths behind me after lap 4. 2 laps to go I knew I could slow it down a little more, however he really wanted to take first by the looks as he got real close and made a move on the outside of T5 going into the hairpin. However he could not see past the blind hump & another bike we were going to soon lap & had to slow it down. I took the opportunity this presented & made a move on them both to win the race by not such a big margin - 0.466 seconds to be precise.
A good days racing and we are happy with our results. We lead the clubmans championship by 48 points with two rounds to go!
A big thank you to Jason from Motostyle (www.motostyle.co.nz) and Travis moan who offered some very good advice on pressures and his Team Manager Ivan for helping me out in the pits.
Also thanking Metzeler tires - I have never EVER ridden on tires as grippy as the slicks I am currently running. Last time round HD I was lapping 24's on other tires. That's 12 seconds amazing! Try them.
If you have seen some of the carbon fiber look water transfer print on my bike or would like to see some pictures for yourself go to our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Firestarter-Racing/170598819620860 Fluid Coatings do the water transfer printing www.fluidcoatings.co.nz These guys will transform the look of your bike for very affordable prices. Call for a no obligation quote or see me in the pits.
Project Digital for all your website needs. They are building our new website which is www.firestarterracing.co.nz and will be ready in a month. Their website is www.projectdigital.co.nz
Maxima Racing Oils (we use the same oil that the AMA superbikes use) & we change oil every race meet.
& last but not least New Plymouth Motorcycle Center thank you for your continued support and guidance.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!
Cheers,
Raj (Firestarter Racing).