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Dutchee
21st November 2011, 07:15
I have no idea what happened, but it was fun.

For the two hour, we have super pole, and those of us riding the B grade endurance race can take part if we want, to set our grid positions. I was sharing my bike, and being as keen as mustard, let the guys do their superpole first, and ended being the last one out there. It's only because I couldn't see the point, I'd just be riding around and end up somewhere at the back, as normal. Not sure what happened to the person who took pole, as his name was scratched out, so I ended up with pole (what the hell was wrong with this picture).

Start - le mans, no e-start. Brian did an awesome job, and #44 got the holeshot (seriously, this is scarey, there's something wrong with this picture, I'm meant to be back of the grid, fighting for last place). I thought Will must be coming up behind me, and my strategy to last the race (only 40 laps) was to go as fast as I could for the first part of the race, cruise the middle and pick up the pace at the end. I decided to see what I could actually do and go as fast as I dared for as much of the race as I could. Having riders being shown the blue flag because I'm coming through still makes me laugh, and then I'm thinking to myself, they must think it hilarious - "huh what the hell, that was Michelle, what the hell is she doing at the front".

Because we had some real newbies/youngsters in the race, I'd back off until it was safe for both of us before overtaking, so lost time in traffic. Somewhere near the end of the race the guy coming 2nd got me, and I didn't have enough time to get him back (I did try to catch up).

Will was having bike problems (plus a sore knee from a crash on Saturday), and ended up pulling out of the race just after being shown the blue flag, so it was fun to tease him about the fact that he gets shown a blue flag for me lapping him so pulls out of the race. He'd been having a great battle with Julie before pulling out, so it was a shame the bike played up. (Yes, I was watching them battle as I was coming around to lap them and thinking it a shame that they might be shown the blue flag and mess up their race).

I had a few moments, wasn't happy with some of the riding I did, but had a ball and still have no idea how I managed 2nd. I did think about pulling out at one stage as I realised I was thirsty, but thought that as I was leading the race, I might've got bollocked for that one.

Yes, I take my racing seriously (not), and even though some thought it unfortunate that I didn't win, I accomplished what I'd hoped to do (and got told at the beginning of the day, pretty much, that hell would freeze over before I got that goal). I was hoping to beat Will, Julie and Alistair as they always kick my butt (Will was on his 100, so I was hoping that on my 150 I'd get the little shit lol).

Congratulations to the winner - I was stoked it was you that won, but if I could've got you back, I was going to ;)

#44 didn't play as nicely in the two hour, as she spat off both riders lol, and ended up a bit bent hehehehe (phew, they didn't stuff up my day, so I don't care lol).
Michelle

F5 Dave
21st November 2011, 09:29
Hey Well done Michelle. :wings:

Kendog
21st November 2011, 11:35
Awesome result, well done!

Clivoris
21st November 2011, 13:51
Bottle it, and spray a little bit of that on before every race meeting. Two thumbs up Chick.

Rick 52
21st November 2011, 16:23
Great race we were all willing you on ! Fast laps too ...:niceone:

Buckets4Me
21st November 2011, 17:07
Great race we were all willing you on ! Fast laps too ...:niceone:

the start is everything. now all you need to do is get henk to show you how to make the bike nice and wide:laugh:

congrats on your :second: I realy thought you where going to win it there. :niceone:



251095

bartshumandad
21st November 2011, 17:34
I guess you were paying attention on Saturday then . . .

cheers
Steve

Trudes
21st November 2011, 18:06
:woohoo: Fucken Go YOU!!!
That's wicked Michelle, second place was yours, lap it up and enjoy it!! There's hope for us rear end dwellers after all!!! Love your work! :wings:

Clivoris
21st November 2011, 20:07
Look out Trudes. Everyone is getting faster while you are on sabbatical. Michelle has got Mihi worried. Now that she's beaten Henk and William, Mihi and you are next. Me? I'm retiring.

Trudes
21st November 2011, 20:21
Look out Trudes. Everyone is getting faster while you are on sabbatical. Michelle has got Mihi worried. Now that she's beaten Henk and William, Mihi and you are next. Me? I'm retiring.

Yep I'm used to every bugger being faster than me. If I didn't love pissing about on Rangi so much I'd give it a miss entirely and go back to riding my road bike. Actually, I've been thinking more and more lately of buying a trail bike to go get my jollys on.

Dutchee
21st November 2011, 20:22
the start is everything. now all you need to do is get henk to show you how to make the bike nice and wide:laugh:


I think Alistair will be able to give me lessons ;) But as I spent 40 laps last year trying to get past him/keep up with him, I am still stoked to have bet him. Now to see if I can on the F5 bike lol

I guess you were paying attention on Saturday then . . .

cheers
Steve
Steve, I've got someone else keen to come along next year. But then again, I've been lapped so often by Julie, it's nice to have lapped her for a change, so may just not tell her if I'm coming along (lol, of course I would).


:woohoo: Fucken Go YOU!!!
That's wicked Michelle, second place was yours, lap it up and enjoy it!! There's hope for us rear end dwellers after all!!! Love your work! :wings:

Lol, there were only 8 of us at the start, and most were newbies or kids, so it's slightly bigger fish, tiny pond, but we all had fun, none of us crashed, which is more than could be said for the two hour competitors lol

And Trudes, without your help, I wouldn't be riding buckets any more, so don't give up. I've missed riding with you when we've been down there the last two times. I was talking to Julie about it yesterday, and saying how I expected her to kick my butt when we down there last time, and she was saying how she didn't trust the tyres, not sure about the track. Whereas I'd had the advantage coming down the previous time, riding behind you in the rain (you with slicks, me with wets), and seeing you have no moments, so could trust the tyres more last time round. Oh, and no, you're not my guinea pig, you've been an inspiration to me.

I'm also enjoying riding in smaller fields at the moment, and will ride B grade sometimes, but it's been lovely having a choice of which class to ride, without having to choose whether to ride or not (when I don't, I get totally pissed with myself for it).

Oops, that was longer than I was meaning, but no matter :)

F5 Dave
22nd November 2011, 08:58
I think you should buy a trailbike. ! because they are bloody good fun, but 2 because it will help your riding as well. but you're not allowed to give up Buckets, its like getting out of a cult.

One of us.One of us.One of us.

ajturbo
22nd November 2011, 09:19
well done..!!!!!!

Arronduke
23rd November 2011, 19:59
Michelle...... can you please tell me the lap times you were doing?
A grade my dear.. heeeeeeeeeeeee or dam close.

I'm looking forward to some racing at the back end of A grade....

Dam great race we were yelling so loud... well done to you :niceone:

fact is you deserved that for your hard work... now tell me it was was all worth it!

Dutchee
23rd November 2011, 20:42
Michelle...... can you please tell me the lap times you were doing?
A grade my dear.. heeeeeeeeeeeee or dam close.

I'm looking forward to some racing at the back end of A grade....

Dam great race we were yelling so loud... well done to you :niceone:

fact is you deserved that for your hard work... now tell me it was was all worth it!
Yeah right, straight from last in B grade up to last in A grade. As I'm consistently well within slow B grade times, I'll be there a long time yet hahaha

I've not gone into A grade times in a race, so sorry, I'm staying in B. Actually, I've barely ridden B grade this season and don't think I've even got any points, but coming 5th or so in F5 (results don't really feature in my world, it's the fun factor that counts and some of the racing I've had with Jimmy at the back of the field this year has been fun).

It was nice of the rest of you to let the fast B grade riders race with you :)

To be honest, I thought I had a freight train up my date, and was trying desperately to not let everyone past. Kept waiting for Will to go past, so was surprised to see him in the distance.

I still think one of the funnest moments was Taupo, with Henk deciding to get past me, and me deciding to shut the door on him.

A couple of things have clicked now, but time will tell if they stay clicked. I did think when I was behind Alistair that the reason I was having trouble getting past him was that I'm used to riding behind him and can't find a way through, even though it should've been easier than it was (I probably know his lines too well, and just couldn't work it out - need to get him to come play more often than he has been lol).

Buckets4Me
27th November 2011, 09:22
A couple of things have clicked now, but time will tell if they stay clicked.

if you go to a grade then the things that have clicked will turn to fright (give it some time to get use to)


I did think when I was behind Alistair that the reason I was having trouble getting past him was that I'm used to riding behind him and can't find a way through, even though it should've been easier than it was (I probably know his lines too well, and just couldn't work it out - need to get him to come play more often than he has been lol).

if you are finding it hard to get past a slower bike it's because you probably have slowed down to watch them ride (target fixation thingie) think of them as tree trunks and just ride past without looking (when you work it out let me know . I've spent to much time behind others )

passing somone is so much harder than riding faster then someone (thats why the starts are important)