quickbuck
10th October 2012, 13:53
Hi All, Round 5 of the Victoria Motorcycle Club Championship Winter Series was held at Magic Manfeild. This is the first time back on a bike (Apart from my 50) since breaking my collar bone back in June. Being a 2 day meeting with 5 races scheduled in total, it was really jumping in the deep end to ensure my collar bone was up to the challenge. Since my last report ProLite 250 has had a name change to 250 Production. This name gives a clearer indication of what the class is about.
The weather for the day was warmish with a little overcast, with a subtle hint of rain later on.
Qualifying:
Our class was first up after riders brief, so I arrived at the gate in plenty of time, very keen to get out on the track. Once at the end of the pit road, I gently turned the bike into turn 1…. First hurdle over. Nothing playing on my mind there ;-)
I circulated at a steady pace just to ensure my injury wasn’t going to be a factor. After 5 laps qualifying was over, and I felt comfortable, although it felt a little slow. The time sheets said it all though, as I was doing consistent 1:32’s, with a best of 1:32.110 to secure 6th on the grid. I was very happy with that result.
Race 1 (5 laps):
I was one of the last bikes out for the warm up lap, and got plenty of heat into my bike. I found my grid position and had a look around me to see where the competition for turn one was going to come from. The lights went out, and I got the bike off the line pretty well. I got a good run into turn one, and managed to come out in the lead of all the other 250 Production riders. I put my head down and went for it. Then Jamie Fell (Honda VT250) managed to get passed me. I tried to keep with him, but he has found some pace while I was away. Eventually Aaron Hassan (Ninja 250R) got passed me as well. I watched as Aaron caught Jamie and had a great view of their battle. Aaron ended up winning it, and Jamie was second.
I managed to sit consistently on 1:31’s for the entire race with a fastest of 1:31.299, and finished 3rd in 250 Production. 20 Points for that little effort right there.
Race 2 (5 laps):
I decided for race 2 that I would work on some things. I wanted to see if I could get back under 1:30’s this time. I managed to get another reasonable start, and essentially rode around by myself for the most part. Despite my best efforts I only managed to do 1:32’s. My lap times were consistent 1:32’s, with a best of 1:32.087 on the final lap. Jamie won from Aaron Hassan, and I got 3rd again.
Race 3 (5 Laps):
By race 3 I was feeling a little tired. I had forgotten how much racing can take out of you. I was determined to improve my lap times this time.
I got another reasonable start, but as I was following Zane Burrell out of Dunlop he slowed. I was ion the outside of him as he pulled across to the pits. After taking avoiding action and getting passed by Steven Gregg (Street Stock #11) and Warwick Torr (MiniLite) I had to put my head down and push to get back up to the position I wanted. I managed another 3rd place with a best time of 1:32.699. Aaron won form Jamie in 250 Production.
So it was home to bed, and I was asleep before the sun went down!
Sunday:
The weather forecast was AWESOME! The sun was shining, and putting our clocks forward the night before had little effect on me as I had got a very good sleep.
Scrub Session:
I couldn’t really see the point of me doing a scrub session to be honest, so I let Evan Daly (from the Army who races a ZX6R in F2) have a go on it for the 3 laps. He has always wanted to have a go of a Ninja in “Race Trim”, as opposed to his partners’ road going version. He was close to the pace right away with a 1:34. The bike went well with a lighter jockey on it.
Race 4 (12 laps):
I got a great start for the 12 lapper, and got down to a steady pace. At the end of lap 1 Sarah Rosacker managed to ride off the end of the track and drop her bike in the kitty litter. This brought out a Yellow Flag, so I backed off a little so I didn’t end up in the same place. At that point Zane Burrell came up the inside of me to overtake on his Street Stock 150. This is a little against the rules. He is not in my championship, so I didn’t let it phase me. Over the next 9 laps we ended up in a full on battle for position though. I was disadvantaged as Turn 1 was under yellow for the whole time, and Zane easily held me up through the esses, and blasted down Denny Hulme. The only place I could really make ground was Dunlop, but he would get me down the front straight again. Finally on lap 10 Zane broke me, and then cleared off into the distance.
My best lap was a 1:31.869, and most of the others were 1:32’s. Aaron Hassan beat Jamie Fell again, and managed to get within 0.036 seconds of the Lap Record held by Sam Croft at the Nations last summer.
Race 5 (12 Laps):
This time I got a pretty good start again, and was ahead of Jamie for quite a while. We swapped positions for a bit and had quite a battle. Then I was left behind after making a little error and rode the rest of the race playing catch up. By lap 9 I was pretty much done. The next exciting thing was that I got a Blue flag into Higgins on the last lap. This meant Sarah Elliot had run the perfect race on her very fast CBR 250 (MiniLite) and was about to lap me. I turned in and missed the apex by about 3 metres and Sarah rode the perfect line to over take me. There is no way that I could keep up with the 4 cylinder 250 as she disappeared off into the distance for a win in her class. I completed my 11th lap and crossed the finish line.
I managed a 1:31.147 early in the race, but was suffering for lack of bike fitness. That will come with more time on the bike, as my collar bone isn’t hindering me there is no excuse now.
Although there is no chance of winning the championship I wasn’t too worried about it, however I managed to gain 100 points over the weekend and that has put me within 46 points of the 3rd place sitter (Alex H).
Thanks go to:
Forbes and Davies for Dunlop Tyres
ProRiderRNZAF
Celtic Leathers
Race Fairings
Victoria Motor Cycle Club for putting on an awesome Weekend
The weather for the day was warmish with a little overcast, with a subtle hint of rain later on.
Qualifying:
Our class was first up after riders brief, so I arrived at the gate in plenty of time, very keen to get out on the track. Once at the end of the pit road, I gently turned the bike into turn 1…. First hurdle over. Nothing playing on my mind there ;-)
I circulated at a steady pace just to ensure my injury wasn’t going to be a factor. After 5 laps qualifying was over, and I felt comfortable, although it felt a little slow. The time sheets said it all though, as I was doing consistent 1:32’s, with a best of 1:32.110 to secure 6th on the grid. I was very happy with that result.
Race 1 (5 laps):
I was one of the last bikes out for the warm up lap, and got plenty of heat into my bike. I found my grid position and had a look around me to see where the competition for turn one was going to come from. The lights went out, and I got the bike off the line pretty well. I got a good run into turn one, and managed to come out in the lead of all the other 250 Production riders. I put my head down and went for it. Then Jamie Fell (Honda VT250) managed to get passed me. I tried to keep with him, but he has found some pace while I was away. Eventually Aaron Hassan (Ninja 250R) got passed me as well. I watched as Aaron caught Jamie and had a great view of their battle. Aaron ended up winning it, and Jamie was second.
I managed to sit consistently on 1:31’s for the entire race with a fastest of 1:31.299, and finished 3rd in 250 Production. 20 Points for that little effort right there.
Race 2 (5 laps):
I decided for race 2 that I would work on some things. I wanted to see if I could get back under 1:30’s this time. I managed to get another reasonable start, and essentially rode around by myself for the most part. Despite my best efforts I only managed to do 1:32’s. My lap times were consistent 1:32’s, with a best of 1:32.087 on the final lap. Jamie won from Aaron Hassan, and I got 3rd again.
Race 3 (5 Laps):
By race 3 I was feeling a little tired. I had forgotten how much racing can take out of you. I was determined to improve my lap times this time.
I got another reasonable start, but as I was following Zane Burrell out of Dunlop he slowed. I was ion the outside of him as he pulled across to the pits. After taking avoiding action and getting passed by Steven Gregg (Street Stock #11) and Warwick Torr (MiniLite) I had to put my head down and push to get back up to the position I wanted. I managed another 3rd place with a best time of 1:32.699. Aaron won form Jamie in 250 Production.
So it was home to bed, and I was asleep before the sun went down!
Sunday:
The weather forecast was AWESOME! The sun was shining, and putting our clocks forward the night before had little effect on me as I had got a very good sleep.
Scrub Session:
I couldn’t really see the point of me doing a scrub session to be honest, so I let Evan Daly (from the Army who races a ZX6R in F2) have a go on it for the 3 laps. He has always wanted to have a go of a Ninja in “Race Trim”, as opposed to his partners’ road going version. He was close to the pace right away with a 1:34. The bike went well with a lighter jockey on it.
Race 4 (12 laps):
I got a great start for the 12 lapper, and got down to a steady pace. At the end of lap 1 Sarah Rosacker managed to ride off the end of the track and drop her bike in the kitty litter. This brought out a Yellow Flag, so I backed off a little so I didn’t end up in the same place. At that point Zane Burrell came up the inside of me to overtake on his Street Stock 150. This is a little against the rules. He is not in my championship, so I didn’t let it phase me. Over the next 9 laps we ended up in a full on battle for position though. I was disadvantaged as Turn 1 was under yellow for the whole time, and Zane easily held me up through the esses, and blasted down Denny Hulme. The only place I could really make ground was Dunlop, but he would get me down the front straight again. Finally on lap 10 Zane broke me, and then cleared off into the distance.
My best lap was a 1:31.869, and most of the others were 1:32’s. Aaron Hassan beat Jamie Fell again, and managed to get within 0.036 seconds of the Lap Record held by Sam Croft at the Nations last summer.
Race 5 (12 Laps):
This time I got a pretty good start again, and was ahead of Jamie for quite a while. We swapped positions for a bit and had quite a battle. Then I was left behind after making a little error and rode the rest of the race playing catch up. By lap 9 I was pretty much done. The next exciting thing was that I got a Blue flag into Higgins on the last lap. This meant Sarah Elliot had run the perfect race on her very fast CBR 250 (MiniLite) and was about to lap me. I turned in and missed the apex by about 3 metres and Sarah rode the perfect line to over take me. There is no way that I could keep up with the 4 cylinder 250 as she disappeared off into the distance for a win in her class. I completed my 11th lap and crossed the finish line.
I managed a 1:31.147 early in the race, but was suffering for lack of bike fitness. That will come with more time on the bike, as my collar bone isn’t hindering me there is no excuse now.
Although there is no chance of winning the championship I wasn’t too worried about it, however I managed to gain 100 points over the weekend and that has put me within 46 points of the 3rd place sitter (Alex H).
Thanks go to:
Forbes and Davies for Dunlop Tyres
ProRiderRNZAF
Celtic Leathers
Race Fairings
Victoria Motor Cycle Club for putting on an awesome Weekend