Sketchy_Racer
17th June 2007, 10:29
Sketchy Glens VMCC Rd 2
Well, after last rounds crap, with me and my bike, riding and running like shit, I was out to make a point.
I decided for once in my life, I would get organized, before last second, and get to the track early to get a Pit place.
We arrived at the track shortly after 7:30, even that early, its almost impossible to get a pit bay! Some people just don’t sleep long enough!
Anywho, we got a pit (me and my dad) and that was sorted. Unloaded the van and got signed in.
I got my bike sorted and changed the Jets, and taped up the radiator.
I even tried using tyre warmers for the first time. It was a really cold day, so I figured having some internal tempeature in my tyres was never going to hurt.
Qualifying: MotoGP125
Unfortunately, they organizers were getting things moving along faster that normal (which is great!! Organizers Rule!!) But because I lined up on the dummy grid, I still hadn’t warmed my engine up totally. I was at 30 degrees which is like cold seize material. So for the first two laps I was putting around trying not to rev the motor, but still trying to get some heat into it. Two laps later and I am good to go. In the first lap my mate Sam had passed me looked like he was going to be a force so I wanted to catch back up to him . Haha, and on the last lap I did catch back up and passed him :p Sorry Sam. It was all good. We mucked around for the last lap.
I didn’t really know what sort of lap time I would be at. Or where I would have qualified, But I was happy to see that when I went and checked the times, I was 2nd with a 1:20 lap time (two seconds off first)
Qualifying: Super Sport (600s)
I cross entered into super sport for some more track time. Qualifying went well, but it didn’t feel right being out there so I didn’t continue.
Qualified 14th out of 28 bikes! With a 1:18 lap time. That was a confidence boost as it means I can go as fast as Adam chambers in the 125 class
Race 1: MotoGP125
I’ve changed my gear ratios (internal) back to standard, Which is good for some things, but it means I really compromise my starts.
I got an OK start, and didn’t loose any places, but I didn’t get Adam off the start.
I passed him under brakes at higgens, but then he came back and tried to get me back at turn 1.
He couldn’t make it stick though.
Then the we caught up to the street stock riders. I went to go around the outside of them at the hair pin, bad judgment, they all ran wide, leaving a nice little door for Adam to go up the inside. Doh
Never mind. Couldn’t catch him at higgens, nor the sweeper, but got him back at turn 1. Sweet
He didn’t try anymore passes this race.
But, about half way through the race, my front suspension turned to shit. Hmm It was very chattery, and wouldn’t give any feel at all.
Turns out when I got back to the pits, that both my fork seals had blown out, big time. Dumped all the oil, as it was splattered across my fairings. Mmm yummy
Anywho, I Won that race, which was a real buss, as it was the first time I’ve won a 125GP race. Stoaked as. And lap time was a 1:17.2 -- Half a second faster than what I was doing at the nationals!
Race 2: MotoGP125
Got an ok start again. Didn’t lose any places but lost a bit of time on Adam. All good I’ll catch him up.
He made a mistake at the hairpin, and I got a much better drive and passed him on the exit.
Then when I thought it was safe, the crazy bugger stuffed it up the inside of me at the sweeper!!!!
He went past me like I was standing still. MM how embarrassing. Anyway, I swear there was no was he would me able to keep it, and surely he would run wide. Nup the bugger got it!! He got a little gap, and a better exit from the sweeper, so held it and capitalized on it down the straight, but I managed to catch up to him through the infield, then slipstream him enough to hold him down the straight, then passed him under brakes into higgens.
Anyway, after getting the learn on how to go around the sweeper, I decided id best steal his line, and give it a try. So I came in heaps faster than previous, and then the crazy bugger went around the outside of me, again like I was standing still. Haha, I knew from the second he passed me, there was no hope of him holding that line. He was just going too fast. Sure enough he ran wide, and I kept going. Final lap, he didn’t try anything so crossed the line ahead of him.
WhooHooo!! I can’t believe I won two races in a row. Buzzing out even more!
Lap time came down to 1:17.5s Which didn’t surprise me. We were battling the whole race.
Race 3: MotoGP125 - the Finale
Well I really screwed this start up. Bogged the bike, and dropped all the way down to 5th. Hmm.
Not to worry, by the end of lap 1 I was on Adams tail, and passed him exiting turn 1.
Now, the hair pin.
Because of my insanely tall first gear, I have to carry as much corner speed as possible, so that I don’t have to slip my clutch coming out. Well. Every lap I was carrying more and more lean angle, and speed. I was hanging off the bike, trying to get my mass closer to the centre of gravity.
So the lap I passed Adam, I railed around the corner, And far out, I feel my elbow, yes my elbow skim the ground!!! Bizarre! So the next lap. LETS DO THAT AGAIN!!
Except this time, I came in even hotter, tipped in, elbow down, hit the smallest of bumps and the front said cya later. It was a graceful crash, and the bike would have be sweet to get on and keep going, except when it hit the rumble strip, it made the bike flip and smash the screen, tail fairing and snapped the gear lever, foot peg hanger, and bent the bars.
No more racing. But, I was in first when I came down.
It was kind of cool sitting on the outside of the hair pin. You get a really good view of the exit of the sweeper there and the hair pin. Great fun watching from there!
Overall, I’m happy with the wins, Not disappointed that I didn’t get 1st for the round, to finish first, first you must finish. The vic series is a training ground for me. I don’t learn new thing without giving them a good go. Disappointed I crashed though. Crashing isn’t something I try to do. But I guess when you screw up, the best you can do is take something from it, and learn from it. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and make friends with the guy whose life gave him vodka ;)
C-ya all next round!
-Sketchy Racer
Oh, and anyone with some pics, i would love to see them ;)
Well, after last rounds crap, with me and my bike, riding and running like shit, I was out to make a point.
I decided for once in my life, I would get organized, before last second, and get to the track early to get a Pit place.
We arrived at the track shortly after 7:30, even that early, its almost impossible to get a pit bay! Some people just don’t sleep long enough!
Anywho, we got a pit (me and my dad) and that was sorted. Unloaded the van and got signed in.
I got my bike sorted and changed the Jets, and taped up the radiator.
I even tried using tyre warmers for the first time. It was a really cold day, so I figured having some internal tempeature in my tyres was never going to hurt.
Qualifying: MotoGP125
Unfortunately, they organizers were getting things moving along faster that normal (which is great!! Organizers Rule!!) But because I lined up on the dummy grid, I still hadn’t warmed my engine up totally. I was at 30 degrees which is like cold seize material. So for the first two laps I was putting around trying not to rev the motor, but still trying to get some heat into it. Two laps later and I am good to go. In the first lap my mate Sam had passed me looked like he was going to be a force so I wanted to catch back up to him . Haha, and on the last lap I did catch back up and passed him :p Sorry Sam. It was all good. We mucked around for the last lap.
I didn’t really know what sort of lap time I would be at. Or where I would have qualified, But I was happy to see that when I went and checked the times, I was 2nd with a 1:20 lap time (two seconds off first)
Qualifying: Super Sport (600s)
I cross entered into super sport for some more track time. Qualifying went well, but it didn’t feel right being out there so I didn’t continue.
Qualified 14th out of 28 bikes! With a 1:18 lap time. That was a confidence boost as it means I can go as fast as Adam chambers in the 125 class
Race 1: MotoGP125
I’ve changed my gear ratios (internal) back to standard, Which is good for some things, but it means I really compromise my starts.
I got an OK start, and didn’t loose any places, but I didn’t get Adam off the start.
I passed him under brakes at higgens, but then he came back and tried to get me back at turn 1.
He couldn’t make it stick though.
Then the we caught up to the street stock riders. I went to go around the outside of them at the hair pin, bad judgment, they all ran wide, leaving a nice little door for Adam to go up the inside. Doh
Never mind. Couldn’t catch him at higgens, nor the sweeper, but got him back at turn 1. Sweet
He didn’t try anymore passes this race.
But, about half way through the race, my front suspension turned to shit. Hmm It was very chattery, and wouldn’t give any feel at all.
Turns out when I got back to the pits, that both my fork seals had blown out, big time. Dumped all the oil, as it was splattered across my fairings. Mmm yummy
Anywho, I Won that race, which was a real buss, as it was the first time I’ve won a 125GP race. Stoaked as. And lap time was a 1:17.2 -- Half a second faster than what I was doing at the nationals!
Race 2: MotoGP125
Got an ok start again. Didn’t lose any places but lost a bit of time on Adam. All good I’ll catch him up.
He made a mistake at the hairpin, and I got a much better drive and passed him on the exit.
Then when I thought it was safe, the crazy bugger stuffed it up the inside of me at the sweeper!!!!
He went past me like I was standing still. MM how embarrassing. Anyway, I swear there was no was he would me able to keep it, and surely he would run wide. Nup the bugger got it!! He got a little gap, and a better exit from the sweeper, so held it and capitalized on it down the straight, but I managed to catch up to him through the infield, then slipstream him enough to hold him down the straight, then passed him under brakes into higgens.
Anyway, after getting the learn on how to go around the sweeper, I decided id best steal his line, and give it a try. So I came in heaps faster than previous, and then the crazy bugger went around the outside of me, again like I was standing still. Haha, I knew from the second he passed me, there was no hope of him holding that line. He was just going too fast. Sure enough he ran wide, and I kept going. Final lap, he didn’t try anything so crossed the line ahead of him.
WhooHooo!! I can’t believe I won two races in a row. Buzzing out even more!
Lap time came down to 1:17.5s Which didn’t surprise me. We were battling the whole race.
Race 3: MotoGP125 - the Finale
Well I really screwed this start up. Bogged the bike, and dropped all the way down to 5th. Hmm.
Not to worry, by the end of lap 1 I was on Adams tail, and passed him exiting turn 1.
Now, the hair pin.
Because of my insanely tall first gear, I have to carry as much corner speed as possible, so that I don’t have to slip my clutch coming out. Well. Every lap I was carrying more and more lean angle, and speed. I was hanging off the bike, trying to get my mass closer to the centre of gravity.
So the lap I passed Adam, I railed around the corner, And far out, I feel my elbow, yes my elbow skim the ground!!! Bizarre! So the next lap. LETS DO THAT AGAIN!!
Except this time, I came in even hotter, tipped in, elbow down, hit the smallest of bumps and the front said cya later. It was a graceful crash, and the bike would have be sweet to get on and keep going, except when it hit the rumble strip, it made the bike flip and smash the screen, tail fairing and snapped the gear lever, foot peg hanger, and bent the bars.
No more racing. But, I was in first when I came down.
It was kind of cool sitting on the outside of the hair pin. You get a really good view of the exit of the sweeper there and the hair pin. Great fun watching from there!
Overall, I’m happy with the wins, Not disappointed that I didn’t get 1st for the round, to finish first, first you must finish. The vic series is a training ground for me. I don’t learn new thing without giving them a good go. Disappointed I crashed though. Crashing isn’t something I try to do. But I guess when you screw up, the best you can do is take something from it, and learn from it. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and make friends with the guy whose life gave him vodka ;)
C-ya all next round!
-Sketchy Racer
Oh, and anyone with some pics, i would love to see them ;)