WBP Racing at Actrix Round III

[White trash]

Stock road bike to Superbike race contender in two weeks? We knew it'd be a challenge, but what a buzz!

When I collected the K7 GSXR1000 from WBP Racing team owners Martin and Steve two weeks ago, we alredy had a schedule planned out and everybody knew their part to play. Jamie at South City Autopainters was tee'd up for painting the race fairings, Cannon Signage Concepts were already hard at work on a stunning graphic layout, Robert Taylor had taken time out of his already overloaded schedule to supply and fit the Ohlins components and the dyno time was booked for fitting the race exhaust and tuning the bike. All I had to do was bolt it all tgether. Simple!

Everybody involved played their part and and worked well above the call of duty to ensure their parts were completed well before the tight deadlines asked of them, with the exception of being let down by the exhaust supplier. This was a major blow as apart from not being able to tune the bike as we'd have liked to, the race bellypan is not designed to fit over the unattractive, 5kg lump of catalytic converter slung under the bike. Once again Jamie stepped in and very carefully modified the the painted and sign written fairing parts to fit around the stock exhaust system, great man to know that one. Jason from Motostyle was on hand, fitting the PP crash protectors and braided lines while Ben actually made himself usefull, shut his trap for a change and laboured over the custom seat pad. We completed the bike at midnight Wednesday night, ready to travel to Feilding Thursday, ready to test Friday. Bear in mind, at this stage, other than a brief 50 meters between Jamies and my place, I've not ridden this machine yet.

The trip down after work Thursday was uneventfull, unless you count the Honda Prelude 20 meters down a bank, headlights still on, idling away an event and we arrived at the motel around 10pm, absolutely shattered but excited about the following days test.

I awoke to the sound of rain on the roof Friday morning and began instantly worrying wether or not it was worth even using the test day. We headed down to the track and set up in the stables/pits along with the other brave souls and stood around watching the rain. Sue and Glen shot off into town to get the wets borrowed off Eddie fitted to the wheels while I stayed with the bike to ensure no one covered it with grubby finger prints and field a few questions like "Who are you and where did this bike come from?"

True to his word, Robert Taylor arrived soon after and set about getting his trailer set up ready to start work. Steve from Easy Start Rental Management had also arrived and there was a steady stream of onlookers wandering past to see the bike and it's stunning rider. I mean stunning bike ...... Without wasting any time, Robert set up the sags for me and I took off for my very first ride on wets, on a bike I'd never riden before, in the rain. Good times! I was under instruction from all involved to just do some laps, and get a feel for the bike, "take it easy" so to speak. So I did. For a couple of laps :) Getting quicker and quicker every lap I couldn't believe how much grip the Dunlop wets offered, especially at full lean. Within three laps I was dragging my right knee and giggling like a schoolboy. Something I wasn't enjoying too much was the bars flapping violently out of both Higgens and the sweeper and for half of the following straights. It never gets worse but it feels like it's going to chuck you right off the top of the bike. Not fun. However, Robert is a methodical expert and worked hard throughout the day on both the front and rear ends of the bike to make it as stable as possible for me without compromising the grip and turn in I was liking. The stock "speed sensitive" steering damper was also lobbed in the nearest bin in favour of a shiny new Ohlins unit. I believe the Jury's in, and the stocker sucks.

How does the bike feel to ride? Well powerwise, it's a far different machine from my old K3 and the K5-6s I've ridden. I never would have thought cutting the bottom end and midange punch of a bike could make it more rideable but this thing just feels sooooo manageable. It's also bloody fast. By the end of the day, we'd shaved around 6 seconds off our first session times to be running around mid 1:18s on a wet track. Everyone, none the least me, was smiling ear to ear. A very good day with some BIG steps forward. After a nice team dinner it was off for an early night despite Poos best efforts including cries of "C'mon you poofters, let's go get a crate of piss!"

[White trash]

Saturday dawned with clearing skys and didn't look like there'd be much chance of rain so we set about swapping the rain tyres for slicks and repeatedly crossing our fingers for the sun to break through and dry the still very wet track. My sneakily stolen mchanic, Gav (sorry Chris), proved to be a godsend, helping Glen pull wheels out and getting tyres changed in record time.

Being allowed to use the Supersport practice session was handy and I wobbled around on a very wet track wearing slicks and trying to get a few good laps. Ended the session around 1.23 which didn't matter as it wasn't my qualifying but let me experiment with different lines and learn how hard I could push in trying conditions. We decided to gamble on leaving the slicks on for the Superbike qualifying session as the track was beginning to finally show signs of drying. Once out there, I found a surprising lack of grip due to very damp conditions through the esses and onto the back straight. Thankfully the sweeper was drying well and I gradually picked up the pace, hopefull of a position somewhere on the front two rows. When Neil Martin came past like I was litteraly standing still, I jumped to the horible conclusion we'd made the wrong tyre choice. After putting the bike back on its stands, I trudged over to the track office to take my medicine and check our grid position. Imagine my surprise at seeing my name in third spot, with a 1.17.6 qualifying time. I was stoked and determined to make the most of it with a good start. Glen and Gav set about tearing the horrible exhaust off for the fourth time of the weekend, to gain access to the shock mounts so Robert could get it out and change the shim stack, which we hoped was going to help settle down my "Dunlop wiggle" and gain a little extra grip on corner exit.

For the first race I was a little apprehensive, having never launched a thousand in a race start but with Steves "No pressure, just enjoy yourself" talk ringing in my ears, I was quite relaxed. On the warmup laps, I set about trying to push the bike a little on the corner exits to get a feel for stability and it felt a heap better than earlier. Still a little shake but it no longer felt like it was going to try and kill me. A major accident involving two bikes in the second warmup lap, halted procceedings before they'd begun and our first race was postponed untill after lunch. Not good for the nerves, I tell you. At least it gave the track more time to dry! When we were sent out again, I tried to focus on the job at hand and took my position on the front row. As the flag dropped, I knew I'd been overly gentle on the launch and was swamped by most of the second row. I managed to get past Chris, Pete Tanner and Neil in the first lap and set about trying to string some quick laps together and catch David Lees who in turn was trying to reel in a rapidly disappearing Derek McAdam. I was slowly catching Lees, and he was gaining on Derek but a 6 lap race just aint very long and I finished third, 8.2 seconds behind Derek on the ZX10 and about 6 behind David. A podium for a brand new team, on a brand new undeveloped bike, and I believe the first on a K7 GSXR1000 in New Zealand had the whole team, including me cheering on my return to the pits. Best lap of 1.13.5 meant we were still making gains.

Race two I was feeling much better about things again, having got the first race jitters out of the way. We'd made a couple of subtle changes to the bike, and I knew where to make changes on a couple of turns to improve my times. The siting laps showed a mostly dry track, with only a couple of damp patches and I was feeling pretty confident. A better start saw me leading the charge towards turn one, Derek and David both outbraking me into it and I slotted into third place, determined to hang onto them. Derek got a good break again but David was chasing him well, and I was determined to not let the wiggle bother me too much, trying to stay with both of them. A big slide exiting Higgens had me lose the ground I'd made up and I had to settle for a second third of the day. Encorouaged at being 2.7s off the lead and a personal best at Manfeld of 1.11.7.

For the third race, we again made some suspension changes, Robert having a good idea of how the new K7 responded to adjustments. When gridding up. I made the descision that I was going for the win, that's what I wanted to acheive. I got my best start yet and managed to slot into second, outbraking Derek into Higgens, clinging grimly to the back of Daves hot rod K6. Derek managed to grab second off me at the start of lap two and although my bike lacked the speed of the two front runners, I was enjoying a higher corner speed and much better drive of the turns, running right up on them through the infield, Higgens and the sweeper. Dave in particular was having grip issues off the turns, repeatedly turning the Suzuki sideways and often getting kicked out of the seat. I knew I could run a quicker pace, so squared off the hairpin as savagely as I could and got a great run on both of them making a little more ground under brakes, I was right on the rear tyre of Dereks Kawasaki. David tried to power out of Higens a little early and got a big moment, shuting the throttle, leaving poor old Derek nowhere to go, running the greenie into the Gixxers rear tyre, going down in the proccess. As he fell, I tried to steer around him but I got a solid knock, forcing me to stand the bike up, run off track and drop the bike in the swamp. So I went from challenging for the win, to dead last, in a heartbeat. BASTARD!!!!!!!!!!! One of those things in racing I guess, but I was absolutely gutted. The whole team back in the pits were really supportive though but I felt I'd let down all the hard work they'd put in.

So after the meetig, WBP Racing sits third overall in the Superbike class, thirteen points off the lead, despite the DNF. Not too bad at all.

I simply cannot thank so many people enough. Obviously Martin from Wealth Buy Property and Steve from Easystart Rental Management for creating this new team, with a very focused vision of building a proffessional, corporate backed team and in turn, raise the the whole profile of motorcycle roadracing. I'm very gratefull to be a part of it. Sue, Glen and Gav, your constant pit work really was stress relieving and a great weight off my shoulders. Jamie, for three nights of working till the wee small hours getting the bike painted was just awesome. Robert Taylor, to have you spend both days working with our team, and helping make this bike what it is. I really wish I could express my gratitude. Without your expertise, we'd have not known where to start. A big thanks also to Eddie for the use of the spare wheels and wets, I owe you some new wets bro. And then a big thanks to everyone who came past for a chat or to see the bike on Saturday, it's always good to hear the nice comments. Thanks also to Shaun. You helped me believe I had the goods to compete at this level, and I really wish you could have been there.

WBP Racing is looking forward to moving further forward at the next round of the Actrix Winter series, at Manfeild on August 18.

[Keystone19]

Great write up Jimmy! Awesome results for your first outing on the new bike. Wish I could have been there to watch - next time for sure!

[Pussy]

Great writeup, and great results, Jimmy. Was good to meet you again. Give it heaps

[Riff Raff]

Babe, I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo proud of you! :love:

[mr me]

What a bloody shiny paint JOB:beer::beer:

[cowboyz]

I was there with Dhunt for a bit in the morning and saw you lining up on the dummy grid. Damn nice looking bike and good writeup...

[Toast]

Awesome!! Can't wait to hear how you go next time. Would like to see it too, but that won't happen from my position in the field.. All the best :niceone:

[riffer]

Nice work young fella. I was a bit worried reading in Drew's race thread that you'd gone off but sounds like the worse of it will be hosing the mud off!

A promising start. I hope your team are taking lots of notes while you're doing all the setup changes. A scientific approach from the start will make a huge difference as the season progresses.

I shall continue to follow your progress with interest.:yes:

[White trash]

:beer::beer:

Jesus mate, you deserve a years supply for the work you've put into it!:rockon:

[Two Smoker]

Awesome stuff Mate!!! No worries bout Gav, managed to steal him back for the few times i needed him... Wicked to see you getting on with the bike so quickly!!! Fark those thousands are fast down denny hulme straight... I thought my 600 was slow compared to the 600 you were on, with the thousands i think i might take out a kettle, cup and saucer and make a cup of tea down the middle straight...

Keen as to see how you go next round :niceone:

[Joni]

Well done hun.... Im very happy for you! :yes:
:hug:

[janno]

Most excellent read - made me feel just like I was there! Well done on the results and best of luck for next time. :yes:

Jan.

[limbimtimwim]

One of those things in racing I guess, but I was absolutely gutted. The whole team back in the pits were really supportive though but I felt I'd let down all the hard work they'd put in.Actually, it was the commentators curse. Deano and myself were watching you from pit lane. Deano said "You know, 3rd is sometimes I good place to be at this point. 1st and 2nd can muck each other up and WT can just slip in front and take the win". And 10 seconds later, it happened. If that pendulum had swung the other way, there was a good chance of victory.

It was great to watch. Next meet is yours.

[saul]

Wow:gob: brilliant:yes:

Pretty good write up too:innocent:

[Rossi Gal]

AWESOME!!!!! thats all i can say!
was choice seeing you in the wet, knees down and all.

[HDTboy]

You did bloody well man, I was so gutted to see you go down, I thought you'd miss the crash.
The team you have are doing the best job they know how, and will only get better with experience.

I'm sure I did more pissing around than working on yours or Chris's bike, but hey.

More power!

[Clivoris]

Shit hot performance Jimmy. And I wasn't joking when I told you the positive things that people in the stands were saying about your package and performance. Was great to see Derek MacAdam back on the track too. Shame you had such a close look though.

[DocMartin]

Good effort Jimmy, you were looking very smooth out there from where I was sitting, best of luck 4 next round dood...

[boomer]

AWESOME JIMMY! and your team!!

congratulations buddy and its up and up and up from here on in! good on ya buddy! :rockon:

[Kickaha]

Awesome result on a brand new bike, can't wait to see you on it down here:yes:

[Devil]

Great work. :Punk:

[kiwifruit]

nice riding man :rockon:

[kickingzebra]

shoot jimmy!! Oh, sorry, meant shot bro ;)
Well done, its a nice looker alright that beastly, and you are looking to be plenty capable of doing it justice!

[GSVR]

Jimmy and Drew are so fast out of the box on machines they have hardly had time to get really familar with. Shame about the Higgins incident. You had the quietest bike on the track but those huge cans must have been slowing the bike somewhat with all the wind drag alone.

[slowpoke]

Great write up Mr Mair....and hopefully you well truly rooted that fugly exhaust when you went for a wee sleepy byes in the mud. I still can't believe Suzuki actually paid someone to design that fucker........

[Grub]

I told you the positive things that people in the stands were saying about your package.

Well I think that's quite enough of that gay talk in here!

["D" FZ1]

Awesome start to the season Jimmy.

[Matt Bleck]

Good on all of you guys!

Only wish I'd stayed long enough to see ya race........

[flame]

Friggen wicked stuff Jimmy! You'll show em who the boss is next time :yes:

[driftn]

MY BIG BROTHERS ARE AWESOME AND DONT YOU GUYS FORGET IT.
:yes:

[Sensei]

Great write up Jimmy ! Was suppose to ride down to watch all the KB crew but got side tracked again . With a Professional backed team behind you & you natural skill & what sounds like a sweet bike with more to come Wanganui is going to be something special this year . Well Done :Punk:

[Deano]

Great stuff mate. You certainly showed your class on Saturday.

[the yoshie]

awsome write up jimmy, first time out you did bloody well mate, this bike will be one to take notice of from now on and after talking to steve and naomi it sounds like you got the package. Well done jimmy.

[cowpoos]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....yo u kicked my fucking arse!!!!!



you still owe me a frickin keg thou Mr trashy biaggi

[Marknz]

good on ya, look forward to seeing some of this action later on in the season/year.

[Cleve]

Absolutely great write up and well done for a first up go on a powerful new bike in tricky conditions.