Two Smoker
19th August 2007, 22:43
Hey everyone,
Well did some more work to the bike. Gavin Brindle (Gav) and I dropped out the motor, then Gav slotted in the new Yoshimura Headgasket imported by Colemans Suzuki. After some cam timing done by Engine Specialists the bike was off to Henderson Motorcycles unusually early to have some dyno time with Toby. Picked up the bike, with its now 105hp, and took it home a full week before racing was due to begin!!! But ofcourse there was the dramas. I got a phone call from Toby saying that the bike was missing and making a funny whistleing noise that could possibly be the headgasket. To save myself some money, and because Gav is a good guy, Gav shot over and checked out the bike. Turns out the spark plug had snapped clean off at the thread and thankfully hadn't dropped into the motor!!! Four new spark plugs and it was all go!!! Thanks to Jill Clendon, my bike was on its way down to Feilding by Thursday afternoon. Organisation and preperation is a new thing... But it seems to work well!!! I would just like to thank my fiancee Chloe early on because it was her 21st Birthday on the Friday, and she spent it with Gav and I travelling down to Manfield!!!
Qual SS: I made the call for wet tyres. It was the right decision, but once out on the track it was evident that Production tyres would be needed for Superbike qualifying. Its been a long time since doing the long track last, and funnily enough it hasnt changed much due to its lack of use. Went out there and felt smooth, but had quite a bit to go. I knew Nick Cole had put down a fast time at the end as I had seen him gain on me. Back in the pits I found out I had Qualifyed 2nd with a 2:08.808 and Nick Cole on Pole with a 2:07.1.
Qual SB: Proddy tyres were on and it was time to up the pace again. The track was still wet in places, but the Continental Tyres were coping very well. I was having troubles with the haipin on the back section of the circuit, but that was a rider problem that I could sort out in the next race. Felt good, but still lacking alot of pace into the final sweeper. Qualified 6th with a 2:03.681 with Derek McAdam and Neil Martin just infront in the low 2:03's. Nick Cole was in third. He had been following me, and busted out a really fast last lap with a 2:02.8.
SS Race 1: Lined up on the grid with the engine revving at around 10000rpm, clutch ready at the drop of the flag... flag drops, my front wheel went skyward... Nick Cole had even more of a shocker and did a big wheelie right accross the grid. I managed to save it and get away quick enough, but saw Jay Lawrence's bike right next to me. I braked late and held my line to keep the lead into turn one. This race was a bit of a shocker with me riding really rough and out of shape. The back wheel was coming off the ground and I was sliding around into and out of corners a bit too much. I was having issues with the brakes having lack of power. Everytime into the hairpin on the back section of the circuit I could hear Jay and Nick right behind me. I would then push harder and be sliding the front and rear on the left onto the short circuit from the long. The finsh line came up and I crossed it in first place with Jay 1.7 seconds behind and Nick 2.4 seconds in third. Had a best time of 2:01.3.
SB Race 1: Got an average start and slotted in behind Peter Tanner. Managed to pass Peter early on and started to work on Neil Martin. I made two clean passes on Neil just to have him fly past on the straights. Finally got past him and got my sights on Nick Cole with 2 laps to go. Passed Nick by out braking him into Higgins and was just working on being smooth. I was now having really bad issues with the brakes. They were fine in the pits, but were now getting to the scary point of wondering if they were going to pull me up. I backed off a bit and Neil was already putting in a fast lap. He passed me going into the hairpin out the back and made it stick. I worked hard to dive under him in the final sweeper but he used the 1000's power well and beat me to the finish line by 0.7 of a second with Nick 2 seconds behind me, and Jay a further 1 second behind Nick. Best time was 2:01.1.
SS Race 2: Gav and I bled the brakes and found a few air bubbles. Hopefully they would now be a lot better. With engines revving the flag dropped and Nick Cole got a really good holeshot, I slotted into 2nd behind him. Nick had a new rear tyre, and Robert Taylor had made some adjustments to his rear shock, and it was showing early on the first lap on the exit of the hairpin onto Denny Hulme straight. After one complete lap the red flag came out and we reformed on the dummy grid. Restart time. I got a much better start and slotted into first place. 3/4's of the way through the lap Nick came past and I settled into chase him. Brakes were feeling good, but no matter how hard I tried Nick was getting awesome drive out of the corners and I was sliding heaps. Nick had a good gap and was riding really well. On the last lap I made a big mistake and took a bad line into the final sweeper. Jay took the chance and got really good drive to cross the line only 0.065 seconds infront of me!!! That put me in 3rd with a best time of 2:00.557.
SB Race 2: Robert Taylor had a look at my rear tyre and made some adjustments to the rear shock and forks. Got an ok start this race and settled in behind Peter Tanner agian. Roberts adjustments had done wonders and I could get on the gas alot earlier. Early on in the race there was a big crash and the red flags came out. It was decided that the race would be delayed by sending out the motards, so we could refuel and put on the tyre warmers. Just before we were due to go out, it started to rain. After a quick chat to a couple of people Gav and I decided to change the front tyre to a wet. We managed to just get it done intime, but as soon as i go onto the track I knew it was a mistake. The rain had stopped and the track was still dry!!! I got an ok start again and slotted inbehind Peter Tanner in turn one. There was a river that had been running accross turn one the whole day. Throttle application had to be very gingerly applied after going through this, but Peter gave it too much and promptly high sided right infront of me. I couldnt tighten my line, so I braked as hard as I could and virtually came to a stop so not to run over the top of him. I managed to get around him, but I was now in 16th place with a wet front on a dry track. I just rode as hard as I could and started to pass people as quickly as I could. Then on the second lap I had caught upto Ryan Withers and tried to make a pass on the 90 degree right on the back section. It was a bit dodgy and didnt work, and we managed to stay upright without bumping fairings. I then passed him at the hairpin and settled into reeling in Derek Hill. I was closing in fast, but my front tyre was gone, and getting quite sketchy. I got past Derek at the back field haipin. I couldnt carry the corner speed i would normally through the sweeper onto the short track due to the shagged wet that was a 120/60 profile. Derek flew up the inside if me into the final sweeper. I got really good drive out of the sweeper to pull alongside Derek, but didnt have enough power or front grip to pass him. Crossed the line 0.061 seconds behind him in 5th place. Was stoked to go from 16th to 4th then to 5th, putting down a best time of 2:01.804 with a shagged wet front on the last lap!!!
I would like to thank Chloe Leighton for her support and work in the pits. Gav for his work on the bike and in the pits. Jill for taking my bike down to Manfield and back again. Trev for supplying the bike. Robert Taylor from Northwest Suspension for his work on the bike. Continental Tyres (Fantastic grip the whole day thorugh varied conditions). Toby at Henderson Motorcycles and Colemans Suzuki!!! :niceone:
Pretty tired, so will probably remember more things, and extra people to thank later :niceone:
Cheers, Chris Sucich (#17 GSXR600)
Well did some more work to the bike. Gavin Brindle (Gav) and I dropped out the motor, then Gav slotted in the new Yoshimura Headgasket imported by Colemans Suzuki. After some cam timing done by Engine Specialists the bike was off to Henderson Motorcycles unusually early to have some dyno time with Toby. Picked up the bike, with its now 105hp, and took it home a full week before racing was due to begin!!! But ofcourse there was the dramas. I got a phone call from Toby saying that the bike was missing and making a funny whistleing noise that could possibly be the headgasket. To save myself some money, and because Gav is a good guy, Gav shot over and checked out the bike. Turns out the spark plug had snapped clean off at the thread and thankfully hadn't dropped into the motor!!! Four new spark plugs and it was all go!!! Thanks to Jill Clendon, my bike was on its way down to Feilding by Thursday afternoon. Organisation and preperation is a new thing... But it seems to work well!!! I would just like to thank my fiancee Chloe early on because it was her 21st Birthday on the Friday, and she spent it with Gav and I travelling down to Manfield!!!
Qual SS: I made the call for wet tyres. It was the right decision, but once out on the track it was evident that Production tyres would be needed for Superbike qualifying. Its been a long time since doing the long track last, and funnily enough it hasnt changed much due to its lack of use. Went out there and felt smooth, but had quite a bit to go. I knew Nick Cole had put down a fast time at the end as I had seen him gain on me. Back in the pits I found out I had Qualifyed 2nd with a 2:08.808 and Nick Cole on Pole with a 2:07.1.
Qual SB: Proddy tyres were on and it was time to up the pace again. The track was still wet in places, but the Continental Tyres were coping very well. I was having troubles with the haipin on the back section of the circuit, but that was a rider problem that I could sort out in the next race. Felt good, but still lacking alot of pace into the final sweeper. Qualified 6th with a 2:03.681 with Derek McAdam and Neil Martin just infront in the low 2:03's. Nick Cole was in third. He had been following me, and busted out a really fast last lap with a 2:02.8.
SS Race 1: Lined up on the grid with the engine revving at around 10000rpm, clutch ready at the drop of the flag... flag drops, my front wheel went skyward... Nick Cole had even more of a shocker and did a big wheelie right accross the grid. I managed to save it and get away quick enough, but saw Jay Lawrence's bike right next to me. I braked late and held my line to keep the lead into turn one. This race was a bit of a shocker with me riding really rough and out of shape. The back wheel was coming off the ground and I was sliding around into and out of corners a bit too much. I was having issues with the brakes having lack of power. Everytime into the hairpin on the back section of the circuit I could hear Jay and Nick right behind me. I would then push harder and be sliding the front and rear on the left onto the short circuit from the long. The finsh line came up and I crossed it in first place with Jay 1.7 seconds behind and Nick 2.4 seconds in third. Had a best time of 2:01.3.
SB Race 1: Got an average start and slotted in behind Peter Tanner. Managed to pass Peter early on and started to work on Neil Martin. I made two clean passes on Neil just to have him fly past on the straights. Finally got past him and got my sights on Nick Cole with 2 laps to go. Passed Nick by out braking him into Higgins and was just working on being smooth. I was now having really bad issues with the brakes. They were fine in the pits, but were now getting to the scary point of wondering if they were going to pull me up. I backed off a bit and Neil was already putting in a fast lap. He passed me going into the hairpin out the back and made it stick. I worked hard to dive under him in the final sweeper but he used the 1000's power well and beat me to the finish line by 0.7 of a second with Nick 2 seconds behind me, and Jay a further 1 second behind Nick. Best time was 2:01.1.
SS Race 2: Gav and I bled the brakes and found a few air bubbles. Hopefully they would now be a lot better. With engines revving the flag dropped and Nick Cole got a really good holeshot, I slotted into 2nd behind him. Nick had a new rear tyre, and Robert Taylor had made some adjustments to his rear shock, and it was showing early on the first lap on the exit of the hairpin onto Denny Hulme straight. After one complete lap the red flag came out and we reformed on the dummy grid. Restart time. I got a much better start and slotted into first place. 3/4's of the way through the lap Nick came past and I settled into chase him. Brakes were feeling good, but no matter how hard I tried Nick was getting awesome drive out of the corners and I was sliding heaps. Nick had a good gap and was riding really well. On the last lap I made a big mistake and took a bad line into the final sweeper. Jay took the chance and got really good drive to cross the line only 0.065 seconds infront of me!!! That put me in 3rd with a best time of 2:00.557.
SB Race 2: Robert Taylor had a look at my rear tyre and made some adjustments to the rear shock and forks. Got an ok start this race and settled in behind Peter Tanner agian. Roberts adjustments had done wonders and I could get on the gas alot earlier. Early on in the race there was a big crash and the red flags came out. It was decided that the race would be delayed by sending out the motards, so we could refuel and put on the tyre warmers. Just before we were due to go out, it started to rain. After a quick chat to a couple of people Gav and I decided to change the front tyre to a wet. We managed to just get it done intime, but as soon as i go onto the track I knew it was a mistake. The rain had stopped and the track was still dry!!! I got an ok start again and slotted inbehind Peter Tanner in turn one. There was a river that had been running accross turn one the whole day. Throttle application had to be very gingerly applied after going through this, but Peter gave it too much and promptly high sided right infront of me. I couldnt tighten my line, so I braked as hard as I could and virtually came to a stop so not to run over the top of him. I managed to get around him, but I was now in 16th place with a wet front on a dry track. I just rode as hard as I could and started to pass people as quickly as I could. Then on the second lap I had caught upto Ryan Withers and tried to make a pass on the 90 degree right on the back section. It was a bit dodgy and didnt work, and we managed to stay upright without bumping fairings. I then passed him at the hairpin and settled into reeling in Derek Hill. I was closing in fast, but my front tyre was gone, and getting quite sketchy. I got past Derek at the back field haipin. I couldnt carry the corner speed i would normally through the sweeper onto the short track due to the shagged wet that was a 120/60 profile. Derek flew up the inside if me into the final sweeper. I got really good drive out of the sweeper to pull alongside Derek, but didnt have enough power or front grip to pass him. Crossed the line 0.061 seconds behind him in 5th place. Was stoked to go from 16th to 4th then to 5th, putting down a best time of 2:01.804 with a shagged wet front on the last lap!!!
I would like to thank Chloe Leighton for her support and work in the pits. Gav for his work on the bike and in the pits. Jill for taking my bike down to Manfield and back again. Trev for supplying the bike. Robert Taylor from Northwest Suspension for his work on the bike. Continental Tyres (Fantastic grip the whole day thorugh varied conditions). Toby at Henderson Motorcycles and Colemans Suzuki!!! :niceone:
Pretty tired, so will probably remember more things, and extra people to thank later :niceone:
Cheers, Chris Sucich (#17 GSXR600)