ken13
19th October 2007, 14:46
Hi all, Adam Chambers here. Dont write on here much but though id give you all an idea of how i went at phillip island. So if you interested have a read.CHUR
On Thursday, I qualified 19th in a field of 40 riders which wasn’t great but I was happy with that as we only got one practice session before that, and on a track like Phillip island it takes a lot longer than that to learn where the track goes, not to mention setting the bike up properly! So starting on the fifth row I new was going to be difficult.
Friday the weather was cold and wet with showers coming and going. We were not allocated another practice or warm up so it was straight into Race 1 at 5.35PM!!
The race was declared 'wet' even though it was dry at the start, which meant we were stuck with our tyre choice if it rained or not. I got a good start and was holding my position into turn 1, I set myself up on the outside of turn 2 and 3 which put me on the inside of Honda hairpin where I managed to pass the majority of riders in front of me. I couldn’t believe my luck, half way through the 1st lap I was running in 6th place and well in reach of the leaders. By the 3rd lap I had picked of another two riders, which put me in 4th place! Then the heavens opened and the rain came down, not ideal when you are racing on slick tyres. I held my position for the next two laps until the sun came out again (bloody Phillip island weather!!!) from there my times improved but not wanting to crash out of my 1st race I was still in cautious mode and could not quite hold on till the end, I was passed by a freight train of 5 riders at the end of the last lap. So 9th in race 1, I was reasonably happy knowing that I could run with the leaders (and 1st NZer home, James DNF, Kirk 15th, Sam DNF).
Saturday Race 2 - The weather was again showery all day although our race was not till 6PM so the worst of the weather had been, Yet again the race was declared 'wet' even though it was dry!
I chose to go with slick tyres again in the softest compound. I did not get the start I had hoped for and was behind two of my fellow kiwis, I pushed hard on the 1st lap and managed to get passed both Kirk and James until loosing traction on my soft tyres and running slightly off track on the last turn, which is a flat out 4th gear corner (one you cannot afford to back off on, as it is a key corner to get good drive onto the long back straight) I kept it pinned but the grip wasn’t there, almost high siding me over the handle bars. So my hard work was wasted, losing all drive onto the straight I lost a whole heap of positions. I tried my best to make it up but was struggling for rear wheel grip and got stuck behind fellow kiwi; Kirk, whose lines are interesting at the best of times, making it extremely hard to pass. So 14th after a very difficult, fairing bashing race. (James 11th, Kirk 13th, Sam 29th)
Sunday Race 3 - The sun had come out and the track was warm, and with an early race this time first up before the MotoGP I was pumped and ready to go. The start was good and I again improved on my start position. The pace had hotted up hugely in this race with the warmer conditions but with a different tyre choice I experience GRIP!!! YAY!! first time all weekend. I was running in a good group of 3 Aussies and myself where the race speed and high speed passes were like nothing I had experienced before. In the end after a race long battle I finished 10th. I was happy with that as my times were improving every race, and every lap.
So 11th overall for the weekend with improving lap times and best kiwi I was stoked. Gotta go back next year!!
The whole experience of riding on a GP circuit on a MotoGP race weekend was outstanding and I cannot wait until next year!
I would like to thank all the messages of support from everybody back home and most importantly my team; James, Sam, and Kirk. Steve Bagshaw the team boss, manager, mechanic and man who made it all happen! Mel Jackson and Jill in the pits and of course Mum and Dad for there ongoing support as always.
On Thursday, I qualified 19th in a field of 40 riders which wasn’t great but I was happy with that as we only got one practice session before that, and on a track like Phillip island it takes a lot longer than that to learn where the track goes, not to mention setting the bike up properly! So starting on the fifth row I new was going to be difficult.
Friday the weather was cold and wet with showers coming and going. We were not allocated another practice or warm up so it was straight into Race 1 at 5.35PM!!
The race was declared 'wet' even though it was dry at the start, which meant we were stuck with our tyre choice if it rained or not. I got a good start and was holding my position into turn 1, I set myself up on the outside of turn 2 and 3 which put me on the inside of Honda hairpin where I managed to pass the majority of riders in front of me. I couldn’t believe my luck, half way through the 1st lap I was running in 6th place and well in reach of the leaders. By the 3rd lap I had picked of another two riders, which put me in 4th place! Then the heavens opened and the rain came down, not ideal when you are racing on slick tyres. I held my position for the next two laps until the sun came out again (bloody Phillip island weather!!!) from there my times improved but not wanting to crash out of my 1st race I was still in cautious mode and could not quite hold on till the end, I was passed by a freight train of 5 riders at the end of the last lap. So 9th in race 1, I was reasonably happy knowing that I could run with the leaders (and 1st NZer home, James DNF, Kirk 15th, Sam DNF).
Saturday Race 2 - The weather was again showery all day although our race was not till 6PM so the worst of the weather had been, Yet again the race was declared 'wet' even though it was dry!
I chose to go with slick tyres again in the softest compound. I did not get the start I had hoped for and was behind two of my fellow kiwis, I pushed hard on the 1st lap and managed to get passed both Kirk and James until loosing traction on my soft tyres and running slightly off track on the last turn, which is a flat out 4th gear corner (one you cannot afford to back off on, as it is a key corner to get good drive onto the long back straight) I kept it pinned but the grip wasn’t there, almost high siding me over the handle bars. So my hard work was wasted, losing all drive onto the straight I lost a whole heap of positions. I tried my best to make it up but was struggling for rear wheel grip and got stuck behind fellow kiwi; Kirk, whose lines are interesting at the best of times, making it extremely hard to pass. So 14th after a very difficult, fairing bashing race. (James 11th, Kirk 13th, Sam 29th)
Sunday Race 3 - The sun had come out and the track was warm, and with an early race this time first up before the MotoGP I was pumped and ready to go. The start was good and I again improved on my start position. The pace had hotted up hugely in this race with the warmer conditions but with a different tyre choice I experience GRIP!!! YAY!! first time all weekend. I was running in a good group of 3 Aussies and myself where the race speed and high speed passes were like nothing I had experienced before. In the end after a race long battle I finished 10th. I was happy with that as my times were improving every race, and every lap.
So 11th overall for the weekend with improving lap times and best kiwi I was stoked. Gotta go back next year!!
The whole experience of riding on a GP circuit on a MotoGP race weekend was outstanding and I cannot wait until next year!
I would like to thank all the messages of support from everybody back home and most importantly my team; James, Sam, and Kirk. Steve Bagshaw the team boss, manager, mechanic and man who made it all happen! Mel Jackson and Jill in the pits and of course Mum and Dad for there ongoing support as always.