Nicksta
3rd March 2008, 14:07
NZSBK Rd4 Manfeild 23/24 February 2008
My goal this year is to compete in Vic Club Winter Series F3/Post Classics then take on the full nationals 2008/9. So what better way to build up for the winter series at Manfeild than to learn from the best at the National level :)
First and foremost a big thank you to Frenchy and Paul (Canbrace) for being awesome supporters and pit crew for the weekend and of course, Dave from Kiwibike Insurance.
Test Day:
Riding on my old Michelins Manfeild was looking nice with its new seal and rumble strips. Times were nothing to write home about averaging 1.27’s getting down to 1.26’s. First think I noticed was how crazy fast the SV’s etc were and how freaky close they overtook you – like you didn’t exist on the track! Goal of remembering what the track looked like and getting used to the new seal fulfilled, Frenchy and I headed out for Thai with friends and I contemplated how I get my 3 seconds back I seemed to have lost over the summer.
Day 1:
F3/Pro Twin Practice:
With my almost new Dunlops Goal for practice was to get used to the tyres and try and drop a second or 2. Struggling with my line through the infield my best time was 1:26.2 1.5 seconds off my PB. Session cut sadly short as I rolled into T1 on my 10th lap only to have nothing when I twisted the throttle, few more chugs and Tweety died, looked like no one fed her overnight and she had run out of legs :(
F3/Pro Twin Qualifying:
With plenty of gas and some new tactics through the infield and last turn thanks to Paul, I head out looking for my elusive 1.24’s. Practicing my new gearing and lines I sat behind a 400 and SV for a few laps. Speeding up I overtake both into T1 to put in a hot lap I’m stoked with my speed round T1 and through the chicanes, bit fast into the hairpin I crank Tweety over and am stoked at the speed I can actually take the hairpin at, apexing the corner I twist the throttle and out of no where I loose the front and find myself sliding on my stomach towards the outside, not cool! Picking her up, only scratches, cracked screen and broken clutch knob, phew! Started her up and limped back to the pits totally gutted as I was sure to crack a 1.23 on that lap, but it wasn’t to be. Best lap from earlier was a 1:26.6 not near my best time and I get relegated to Clubmans with 3 other bikes. Cut off was 1.25 ish.
Huge thank you to Paul and Frenchy for getting Tweety up to scratch for Clubmans qualifying!
Clubmans Qualifying:
Knowing I was going to be 3rd row on the grid no matter what, I went out to make sure the hair pin hadn’t gotten the better of me. Quickly realizing my repositioned fairing was stopping me reaching the gear shifter well, I struggled with the gears for a few laps, decided the hairpin wasn’t scary and pulled in to do some modifications before racing later on that day. Qualified with a 1:27 and 11th on the grid.
Clubmans Race 1, 5 laps:
Lining up next to the other 400 from F3 on the third row, I couldn’t see a clear tunnel through the 2 rows in front. First time ever starting with Lights it felt like an eternity before they went out. Rode the clutch a bit much and didn’t get the best start. Chased down the ZX400 and had a blast dicing with him, unfortunately I was lacking concentration and mucked up my gears into a few corners and still tentative under breaking he got the better of me and I came in 11th. Best time 1:26.5, much improved on qualifying but much to go to get to my goal of 1:24’s.
Day 2:
Went out in scrub in to make sure I had my lines down to a T for the day. Everything seemed relaxed and smooth, I pulled in after 3 circulations.
Clubmans Race 2, 10 laps:
Thinking all clubbys races were 5 laps I lined up for a sprint with the intention of getting in front of the 400 and staying there. Lights go out and I get a better start than yesterday but still not my best. 400 in front of me I chase him down in the 1st lap. Plan was to go round the outside of T2 and be on the inside for the chicane. Plan worked and I found myself getting closer to Jason on his GSXR sweet! Chasing Jason for a few laps I stuff up my gears and go round the hairpin in 3rd for the 2nd time, the 400 is close behind now and the gixxer is gone doh! Thinking we should be seeing the flag some time soon I don’t see it for another few laps, by lap 8 I’m hoping for a white flag, no luck and I’m seeing the blue, leading riders are coming. I get passed just before the 100m and see Jason in front break hard I slow and the 400 passes me, rounding the last turn I see a flag, last lap I think and start chasing the 400, only to see him sit up mid straight and swerve in front of me, what? Turns out it was the checkered. Leaders had got the white, passed us and rounded for the end, doh! Finished 10th with best time of 1:24.0 stoked!!
Clubmans Race 3, 5 laps:
Yay a sprint race finally. Goal: Get in front of the ZX400 and stay there! Red lights go out and I nail the start, glancing across I see the 400 wheelie high in 1st then 2nd gear and I leave him behind. About 5th through T1 I hold off the bigger bikes till almost Higgins, stoked! Seeing Jason not far ahead I hunt him down, catching him in the infield, I again stuff up my gearing into Higgins and he leaves me behind, all this time I think I can hear the engine of the 400 chasing me down, not wanting to look behind I focus on my lines and keeping it smooth as rain is hitting my visor and I really didn’t know how the dunlops would handle a wet surface. Crossing the line I glance back and can’t see anyone, sweet it was all my imagination pushing me through the race. Result 7th but slower than before lap times due to the drizzle rain.
Overall result 10th place in Clubmans and a new PB of 1:24.0 pretty stoked!
After 3 solid days on the track Tweety has been tweaked a bit better for the winter series and I’m much more confident against the 650’s in F3. I’m totally looking forward to the Winter Series and doing the full nationals at the end of the year!
Thank you so much to Frenchy for all your support and awesome pit crewing. Paul from Canbrace for the coaching and mechanical support. Dave from Kiwibike Insurance, awesome to see you and thank you so much for your support in the last year, I can’t wait to see what we can pull out of the bag for the winter for ya!
Also a huge thank you to all the Vic Club supporters and workers at the track all weekend, you guys put on an awesome event! Thanks Jill for your encouragement and all the other racers, you guys rock!
Roll on PMCC final round 30th March!
My goal this year is to compete in Vic Club Winter Series F3/Post Classics then take on the full nationals 2008/9. So what better way to build up for the winter series at Manfeild than to learn from the best at the National level :)
First and foremost a big thank you to Frenchy and Paul (Canbrace) for being awesome supporters and pit crew for the weekend and of course, Dave from Kiwibike Insurance.
Test Day:
Riding on my old Michelins Manfeild was looking nice with its new seal and rumble strips. Times were nothing to write home about averaging 1.27’s getting down to 1.26’s. First think I noticed was how crazy fast the SV’s etc were and how freaky close they overtook you – like you didn’t exist on the track! Goal of remembering what the track looked like and getting used to the new seal fulfilled, Frenchy and I headed out for Thai with friends and I contemplated how I get my 3 seconds back I seemed to have lost over the summer.
Day 1:
F3/Pro Twin Practice:
With my almost new Dunlops Goal for practice was to get used to the tyres and try and drop a second or 2. Struggling with my line through the infield my best time was 1:26.2 1.5 seconds off my PB. Session cut sadly short as I rolled into T1 on my 10th lap only to have nothing when I twisted the throttle, few more chugs and Tweety died, looked like no one fed her overnight and she had run out of legs :(
F3/Pro Twin Qualifying:
With plenty of gas and some new tactics through the infield and last turn thanks to Paul, I head out looking for my elusive 1.24’s. Practicing my new gearing and lines I sat behind a 400 and SV for a few laps. Speeding up I overtake both into T1 to put in a hot lap I’m stoked with my speed round T1 and through the chicanes, bit fast into the hairpin I crank Tweety over and am stoked at the speed I can actually take the hairpin at, apexing the corner I twist the throttle and out of no where I loose the front and find myself sliding on my stomach towards the outside, not cool! Picking her up, only scratches, cracked screen and broken clutch knob, phew! Started her up and limped back to the pits totally gutted as I was sure to crack a 1.23 on that lap, but it wasn’t to be. Best lap from earlier was a 1:26.6 not near my best time and I get relegated to Clubmans with 3 other bikes. Cut off was 1.25 ish.
Huge thank you to Paul and Frenchy for getting Tweety up to scratch for Clubmans qualifying!
Clubmans Qualifying:
Knowing I was going to be 3rd row on the grid no matter what, I went out to make sure the hair pin hadn’t gotten the better of me. Quickly realizing my repositioned fairing was stopping me reaching the gear shifter well, I struggled with the gears for a few laps, decided the hairpin wasn’t scary and pulled in to do some modifications before racing later on that day. Qualified with a 1:27 and 11th on the grid.
Clubmans Race 1, 5 laps:
Lining up next to the other 400 from F3 on the third row, I couldn’t see a clear tunnel through the 2 rows in front. First time ever starting with Lights it felt like an eternity before they went out. Rode the clutch a bit much and didn’t get the best start. Chased down the ZX400 and had a blast dicing with him, unfortunately I was lacking concentration and mucked up my gears into a few corners and still tentative under breaking he got the better of me and I came in 11th. Best time 1:26.5, much improved on qualifying but much to go to get to my goal of 1:24’s.
Day 2:
Went out in scrub in to make sure I had my lines down to a T for the day. Everything seemed relaxed and smooth, I pulled in after 3 circulations.
Clubmans Race 2, 10 laps:
Thinking all clubbys races were 5 laps I lined up for a sprint with the intention of getting in front of the 400 and staying there. Lights go out and I get a better start than yesterday but still not my best. 400 in front of me I chase him down in the 1st lap. Plan was to go round the outside of T2 and be on the inside for the chicane. Plan worked and I found myself getting closer to Jason on his GSXR sweet! Chasing Jason for a few laps I stuff up my gears and go round the hairpin in 3rd for the 2nd time, the 400 is close behind now and the gixxer is gone doh! Thinking we should be seeing the flag some time soon I don’t see it for another few laps, by lap 8 I’m hoping for a white flag, no luck and I’m seeing the blue, leading riders are coming. I get passed just before the 100m and see Jason in front break hard I slow and the 400 passes me, rounding the last turn I see a flag, last lap I think and start chasing the 400, only to see him sit up mid straight and swerve in front of me, what? Turns out it was the checkered. Leaders had got the white, passed us and rounded for the end, doh! Finished 10th with best time of 1:24.0 stoked!!
Clubmans Race 3, 5 laps:
Yay a sprint race finally. Goal: Get in front of the ZX400 and stay there! Red lights go out and I nail the start, glancing across I see the 400 wheelie high in 1st then 2nd gear and I leave him behind. About 5th through T1 I hold off the bigger bikes till almost Higgins, stoked! Seeing Jason not far ahead I hunt him down, catching him in the infield, I again stuff up my gearing into Higgins and he leaves me behind, all this time I think I can hear the engine of the 400 chasing me down, not wanting to look behind I focus on my lines and keeping it smooth as rain is hitting my visor and I really didn’t know how the dunlops would handle a wet surface. Crossing the line I glance back and can’t see anyone, sweet it was all my imagination pushing me through the race. Result 7th but slower than before lap times due to the drizzle rain.
Overall result 10th place in Clubmans and a new PB of 1:24.0 pretty stoked!
After 3 solid days on the track Tweety has been tweaked a bit better for the winter series and I’m much more confident against the 650’s in F3. I’m totally looking forward to the Winter Series and doing the full nationals at the end of the year!
Thank you so much to Frenchy for all your support and awesome pit crewing. Paul from Canbrace for the coaching and mechanical support. Dave from Kiwibike Insurance, awesome to see you and thank you so much for your support in the last year, I can’t wait to see what we can pull out of the bag for the winter for ya!
Also a huge thank you to all the Vic Club supporters and workers at the track all weekend, you guys put on an awesome event! Thanks Jill for your encouragement and all the other racers, you guys rock!
Roll on PMCC final round 30th March!