Deano
30th September 2008, 08:55
Given the number of reports these days I'll keep this brief.
Qualifying.
After humming and haaing about which tyres to run, I opted for the supercorsas over the wets. Thankfully the rain held off so it was the right call.
I knew qualifying was 20 minutes long but I wanted to get some quick laps in early on. This proved to be a good decision as pretty soon I came up on some bunched up groups of 400's and the chances of getting in a quick lap would be difficult.
I persevered for a little while but pulled in after about 8 minutes - there was just too much traffic and I was pretty confident I had done okay early on anyway.
Time wasn't bad - 1.19 something. Good enough for 4th on the grid. Surprisingly ahead of Geoff Booth, but this was only qualifying after all.
Race 1
I got a good start (although Geoff beat me to turn 1) and tried to tack onto Jarrod, Geoff and Sam Love.
I felt I did better than I had before and stuck with them for a few laps but they were pulling away gradually all the time. Once again I was in a race by myself. Coming through the lapped traffic was a good experience though. Rather than take it easy I used the opportunity as overtaking practice and just went for every gap as if they were ahead in terms of track position.
I wa spretty happy with my performance, but completely stoked when I saw the lap times - a new PB of 1.17.423. My goal is to always get faster over the season while still keeping it shiny side up.
Race 2
I got a crap start - hit neutral after 1st gear and lost a few places. Patrick Jones had come past me so I was 5th. I held this position until the end, although Ozzy (F3 so doesn't affect my points) came past on his GSXR450R - 1 cylinder less than a 600 - weird sounding bike but seems to boogie along well.
Only did 1.18.1s but the cement/oil at the hairpin was throwing my line out and I never got it right once during the whole race.
Race 3
After Race 1 and 2, this 8 lapper was going to be a sprint. My goal was to get back my 4th place from Patrick Jones. Got a great start but exiting turn 1 Jarrod and Geoff (or was it Sam) seemed to be having a bit of argy bargy mid corner and there was a bit of wobbling toward the outside of the track, right where I was aiming for. This pushed me out a little and just off the track - thankfully it was where the slip road to Higgins was and so I stayed on seal rather than the grass. Rejoined after losing a few places, but charged hard and got them back very quickly.
Lap 6 and Patrick Jones came past me down the front straight - this got me pissed and I outbraked him into T1 and slammed the door from the outside.
Made a couple of little errors but held him off until the end.
I was pretty impressed though - only his first time at Manfeild.
Overall, a great weekend. New PB, still holding 3rd in the Pro Twin championship and I only need about 14 points in the next round to keep it.
Great to share the pit with Luke, Vicki, Paul, Hel's, Malcolm and Gary.
Thanks heaps to Alan for all his help in the pit - legendary - he was also our sober driver for us on Sat night.
Thanks again to my sponsors below, especially Station Sports Bar and Cafe for providing accommodation Sat night.
Qualifying.
After humming and haaing about which tyres to run, I opted for the supercorsas over the wets. Thankfully the rain held off so it was the right call.
I knew qualifying was 20 minutes long but I wanted to get some quick laps in early on. This proved to be a good decision as pretty soon I came up on some bunched up groups of 400's and the chances of getting in a quick lap would be difficult.
I persevered for a little while but pulled in after about 8 minutes - there was just too much traffic and I was pretty confident I had done okay early on anyway.
Time wasn't bad - 1.19 something. Good enough for 4th on the grid. Surprisingly ahead of Geoff Booth, but this was only qualifying after all.
Race 1
I got a good start (although Geoff beat me to turn 1) and tried to tack onto Jarrod, Geoff and Sam Love.
I felt I did better than I had before and stuck with them for a few laps but they were pulling away gradually all the time. Once again I was in a race by myself. Coming through the lapped traffic was a good experience though. Rather than take it easy I used the opportunity as overtaking practice and just went for every gap as if they were ahead in terms of track position.
I wa spretty happy with my performance, but completely stoked when I saw the lap times - a new PB of 1.17.423. My goal is to always get faster over the season while still keeping it shiny side up.
Race 2
I got a crap start - hit neutral after 1st gear and lost a few places. Patrick Jones had come past me so I was 5th. I held this position until the end, although Ozzy (F3 so doesn't affect my points) came past on his GSXR450R - 1 cylinder less than a 600 - weird sounding bike but seems to boogie along well.
Only did 1.18.1s but the cement/oil at the hairpin was throwing my line out and I never got it right once during the whole race.
Race 3
After Race 1 and 2, this 8 lapper was going to be a sprint. My goal was to get back my 4th place from Patrick Jones. Got a great start but exiting turn 1 Jarrod and Geoff (or was it Sam) seemed to be having a bit of argy bargy mid corner and there was a bit of wobbling toward the outside of the track, right where I was aiming for. This pushed me out a little and just off the track - thankfully it was where the slip road to Higgins was and so I stayed on seal rather than the grass. Rejoined after losing a few places, but charged hard and got them back very quickly.
Lap 6 and Patrick Jones came past me down the front straight - this got me pissed and I outbraked him into T1 and slammed the door from the outside.
Made a couple of little errors but held him off until the end.
I was pretty impressed though - only his first time at Manfeild.
Overall, a great weekend. New PB, still holding 3rd in the Pro Twin championship and I only need about 14 points in the next round to keep it.
Great to share the pit with Luke, Vicki, Paul, Hel's, Malcolm and Gary.
Thanks heaps to Alan for all his help in the pit - legendary - he was also our sober driver for us on Sat night.
Thanks again to my sponsors below, especially Station Sports Bar and Cafe for providing accommodation Sat night.