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CHOPPA
16th February 2009, 09:48
Basically since Ruapuna i havnt had a chance really to even look at my bike, LG have had some really big plans that we have been trying to put into place with my business and with the hot weather theres been plenty of late nights and early mornings. So much that i couldnt even make it down to the test day on friday (sorry ed!)

We arrived at Manfield on saturday morning, I was in the early stages of getting a head cold and was not in the mindspace i usually am come race day! lucky it was practice! Fortunately for me the Daltons (Drew and Jimmy Mair) had escaped from somewhere and were there to help get us motivated and get all the pits set up and bikes sorted!

PRACTICE

I felt really distant and unattached from the bike in practice so i wanted to just take things easy and get a feel for the bike and track, Drew made a couple of adjustments to the suspension and i came away from practice with a new PB of 1.098

QUALIFYING

I was trying to save some money on Tyres so i found what i thought was a mint set of s/h tyres and wacked them on for qualifying. I shot out on the track for the first lap and figured all the sliding was just because the tyres were a bit cold but some lap 2 and they were still sliding i shot back into the pits to check there was no fluid leaking onto them or something, nothing... I shot back out onto the track did a quickish lap then back to the pits, we put on a new tyre but didnt make it back onto the track. 1.097 put me in 8th grid. Lesson learnt!

RACE 1

It was a new day and apart from the Head, throat, neck and ear aches with a few panadol i was def in race mode! Now i cant complain about my clutch because ive known about the problem for some time now, i just havnt found the solution. Basically the clutch wont slip away from the line it just grabs and i cant get of the line, anyway i still managed to get to the first corner 7th, i stuck maybe a second or so off Ray and Hayden for half the race when i got a big bug hit me in the visor right in my line of sight, i wiped it which turned out to be a stupid idea! It was not to much of a problem but just a point in the race where i started to cruise to the finish as i had plenty of room behind me and i wanted to finish. PB 1.087
7th

RACE 2

Again with the terrible start i got to the first corner 10th, i got by Ed in turn 1 and followed Reece for a few laps. Im not totally sure why but i was getting smoked down the straights something kronik! Maybe the clutch is slipping? anyway i had to make the most of it, i got by Reece in the hairpin and pulled the same move of Peter Tanner as through the infield was the only place i could catch the aprilia as well! I could see Ray Clee ahead of me but i couldnt do anything to catch untill he started slowing with a blown engine. After seeing Ray sidelined i decided i didnt want to share the same fait cause he is my nearest rival in the championship and i needed the points. I thought i had plenty of room behind me because i could see Peter as i exited the hairpin so i slowed down slightly to make sure i finished but i didnt realise Reece had also passed Tanner and was right behind me! I got passed on the last lap and ran a bit wide when i tried to outbrake him, i was absolutly furious at myself but all credit to Reece as he rode very well and even recorded a faster time by .01 Theres 2 ways of thinking about my mistake, 1 ride 110% and win by half a lap or 2 have a pitboard to tell you whats going on behing you so you only do what you have to...
7th, 1.087


Overall i still come out of the weekend 6th = so not a bad result and ive certainly learnt a few good lessons! Im now 6th in the championship 2 points behind Craig in 5th and 12pts ahead of Clee. Bike will be at speed-tech today for a good looksy!

The LG pit looked really good and we gave away stacks of posters. Thanks Drew and Jimmy you guys were excellent help as the mechanics but also the motivation cheers!

Matt Bleck
16th February 2009, 09:54
Good on ya Sloan! 6th= in NZ is still freckin awesome dude!! :yes:

:laugh: at the "Daltons"

Tony.OK
16th February 2009, 10:09
Fantastic effort bro............those laptimes are lookin too quick for me to catch now.

driftn
16th February 2009, 13:19
Good work out there chop, awesome times man. One day when I grow up im going to get to those times.

Nicksta
16th February 2009, 14:00
awesome stuff Sloan!!!!!
its the measure of a rider to persevere through the niggles and still do so well..... great stuff dude... see you this weekend!

GIXser
16th February 2009, 14:37
Yeah Chop rode real well, he got a bit casual towards the end of the second race, not quite realizing Rhys was behind him, which as "it said above" took Chop by surprise, now this far into the nationals you realize a few things that make all the difference to gaining another 1 second or more for example, chop rode on second hand tires for some qualifying and racing, anyway i could go on but basically the facory teams (all six of em) have unlimited tires and suspension and spare bikes and parts and funds, (this is not a dig at the factory teams ofcourse, cos big ups to them,all of them are top blokes and top riders)

Clivoris
16th February 2009, 15:26
I've said it elsewhere, but Team LG rocks. You're always going to be up against it for various reasons but please keep it up.

CHOPPA
16th February 2009, 20:26
I've said it elsewhere, but Team LG rocks. You're always going to be up against it for various reasons but please keep it up.

Yeah mate we are in for the longhaul and provided we can keep getting good exposure for LG they will be behind us all the way!

We always knew this year would be a learning year and we are really happy with our progress. I can assure you next year will different, i still havnt really been in a position where ive had to really push hard and next year with more experience and some big changes with the equipment the pressure will be on to get some great results!

puddytat
16th February 2009, 20:40
Us wannabe's are living it thru your posts bro...good on you :cool:

wbks
16th February 2009, 20:56
Bugger about the problems but it sounds like you made the most of what you had.

Hopefully Paeroa will go smoother for you guys. :niceone:

CHOPPA
16th February 2009, 21:35
Bugger about the problems but it sounds like you made the most of what you had.

Hopefully Paeroa will go smoother for you guys. :niceone:

Everyone has problems, im sure if you asked Bugden there would have been heaps of little hurdles he had to get over throughout the weekend as well but if paeroa turns out rubber side down and a similar position id be a happy camper! :)

Biggles08
17th February 2009, 07:03
As always Chop it was a pleasure watching you ride mate! I could see the frustration on your face as we were saying goodbye when you had just come in from your second race.....shit happens tho bro....your still faaaarkin fast! Looking forward to seeing you at Paeroa bud!

sinfull
17th February 2009, 07:18
Was good to watch you guys out there man ! Top marks to the Daltons for steppin up to help and of course LG for backing ya !!!

Frenchy
17th February 2009, 20:10
well done mate 6th over all is something to be proud of!! :woohoo:

White trash
17th February 2009, 20:16
Good on ya Chop' ya ugly bastard. Good riding indeed mate.

Did you manage to find a fork hoist up home to drag your bottom lip back outta the van or had that nasty swelling gone down by then :)

Shaun P
17th February 2009, 20:24
Great basis for next year then eh, keep up the good work!
Rhys pulled that one out the bag! Keepin u honest lol
How many race km has that machine done now?

CHOPPA
21st February 2009, 21:37
Great basis for next year then eh, keep up the good work!
Rhys pulled that one out the bag! Keepin u honest lol
How many race km has that machine done now?

its done 5000ks on the track now, prob due to have the clearances checked!

R1madness
21st February 2009, 21:52
chop rode on second hand tires for some qualifying and racing, anyway i could go on but basically the facory teams (all six of em) have unlimited tires and suspension and spare bikes and parts and funds, (this is not a dig at the factory teams ofcourse, cos big ups to them,all of them are top blokes and top riders)

Yo man, did you realise that Stroudy ALWAYS practices on his race tyres from the previous meeting. Wonder why that is ;).

CHOPPA
22nd February 2009, 19:41
Yo man, did you realise that Stroudy ALWAYS practices on his race tyres from the previous meeting. Wonder why that is ;).

Bet you he doesnt qualify on them... Even Andrew is gonna have an allocation not an unlimited supply :)

R1madness
22nd February 2009, 22:46
Yea thats right we fit a new set for qualifying. The point is tho that practicing on worn out tyres IS a good idea because the tyres are only new for a couple of laps then they start to wear so knowing how to ride on worn ones is more important than knowing how to ride on new ones. Do it for your setup as well. that way your bike will be stronger at the end of the race.

You uys are doing a fantastic job in your first year. Keep focused and making changes to your setup and you will be going faster than ever. Ride hard man.

CHOPPA
22nd February 2009, 23:04
Yea thats right we fit a new set for qualifying. The point is tho that practicing on worn out tyres IS a good idea because the tyres are only new for a couple of laps then they start to wear so knowing how to ride on worn ones is more important than knowing how to ride on new ones. Do it for your setup as well. that way your bike will be stronger at the end of the race.

You uys are doing a fantastic job in your first year. Keep focused and making changes to your setup and you will be going faster than ever. Ride hard man.

Fully agree mate, when you put those new tyres on after practicing on shite its great for the confidence as well! Cheers for all your help so far as well ;)

R1madness
22nd February 2009, 23:14
thats cool mate. Glad to be able to help. see ya at puke.... get ed to increase his front and rear ride height some more...