Str8 Jacket
18th May 2009, 14:43
Wow! What a weekend! I had never raced Taupo before so I was very grateful for the opportunity to take Malcolms bike out on the Test Day in the Tuesday before. I was running in a new piston so had no choice but to take it easy. I got 35 odd laps in and got to learn the track. It is after all just "a track"...
I had 2 goals for this round and I will have the same 2 goals for every round following.
Goal 1: Finish the race
Goal 2: Work towards a top ten placing by the end of the series.
PRACTICE QUALIFYING:
Bloody darn weather started to rain just as we went out. I qualified 26th at the grid and 10th in SS150's with a very slow time of 2.39.xxx. It was slippery as hell and I was nervous as hell and to be honest I think I only got 3 laps in in qualifying and I was just glad to finish up right and with a working bike!
RACE 1
I got a crap start and even braked at one point "just to let someone through", like WTF?! Anyway once I got through turn 1 I was a bit more awake. However I was still nervous enough to let a Jelaca through at one point just cause I was scared of the track service. I had a great battle with Jase W and manged to keep him off and I finished 10th with a time of 2:21.xxx. My nerves started to settle when I saw the sun coming out...
RACE 2
I got a much better start. The bikes just seemed to seperate in front of me and then I saw Malcolm trying to run off the track at turn 1. I was worried thinking that he may have seized but he passed me again a few seconds later, doh!
I was much more relaxed by this stage, even though my Boss and both my parents were there watching (no pressure or anything). I had a great battle with Jase W this time and had to really work at keeping him behind me. I was stoked to only just beat him across the finish line.
So I finished the day in 11th doing a 2:18 ish. Needs to improve! :yes:
LESSONS LEARNT:
Ignore your nerves, what will happen will happen. I need to start relaxing and moving off the bike, in race 2 I had to lift me foot off the pegs round every corner just to stop contact. This will come with a bit more confidence.
Braking later will not kill me and I need to stop using my brakes so much.
Being in the right gear helps, especially with traction, doh.
Relax, Relax, Relax!!!
I had a great weekend and must thank everyone in our pit, especially Malcolm.
BRING ON ROUND 2!!! :wari:
I had 2 goals for this round and I will have the same 2 goals for every round following.
Goal 1: Finish the race
Goal 2: Work towards a top ten placing by the end of the series.
PRACTICE QUALIFYING:
Bloody darn weather started to rain just as we went out. I qualified 26th at the grid and 10th in SS150's with a very slow time of 2.39.xxx. It was slippery as hell and I was nervous as hell and to be honest I think I only got 3 laps in in qualifying and I was just glad to finish up right and with a working bike!
RACE 1
I got a crap start and even braked at one point "just to let someone through", like WTF?! Anyway once I got through turn 1 I was a bit more awake. However I was still nervous enough to let a Jelaca through at one point just cause I was scared of the track service. I had a great battle with Jase W and manged to keep him off and I finished 10th with a time of 2:21.xxx. My nerves started to settle when I saw the sun coming out...
RACE 2
I got a much better start. The bikes just seemed to seperate in front of me and then I saw Malcolm trying to run off the track at turn 1. I was worried thinking that he may have seized but he passed me again a few seconds later, doh!
I was much more relaxed by this stage, even though my Boss and both my parents were there watching (no pressure or anything). I had a great battle with Jase W this time and had to really work at keeping him behind me. I was stoked to only just beat him across the finish line.
So I finished the day in 11th doing a 2:18 ish. Needs to improve! :yes:
LESSONS LEARNT:
Ignore your nerves, what will happen will happen. I need to start relaxing and moving off the bike, in race 2 I had to lift me foot off the pegs round every corner just to stop contact. This will come with a bit more confidence.
Braking later will not kill me and I need to stop using my brakes so much.
Being in the right gear helps, especially with traction, doh.
Relax, Relax, Relax!!!
I had a great weekend and must thank everyone in our pit, especially Malcolm.
BRING ON ROUND 2!!! :wari: