I thought I was better prepared leading up to this one...I wasn't.
After getting myself and a million children out of bed, at stupid o'clock we hit the road Saturday morning.
After setting up the tent and sign on, superbike were second session out for qualifying. I was sorta aiming for the first two rows, and taking it pretty easy breaking real early to try and work on corner speeds.
It hadn't really occured to me to check my times for a while, then Kevin wanders over saying I did all right for taking it easy, he then told me I'd qualified second. I told him he was full of shit, but his insistance saw me believing. Turns out he was taking the piss (albeit unknowingly), and I had infact qualified third. (Bloody tease)!
I was fairly stoked as you'd expect, and I happily went about swapping my rear tyre, for one of a few generously donated by Billy.
Race 1. I get a blinder of a start, with the nose of the Gixxer in front all the way to where I braked, just a tad unfortunate that Craig, Hayden, Glen, and Jamie actually have balls, and they all braked HEAPS later.
Anyhoo, I set about getting a couple of those spots back, problem seemed to be more people were passing me instead. Every time I tried to go a bit quicker, the rear of the bike would just step out further, this was compounding itself every lap, untill it all came unstuck REAL bad.
Exciting turn one on lap three or four (I think), I got on the gas as much as I dared for the long right hander, the back stepped out huge and tried to spit me off the top! But before I could get my feet back to the pegs, (or my arse to the seat for that matter), the rear let go once more. Needless to say I was fair packing my undies by this point. For a second time, it grabbed hard and tried to chuck me off, but somehow I stayed on...ish. I was thrown over the front of the fairing and copped the screen in my throat, that impact in turn knocked the breath gaurd off inside my helmet, which promptly took up residence over my right eye. That was enough for now I thought, and quietly tried to navigate my way back to the slip road half blind.
Formula LG 1.
After bludging around for a bit, that stellar young chap Fitzgerald, hooked me up witha rear tyre to use. (Dont ya hate it, when the tallented bastards turn out to be good coontz).
Just before we went out, it's announced that this will be a ten lap race instead of the schedualed six. I had mixed emotions about that, given my ture shortage, but what hte hell? The more laps the better!
Another great launch, and another epic dropping of nuts see me drop a spot back to fourth. I kept my cool though and sat quietly there with the intention of picking up the pace around half distance. After I had lost count of laps I decided to get on it, and started to lift my game.
My plan was working great, and I realed Adrian back in and snagged third place, riiiiight about the same time my tyre stopped working so great. I couldn't hold the lap times we were doing without serious risk of machine and self, so I had to back off and settle for fourth. Finishing the race there, with a big gap infront, and behind me. (Giving me some time to do a bit of sliding around the back section of the track, which is WICKED awesome fun.)
Back on the bludge, and Craig Sherriffs comes to the party this time, with a very good condition tyre. (Again, fast bugger, is a great guy. DAMMIT!) So I finish the day putting the tyre I'd qualified with back on, and Craigs on the spare rim Billy had leant me, (You're a legend mate) to be prepared for Sunday.
Superbike 2
Second lot of bikes to go out again, and I was a little nervous about the cold track, but I had kept my ego in check(ish) thus far, and felt comfortable I wouldn't do anything too daft.
Another great start off the line, and same result come slow down time. With only six laps this race, I didn't have time to stratagise, and tried to get down to bizzo. There is a recurring theme from here, and it sums up to me needing to come with enough tyres to use. I spent the race sliding about, and brought it home in sixth after dicing with Craig Freebee, and I think Derek McAdam (sp).
Superbike 3
Right, "I've got the best tyre I've had all weekend, the day is mint, try and get your shit together aye Drew".
Yep, another great start, (think I quite enjoy having SHIT LOADS of power and torque on hand), and this time I dont drop my bottle so much into the first turn. Jamie and Glen still come past me, (peskie bloody six hundies), but I get good drive and stick with them pretty well for a couple laps. They did gap me a bit after a coupe laps, and I pretty much spent the rest of the race by myself in fifth. Which is where I finished, and even managed a little wheelie over the line.
Unfortunately the day ran long, and the LG class was canned at the end of the day, I was a bit gutted since I was hoping for a podium finish, but I soon had other things to worry about as both ambulances drove off with two friends inside. (Both are broken, but not beaten thankfully)
All in all, I had a fantastic weekend. Vic club truely put on a blinder, so thanks heaps to them, and all the marshalls too. One in particular helped me out a bit, Skippy (Sue), you're awesome!
Huge thanks to my lovely lady, for support, tending the tribe, and generally being great.
Thanks a million to Billy, I wont be able to use the tyres because of thier age, but that doesn't take away from the fact you dragged them all the way down to help me out. Awesome.
Frenchy, Nikki, Alan, Malcom, and Hells, for all your help.
And to our sponsors of course, who will be listed in my signature as soon as I figure out how to get them from Deanos signature.
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Originally Posted by sinfull
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