125GP
Testing
I arrived at a damp track on friday morning. I skipped the first session, as the track was very slippery. But i still managed to get in 5 sessions after this, 4 wet and 1 with a dry line.
But nevertheless i still had a awesome time out there, really building more wet confidence!
After the test day, we headed back to the Raceway Court Motel, for a tutioral, with steve. Going over some very valuable ideas about the weeks before the race day and getting into it faster. With some facts about tires and how they are made at the end of it.
Thanks Steve for this, it was very valuable stuff.
Race Day
Q1
The track was slippery and wet by the time we got too the track, but because we were headed out last. It would give the track sometime too dry.
I headed out in front of everyone and took off in front. This was possibly a mistake as i approached streetstockers in record time. Just after the second lap.
Next time ill leave behind them, in the hope that i will finish passing them all by the start of the first flying lap.
Nevertheless i few in a couple of pretty quick laps, until i noticed i was struggling to change gears. As i knew i had a fairly okay position on the grid i didn't risk it being fatal. It turned out that the shifter was the wrong one and it was quickly swapped over for the right one. No worries!
I qualified on pole with a best time of 1:19:5, what was a fair bit slower than i have been before, but i guess the track temps were quite low at the time.
I did noticed that the bike was moving around a-lot during qualifying, so i talked to steve about this, and we stiffen up the settings to suit the dry track.
Race 1
The race approached as, i went around the warm up lap, i could immedinately feel the difference. That being the steering was more precise and the overall feel was more rigid.
The lights went on and then they came out, some how i managed too finally nail my start too a pretty good standard. Heading in to turn one just behind Avalon, i had a brain fade, and started braking a little bit too early. Not carrying enough corner speed i got eaten alive by William, who took me down the inside. This was a big mistake as, i was getting held up a wee bit, during the midfield straight away. I finally got past him through the mid field. But by this time Avalon had taken off. Eventually, i buttoned off a little bit towards the end of the race, due to lap traffic/not being aggressive enough and ended up letting Jayden through and started battling with William.
On the last lap, i was following William, with the plan too attack him at either the Higgins or the sweeper, i managed too get right up next too him down the back straight. But his bike was slightly more powerful and i didn't quite get a strong enough slipstream on him, disappointingly when i look back at it, i could of probably out broke him into the sweeper. Instead i got on the power super early exiting the sweeper and was less than half a metre behind him. It was disappointing but also a good battle. Disappointing because i wouldn't of had to battle him if i remain consistent in the last lap.
Best time was a 1:17:1, on the second lap. On the lap chart i could clearly see i was slowing towards the end of the day, maybe a fitness thing.
During the race, i was having chattering? problems turning in and during the corner. As well as little front end feeling. No excuses for lacking of however! We played with the front end a little bit for the second race, but not that i think about it. I shouldn't be focusing on band aiding it with suspension rather ride around it.
Race Two
Yet another pretty good start, coming second again into the first corner i was on too it and managed to brake pretty late, but yet again i lost a place. This is a good thing too work on for next time as there is plenty of grip going into the first corner.
Jayden was the rider who managed to get past me, as i knew he is fairly quick i expected him too chase after Avalon.
So i planned to let him drag me up too Av, however i noticed i was getting held up by him. Due to him having a engine problem. Down the back straight on the second lap his bike, blew up. By this time again, Av had disappeared. I made the stupid mistake of relaxing during this race, and got overtaken through the sweeper during the last lap by William, i tried to get on the gas harder than him as he ran it wide a little bit, however a street stock was in my way to make this possible and the front started too slide the front towards the ripple strip.
I avoided the ripple strip, but still finished behind.
Best time 1:18:7, no real excuse for having such a bad last race, but i learnt a lot about it.
The things i need to work on,
Being Consistent. I had the pace too win, but i didn't have the consistency. This was very disappointing.
Being more aggressive while lapping other riders.
Eating/Sleeping the week leading up to the race.
Playing with hanging my upper body off more.
Being smoother.
Plenty too work on and more, but i learnt a lot about racing in general during this weekend.
Thank you alot too;
Steve Bagshaw / Mike Reps for keeping everything running and all their mentoring help during the weekend.
Moto-Academy and their sponsors
Photo taken by WFPhotography, Thanks Chrisse!
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Originally Posted by vtec
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