Originally Posted by
scuzeme
Cruised upto Manfeild Thursday night and got to the track pretty early Friday morning for the practice day.
The track management in their wisdom decided to continue some repairs and try and loose some standing water problems so no one got out there until after lunch how beit at half price day fees.
RT had just completed a front end modification on my forks so I was keen to try out the handling and get in some good lap times, came away with pretty consistant 16’s, got our garage key and set up for Saturday.
SATURDAY
F2 Qualifying
I had been chewing up rear rubber at the last round and RT had told me to run a heavier spring so I grudgingly removed my rear shock and got a new spring fitted all the while deciding if I should keep my wets on my spare rims or chuck a new set of Metzeler Slicks on, I ended up going out on some older Racetechs.
The new spring completely changed the front end feel and the bike seemed to be way more planted than ever this gave me much more confidence in the Hairpin and Higgins although the front end was diving a bit under brakes and I wasn’t able to brake at my usual braking markers without the rear swinging around in the air!
Qualified 15th on my last lap with a 1:16.8
F1 Qualifying
Back to see RT about the front end dive which resulted in a slight adjusting of the lower clicker, compression rebound I think! And back out on the track qualifying 26th with a best lap time of 1:16.5, pretty disappointed with the grid position in both races but what can ya do!
F2 Race 1
My goal for this meet was to concentrate on the F2 races and use the F1 races as practice/experience time.
Got out on the grid after fitting my new Metzeler Slicks and pressed the “go like fuck” button, this race became a tight tussle between me Marcus, Bruce, Martin and Jason Green on a 748, I kept slowing down to much in the corner entry but had better than average drive out of the corners and down the straights, I was able to keep undertaking Marcus on the exit of Dunlop but he kept out braking me into Toyota I knew that this wouldn’t matter because I would be infront at the checkered flag if I kept doing my thing out of Dunlop, I managed to get past him again and held him off at Toyota then I was able to make a small break from the pack to come home ahead in 14th Place with a new PB of 1:15.21.
F1 Race 1
Between races I was speaking with Keri Duki and he gave me his take on what I might be doing “not so well” in the races taking his advice on board I went out gridded up and right from the start tried a couple of new things. At race end I was a placed 20th out of 31 riders but my best lap time was a 1:14.2 yes a whole second better than my previous lap time in race 1! Everyone had lifted their game to a new level in this race and the competition was fierce to say the least.
That was it for the day I went home to ponder the results and look a the race footage which consisted of a very shaky picture and a rather deperate looking Martin Billing trying pass me but to no avail (Sorry Martin, u must have been pissed).
SUNDAY
F2 Race 2
This race was very much like Race 1 with the same group fighting it out, fortunately for me, Marcus and Martin, Bruce went wide at Higgins and pushed Keelim wide so we all ducked under and got home before them Muhahahaaa I placed 12th with a 1:15.22
At this stage I don’t mind saying my goal for the weekend was to come home infront of Marcus in the F2 races, so after the second time doing this I was pretty happy with myself, these races were exiting and we were all buzzing at the end of each one.
F1 Race 2
We all got off to a good start but the race was red flagged 6 laps in I noted later that my best lap time for this restart race was a pleasing 1:14.6.
We restarted and after the tyre change Marcus had done he was flying and untouchable I placed 18th out of 29 starters with what now seemed a slow 1:16.
F2 Race 3
It seemed that there were a very competitive little bunch that I ended up dueling with all weekend, Marcus, Bruce Williams, Martin Billing, Keelim and Jason Green we all seemed to be of similar pace each of us having an advantage some where on the track only to be off set by a weakness or little mistake somewhere else.
This was a good race and I as determined to make it a hat trick against Marcus.
We launched off the grid with Marcus and Martin getting ahead out of Toyota, I stayed right up there bums going into splash and managed to overtake both of them just before the right hand kink, I was able to hold Marcus of until he overtook me going into splash the nest lap then he just disappeared it was amazing how quick he was there was nothing I could do but concentrate on holding off Martin who also eventually got past me and he too just disappeared!
I was a bit disappointed about my performance in this race I think at that stage of the day I was really tired and my rear tyre had started to overheat and get really loose engine braking into corners. I placed 15th out of 28 riders with a best lap time of 1:15.5.
F1 Race 3
At the end of the Supersport race I decided that I was too tired, making too many mistakes and my rear tyre was too far gone to compete.
After getting Choppa to check out my rear tyre we decided to turn it around and I went out just to get some points.
I started the race really well and was on the pace behind Marcus for a few laps then the fatigue started to effect me, I felt the front let go at Toyota and again at Higgins and should of backed off, instead I kept pushing it.
Coming into splash Keelim and Bryce overtook me and I pushed hard out of splash and leaned the bike over and pinned it hoping to get good drive out of the right hander, the front failed and I just remember tumbling and thinking don’t fight it just keep rolling till you stop.
When I got up I saw bike debris everywhere, I just got over to the safety area as quick as I could in shock at what had just happened.
Later a few people said the syncronised tumbling of bike a rider looked quite spectacular!.
What do I take away from the weekend? Well a 1:14.2 on a 600 isnt to shabby and I have meet and exceeded all my goals for the season, now I just have to make it to round 6 and maybe just maybe I can finish top 10 in F2 for my “rookie” year.
Sorry this is a bit long, Cheers and peace out.
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Karma ... Justice catches up eventually !! 
. I sat out the last F1 race due to arm pump and tyre preservation issues. After watching you I was pleased too.
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