VMCC Round 6 – The Final Assault!
Biggles Race Report
It’s been a loooong winters racing with lots of highs and lows and it seemed the last round was going to try and jam all these highs and lows all together for one final round. Let’s get straight to it...
Saturday morning we woke up after a few ales the night before....some more than others and Scuzeme seemed to think he would operate better on a hangover...and it appears maybe he can.
Anyway, we looked out the window and although it looked fairly overcast, the ground was semi dry and all of a sudden what was supposed to be 100% chance of rain looked like a dry meeting may occur...sweet...I may get to try out my new secret weapons...Dunlop’s!
Arrived at the track and set up my Kwik-n-Ezy next to Nick Coles lot and started to change my tires over to the new Dunlop’s. First thing I noticed is how heavy the new tires walls were...they were a mission to get on and off the rims. Anyway, finally managed to get them on with some help from Scuzeme and popped the beads into place. The call for 600SS went out and off I went. I went out fairly slowly to get a feel for the track and the new tires. I was surprised to feel that they were a bit slippery. I carried on throughout the qualifying thinking it was a bit weird how they didn’t feel as stable as I remembered them from last meeting and especially braking into Dunlop (a fast right hand sweeper). The front felt like it was doing circles underneath me under brakes which needless to say is not ideal. It wasn’t until the qualifying was over and we were waiting in the middle of the track to be flagged through to the dummy grid that I realized I hadn’t let the pressures down to where they should be. I qualified on the front pressure of 45psi (should be 33psi) and the rear on 50psi (should be 19psi!!!!)....mystery solved. I Ended up qualifying in 12th on the grid for F2 and 19th in F1 which was not what I was hoping for.
F2 Race 1:
Lined up in 12th position on the grid which is not where I like to be...on the outside of the line. Red lights off and away we go...I get a reasonable start and head into the first right hander in about 7th place ahead of Jamie R and feeling good. I put my head down and I’m determined to stay in front of him as I have never beaten him in a race yet. My bike is feeling sweet and I’m on the gas. Heading past the start finish line for the second time I take my line for the first turn again....I start to dip in and I hear a scraping sound from my right...I know someone has decked it and its sounding really close...I carry on into the corner and right before my knee touches the ground I feel a impact on the rear of my tire pushing it around on me...before I know it I’m rolling on the ground thinking to myself where’s all the other bikes? I think I’ve stopped moving so try to get up....tumble around some more...nope...still rolling....once again I try to get up....same thing...still rolling...funny how you think you are about to stop but still are moving pretty fast. Finally I do come to a stop and jump up and get my bearings. I see Jamie R running to his bike to get back on....that’s what I should do I think to myself. I run to my bike... remarkably managed to get it up first go and then notice I have no brake lever...there goes that idea.
Meanwhile Jamie is back on and away...bastard! I spend the rest of the race on top of the tire walls kicking shit and feeling ripped off. By the end of the race I’ve calmed down and realize it’s just the way it is. I get back to the pits and assess the damage. Broken brake lever is the worst and Rodd from www.loccomotion.com comes to the rescue and drives into Palmerston North to get the last lever available for my bike! What a fantastic bloke! I bend the rear-set back into shape and duct tape the fairings back together to be ready for the next race.
F1 Race 1
Line up in 19th position on the grid feeling a mix of anger and nerves. I have never crashed before and I didn’t really know how I was going to react. But, I also was very determined to beat the culprit who knocked me off.
Lights off...we’re off...head off to the first turn...dip it in and feel pretty confident I’m on the money. I spend the first couple of laps trying to find a way past Phil Derby on his GSXR1000 and manage to just before splash I think. I end up battling with Sandra on her Honda CBR1000 most of the race with Jamie R sitting pretty close behind me. I catch Sandra on every corner and I’m right on her case ready to pounce until we get to another straight then she winds on the power and the difference in horses becomes very apparent. I do get under her in the infield hairpin but try a defensive exit out of Higgens, drifting wide but she jumps underneath me and get away with the throttle again. I end up chasing her over the line for a 8th placing...not a bad effort from 19th off the grid!
F2 Race 2
It’s amazing what it does for your confidence when you know your competitive. I went into this race with the attitude that I was as fast as whomever I wanted to be...I realize its not true but I was still on a buzz of beating Jamie finally after all these months chasing him and being soooo far behind. Line up and off we go....bugger it....watch this...it’s easier
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAt_r3BQ9w0[/youtube]
This winter series has been a fantastic learning curve for me both in race craft and race preparation. I have had so many people help me throughout this year both competitors and sponsors. I find it amazing the comradely we all share and it’s been a blast dicing it up with a lot of you! I really need to thank a few people who have been extra supportive. First to my lovely lady Domini...You have been a rock when it comes to all the stress involved in racing. It’s not just the actually race meets..It’s all the preparation, the background work with keeping sponsors happy, all the nights I spend in the garage tinkering with the bike. You have never complained and always are there to back me up no matter what shit is going down! Thanks baby! Darrin H..bro you’re a mate and will always will be. Its been a pleasure watching you get faster and faster and finally beat me...well done bud. Thanks for all the financial help too...when I needed it most. Rob from Takapuna Brake and Automotive for taking my gearbox out about
5 times! We got there in the end mate! Goetz from Ed Hardy Motorsports NZ...I wouldn’t have been out here racing had you not provided a new box for Rob to put back in my bike....cheers bro....2010 is going to be a great year! To all my sponsors for believing in me and Biggles Racing...I hope your all as pleased as I am with what we have all done this yeafr THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Summer Series...here we come!!!! woooooooooop!
Biggles.
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Originally Posted by mossy1200
welldone with the racing
Hopefully I’ll be joining the on-track party at PMCC!
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