PMCC Round 2, 31st January 2010
Nicksta’s Pro Twin debut!
After 7 months off a race bike I was ready to take on Manfield again. Those of you may or may not know, Tweety has gone to a good home and I now have a new Pro Twin Weapon in the making. Needing some time to test PMCC’s 2 days at the track for $150 was too good to pass up and Frenchy, Tom and I tootled down to Manfield with the camper to have some fun ☺
I entered Pro Twins on my new Kawasaki ER6F which is slightly confusing considering the lovely GSXR fairings Frenchy has strapped on for me (I think they look awesome and suit it quite nicely). After being engulfed by Motards and litre bikes all day Saturday, my confidence wasn’t the best. I was happy knowing my times were steadily coming down, as I was getting more comfy with the gearing and shifting which is quite different on the twin. Sunday morning dawned with Tom jumping around at 5am shouting its raining its raining. Yay for me as I’m far more relaxed on a wet track. We go to change to my wets and my 14mm tool gets rounded ☹ Thanks heaps to those who helped me find one in the pits, much appreciated ☺
F3/Pro Twin Practice/Qualifying:
I roll out a little late and the majority have completed a lap and getting up to speed. I feel out the wets and am happy with the grip, splash is fine and the old usual wiggles on the white lines. Not much has changed. Knowing there are only 6 bikes in the class, I settle to get used to the track and wets on the new bike. I qualify with a 1:37.1 pretty slow but I wasn’t planning on being up the front for the start, I’m at the back and am happy to be back on the track.
Race 1, 8 laps:
Briefing stated we have a split start. I roll out on to the grid and the pro twins are having a hard time organising the 6 bikes we have into a semblance of a grid. I settle where I should be, 2nd in on 2nd row. Randomly a dude is to my left, I figure he’s new. With no marshal separating us from the F3 grid I see the Josiah boys in front of me relaxing waiting for our 2nd set of starting lights. The F3 lights go out and 2 from our front row take off, oops! We wait and its an age before they let us go. I start gingerly as I hadn’t thought about how to start the new bike! Randomly the dude to my left is just as slow, yay a drag to the first corner. I am on the inside to get the edge, he fights back but I power on into splash. Not long and we catch the F3 stragglers, then the 206 in pro Twins that jumped started. I settle into a rhythm and find a lot of fun reeling in the F3 bikes and practicing my passing then targeting the next. White flag is out and I cruise across the line a lap later with a big grin on my face. I’m back ☺ Result: 4th place with a 1:35.0 fastest lap. Turns out 2 out of 6 of us got told we start with F3 so the jump starters didn’t get penalised. Random!
Race 2, 6 laps:
Shortened due to time, we are all instructed we start off a second set of lights. We line up again. Lights go out, not such a good launch for me but I’m beside Mr SV again. We drag to T1 and he tries for the outside and sticks beside me, I gas it to T2 and he slips behind, I’m chasing Mr 206 who’s not far in front. I reel him in down the middle straight and battle to pass him. I get passed and give the Kawasaki some gas to make a gap. I’m flying (I think) and break late into T1, gas it coming round and feel the rear slide, hmm. Cranked round T2 and breaking into T3 I slide again round splash, hmm I’m starting to think have I got a flat? Is the tyre going flat? I take it easy round the hair pin but it feels fine and get some speed down the middle straight, feels fine, hmmm. Higgins is fine and so is Dunlop but I take T1 easy again and I’m sliding out, I guess the wets have started to die. Damn. I take it easy on the corners and on the last lap get passed again by Mr 206. I try to chase him down the middle straight but am too slow, I catch him and a F3 bike coming into Dunlop but I cant get passed the F3 bike to chase him to the line, I settle to finish behind him. No point in pushing today, I just wanted to finish. Result: 5th with a best lap of 1:34.8. I’m happy, I’ve finished my first race meet since breaking my pelvis, goal 1 achieved.
A huge big thank you to Frenchy for helping me get the new Kawasaki race ready, it looks and runs awesome, plus all your tireless work at the track, you rock babe. Some more thank you’s are due for John and Mr Taylor for the front end, it felt a million bucks! Thank you also to Dave, Donna and the Team at Kiwibike Insurance, Paul Martindale, Dunlop tyres for the sticky stuff and Future Grafix for the pretty stickers. Thank you PMCC for putting on a good event and cool BBQ sat night. Cheers to the volunteers also that make racing happen for us and everyone on the day that gave me heaps of encouragement… much appreciated.
I’m real excited to say I’m back and amped for an awesome and challenging season of racing this winter, I cant wait to see what the Kawasaki can do in Pro Twins…. Watch out boys!
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Originally Posted by Nicksta
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