Two Smoker Race report Rnd 2 Vic Club 05

**Two Smoker** · 22nd May 2005, 12:20

Hey everyone,

Yep it was that time again, Race day at manfield...

It was very different this time, where i was the one to cause MR and I to leave late... I had a late delivery and didnt finish till 5pm

So finally we arrived in Palmerston at 1:30 am. We then got up at 5:30am to get ready to go to the track early. We got there at 0640 AND WE WERE THE FIRST IN LINE!!! By 0710 there was a HUGE (20+ cars) line waiting to get first dibs on the pits, and the gates hadn't even opened!!!

The day was overcast, there was a threat of rain and the track was wet.

Qualifying: Ive never raced in the wet, and never ridden with Supercorsa's fast in teh wet either. I also had to scrub in my rear tyre

By the time my qualifying came up, the track was starting to dry out (cheers the big bikes) and i was feeling a little more confident... I took it easy to start with and then started to find out how much i can push these supercorsas. I came back in and felt i did ok, and waited to see the results... WOOHOO 5th PLACE ON THE GRID!!! But it got better, I WAS ONLY 0.2 SECONDS BEHIND HAYDEN FITZGERALD, i had also beaten Derek Hill... There was 0.8 seconds seperating the top 5 riders, it was going to be a close one... Hayden had been running slicks, so had been taking it easy...

Race 1: I came upto the grid, and the track was very dry. reved my engine, the flag dropped. *BOGGED* (For fucks sake when will i get my starts sorted) I watched about 6 people go past me... But i got my own back by riding past about 5 of them around the first corner. I pushed it hard, and it was virtually dry conditions. I managed to get past Craig Sullivan on the very last corner or the last lap to secure 5th place. My best time was a 1:18.772.

Race 2: It was raining, and i was very nervous as this would be my first race in the rain. As everyone whacked on their wets, i was graciously offered MR's tyre warmers (cheers man that was a huge help!!!) After asking heaps of people about starts and the abilities of supercorsas in the wet, i basically went out to experiment and learn... Hayden and Jason Nairn decided to start at the back of the field. The flag dropped and i was off with an ok start, i slipped my clutch pretty much all the way through first gear. I started to learn how much i could lean the bike, and soon enough i was getting my knee down and going pretty quick, with gentle powersliding out of the corners... By the end of the back straight Jason and Hayden had passed everyone. I was settling in a nice groove and reeled in Geoff Booth to sit in 4th place, quickly gaining on Derek Hill. I had an awesome race against Derek, where i would get him under brakes, pass him on the outside. Just to have him pass me on the straights with his emmence power. These passing manuvoures happened about 15 times in total... I ended up getting 4th place, with a best time of 1:24.195, learnt that Supercorsas have awesome grip and had a wicked time playing with one of the top riders in the country in F3.

Race 3: The track was still damp, but it was drying up. I was determined to get my start right, revved my engine, clutch out, oohhhh too much revs!!! The bike shot sideways, i clutched it in and then kept going (BLOODY SHOCKING!!!) I settled into a quick pace, and was soon in 3rd position behind Geoff Booth and Derek Hill. Within 2 laps i passed Geoff under brakes. Just after that Hayden passed me, and i was on his tail for a few corners, but ofcourse he naturally pulled very quickly away... Then the checkered flag was waved and that was the end of the 9 lapper. I had finished in 3rd PLACE!!! So stoked with that...and to top it off i was doing 1:24's and everyone else infront was on wets...

These results put me 4th in the championship behind Hayden Fitzgerald, Jason Nairn and Derek Hill, with Geoff Booth nipping at my heels only 2 points behind me.

Huge thanks to Motoracer!!! Also to Hooks, and my G/F Chloe!!! Big thanks to the KB support!!!

So now all you F3 racers need to come down and race at Manfield

**FROSTY:Me** · 22nd May 2005, 12:35

good onya chris. fantastic result against some really good competition.
Im gonna hafta forgo the manfeild racing.I might make the final round but its very doubtfull
My bank manager is seriously pissed off at me.

**she_said** · 22nd May 2005, 12:37

Sounds like you had a wicked day

were you racing your rg?

**Quasievil** · 22nd May 2005, 12:41

A good read TS, well done mate Im stoked for you getting such a awesome result, on YA!!!!

Cant wait till the next race to see how you go, hopefully I will be in the back somewhere for the view.

Good Stuff

**Two Smoker** · 22nd May 2005, 12:41

Originally Posted by she_said

Sounds like you had a wicked day

were you racing your rg?

Nah mate, My ZXR400...

Gutted Frosty

try and make at least one of the rounds aye

**Sensei** · 22nd May 2005, 12:46

Good skill 2smoker Jason Narin is my Motor man for my GSXR1000 .
& buy 2 hand race tyres of Hayden old man Terry . Top skills There dude looks like I my need to come up there & get some tips off you .Thats if I could keep up to see what you are doing

**sarg** · 22nd May 2005, 13:04

great effort Chris
proud of you

**Two Smoker** · 22nd May 2005, 13:14

Originally Posted by sarg

great effort Chris
proud of you

Cheers Dad...

**Ghost Lemur** · 22nd May 2005, 13:39

Exellent results Chris.

What's your goal for the season? Top 3? Then on to a win next year, or are you going to move up to F2 next season?

Sounds like you'll be knocking over the big boys in no time.

"Slight better watch his back, our boy's got skillz".

**That Guy** · 22nd May 2005, 13:58

Awesome effort Chirs - your bike is a wee (!) way behind those you are beating and racing with - impressive. Keep at mate I reckon you've got the goods to go far.

**Motoracer** · 22nd May 2005, 14:07

I was most impressed TS. It made me proud to have been riding with you all along, watching your skills develop at a rapid rate and then see you beat some of the big names in F3 on a very underpowered bike yesterday. I think you have what it takes, seriously (everyone has said it before but now I really realise that as well).

Even though you came 4th and 3rd on your races (which is f-ing brilliant!!), you really do deserve

for your effort, in my books.

Good on ya mate!

**GSVR** · 22nd May 2005, 15:07

What TS didn't mention in his report was there where 52 entries in the race programme for the F3/Superlight class. Huge field.

Was a day of very changeable track conditions. Guys with only one set of rims where very busy changing from wets to slicks in the hope they had the right tires on when it came time for them to race.

I filled in a Vic club membership form and gave it to kiwibiker/vicclub main man SVS. After I get a MNZ license I won't have any excuse not to have a go in clubmans.

Alot of Kiwibikers where at the meeting both as competitors and spectators.