Matt Bleck's VMCC Rnd3 - Oops I did it again!

**Matt Bleck** · 18th July 2010, 22:29

We arrived nice and early to a cold wet track with slowly drying conditions. It was much the same as Saturday of Rnd2, not really wet enough for wets but not really dry enough for slicks. We went for wets for qualifying on both bikes, and

managed to get 5th on the grid in both F1 and F3.

Race 1,
F3:

I got a goood start but lost places, ended up at around 6th place going into slash. Managed to get past Drew and then Deano, and thought I had 1st in F3 in the bag only to have Leigh Tidman pass going into Dunlop. I tried to get around the outside a couple of times but he finally got away and I managed a 2nd.

F1:

I pulled into the pits and the team had the GSXR ready and waiting, I shot off to the dummy grid to find I was the first one there! Sat there for a good 3 or 4 mins before being let on to the track. We lined up but had to wait a bit longer as Darrin had a little problem with his bike, it wanted to have a rest I think. We started and I had a good one. Second lap going into splash just behind Jamie, and you wouldn't guess it, but I lost the front tipping it in and proceeded to watch my bike slide off onto the grass, rather spectacularly I must add. I watched hoping it wouldn't catch and start tumbling. I have to admit I crawled along the ground wondering if I should try to get the race stopped. What I should of done in hind sight was get to the bike asap and try to get back into the race! Lesson learnt, not crashing would probably be a better idea though I suppose!

Race 2,
F3:
Had a good start, but got passed by Leigh again, I couldn't catch him this time! Deano left me behind too, but I did get past Drew again at Dunlop, around the outside. Finished 2nd in F3 behind Leigh.

F1:
I got really good launch off the line but braked a little early and lost a lot of places. I was pretty much by myself for this one and finished 8th!

Race 3,
F3:
I didn't get such a good start this time as I got boxed in through turn one. I think I Was around 6th or 7th going into splash (turn 3) and I was just behind Drew. I got past him around Dunlop and pushed as hard as I dared. Two laps in and I got out braked by (I think) Nick Longstaff. His bike had heaps of pull down the sraights and he left me behind.

F1:
This was to be my first jump start to a race, resulting in a 20 second penalty. So yeah, I jumped the start. I sort of anticipated the lights to go out but they didn't. I let out the clutch, realised my mistake stopped, then the lights went out and we were off! I had a good start, I was around 7th I think. Hayden Fitzgerald passed me going into hairpin then I tried to go around the outside of him at Higgins! Ended up getting pushed wide on the exit and I hit the cement dust and had a big moment. That let Mark Perry by with Biggles nipping at my heels! The GSXR had it over the RSV and I got him going into Dunlop! As I came past the start finish, I saw this board being waved at me, huh? That lap going into Higgins (it dawned on me) it was because of my jumped start! I shook my head as I went past and saw that it was indeed for #71, gutted! So I figured I'd better push hard, and just tried to relax and get some smooth laps in. We crossed the line in 7th but with the penalty got pushed back to 12th.

Despite the crash it was still a great day of racing! I set a new PB around the short track on the GSXR of 1:12:571. My fastest lap of the day on the SV 650 was 1:16:978 and I had some good laughs in the pits!

Thanks to all the volunteers who gave up their Saturday so I could put on some fireworks for the punters, choice!!

A huge thankyou to Peter Harkess, Steve Saunders, Alick Saunders, Allan Ure for helping out with bike change over, repairs and clean up. Thanks also has to go to MotoTT Trackdays, Gigabyte Solutionz, ExpandaSign, Dunlop, Chris Mitchell Motorcycles, Acacia Bay R&R and Alick Saunders Photography!