Long story but after leaving at 1.30am I eventually got down to the track at 7am care of Billy from www.racefairings.co.nz. Clive Banks brought the bike up from Paul Martindale's place.
Slicky slidy track. Not wet enough to destroy a set of wets (I'm Scottish). Kept the Dunlop GPR's on and the extensive tyre cutting drew had performed on the rear at the last round seemed to work really well. Thanks Drew.
Pre89 qualifying. Track was fuggin horrible to be honest. Tried following Frenchy around for the whole session as he's pretty handy in the wet. It must have worked as qualified 7th (3rd in class)...over 1s behind Frenchy and 3 behind Ernie Cudby. 1.28.8 .
F1 Qualifying. I took advantage and went out in F2 qualifying to get more track time and adjust my breathing as one of my nostrils totally blocked. It worked and I just repeated in F2 and did a 1.25.
Pre89 race 1. It was a blur. Average start. Luckily for once Frenchy has a $hit start. Ernie has buggered off. Ho hum. Battle up to 4th place but am stuck behind Darren Calder's fizzy though. No way past. Lose too much time trying block passes but of course he farks off past me on the straights. This lets Frenchy catch up on the 2nd last lap. He passes me on the slower stuff but I'm passing him on the faster stuff. I don't expect him to come around my outside on the final corner. I think we touch. "Fuck it...if I crash he's going with me." I come off the brakes much earlier, go in much faster and fire on the gas way earlier. The bike sticks and I pass him back. What a race. 1.22.1 I finish 1st in class as Ernie had a wee off road excursion care of another in lap 4. Lucky break.
F1 Race 1 . - I pass thanks
Track dried out a bit around lunchtime but wasn't brave enough to try out the slicks as they've a slightly different profile. The wear on the GPR's doesn't look too bad.
Pre89 Race 2. Opposite of race 1 really. I get a totally boxed in by a wobbly bike. Watch Frenchy having a tussle with Ernie for a couple of laps which surprises me. Spend pretty much the whole race reeling in Frenchy but am one lap too short. Finish 3rd in class. 1.20.5 -- a new PB for me in posties.
F1 Race 2. - Bloody good start. Goal is to not get lapped and not finish last. Cane arse off bike. Last lap, braking into higgins I pass some old geezer on a trumpy ha ha....mission accomplished. 1.20.3 - PB dropped again
Pre89 Race 3. - OK start. Pass the Frenchmeister through splash and fuck up his entry into the hairpin. I go hard to drop Frenchy and chase down Ernie for 2 laps. I have him on brakes and corner speed but his fizzy has serious squirt on the straights. To be honest, I reckon he's got another 2s in the bag and just hasn't noticed me (sigh). I back off a little in the middle of the race but Frenchy keeps me honest in the last 2 laps. I have a big moment going over the outside white line into turn 2 but the Ohlins thing pays for itself again. 1.19.7 on the 2nd lap - PB dropped again but Frenchy is 0.5s faster from trying to catch me! 2nd
F1 Race 3. - nope...pass...the beer is too tempting and my nose is totally blocked...still...beats snot running all over visor.
1st overall on the day. 3 out of 3 rounds but the lead is only 38 points and Ernie is gunning for me. 1 DNF and I'm screwed. Must practise the starts on the bike.
Back home at 1am. Fuggin long Saturday.
Paul - thanks for your work - bike felt more stable on the brakes, probably should change the GPRs ?
Robert - thanks for the offer - if we ever get dry sticky weather I'll adjust the suspenders to suit.
Clive - thanks for shifting bike and umm...taking most of my shit home.
Billy - thanks for all the driving. Listening to my shit and hopefully making Frankencane look purty for next round.
Pipson - nice phoaties mister.
Missed my one and only groupie....you know who you are
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Originally Posted by Matt Bleck
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