Cr1mINaL's PMCC R2 Manfeild.

[Cr1MiNaL]

Drove down with my lovely girlfriend Hayley the Saturday morning for the Moto TT trackday. This was to be her first ever trackday and I was going to show her some lines and techniques around the track. Hayley did really well in Grp 4 and is showing signs of being a real natural. When I wasn't coaching her I was testing the Gsxr and practicing for my debut race in F1 Finally got the bike working close enough and set up camp for what was to be a windy night at the track! Racing on a budget no money for a hotel.

Sunday Formula 1 Qualifying.

Qualified 9th on the Grid. I'd never raced at Manfield before so could not reach any conclusions as to whether that was any good or not. Hayley though I was going to get my arse kicked so she said I held it together pretty impressively thanks babe! xo

Race1.

When I race clubmans I always get great starts and mostly always get the holeshot. I was expecting much of the same here. Lights went green and I cracked it open. Up she came and I had to roll her off and jump on the rear losing time, every mili second counts in this class! Would have been 3rd into T1 but settled for 4th. I could see Sam and Scott battling it out going into splash. Archie lined me up at splash but decided not to pass me, I could hear bikes all around me! At about the half way point BJ and a 1198 duc come flying past me down the back straight as I'm about to tip in, lock the front and go down! Paul the opportunist passes me going into T1. Archie, Paul and I had some epic battles the whole race (I can't remember the details as it all happened so fast) but we crossed the line 5th behind Archie Kilgour.

Race 2.

Again a poor start, this time not enough throttle. Normally this would still have put me in 3rd in clubmans but I got shunted to about 7th. I put my head down and passed a bike down the back straight, putting me just behind Paul Duncan. I followed him around getting a feel for the track and the racing lines. Think somehow I managed to sneak past him only just and Archie was right on my front wheel. The three of us stuck together like a freight train for the rest of the race and I thought I had lined Archie up nicely and crossed the line just before him but was 0.090 s behind him. (next time I will mount the transponder to my front wheel lol). It was really really windy and I was having heaps of fun getting 5th gear power wheelies and tank slappers down the kink in the back straight! I've never got to properly wheelie the GSXR as I've only ever ridden it while racing.

After some expert tutoring from the Ginga Ninja Darrin Humphries himself I shaved 1.8 seconds off what I thought I was doing around Manfield on a trackday, basically by following faster riders around. Thanks mate, made a huge difference and I know I can go a lot faster now after using the techniques you taught me (won't post them up on here though!) .PB of 1.13.721 and I was told it is a good place for me to start working on my riding. I always knew its best to shut your mouth and open your ears but racing in F1 sure put me in my place alright. There is some real talent and experience around and I hope some of you will help me learn so that one day I can impart some of what I have learned to another young rider and keep this sport alive in NZ.

Thanks to Hayley for all her help setting up and keeping me well fed and hydrated. Also she's invaluable in the pits and great to talk to to calm my nerves. She also keeps me grounded although I had no aspirations of going out there in my first ever race and giving Jamie Scott or Sam the learn haha (however I did win F1 in my sleep last night almost didn't make it to work as I didn't want the dream to end but somehow it wouldn't get past a certain point - kinda like a time lag if you know what I mean lol). Plus I get to spank her bum if I don't get passed more than once! LOL

Anyway, heres a BIG thanks to my sponsors listed below in my signature, without which I really would not be racing. So support them when you can guys and contact me if you want to know more about them. We're also looking for new sponsors to help us with some of our costs so if you think you would be keen to talk about a very attractive business proposition please email or PM me. We need financial help to race the NI rounds of the Nationals and help keep the Superstock 1000 class alive and can give a lot back in marketing returns. I have substantial experience with mid sized businesses and marketing qualifications to boot.

Also thanks to Jamie Rajek for swapping my tires and general help in the pits.

[Matt Bleck]

Was great dicing with ya, guess I'll have to sort my shite out for Taupo!!

[Clivoris]

Maate. Good stuff for your first race. That ginger farmer has some good ideas about riding.

[kiwifruit]

Choice !

[Damien_Toman]

METZELER should be looking after you very, very well. Show them this photo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dty1/53...7625705348080/

This is turn 1 lap 1 of the 3-hour TRRS race!!!! Most riders need a few turns, at least, before cornering like this . Can anyone else demo Metzeler's like this at the start of a race? I doubt it. Well done to you and Travis.

All the TRRS photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dty1/co...7625593438643/

[Cr1MiNaL]

METZELER should be looking after you very, very well. Show them this photo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dty1/53...7625705348080/

This is turn 1 lap 1 of the 3-hour TRRS race!!!! Most riders need a few turns, at least, before cornering like this . Can anyone else demo Metzeler's like this at the start of a race? I doubt it. Well done to you and Travis.

All the TRRS photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dty1/co...7625593438643/

Hey thanks for the high res pic Damien (good skills), you are too generous with your words, most of it was Travis's sheer speed and endurance. Metzeler do take good care of us but there is always scope to strengthen that relationship. I can only hope someone from their camp is quietly reading this

That said they are the best tires I have ever ridden on and people should seriously start considering them as a sport/track/race tire if not already. I've ridden on a lot of makes and these are the best by far. If someone wants to sample a set I've always got used sets in the garage.

[Damien_Toman]

Pity, those tyres would not fit my little 150cc bucket racer! . I did use Metzelers racing in the late 70s and mid 80s in England. They were the the best proddy racing tyre at that time.

The photo was not the best quality but it is definitely turn 1, lap 1 and very impressive riding by you.

[Toast]

Good riding, bro! Cherry properly popped! You've come a long way in a short time. Yeah get out to the NI Nat's if you can, it's an awesome experience and will help to keep pushing ya!

[Cr1MiNaL]

Good riding, bro! Cherry properly popped! You've come a long way in a short time. Yeah get out to the NI Nat's if you can, it's an awesome experience and will help to keep pushing ya!

Yea Phil, was having a chat with Craig and he suggested getting lapped by them would make me faster somehow? Think he just wanted to lap someone personally, but we're going to give it a go anyways! woop woop!