Actrix VMCC Round 2 2011 Sam Croft
2011 Actrix VMCC Winter series round 2
Pro-lite 250 Kawasaki Ninja 250R
Qualifying: It was a wet qualifying for the second round and it was the first time I had been on the long track since round 2 last year, my first time on the new Ninja. The track seemed quite slippery with the down pour of the last night but since we were out 5th there was somewhat of a dry line forming on the track. I was taking it easy and getting to know the tyres in the wet. I didn’t think I did that great but I ended up getting pole position over all 3 classes, 6.5 seconds faster than anyone else.
1st race: The first race of the day and I was on pole. I had a great start and was first into the first corner. I decided to take it easy for the first lap to get some warmth in the tyres before I started pushing. I had built up quite a big lead after the first few laps so I decided to cruise the last lap as I didn’t want to push it too hard on the slippery track, we still had three more races for the weekend. I won the first race overall by a slim 3.5 seconds, but in my class had a 15 second lead. Another 25 points.
2nd race: The second race was supposed to be on the Saturday afternoon but due to an oil spill on the track was called off until Sunday morning. I had another great start and was first into the first corner. I took the first lap gently as the track was still greasy. I put down some fast laps and foumd myself quite a long way ahead of the rest of the field. On the second to last lap, i was caught by surprise when a streetstock came past me on the outside on turn 8, so I sat behind him and passed him back on the exit of turn one, he must have been having issues because I had to swerve around him as his bike was jumping around. I pushed on unaware that his bike was not running well at all and finished the race overall with a 10 second overall lead and a 39 second lead on class. I also set the fastest overall lap of that race on the semi dry track of 2min 29. A few seconds slower of my Streetstock long track record of 2min 22
3rd race: The third race I had an excellent start, right off as the lights were out. It must have been too good as I was penalised for a jump start so I had 20 seconds added to my total time. I was first into the first corner again and this time had no challengers the entire race. I saw the penalty board out on the second lap so I put my head down to make sure I had more than a 20 second lead on the next pro-lite. I crossed the line first with a 9 second lead, but as I jumped the start I was put back into second over the line. I still managed to finish in front of any other pro-lite by 27.9 seconds, which means if I hadn’t jumped the start I would have had a huge 47.9 second lead. I set the fastest overall lap of that race again.
4th race: In the fourth race because I was penalised for a jump start I was conscious of my starts. I had another great start and was first into the first corner. The track was wet this time and had rain during the race so I was being careful around the corners. I again was not passed by anyone as I put on a lead at the front of the pack. I again put down the fastest overall lap by 7 or so seconds. I crossed the line first but as I was coming up to the last corner I could have come around the last places back marker, but I looked around and found that I had put up a 39 second lead so I throttled off and let her finish her last lap. There was no point in me passing her because I had such a large lead. I had a 40 second lead in class and my average winning margin of any pro-lite was 30 seconds for that weekend. So a perfect 100 points for the table to go with the 75 from last round gives me a 29 point lead going into the next round. There is only one other person who has one all the races so far in the entire series so it’s a good feeling having those wins under my belt.
I would like to say a huge thanks to everyone at the Vic Club for making this event possible, also a big thanks to my supporters: Motorad, Croft Racing, Horsepower Motorcycles, Dunlop Tyres, Kapiti Bearings & Locksmithing, Neptune Mufflers, Plastic Welding Repairs, RPS signs and Graphics and 1tonne quality motorcycle gear.
Sam Croft
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Originally Posted by Matchless-G80
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