Nicki’s VMCC round 4, 21st August 2011
Thanks to the VMCC we got to have an awesome track day on the Saturday. Dave and Donna from Kiwibike Insurance made the trip down to the track to see how we were doing and for Dave to have first hand experience of what its like. Dave came in after his first session grinning from ear to ear and I think we have created another track junkie!
Race day and the sun was shining, it didn’t have any influence on the freezing chill in the wind however and the track was very cold to qualify on. I set myself a few goals for the day; keep the newly painted BumbleBee shiny side up, break into the 1:19’s and give my friend Tom a run for his money.
Qualifying: 4 laps
Checking out the track on the first lap, it is dry but cold. The ER6 was stable and I picked up the pace in the 2nd. 3rd lap and I put in a faster one to get my time. I qualified 15th on the mixed grid with a 1:25.0 (4th Pro Twin), back on the 4th row right next to another Pro twin and Tom is a row in front.
Race 1: 6 laps
Aby on my right and I launch as the lights go out. We pass the row in front and Kyle comes up on my left on the 125, we break for turn 1 and he flies round my outside and I find myself in a nice gap up the inside heading to turn 2. In a big bunch it thins to the hair-pin and I see Tom in a bunch up ahead. I put my head down and chase them into Higgins. I’m not far back and he is battling with another 3 bikes. The pace is fast and I push myself to catch them up. On the 3rd lap Tom gets passed by the other 2 and I’ve caught up down the front straight. I latch on through the infield but he carries more pace round the hair-pin and leaves me for a bit, I break late into Higgins and catch up again. I push but cant get close enough to make a move and cross the line right behind him. I finished in 4th place with a 1:21.26, I’m excited to see I wasn’t far off Tom who did a 1:21.25. It was a great race and I’m excited about the next one.
Race 2: 6 laps
I had one goal for this race, pass Tom and make it stick. I do need to thank Mr Merkel for some quiet words of advice at this point. The lights go out and I get a better start, up the inside again, I accelerate past the other ER6 in the race and find myself a lot further up than the last race. Tom is just in front and I heed the advice into the hair-pin, he didn’t get away and I set to making the gap smaller. I’m carrying more speed into Higgins and I’m a little out of shape. Eamon is just behind Tom and I chase them both down, the next lap I’m on them into Higgins, down the back straight and Eamon takes the left to pass Tom, I head for the right to take them both and out break them but Eamon goes round the outside of me. We battle and I try to put him between Tom and I. After a very intense few laps I cross the line just behind Eamon and with Tom not far behind me. I am shocked to find I was in 2nd place and have a new PB on the ER6 of 1:20.1. I am puffing as I come into the pits and my muscles are hurting but I have the biggest grin on my face.
Race 3: 6 laps
Its all or nothing for me as I had to beat Tom to get a podium for the day. To my excitement, Mr Merkel quickly gives me some advice on the dummy grid which I repeat in my head for the whole warm up lap. Lights go out and I nailed the start. I’m right up behind Tom in Turn 1 and I head for the inside of Turn 2. He stays in front but I keep up coming out of the hair-pin and I drag him off down the straight. I pin my head and break late, I’m very messy into Higgins while thinking of my recent advice. I know he is close behind so I concentrate on being smooth and riding the line I want. Lap 3 and my muscles start to ache. It’s the last race of the day and I tell myself to push through, each corner feels harder and as I come round Dunlop I see the white flag as Jon Medlin passes me on the left. I fight to keep up with him through the infield, I chase him down the middle straight into Higgins but I run a little wide coming out and accelerate hard down the back straight. I’m worried Tom is right behind me so I push faster and break late into Dunlop dragging a little as I sweep back to apex, I cant catch Jon as I settle for 3rd across the line. I look back as I round Turn 1 to see Tom just coming down pit wall, I didn’t realise the gap I had on him. Best lap was a 1:20.1 again.
I finished the day 3rd overall in Pro Twins with a new PB of 1:20.1, not far from my goal of 1:19’s. I am very happy with my last 2 races where I got my first lap down to a 1:24.0 and consistent 1:20’s for the rest of the race.
It was a pleasure to have Dave and Donna from Kiwibike Insurance at the track for the track day and race day; I cannot express my gratitude enough for their enduring support for my racing. Big thank you to the Vic Club and their volunteers for another awesome weekend at the track. Thank you Frenchy for all your help again as the best pit crew a racer could have and my wicked paint job on the ER6. Cheers also to Future Grafix for the awesome new grafics and Autolink for the gorgeous Camaro Yellow paint. Thanks Pirelli Tyres for being soo sticky and EBC for the great stopping power.
I have had the best round yet on the ER6 and cannot wait for round 5. I’m 4th overall in the championship, only 6 points off 3rd and entering the business end of the series. Roll on round 5, the excitement has just begun….
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Originally Posted by MOTOXXX
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