VMCC Round 5 - Matt Bleck is back in the saddle

[Matt Bleck]

After a great day at Taupo riding the K7 around track 4 I was super keen to race at Manfield. This was my first race since breaking my arm at Paeroa and I was looking forward to a race start and the buzz of heading into turn one with 20 odd other riders.

Got to the track and setup with Nicksta, Frenchy, Luke, Leigh and a few other's I hadn't meet before.

So quailifing rolls around and out we go. The session was red flagged after about a lap due to Rogers off at turn 4. Looked pretty nasty! So in we go and wait to be let out again. The whole time I'm thinking about how my tires where slowly cooling down and that Splash would claim my scalp again. We head out and I couldn't really get a clear lap but worse than that I had no confidence in the tyres resulting in a best lap of 1:14:6 and 16th on the grid. I was not happy to say the least. My PB at Manfield on the K3 is a 1:11:372!

Race 1: Had a poor start and basically sat back and lost about 4 places. Managed to get back up to 16th but never got a clear lap and was abit over cautious with my braking not wanting to brake to late with riders infront of me. 16th with a best lap of 1:14:23!

Race 2: It had rained about 5 mins before this race so we fitted the wets but didn't put the tyre warmers on. This was a mistake, for the first couple of laps I had no side grip, every time I tipped it in she would let go, try and get on the gas and it'd push out. I was dead last after the hairpin. The grip came in on the third lap and I got back 2 places. Unfortunately the race was red flagged which meant I was placed last!

Race 3: The track had dryed by now so we and the slicks back on and found that they had to much pressure. I heard what I thought was the first call but it was actually the final so Kev, Rhys and I had to start from pitlane. I was not happy about that. Looked over to Rhys to give him the you first seeing as he was in this for the points. We get the signal to go and I stall it, now I'm really not happy. Kev takes off ahead of me and I reel him in just after the hairpin and just set about trying to make some places. The bike felt alot better mid corner and on the gas out. Tryed getting my brake marks and turn in poinjts sorted and managed to pass Johan for 7 with a best lap of 1:12:624. I was a bit happier about that time but still away off what I think I should be doing!

All in all a bit disappointing for me really. Thought I'd be able to go out and get into the 1:11's straight away but it appears I'll need to work on that!

A big thanks to Nicky and Frenchy for putting us up in their pits, to Peter Harkess, MotoTT, Gigabyte Solutionz, Expandasign, Qmoto, Stompgrip and Bike Rider Magazine for their support.

See you all at Rnd 6!!

[Mental Trousers]

She's a tough gig this racing thing mate. But hey, first race back after 6 months on a bike you've never raced before and you got 1.3 seconds off your best ever and didn't stick it in the sand or crash, that's not bad at all. I know you expected better but it takes time and the first race back is meant to be an easing in period.

See you at Taupo

[Deano]

It'll happen bro, just be patient and go about your work.

[quickbuck]

Great to see you back. Well done on getting your bike home in one piece.

Remember this season Vic Club have 3 calls before a race.
The first announcement is "......5 Minutes..." This is exactly 5 minutes before you will be called up.
The next call is "....2 Minutes ...." This is the time you should be back from the toilet, and putting in your ear plugs, fitting the helmet, and gloves, and getting the tyre warmers off (Yeah right for my class), and lowered off the stand, and then head off.

The final call is erm ".... Final Call..." By this time, you should be on the dummy grid, and having your gear checked. The gate opens very shortly after this, and closes 30 seconds after opening....
You will start from pit lane if you fail to get there on time.

The club have been very good at sticking to this over the season and the consistencey is much appriciated.

This is not a dig at you Paul, just a notice for all.
It is much improvement on calling 3 calls at random intervilles.

[Mental Trousers]

I'm guessing something didn't quite go as planned if 3 guys missed the calls and had to start from pit lane. One person, it's their own fault. Two guys, weird. But three guys??

I'm sure the Vic Club ran the meeting according to their usual high standards, but there seems to be something there to look at.

[CHOPPA]

I'm guessing something didn't quite go as planned if 3 guys missed the calls and had to start from pit lane. One person, it's their own fault. Two guys, weird. But three guys??

I'm sure the Vic Club ran the meeting according to their usual high standards, but there seems to be something there to look at.

Calls were spot on, I saw you roll up on the new bike and I thought you were gonna wax me on the HP2! Lucky I had a good qualifying

[wharfy]

I'm guessing something didn't quite go as planned if 3 guys missed the calls and had to start from pit lane. One person, it's their own fault. Two guys, weird. But three guys??

I'm sure the Vic Club ran the meeting according to their usual high standards, but there seems to be something there to look at.

Well I discovered sitting in the new green stand you do not get any announcements - only the cometary - wasn't until I saw Johan riding down pit lane I twigged I should be out there !!!
Glad I made the effort - Got a valuable 12 points

Oh yeah bloody good riding Paul. 1:12 is pretty bloody fast !

[Mental Trousers]

Well I discovered sitting in the new green stand you do not get any announcements - only the cometary ......

[kiwifruit]

You're still my number one

[Nicksta]

well Paul, i thought you did really well considering the conditions....
that and i'm sure we heard 5 minutes more than once before going out

was cool to see you back out there.. you're welcome in the pits with us again at Round 6 yellow bikes can stick together!

[Matt Bleck]

Great to see you back. Well done on getting your bike home in one piece.

Remember this season Vic Club have 3 calls before a race.
The first announcement is "......5 Minutes..." This is exactly 5 minutes before you will be called up.
The next call is "....2 Minutes ...." This is the time you should be back from the toilet, and putting in your ear plugs, fitting the helmet, and gloves, and getting the tyre warmers off (Yeah right for my class), and lowered off the stand, and then head off.

The final call is erm ".... Final Call..." By this time, you should be on the dummy grid, and having your gear checked. The gate opens very shortly after this, and closes 30 seconds after opening....
You will start from pit lane if you fail to get there on time.

The club have been very good at sticking to this over the season and the consistencey is much appriciated.

This is not a dig at you Paul, just a notice for all.
It is much improvement on calling 3 calls at random intervilles.

five min call and final call sound very similar when you can't hear them clearly, and that was my mistake. But hey no big deal, I was there to test the bike and not there for points. I'll be sure to use my ears from now on.

Calls were spot on, I saw you roll up on the new bike and I thought you were gonna wax me on the HP2! Lucky I had a good qualifying

You where flying!

[discodan]

I remember that one and they called clubmans instead of F1 for the 5 min call.

Paul, don't worry about the lap times mate, there can be a lot of factors at play and as has been already said, the fact that you left the day upright can only be a good thing after the 'break' you had.

[quickbuck]

five min call and final call sound very similar when you can't hear them clearly, and that was my mistake. But hey no big deal, I was there to test the bike and not there for points. I'll be sure to use my ears from now on.

True....
Actually, I think CJ should call "LAST CALL" as opposed to "Final Call"
You have a god point, as racers we are either half deaf, have ear plugs fitted, or listening to a rowdy bike near by.... So the tannoy calls can get a bit distorted.

Spotters sitting around the pits are good... and then they can tell you if you are going to be late...

[Mental Trousers]

You have a god point, as racers we are either half deaf, have ear plugs fitted, or listening to a rowdy bike near by.... So the tannoy calls can get a bit distorted.

Some have their head up their arse which doesn't help hearing things!!!