Nicki’s VMCC round 1, 5th & 6th May 2012
With the 2012 Nationals complete for the year, it was tine to focus on the Winter Series as a build up to racing the full Nationals next year. The weather forecast was for fine conditions and I was excited to see how I would go on a dry track for a change. My goal for the weekend was to work on my corner speed and reduce my PB from a 1.195 to a 1:18.
Saturday:
Qualifying: 4 laps
With the air temperature warmer than expected and brand new Pirelli Supercorsa’s on, I was focussed on qualifying well. 2 warm up laps, then into 2 faster laps, I felt comfortable, and fast. I qualified with a 1:20.9, which placed me 9th on the combined grid of Pro Twin, F3 and 125 machines. I was very pleased with the 3rd row position!
Race 1: 5 laps
Lights go out and I nail the start, I fly past the 2nd row and find myself 3rd coming into turn 1, under braking, I’m a little off the inside and a F3 bike slips up the inside and I slow, which allows a few more to swamp me. I end up 8th round the hairpin and start chasing the leading bunch. I’m the 4th Pro Twin across the line in the first lap, Jon and Tyler in 2nd and 3rd are just in front and by the end of lap 2, I’ve caught right up. I get good drive out and stick close through the infield. Crossing the line I catch Tyler and pass him coming out of Turn 1. I then start chasing Jon in front of me who has created a gap and caught Zane in 1st. Last lap and I’m not far off them, I catch up through the infield but have an F3 bike battling me. As I brake for the last corner he flies past and looses his front. I cross the line in 3rd place half a second behind Jon in 2nd and 1 second behind Zane in 1st. I’m happy with 3rd for the first race of the series. The pace was fast but I was comfortable and enjoyed the track. Best surprise was my fastest lap was a 1.179 in the last lap; I had smashed my goal for the weekend by a second! I had consistently lapped with 1:18’s for the rest of the race too so it was time to rethink my goals.
What was to come next was an emotional roller coaster. We all headed out to watch the F2 race, I have a lot of friends in this class and it is always exciting to watch with the close battles. Unfortunately after the chequered flag, we bore witness to a terrible accident, which claimed the life of a fellow racer. Rest in Peace Mark. The meet was called off for the day, at an afternoon briefing; Mark’s wife bravely requested we race on Sunday in his honour.
Sunday:
At 8am we all attended a Tapu lifting and blessing of the track, it was emotional and beautiful. This was followed by a lap of honour lead by Mark’s family. It was heart warming to be apart of this.
Race 2: 8 laps
Lights go out and I start well, I’m 8th round turn 1 and the 3rd Pro Twin. The lead bunch pull a little gap on me and I reel them back in by the last corner. I see Zane and Jon battling ahead and I push to catch them. I come in shallow into the hairpin and I loose the back end on a rut in the track. I loose revs but keep the bike on the track. I loose a little time to the boys but I can reel them in under braking. I try to get into a rhythm but the slid made me tense. I’m telling myself to relax but its not helping. Little mistakes start creeping in as the laps go by. I run wide on the hairpin and end up on the rumble strips and I let Connor past into 3rd. I keep up with him and try to focus again; he takes the hairpin really fast and gains some distance. I can her the Hyosung behind me of Tyler’s. He passes me in the hairpin but I take him back on the straight. Last lap and we are coming up on lap traffic. All the time I can hear him just behind me. I cross the line in 4th, half a second in front of Tyler. I’m glad the race is over and I have a lot to think about for the next one.
Race 3: 8 laps
It was time to put the skills I had learned over the summer to work. Lights go out and I get a good start, but Tyler gets an awesome one! I’m 4th Pro Twin into turn 1, I pass Jon through Turn 2 but he gets me into Turn 3. I refuse to let them get a gap and I push hard and catch them into Turn 1 and pass Tyler for 3rd round turn 2. I run wide in the hairpin and let him back through along with two F3 bikes. I pas on the back straight but he out brakes me. I make my move stick down the start straight and set to hunt the others down. Tyler comes too and passes again in the hairpin, I pass straight back on the straight and he again out brakes me! Back straight I power back past. I’ve now caught Jon in 2nd and can see Zane in 1st. I have Tyler right on my tail but I’m right on Jon’s. 2 laps go by and I get good speed out of the last corner and draft behind Jon, he brakes really early and I slip by into 2nd. Zane is a bit ahead so I hunt him down the middle straight. We come round for the white flag and I’m right on his tail. I head to the inside of Turn 1 but so does he, a lap rider blocks us and Jon passes us both. I go outside Zane round turn 2 but he runs wide and I have to go wider to a really bad line into splash. Connor passes us all into the hairpin for 1st but runs wide himself and we all pass back. Zane leads Jon and I’m in 3rd. It’s a drag race to the line down the back straight; we round the last corner and cross the line in a bunch. What a race! I finish in 3rd. The top 3 were within .7 of a second across the line. Even with the battles going on, I manage 3 consistent laps of 1:17.9. I’m very happy with my riding and had an absolute blast.
Vid of race 3:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...bVz9Uh9gTCHaVp
I finish the weekend in 3rd place with a new PB and lots to think about for round 2. Its early days for the series, I’m 11 points off 2nd and 14 points of 1st place but with 5 of us lapping at 1:17’s its going to be an interesting series for sure!
I would like to extend my appreciation to the Vic Club for running such a good event, thank you for letting us racers do what we love to do – race. The spirit and comradery shown over the weekend made me proud to be a part of the Vic Club. The strength of the organisation really showed through and I could not have asked for more given the tough circumstances.
Thank you to Kiwibike Insurance, Pirelli, EBC, New Plymouth Motorcycles, Future Grafix, Autolink and Frenchy for making my racing possible. To the Vic club and volunteers, you guys are fantastic. Please support those who support us in racing. See you all at the next round – Saturday 9th June.
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Originally Posted by Nicksta
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