Race Report Round 1 VMCC Winter Series 2012 – F2, Kawasaki ZX6R
The build up for Round 1 of the Actrix VMCC Winter Series began back in Feb 2012. I attended level 1 of the California Superbike School at Hampton Downs. This was a fantastic course, initially I was sceptical as to how much I could learn after 12 years of riding and 4 years of racing, but the proof is, as they say, in the pudding and I learned heaps. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their riding and wanting to get more out of their bike and tyres. Since last season I’ve stepped up to Formula 2 from my 6th overall in Clubmans.
This year Round 1 was being held over a two day meeting – the first day comprising of 3 races (6laps) and the second day just 2 longer races. I’d set myself a couple of goals for the season – don’t come last, and get a lap under 1:20.0.
On the day before the races I did about 8 laps at manfeild just to shake down the bike and myself – using my friend Dave to take some lap times, I did a 1:23.3, which was 3 tenths quicker than my best lap from last year.
Saturday Qualifying -
This was the first time I’d been on track with the F2 field, so I was a little nervous about being much too slow. I’m generally not a good qualifier, and seem to make far better lap times during the races. Came out of the pit lane last and just tried to repeat the same rhythm as the previous afternoon. No big drama’s except my quickshifter wasn’t working.
Best Lap 1:24.8 - Position 26th (last)
Race One -
Had a bit of time between qualifying and race one so I got my rear wheel out and had a fresh Pirelli Supercorsa fitted. Got the rear wheel in, back on the warmers, and it was time for my first race! Out onto the track and round to my easily identifiable last spot on the grid. Got a great start, making up two rows, and tucking in behind Chappy on the approach to turn one. Wow! The rest of the field soars away as I brake and disappear around turn one. I find myself attached to the back of a GSXR600 through splash and tack onto him for the rest of the race, swapping the lead and almost paint at every second corner. I seem to catch him mid corner and my faster bike pulls past out of Higgins on the last lap where I hold him off easily through Dunlop to the line.
Best Lap 1:19 – 5 seconds faster than my qual lap and 4 secs faster than my previous PB!
Race Two -
The aim for this race was to get a good start, but try and stay in contact with the pack ahead of me at least until Higgins; as if I could keep with the group there I would have a good chance of being drawn into better lap times by following the faster riders. I got the start I had hoped for, however the pace into the hairpin was too quick for me and I dropped the ball a little bit on my lap times. I ended up running the rest of the race alone, just trying to be relaxed on the bike and remembering the things I’d learned in Superbike school. In the last two laps I was catching the bikes in front of me but it was going to be a case of too little too late. As I exited Dunlop on the final lap I saw the red lights flashing and the red flag being waved. (I had written more here, but i dont want to upset anyone, we all know the outcome)
RIP #67
DAY TWO
The second day began with a blessing of the track and a bit of a ceremony by the race officials, and representatives from the local Iwi. Following this there was a parade lap for Mark, which was a good experience, with all the race bikes going around behind a car with his family in it. The previous evening I had thought about not riding on Sunday, but after this I was keen to get out on track and give it 100%. Did a couple of laps out, of the allocated 5 for “scrub in”, just to get the brain in gear.
Race One – I’d been looking forward to these longer races as my fitness is generally pretty good compared to my fellow racers. Using the same grid spot allocations I lined up on the back of the grid with the boys I was racing with yesterday. Got a great start but as usual the rest of the pack made a gap out of turn one. Caught the stragglers up coming out of Higgins and ended up with the same 600 SRAD for the rest of this race. We were swapping positions every corner, both into and out of the turns almost rubbing fairings through some of the faster turns. This was probably the best battle I’ve had in a race even though it was for last place. As we dragged each other along faster and faster, we ended up catching another R6 who was initially probably a second ahead. On the last lap I missed a ger and the Suzuki made a gap on me, but I managed to squeeze past the R6 on the drag to the line. A fantastic race, I felt like I’d had a bit of a workout when I got back to the pits.
Best Lap – 1:18.6 new PB!
Race Two – Nothing spectacular. I got a good start, but was held up through turn 3 and the hairpin while the pack dragged away from me. Ran a little hot and wide into Higgins and then had a bit of gear selection trouble (the quickshifter still not working) so everyone made a decent gap on me. Tried to be fast and concentrate on riding tidily, but I was a bit tired and having trouble relaxing in the corners. Ended up about 600m behind the next bikes, and was lapped by my mate Jaden Hassan on the final lap.
Best lap 1:20.2 – I was happy with this as it is my new “Slow” pace, I used to drop back to 1:25’s when I was not riding well.
A mixed weekend and a lot of development left to do on the bike before round 2… See you all at Manfield on the 9th of June.
Fang it -
Josh
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