Hello all,
Long time no report - this is my first 'race report' in the last couple of years, so it's all a little unfamiliar!
The weekend just gone, we participated in the second round of the Bridgestone VMCC winter series at Manfeild - as expected with a winter series (particularly in Feilding...) conditions were cold and changeable throughout the day. A little bit of guesstimation prior to the meeting meant we had gone down with wets already fitted to the bike - this worked out well meaning having a coffee and complaining about the weather were the only things on the agenda prior to qualifying. However, with the able help of Robert Taylor or Kiwi Suspension Solutions between rounds we had a respring of both front and rear suspension to a harder rate - possibly the opposite of what you would want for wet weather!
F1/SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING
Conditions: Wet, no standing water
This was my first look at Manfeild in wet conditions for a number of years - there has been quite a bit of re-sealing done with a hot-mix like surface, this is very grippy in the dry but unnerving in the wet as it looks very shiny and like it is holding a lot of water although the grip is still good. This, combined with quite a strong crosswind through turn two and coming onto the back straight, I rode a very conservative (read - pussy!) qualifying session, putting me seventh on the grid. To be honest, with the laps I did, I was surprised to be in the top ten and being on the front two rows is usually close enough to be mixing it up into turn one so I was happy enough overall.
F1/SUPERBIKE RACE 1
Conditions: Mostly dry, wet in patches, cold surface
We did a rear shock change to a lighter spring prior to the first race for more feel in the wet conditions - naturally, Murphy's law meant that the sun came out drying the track quickly with assistance from the wind. This meant a hurried change onto the Bridgestone slicks (Brett, our pit hand for the weekend did a fantastic job throughout; changing shocks, fork oil heights, rims and even tyres for three bikes multiple times throughout the day - cheers Brett!) I made a poor initial launch off the lights, bogging the bike down and losing a number of spots. Fortunately a gap opened up and with a little bit of brave braking over some damp spots I made it up to fifth for turn one. I was weak for turn two letting Adrian Cox (who made a good call for the first couple of laps with a wet front and slick rear tyres) pass me into Splash. I tried to follow through the hairpin hoping to outbrake him into Higgins but got too excited and had a big slide coming out of the hairpin. I spooked myself with that and only watched them ride away over the next couple of laps and while I found some pace over the last two laps I never quite caught Paul Duncan and David Hall ahead of me.
F1/SUPERBIKE RACE 2
Conditions: Full wet, raining throughout
Having had a pretty average Qualifying in the wet earlier, I was a wee bit apprehensive when the black clouds rolled in and it poured down right on the five minute call. We did a rapid change to wets, and made it to the grid as they made the two minute call. Unfortunately at this point they re-did the five minute call so I sat in the rain for five minutes... such is life! Once we got out on track it was clear that the heavy rain had left lots of standing water and that visibility was going to be difficult. Fortunately, I nailed the start and led through the first lap, running very defensive, slow lines making sure I blocked the 600s - I remember being frustrated with the superbike horsepower when I was racing 600s and it was nice to be on the other side of that! After the first lap I went wide trying to defend a spot from Paul Duncan, letting him and one of the 600s pass through the infield. I settled into a good rhythm knowing that a couple of the faster guys had started from pitlane and that they would be catching towards the end of the race. Sadly they caught a bit faster than I had expected, so on lap 4 I had another couple of guys come past. I tried to put my head down and keep up with them (setting my best laps over the last two by some margin) and while they dragged me closer to the front I didn't manage to pass anyone else, meaning I finished in fifth, however very close to the leaders. I was impressed with the Bridgestone wets - while I lacked a little confidence at first, I found the harder I pushed, the more feedback they gave me. Compared to what I have used in the past they are quicker to steer, which is a little unnerving at first, but in the end its a great example meaning you can brake upright nice and hard and then make a quick turn in to find the best line to make a good exit. The bike holds a good line and the rear grip is really predictable and consistent across puddles and patches.
F1/SUPERBIKE RACE 3
Conditions: Wet/Damp and drying
By the time the last race was run it was getting fairly late in the day so we were riding into a setting sun though the Sweeper. Fortunately it hadn't rained again so while the track was wet, there wasn't a large amount of spray to reduce visibility further. I got another good start and lead to the hairpin on the first lap, again doing (if I do say so myself!) a good job of blocking those pesky 600s. I was pretty determined to stay with people that came past having lost ground to them in the second race. Dion passed me during the first lap and disappeared, I wasn't able to run at his pace. However the next bike in the queue was a Kawasaki 600, and he and I had a good dice for a number of laps - him passing on the brakes and me getting a good exit and using the horsepower to motor back though down the next straight. This continued for a few laps until I tried to run around the outside into turn one, running myself wide and letting Paul Duncan and David Hall though. I chased them again but at this point with only a couple of laps left I didn't make it right back to them. During the last laps the Kawasaki I had been racing with fell off, and David Hall was given a jump start penalty, so I ended up with a third place result. Again, I was happy with the Bridgestone wets, getting more comfortable with pushing them harder, and with the drying track I was enjoying sliding the bike out of Higgins - very confidence inspiring and fun!
At this point after finishes in each race this season I am lying second overall in F1, but with a 45 point gap to Dion Sellers in first. The more I ride the bike after my time off the more confidence and speed I am gaining so hopefully over the next couple of rounds I can start getting some consistent podium results and keep racking those points up!
Cheers,
Jay #37
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Originally Posted by Mental Trousers
Back after all this time.
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