Had a pretty awesome time at Taupo this weekend. Beginning with getting some nice new tyre warmers during the week (thanks Mum!), and a nice helmut to race in after scratching my last one on the track last weekend (thanks very very very much Quasi and Quasimoto!)
Weather forecast looked mint for a change, and woke to a cold but very clear morning. Myself and Quasi got to the track nice and early about 8.00 and were surprisingly well set up and organised, and ready to race.
Being first PMCC race on the new track meant two practise sessions and 3 scheduled races. There were a huge number of bikes in all classes, and quite a few different classes too, even sidecars. Very cool to see.
First two practise sessions came and went without much excitment or drama, Sam Smith following me in the first, and me following him in the second. Felt pretty comfortable having already done this track a few times, while others were on there for their first time.
Come time for race one, grid positions were a bit of a free-for-all really. Thought I would just grab a possie on the 2nd row and see what happened. Had a good start and headed for outside of the first corner, however being the long way around I found myself in about 4th position. Was behind a couple of F2 bikes. Maybe Nicko, a ZX6RR and something else. It took me about 2-3 laps to get into second place and by then Sam had about a 50m lead which was too much for me to attempt to catch really. Quick check behind me on last corner and had time for a bit of a wheelie across the line for my little cousins who now think im cool haha. 1st Sam Smith, 2nd Me, 3rd Andrew Stroud.
Second race and I wanted to start on the front row if I could. Unfortunately by the time I got there it was full. Fair enough, perhaps they had points in the championship and this was my first round. Had another decent start and was about 4th or 5th, but stuck behind slower bikes again and being held up, while Smith and Stroud pulled away. Again took me a few laps to get passed these few bikes and into 3rd position this time. Smith and Stroud had a pretty huge margin on me now, and so pretty much had to settle for third. Pulled a lame attempt at a wheelie on finish straight to make things worse haha
So overall happy with the results, but dissapointed to miss out on the chance to follow the fast guys and learn a bit from them. Definitly is the best way to learn I reckon: Following people who are better than you, don't get many chances to follow someone like Stroud and learn from the master.
Bit of a shame to only get two races, but thats cool, even worse for the F3 guys who only got one race all day. Hope that they guys involved in the crash at the end of the day heal well and the injuries aren't too serious.
Big thanks to Brett/Quasi, Kickingzebra, Road Rash, Mental-Trousers, Nicko's mate Phil and anyone/everyone else that helped me out in the pits today. Would be too much to do by myself.
Now looking foward to the 1st round of VMCC winter series, and first chance to actually do a full race series and try get some points. Looking to get some race fairings and wets shortly as I start to get the all gears I need to compete.
C ya
Daryl
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Originally Posted by vtec
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