Not such a great race day as far as positions go this time, I took my time to learn the long track and find some lines and braking points etc etc. And it wasn’t until the end of the day I started to feel comfortable out there, and not like I was out for a Sunday cruise.
Was gutted to have not been able to go to the test day on the Friday, as this would have been a huge benefit for the racing. Qualified with a 2.03:9, which put me at 11th on the grid, my worst qualifying yet! Felt pretty confident I would get a few bikes on the starts though.
Race 1 got a decent start, made up a few positions and then got past a few people on the first lap or two. Then I saw Bruce ahead of me and made an extra effort to try catch up to him. Possibly a bad idea, I out braked myself at the end of the middle straight and couldn’t haul it up before the mud, bike flopped over and bike and me got covered in mud and grass, but no damage to either. Picked it up and kept circulating, but just cruising really, came to start finish line and saw a flag, so decided to wheelie down that straight, then realised it was only the white flag haha, cruised last lap and came in with best lap of 2.01:7
Race 2 had a decent start, but then let Derek Hill through, and we had a dice for a couple of laps before I finally cleared him, I kept braking too late and was riding pretty ragged. This slowed me down a fair amount and then put in a best lap of 2.01:1 at the end of the race came 10th.
Race 3 and was starting to come to grips with things, got into 5th and was behind Bruce again and starting to pull him in but running out of laps. I came right up on him on last couple of corners and was hoping he’d wheelie across the finish and I’d whip past him, but never happened, crossed line 0.4 behind Bruce in 5th. Best lap of 1.59:8.
Not a bad finish to the day, a 1.59:8 would have seen me qualify in 4th if I had that pace at the start of the day instead of learning track, so I had taken 4+ seconds off through the day. Looking forward to the next time on the long track, feel that at least 1 sec if not 2 should be able to come off that lap time still fairly easily.
But the best was yet to come… Imagine you are coasting around corner 1 after crossing the finish line in the last race. Your behind ya mate Bruce, he turns and gives ya the thumbs up, you respond by giving him the finger for finishing ahead of you. Then you notice that ‘ole Bruce is still looking at you and joking as you exit the corner… hmm, you think eh Brucie look out pal, you need to be turning a bit here! But it’s too late, as you pull along side him you notice his head turn, only to notice that he is heading straight for the grass/mud! I get a great view as the bike wobbles left/right/left before the inevitable “splat” into the mud. Shit it was all I could do not to crash with laughter! Nice mate!
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by kiwifruit
Bookmarks