Well I've done some scary shit before but this was definitely up there.
The Cemetery Circuit is well different to purpose built tracks...kinda reminded me of when I was 21 back in the NSR250R days......
That was some time ago........
Anyway, thanks heaps to Mikey for securing a top notch pit spot. Garry H was more than welcome to share our pit with us.......we were happy to get as much racing knowledge as we could.
Mikey's bike was a bit of concern at scrutineering but passed after attaching some tie wire to the oil filter. Any potential buyers of Mikey's bike should know it is structurally sound, despite the cosmetics.
I have to admit I was pretty nervous in the morning - I had been to these races for years as a spectator and had seen the carnage that can occur in such a big field as F3 - the portaloos didn't help and I reached a couple of times trying to take a piss - sorry if I hit the toilet seat cause I stopped caring where 'it' was was going after that.
During the 'newbies' familiarisation laps I went out last and followed Eamon (MotoXXX) around on his RG150 - despite the relaxed pace and yellow flags I didn't feel comfortable getting past him and thought I might be eating a big slice of humble pie by the end of the day.
I was VERY surprised when Garry came back to our pit and said I had qualified ahead of him. (23 out of 35)
During qualifying I had a mean tank slapper through the esses and after some really great advice passed on from Yohan Bruns, I went through that section with my arse off the seat, with bars and pegs weighted only. Might need a steering damper for next year (as well as an F2 bike and some serious sponsorship...hint hint...)
First race and the SV650's and Motard's took off from the start as expected. I got taken by a couple of Motard's over the railway lines and then by an old yellow thumper...he missed a gear before the bridge and I went up the outside, but wary of him on the inside, he got me on the bridge before he missed another gear and I got him on the front straight. Finished 21st.
My bike felt right on the limit of it's suspension when braking at the end of the front straight, and I hope anyone watching will remember seeing the back wheel bouncing and sliding before turn 1.
Race 2 felt much better for me, and although there was a crash which took out #10, Garry H and Jarrod Wintle (no right footpeg), I managed 18th.
Much thanks to our sponsors TSS Motorcycles and QuasiMoto Motorcycle Apparel. Also thanks to Mrs Deano, Mikey (cheers for staying sober!), Garry H, Fizzerman, Flame, Stu at TSS and all you other caarn'ts that stopped by to give encouragement (Skelstar, Lissa, Darkman, Fatjim, Velox, Vaseline Warrior, Jimmy, Sensei, SVS, Motoracer, AJTurbo, EMan...just to name a few).
As for Paeroa......we'll see
All in all, a bloody good day!
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Originally Posted by Drew
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