Jonno KZ Gnats

[kickingzebra]

Internet cafe race report...

I had fun but went slow. didn't make my 1:40s, well, may have, but i don't have the times for our restarted race.

First race, I got an OK start, arm pump by lap two screwed me proper. Came right by lap 8 and I started catching up to the next slowest guy, but never quite got there. If it was the full 20 laps, he would have been history.
3 crashes meant I didn't get no points, but still had less than 0.1 of a point!

Second race, I got a mint start, jumped a full row, and Then lost 3 or 4 places into turn 1 and 2. Went bugger this, fought back to get in front of Daniel, and start chasing Chris and co. Was doing ok, and had opened a nice gap on Daniel, when someone threw it away big time in turn one. Saw the dust and red flag, back to the pits, wait, go again.

Back to the start, I had no idea how long the race was to be (none of us did till we were on the grid, turned out to be ten laps) Got the worst start in the history of man, not quite stalling, but lost over 100 metres before I finally got her rolling. Gutted!! Went about the catch up business (the first lap is always slowest, as traffic makes it difficult to put in clean laps)

Caught up to Daniel, again, but I wasn't quite brave enough to cut him up, and didn't have the horsies to do it on exit, despite higher corner speed, later braking etc. Basically sat there, on his arse until the straight, reel him back, not be able to pass, lose him, reel him back, so on so on. Then, on lap 9, knowing the fast boys are gaining on us (the hairpin is great for that) I think, I have to take him before they get to us, otherwise that is the race over,

Sam Smith catches me just before the entry to the dipper. Cuts me up, I stood it up, then dropped right in. The fast guys can figure out a SAFE pass I figure. Then Seato, Charlton, and Sheriffs go flying through in close order. I hug the inside line, still hoping for a chance to get Daniel, Next thing I see is Daniel and Craigs bike into each other, and Both going down, I put head down and arse up, to hit the finish line with no more lappers getting me.

Dumped the bike and sprinted over to check how the guys are.

Both ended up being fine, but several points must be clarified in my opinion. All of the news reports make it seem as if the lapped riders (Daniel and I) were in the wrong for the crash.

The rules state that the onus is on the overtaking rider to ensure the pass is safe. Like a rear end crash on the motorway, regardlez of circumstance, the overtaking rider is supposed to ensure the safety, and though I don't personally have a beef with Craig Sheriffs (I quite like the guy) I am very frustrated that the lapped rider is painted to be the bad guy.

Everyone has to start somewhere, and without slower riders on the grid, racing would not be possible. Sure, we may be slower this season, but what about next? the one after? Don't scare away the fresh blood to the sport by painting them as the bad guy when something goes wrong.

If Daniel doesn't officially protest this, then he needs his head read, unfortunately, the news is already out there, and slower riders are demonised.

That is my weekend rant over. I am to catch the ferry in an hour and a half, and have a grumpy baby, so till I elaborate (which I shall) I bid thee all adieu!

[Nicksta]

thanks Jono.... interesting read.... hope it gets sorted....
i wonder if they think that the lapped bikes should have got out of the way (off the race line).... i'm with you on this one...

[svs]

it's not your place to protest there's 2 sides to every story, and it'll probably go down as a racing incident. (disclaimer: i wasn't there, i didn't see what happened, so i am in no way to qualified to comment!) did daniel hold his line? or did he sit up and try and move out the way?

there's always going to be quite a difference in speed over here in NZ. in the UK you can't get a national level license until you have finished in the top 50% in at least 10 meetings at 4 different venues. that's after you've done your 10 meetings at 3 venues to get rid of your novice bib!

I think it's great that you've got out there and done the full nats series, but the level of competition is higher and there is more at stake than at the club level. guys like shirriffs may not be riding at 100% when they do the vicclub series, but when the NZGP is up for grabs, they'll be going all out.

[FROSTY:Me]

Jonno mate you and I are never gonna agree on this one--it was sam that gave him a tap-- a very light barely a touch tap none the less Honest injun I saw the whole thing.Sam has said sorry to all concerned
No question craig shouldnt have tried the move he did --it was a very ballsy call and he himself did say he shoulda just followed sam through and tried up n over the top at the sweeper -

[kickingzebra]

My frustration isn't that the incident occured, it is that the slow rider is automatically to blaim. Frosty is apparently right in that Daniel had to move his line because Sam was coming through. Again, no beef with Sam either, the guy is doing amazing things, and I am amazed at the balls and control the guy has.

Fact of the matter is I intend on being a much faster rider, to which end the wheels are in motion, at which point, my personal vested interest from the lower end of the feild will cease, However, The easiest way to learn speed and race craft is by following the faster guys where possible, and from the meeting at levels, regarding black flagging on the second lapping, I didn't talk to any of the fast guys who said they wished the slower riders weren't out there. Talking to Andrew, he was saying in some respects, the slower riders help the fast guys to be faster. As they have to whip through the corner or brake even harder, in order to get past them as quickly as possible.

I am just severely pissed off that the slow rider is painted as the casue of the crash. We all alter our lines to suit the situation, and this particular situation was a no win. Fact of the matter is, If I had been trying to get Daniel on the outside line, rather than going in tight hoping for the exit, it would have been me who was crashed into. And that is not lost on me.

Still, the onus is on the over taker. We have discussed blue flags etc, but unless the slower riders are called in, ie black flagged, you are always going to have this predicament.

Again, for perspective, there is qualifying at the national level, set at 15 % off the fastest guys pace, In this case, Sam Smith, with 1:33.
Daniel and I both easily made that grade, Previous years, qualifying has been 10 %. Daniel didn't go out in qualifying, but had been setting 1:43s, with a personal best of 1:40s or so. I qualified at 1:46, with a PB of 1:42.9 Just outside the 10 %, but well within the 15.

I understand some of what is at stake for the few professional riders we have in NZ. and I for one, have tried my damndest to not hold anyone up. Hell, the way everyone on the grids bikes are tuned, you can hear them all coming anyway with the overfueling and subsequent backfires.

From now on, my goal is to be in the not lapped at all segment of the feild, because I am beginning to realise I have not too much time to try and make something of this if I wish to take it seriously. If at all possible, I will try to become one of those professional riders. Like all things, give it time. But I am going to change my focus from trying to run a race without holding anyone up, to being on or closer to the pointy end pace.

I approached the rounds thus far with the goal of fun first and formost, which it has been GREAT for, and learning to be faster secondary.

Now I am going to try and be faster, while still enjoying myself.

I would encourage anyone thinking of giving it a go, to do it, but be prepared for disappointment. My head bubble was popped at Wanganui, and then slightly inflated again at Taupo, only to be utterly destroyed, with an all time low at levels.

Yes, racing should be gentlemanly in some respects, but I need to put a bit more mongrel in me to get to where I want to go. Watch this space I guess!!

I do not think there is sufficient money, riders or races within the NZ system to allow a mirror of the UK system.

[FROSTY:Me]

I agree totally mate--the incident I had with Terry fitzgerald -I went and said sorrry--He said I had NOTHING to say sorry for. He knew I had to turn in to nannas and was happy I held a "soft" line.
How in any way a lapped rider is responsible baffles me.
Dont sweat it dude -those that matter know what the truth is -theres more important stuff to worry about--like tyres for manfeild!!!!!

[JayRacer37]

yea these thing's happen eh, there called 'Racing incident's'. As Frosty found with Terry, most of the riders doing the lapping know whats happening. It's unfortunate, but sometimes things like what happened between Daniel and Craig DO happen. And Sam stood up at the prizegiving and admited fault, and appoligised for it. Top man, when your in his position I guess you just have to go for those gaps. Unfortunatly i'm NOT in his position (1st) YET- one day shortly though!

[Maido]

Unfortunatly i'm NOT in his position (1st) YET- one day shortly though!

when you get the right compound continentals you just might be supprised!!!

[JayRacer37]

when you get the right compound continentals you just might be supprised!!!

We certainly are hoping so!!!
the slides are fun tho....how will I entertain myself?? oh-by thrashing Ant's 250!

[Maido]

how did you end up in race 2??, sorry i caused the restart

[bistard]

Jonno mate you and I are never gonna agree on this one--it was sam that gave him a tap-- a very light barely a touch tap none the less Honest injun I saw the whole thing.Sam has said sorry to all concerned
No question craig shouldnt have tried the move he did --it was a very ballsy call and he himself did say he shoulda just followed sam through and tried up n over the top at the sweeper -

I agree,as well,I was not there,but spoke to Craig Shirriffs yesterday & he said the same thing

[kickingzebra]

how did you end up in race 2??, sorry i caused the restart

Narrowly avoided the crash, to come in 14th. Less to do with skill than luck
Hopefully come back next year, and do a proper job of it!

[JayRacer37]

how did you end up in race 2??, sorry i caused the restart

Were you talking at me??
Restard did the business for me, knocked it back to ten laps lenth, and stuck with the leaders right till the end. after Craig's mishap ended up 5th. Happy with that, for now....
Went under last years lap record by 4 tenths..unfortunatly that was 7 tenths slow this year Do'h!!

[k14]

Were you talking at me??
Restard did the business for me, knocked it back to ten laps lenth, and stuck with the leaders right till the end. after Craig's mishap ended up 5th. Happy with that, for now....
Went under last years lap record by 4 tenths..unfortunatly that was 7 tenths slow this year Do'h!!

Was cool to see you in the onboard shot of derek mcadam, that was, until he crashed. Could see that you were alot faster through pothole than him.

P.S. KZ, the coverage yesterday shows very clearly how the incident was no fault what so ever of the back marker. Sam did a dodgy pass and was lucky he didn't get taken out too. It was however a racing incident and there was no way he could protest it, just how things go sometimes.

[JayRacer37]

Was cool to see you in the onboard shot of derek mcadam, that was, until he crashed. Could see that you were alot faster through pothole than him.

P.S. KZ, the coverage yesterday shows very clearly how the incident was no fault what so ever of the back marker. Sam did a dodgy pass and was lucky he didn't get taken out too. It was however a racing incident and there was no way he could protest it, just how things go sometimes.

Yeap. Yesterday's footage completly vindicate's Daniel's anger. It was a little dodgy though, Sam managed to badly cut up Jonno (KZ) just one corner earlier...and there definitly wasn't room to stick it past Daniel, that much is clear from the video. He was VERY lucky (Sam).