Nicksta's VMCC round 3

**Nicksta** · 23rd July 2007, 21:25

VMCC Round 3
21st July 07

Flying in from the USA one day before racing I knew I was pushing my luck without any riding in the last 5 weeks to prepare for round 3 and my body still in Eastern Time. With some new Under Armour to keep me warm under my leathers I packed up Tweety, my buddy (and stand in pit crew) Richard and I picked up Death to head to Manfeild for our 2nd attempt at the mines. Goals for round 4: Stay awake, qualify in top 5 Clubmans B and attempt 1:25’s.

Qualifying: The track was wet and it was trying to rain. Plan was to take it easy for 2 laps, put in 2 fast laps and pull in. I found myself at the back so slowed to get some clear track. Down the back straight for the 2nd time I sped up to prepare for a fast lap. Crossing the painted gridlines Tweety lost traction for the first time and tried to spit me off, rode it out and breathed a big relief. T2 the back end was sliding again, ok, its more slippery than I thought. Time to get a fast time and pull in. I gritted my teeth and told myself to ride smooth, faster each lap, I managed a 1:32.7. Not fast but landed me 11th on the grid and 1st in B class by .24 of a second. My best qualifying yet

Race 1: Starting positioned behind Aria, I was hoping to follow her into T1. With not much of a game plan I grid up. Flag dropped and bikes instantly engulfed me, I had completely forgot I was a little 400 in front of 600+cc’s. Rounding splash bikes all around me I go wide, suddenly I get shunted in my back, I yelped and took a deep breath thanking my lucky stars I didn’t go flying. Settling in to a rhythm I slowly catch Vicki and an SV650. Confidence setting in and concentration diminishing, I push to keep up. Lap 5 and I head wide into splash as I was too close to Vicki, glancing left where I wanted to be I saw bikes, brain shut off and I head straight, braked (stupid) but it was too late, over the rumble strip and on the grass, I instantly loose it in the deep mud

Result: Tweety and myself covered in mud and I’m kicking myself for pushing when I should have played safe and sat behind the faster bikes.

Pushing Tweety back to the pits channelled some anger at myself, I was calm when I reached Richard and Andy. In no time the guys had my rearset off and replaced and we were washing Tweety (and myself) down to get ready for race 2.

Race 2: Worrying about my slippery replacement foot peg I got engulfed in T1 again. Freaking out around T1, I watched 2 bikes narrowly miss big time, I buttoned off and bikes flew past. I lost my nerve and watched Steven and a few others fly past. Finding my foot constantly slipping off my replacement peg I struggled under breaking. Noticeably slowing for splash, I then found myself at Higgins in the biggest slide I have had, thinking oh f*ck this is it, my peg slams the tarmac, I push on the peg and my tyre grips again. With massive relief, I took it easy to finish the race. Result: 5th place and happy to have finished. Plan for R3: Make a plan for T1.

I come back from getting my times to find Andy and Rich have jimmied my old rearset back on with the shifter rod thingy from the spare connected. Much appreciated thanks guys! Was just the confidence boost I needed, as I was tiring and worried about struggling for another race.

Race 3: Plan for T1 was: go round the outside and take a faster wide line into T2. Plan worked till I got to the apex of T1, I glanced at the rumble strip and it was all over. Made it round, but not gracefully and lost a lot of speed. With my nerves shot, I watched Steven disappear and I latched on to the back of Warren on his 400 and followed him home to place 5th again. Lesson learned: focus, focus, and focus.

I was happy with my 5th overall for the day considering my play in the mud. I have learned more in one day about more aspects of racing than I think I have so far this year. Thank you Richard and Andy for all your help (and driving while I slept off my jetlag

). Good to see everyone again, (you go girl Aria! And WT, what a machine!) Nice to meet you Paul (RROF thanks for the advice on splash).

Many thanks to Dave from Kiwibike Insurance, for your ongoing support and encouragement, without which, my racing wouldn’t be possible. Thank you.

Roll on the Long track at round 4 and Bent Spanner Racing coming out in force!

**crashe** · 23rd July 2007, 21:29

Well done... bugger about the mud thou.....

Keep up the good work out there on the track.

**moT** · 23rd July 2007, 21:34

DAMN i wish i could of been there! it sounded like great fun i have a few points to catch up now to try to win

**Scorpygirl** · 23rd July 2007, 21:34

Go girl!!! Keep that mud off you and the bike and go hard next time!!!

**Deano** · 23rd July 2007, 22:07

Originally Posted by Nicksta

Race 2: Worrying about my slippery replacement foot peg

Dodgy footpegs suck alright.

Great racing there Nicki.

**scracha** · 23rd July 2007, 22:18

Originally Posted by Nicksta

Race 3: Plan for T1 was: go round the outside and take a faster wide line into T2. Plan worked till I got to the apex of T1, I glanced at the rumble strip and it was all over. Made it round, but not gracefully and lost a lot of speed. With my nerves shot, I watched Steven disappear and I latched on to the

And what you didn't notice was that I was right behind you into T1, I thought you'd done it deliberately as a carefully planned blocking move. I missed the back of your bike by about..umm...5cm. Lost all my speed too :-). As the 650's were then too far away to catch without pushing hard, I just cruised the rest of that race. From the laptimes I think a lot of peeps were tired and cruised in that last race.

**Dawso** · 23rd July 2007, 22:58

It's a shame you ran off, I was on the sv 650 and was having a ball dicing with you in race 1 untill you ran wide at the hairpin and disapeared, I was half expecting you to stick it up the inside of me again at the next turn.

**Nicksta** · 23rd July 2007, 23:33

thanks everyone..... i promise i'll be well rested by the next round... and fully on NZ time so will bring my A game

Originally Posted by scracha

And what you didn't notice was that I was right behind you into T1, I thought you'd done it deliberately as a carefully planned blocking move. I missed the back of your bike by about..umm...5cm. Lost all my speed too :-).

sorry to dissappoint

i wish it was planned... but tiredness and lack of concentration caused it... next time however

Originally Posted by Dawso

It's a shame you ran off, I was on the sv 650 and was having a ball dicing with you in race 1 untill you ran wide at the hairpin and disapeared, I was half expecting you to stick it up the inside of me again at the next turn.

ah, so that was you ay..... i was having a mighty tough time with you and Flame, thats for sure... taking me on the straights!
She was expecting me to bounce back too but i was firmly rolling in the mud while peps were laughing at me trying to pick my bike up..lol... i'm going to the gym tomorrow to do some powerlifts....
catch ya next time ay

**Joni** · 24th July 2007, 08:50

I think you did damn well considering how tired you must of been...

Im proud of you hun!

**Keystone19** · 24th July 2007, 09:03

Good effort Nicki. Glad to hear you weren't damaged in your wee off.

**Riff Raff** · 24th July 2007, 10:58

Good effort hun. Sorry I didn't really get a chance to catch up with you - was so busy cleaning Jimmy's bike all the time I didn't get a chance to go for a wander.