Sketchy Racers.. Racing thread!
Hey Peoples.
I thought that some of you would be interested in the progress in my racing, so im going to run this thread, and update it with things that i am doing, including race reports and pictures of work im doing to my bike (when i get a digital camera)
To start off i'll give you a brief summary of my past racing history
I started my racing in 2003 racing in Formula 4, or otherwise known as bucket racing. These bucket racers are simply little cheap bikes to help people get into the sport as well as being great fun. My results for the first year was a 5th place overall, and my best finishing place was 3rd.
In 2004 I did another season in F4, but on a new bike. Unfortunately the new bike, although faster, was unreliable. I finished the series in 11th, with a 2nd place as my best finishing place.
In 2005 I didn't do any competitive racing, This was due to there not being a series run at that time. I did keep riding doing a few track days.
In 2006, I was offered a ride on a Suzuki RG150 to race in the Streetstock 150 class at the Victoria motorcycle club series. It was the first race I had done on that bike, and at Manfeild raceway. I qualified 4th, behind two very experienced riders and a 250cc bike.
The race went well, and I used the knowledge of the track learned in qualifying to capitalize on my qualifying to take a 2nd place finish in my first race on a bike capable of doing over 100kph. These RG150s although small bikes are still capable of doing 180kph. After the second race (wet) I took home the 3rd overall for the round. Round two was the same, again a 3rd overall. Repeat for round 3, another 3rd.
For round four I bought my own bike to the track, a Kawasaki KR150ZX which was more competitive than the Suzuki. After changing bikes, I was always the first 150cc bike home, behind the 250cc which had a noticeable power advantage. I took 2nd place overall for the series, and the 1st 150cc.
After this series, I sold my bike, along with every other possession I had to buy myself a 1997 Honda RS125. A 125 is smaller than a 150, but this is a genuine Grand Prix bike. These cannot be bought by general public from the Honda racing corporation. They are capable of speeds up to 210kph and produce around 45bhp. Their major advantage is their lightweight. The bike weighing only 70kg gives it a great power to weight ratio, and phenomenal cornering capabilities.
My first race meeting on this bike was the Taupo Road race Spectacular.
On the first practice on the bike, a bolt in the gear box rattled loose and seized the motor which high sided me off the bike at turn1.
Fortunately cosmetic damage to the bike was minimal, but the internals were a bit of a mess.
I spent all of the Saturday practice and qualifying repairing the bike.
On the Sunday, I went onto the track for the first race. At the back of the pack, I got a great start, which got me into about 6th. I worked my way up the field and got a second place finish.
I repeated this in the next two races, taking home second overall.
1st place went to the National number 4 rider, who has had 2 years experience racing 125's and this was his home track.
After this I was offered a ride on a Streetstock 150, for the Ruapuna support race at the 2007 nationals. I went down south to race this bike. After a mediocre qualifying (in wet conditions on a new track) I was quite disappointed with my 8th position qualifying. But fortunately, the track dried up for the races. I took a 2nd place in the first race, and won the second race.
There were 50 bikes in this class, and 90% this was their home track that they had many hours of track time. In 24 laps on the track, I managed to get within 3 seconds of the lap record, and win a race. I was defiantly happy.
After this, I did one track day at manfeild on the RS125, followed by the national round.
The national round did not go so well. I struggled with engine problems on the Saturday qualifying (cracked head), and my bike was uncompetitive in power compared to the other bikes. Nationals is a serious step up in competition.
All this aside, my best finishing place was 6th, with 9th overall out of 26 bikes.
In-between then and the beginning of the VMCC series, I rebuilt my motor.
In the first race on the rebuilt motor, I blew second gear (crucial at Taupo race track) and struggled because of it. Still managing a 3rd place out of 11bikes.
Round two of the VMCC series was back at manfeild, where I won the first two races, getting within 2 seconds of the 125GP lap record, and beating the national number 3 rider. Unfortunately, My fork seals blew in the last race making the bike hard to ride. I pushed too hard and went down at the hair pin while leading the race.
I rebuilt the forks in between rounds and had the bike ready to go for round 3, again at manfeild.
21st July 2007, round 3
I got into qualifying, with a brand new slick tire on, in damp conditions.
This was a bad idea. The tire could not `scrub in' in the damp conditions.
On lap 5 of qualifying, I was coming down pit straight where I hit one of the grid marking paint lines. The rear of the bike lost traction, went side ways, gripped again and high sided me into the concrete pit wall.
I was fortunate to get away largely unscathed but the bike was a right off.
I qualified 2nd in those 5 laps.
I have since put all my savings into a new bike.
That's my breif racing history
Future Plans
I have recently purchased a new bike and plan to rebuild my old bike. The reason for this is so that I will have a bike for dry and wet conditions, as well as a spare bike.
My next race meeting will be round 5 of the Victoria Motorcycle Club Championship.
This is from the 22nd - 23rd of September, running at manfeild and it is a two event.
From then I plan on doing the Final VMCC round at Taupo Centennial Raceway on the 13th of October.
I hope is to do as many track days as possible in between the end of the VMCC series and the nationals to try get my track time up, and learn how the bike handels and performs. As I have only 6 months experience on the 125 I have less experience in comparison to other riders.
The nationals is a 5 round Series Running on 5 different tracks in NZ
>Round 1: January 12 & 13 Ruapuna - including the NZ Grand Prix
>Round 2: January 19 & 20 Levels
>Round 3: January 26 & 27 Teretonga
>Round 4: February 23 & 24 Manfeild
>Round 5: 08 & 09 March Pukekohe
I also hope to go to the 2008 MotoGP125 Support race at Phillip Island in Australia.
As said, the above are just plans, or dreams should i say. Because of my accident (my fault) i have put myself into a pickle for the nationals. I had to buy a new bike, as so much of my old bike was damaged, it was hard to tell if it was going to be possible to rebuild it. even now, its still marginal. I will know more when my frame and swingarm gets back, and i can check to see if they are bent.
Anyway, keep an eye out as to whats going on, i'll try update this as much as possible
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Originally Posted by Teambwr47
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