VMCC Round 5
22nd & 23rd September 07
Arriving early Friday morning at Manfeild for the test day, Eddy, Matt, Shane and myself were set and amping for 3 awesome days of riding. With new colour co-ordinated ductape, suspension adjusted and changed to race shift, Tweety and I were ready to work on some corners. Highlights of the day were being taking on the left and right in hairy places by 3 very, very fast riders all at once and avoiding the interesting road kill before the hairpin. Back to my original confidence, Tweety running perfect and race shift down pat I called it a day and gave Tweety an oil change.
Goals for the weekend: qualify with at least a 1:26, set a PB, race with consistent 1:25’s, place top 5 Clubman’s B and have fun!!
Day 1:
Qualifying:
15 mins to put a good time down I hung at the back to get some clear track. Settled into a good rhythm and qualified with a 1:27.5 putting me 21st on the grid, 7th in Clubman’s B. My best qualifying time yet on the short track and I was happy to be on the inside of the grid just behind Dave on his Hyosung.
Race 1: 25 min Endurance race
Goal was to consistently lap approx 1:26 the whole race and step it up the last 3 laps.
Ready to race we lined up on the grid. I planned my line between the bikes in front. Flag drops and I get the best start ever keeping to the right it clears to round 2 and I spot only a hand full of bikes ahead. 2-3 wide round the infield was a rush with bigger bikes surrounding me. Middle straight saw the faster bikes taking me and I settle in dicing with some 400’s. I counted about 3 bikes down in various spots and the red flag comes out after 10 mins of racing. Bit gutted as I was in a great position and smooth rhythm. Back to the pit lane, Ryan arrives with my much needed eye drops and powerade (thanks Mr Poos!) the announcement is made for us to go out for another restart and a 20 min race.
Race 1 Restart: 20 min Endurance race
Another great start and I spy Steve on his CBR just ahead through the infield. I chased him down and took him under breaking, passing me on the exit I take him again on the straight. Settling into a pattern, we swapped places multiple times over a few laps. Knowing I could take him on the straight as long as I was close on the exit, I settled in behind Steve to conserve energy and limit the risky manoeuvres for a lap or 2. Every straight he checked to see if I was there and I joked to myself “I’m right on your ass buddy”. Coming round the hairpin I decide its time to step up and get some distance between us. I take him on the straight and hold it through Higgins, along the back straight I make myself not break past the 50 and drop into the final turn to see the chequered flag! Head down I cross the line. Rounding T1 Steve catches up I grin and give a big thumbs up. What a race, I had a blast dicing with you Steve. Result: 5th in Clubman’s B, laps 8-11 steady 1:26’s lap 12-13, 1:25.7’s and a new PB of 1:25.1 in the last lap, absolutely stoked!
Day 2:
Race 1: 10 Laps
Lining up on the grid, I noticed a few less bikes than Saturday. After an OK start I couldn’t see Steve at all, Tom appeared and we were back to dicing. Tweety is faster on the straights but he’s cutting me up in the corners. Dicing hard we catch up to a 600. He’s faster on the straights, but we catch him under breaking. I get some distance on the start/finish and think if I get past he’ll slow Tom, coming in too hot past the 600 I miss 2nd and round in 3rd, with no drive I coast till I can chop down listening hard expecting to hear them on my tail and pass me. With no one there I settle and round the hairpin to see red flags. Turns out Tom and the 600 got caught up in Turn 1 and we line up in pit lane. 5 laps down and the decision was made to restart another 10 lap race.
Race 1: restart
Seriously depleted grid, there is a big gap in front of me. Not a good start and I find myself dicing with Steve on the first lap. Coming onto the 3rd we catch a 400, With Steve behind me I close on the other bike towards Higgins, coming in hot and closer to the corner I didn’t realise how slow the 400 was going, turning early right into where I was headed I couldn’t break any harder, as he crossed I tapped his back tyre, I watched him wobble but complete the corner as I flew through the air after loosing the front. Sorry dude if I scared you. Glancing across I see my seat and radiator cap, I grabbed them and ran for the side of the track to where my bike was still running and pissing water everywhere. With the off switch buried in the gravel I struggled to get to it (I know form the sideline it looked like I was trying to pick it up). Thanks to the marshal for picking Tweety up for me, and Mikey for trailering us back to the pits. Turned out a bike crashed before me, and the red flag was already out and the race was stopped before I crashed according to the steward who re-scrutineered Tweety. The race was called off. Decision was made to award points for both races. Result R1, 4th, restart 5th.
Race 2: 15 laps
Not the best start and I’m heading for the inside of T1, heaps of bikes cut across and I find myself going slow watching a lot of bikes narrowly missing each other in a very messy first corner, into T2 & T3 and bikes are 3 across, I back off to leave the bigger bikes to it mid chicane. On to the straight and I see Steve ahead. I hunt him down but Warren is buzzing around me too and my brakes are spongy so I can’t break as hard as I would like. Carrying extra speed into T3 I mess it up 13 out of the 14 laps (at least I got it right once!). I was closing on Steve but hit neutral in Higgins and had to coast around it, repeating it again the next lap - doh. With Steve too far ahead to chase down I focused on keeping in front of Simon and finishing the race. Happy to see the chequered flag I cross in 7th place.
With the 2 day event over I’m unofficially 4th. Keeping me in 3rd place for the series coming to the final round at Taupo. Finally we are going back to my home track and more than 2 left hand corners! I’m glad we got to run the short track one last time and I managed to make all my goals, just.
Huge thank you to Paul and Dianne from TEAM CANBRACE for letting me ride your CBR400 in the lunch break (and Mel from VMCC for letting us out) and offering me the chance to race the CBR400 in VMCC Post Classic Jnr class next year. It is an awesome opportunity and I know I will learn so much in the months to come. Thank you.
Many thanks also to Dave and Donna from KIWIBIKE INSURANCE, for your ongoing support and encouragement. It was great to see you there to see what your support has allowed me to do this year. Without your support, my racing wouldn’t be possible. Thank you.
Roll on Taupo A1GP track in a few short weeks!
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.. awesome stuff & congrats on ya new pb time & the ride for team canbrace 
.. was also great to catch up with shane so thanks for bringing him down 
Originally Posted by Nicksta
and nope, sorry soccer doesnt agree with me!
Thanks.
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