Well, I didn't have any flash telemetry gizmos or suspension monitoring gadgets to assist me.
But rather than be outdone by some others who have reportedly made excuses for themselves, I also have an excuse for being so slow.
Two weeks ago I stupidly looped Mikey's pit bike. I remember at the time, while trying in vain to regather it, hearing Mikey's voice in my headscreaming at me "let it go, let it go !!"
But alas, I didn't and muntered my foot. (That's technical speak for bruising, ligament and soft tissue damage.) I'm still not walking right.
But anyway.
I only entered PostClassic Junior because of said foot injury.
Qualifying. I got onto the track pretty early and tried to get into a rythm. It didn't take long for a few guys to come past me though (Paul Brown, Branden Tate, Gavin Mackay and Paul Martindale.)
I was pretty gutted to be honest but admittedly, Gavin has recently returned from injury, Paul B is now on a faster bike than he used to be, and this young fella Branden has got some talent. I think it was only his 2nd race meeting so he will be one to watch.
If my foot was a factor, I'm sure it was a pshychological one - it ached a little but it was more the confidence thing - I just didn't feel 100% on the ball and you can see this in the photos - my body position was not as aggressive as usual and I didn't feel as comfortable throwing the bike about and hanging off as far.
When Branden came past, I didn't know who it was and thought no blardy way mate - I tried to take him in the sweeper but he came back acroos my front wheel and I had to grab a handful of front brake to avoid hitting him.
The front tucked/slid ? twice but I had no choice but to keep braking or I would have run into him and taken us both out.Thankfully we missed.
I was pretty disappointed and didn't think I could go any quicker so came in early.
13th on the grid overall and 6th in PC junior.
Racing - Race 1 and 2 I got ok starts but it wasn't long before I was getting passed by Branden, Gavin and Paul M. Had some good braking battles with Gavin and Paul, who didn't give me an inch and held their lines through the corners. I had a few nervous moments on the inside line, praying that I didn't lose the front end and take them out as they went around the outside.
Finished 6th in both races.
Race 3 went a little better for me. Gavin ran off the track trying to pass a backmarker so I gained a place there. Then I had a great old time battling with Paul M. We overtook each other several times, then on the last lap I managed to slipstream him down the back straight and held him off at the sweeper. The oil that was dumped nearly stuffedf it for me as I rolled off the throttle, not wanting to run the oile over - I thought better to lose the place back to Paul than crash and get no points - luckily he was thinking the same and backed off to avoid a slide.
I was very surprised to see Eamon close behind me in race 3, and he even got ahead of me once or twice - I had to ask him what he had eaten for lunch, cause he was heaps faster than the last round.
Roll on Taupo. I have a 30 point lead over 3rd place at the moment, so bar anything going wrong, I should be sweet for second on the podium in my first full year of racing. Stoked !
p.s. when I say bar anything going wrong, I'm referring to bike issues, not the pending birth of bubs, although I'm hoping like hell it doesn't coincide with the final round.
Great to see all my pit mates doing extremely well out on the track - thanks to all the people who helped out (Skel etc). Thanks Phil for the repair of my tyrewarmer.
p.p.s - who was the rude prick that kept talking through the speeches at the Drover's on Sat night ?
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Originally Posted by Deano
....which of course you will 
Im-a-cummin fast now old chap . 
.
I hate having to behave myself.
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