Last time I raced a bike at Taupo at Round I of the VMCC Actrix Winter series, I was later featured in a full page photo of a prominent New Zealand motorcycle magazine. Unfortunately it depicted me sliding on my backside into turn one, off the race start and staring at a field of 35 bikes trying to avoid flatening me. To say I hoped for a more successfull final round is an understatement.
Following a nightmare weekend results wise at Round five, Robert Taylor from Ohlins had managed to find what we hoped would be the secret solution in gaining rear grip from the WBP Racing GSXR. To be honest I'd been banging my head in frustration as the bike has been handling fantastically but I've always wished for more grip on corner exit, something imperative to a good lap time on a Superbike. I was at the stage of questioning the byological components skills when Robert threw me a lifeline. Having picked up a new set of Pirelli Diablo Superbike slicks from Ian at Motorcycle Surgery in College Hill, I was feeling pretty relaxed for this final event of the winter. Arrived at the track Friday morning for testing to be greeted with the windiest, coldest, drizzliest day we've had the luck of seeing all winter. I set the bike up in the pits I was sharing with the team from www.bikestore.co.nz and had a little chat with Robert about the dynamics of the changes I would soon make, and how the bike would react to them. Robert had the replacement parts I needed with him but due to the huge amount of work required to change them (thanks Suzuki) I set about acheiving a similar geometry through lowering the rear of the bike. I purposely left the tyres I'd blamed my poor Manfeild results on as a comparison from a grip level. By now the track was dry and rain had ceased although it was bitterly cold and windy. I took to the track and cruised around for a few laps, getting a feel for a very different handling bike. The rear end felt twice what it did at Manfield, hooking up well on the throttle and never threatening to spit me off. The front was pushing wide through the turns though as I hadn't lowered this enough. Session two I made sure this was rectified and set about throwing together some respectable laps with my newfound confidence. Success at last!!!
Race day I was at the track nice and early ready for action. I lowered the gearing by a couple of teeth on the rear and sat around twiddling my thumbs for a while. Martin, Steve, Liz and Naomi all turned up with the whole family in tow, ready to cheer me on and for some reason I got nervous again. Quick blast of Rage Against The Machine through the MP3 and I was a picture of calmness again.
Supersport Practice: I took to the track fairly tentatively, keen on scrubbing the new Pirellis in properly. Taupo can be murder on tyres if you're not carefull and I can't afford to wreck any right now. I wombled around for a while, slowly gaining pace and trying not to impede any of the 600 riders qualifying. Caught up to Glenn Williams and thought I'd give the young fella a taste of 1000cc speed, flying by at almost twice the pace on Taupos looonnnnng back straight. Chuckling to myself through the infield, I took a quick glance behind into turn 5 just a Glen tried to nip through a small gap I'd left. I inadvertantly shut the door on the poor bugger and he reckons he almost tagged me. Reminding myself it wasn't actually my qualifying session I reluctantly exited the track but not before putting on a few wheelies for the punters down the pit straight.
Superbike Practice: Time to get serious, I made sure I was one of the first on the track. Intent getting some clear laps and positioning myself at the pointy end of the grid. Throughout this whole series qualifying has been amazingly competitive, mostly due to the fact there's only ever 35 positions up for grabs and unfortunately at least two or three entrants are sent home each round. I got some clear air and began pushing fairly hard, while trying to remain tidy. The bike was feeling great, as was the grip level from the tyres but as I'd lowered the bike back to its standard ride height, I was now running out of cornering clearance in fairly spectacular fashion, grinding the left hand side of the fairings the entire length of turn seven, a stupidly quick 3rd gear sweeper. The guys at Cannon Signage Concepts certainly wont be happy about that but then it's been a couple of months since my last visit, they'll be missing me. The different position on the bike also meant I managed to graze the knees of my cool new Quasimoto leathers, that didn't amuse me too much, lucky they've got some sparky titanium shields there. I knew I'd got a few solid laps and was fairly happy to see I'd finished the session third quickest when Glen returned with the time sheet
Martin and Steve had secured a corporate box for the event so we all watched the first round of racing from the elevated balcony, enjoying a ninety percent view of the track. Highlights had to be my youngest brother Luke in his very first trip to Taupo getting the holeshot and finishing fourth on what's very nearly the oldest bike on the track and my other brother Drews debut on the KTL Motorcycles/Anglo American Motorcycle club Ducati 749. Awesome riding guys and we're all real proud of you.
Race one: After giving myself the best chance possible of gaining the points I needed to win the series, I was totally focused on the flag. I duffed the start a little but had an instant flashback to wearing through my leathers at turn one six months ago. I just rolled of the throttle, literally. It was probably the softest moment I've ever had on a bike and I paid dearly for it, a third of the field powering past me into the first turn. Cursing myself I slowly began to pick off the positions I lost, Taupo being a difficult place to pass a quick rider I got a few into and out of the far end sweeper and down the big straight. It didn't take long to catch Neil and Chris who were having a fantastic battle but try as I might, I couldn't gain enough to make a pass. The cross wind on the straight was pretty strong too and with the speedo indicating 297kph it doesn't take much to be blown off line. Luckily for me, Chris outbraked himself in a big way goining into the old sweeper onto the back straight and stood his bike up right in front of me, taking to the grass. Neil was firmly in my sights and I was gaining substantially on him but not quite soon enough. The chequered was displayed after five very short laps and I found myself in sixth place. I was pretty disapointed with the result put really enjoyed the race. Especially the three riders with a shot at the title all sharing the same track space and tripping over each other.
Race two: Short of Neil suffering a major catasrophe and recording a DNF, there was no way I was going to win the series title so my plan was to enjoy the last five laps of this winter as much as possible. I watched the start flag like a hawk and got a far better start. Nowhere near as good as Nick Cole who must be clairvoyant or something because he knew the race had started a second before the rest of the field. I managed to stay ahead of Neil and Chris and get a little gap but my cornering clearance was really hampering my laptimes and try as I might I couldn't make inroads on the front runners. I got a big front end slide through turn five, a really cool right hander that drops away a little and goes a bit off camber, my knee trapped between the fairing and the track. Remembering that I really did enjoy not having to fix broken bikes between rounds, I backed off a little and cruised home for the final lap, acknowledging all the flag marshals and sporting a few wheelies down the straights finishing off with a big "standup" accross the finish line. That was specially for Frenchy because he's been harping on at me all winter about there not being enough wheelies displayed in this racing lark. Hope ya liked it mate. So I finished the race fifth on track but fourth in the results as apparently the race controller didn't accept psycic ability as a reason to leave before the flag.
Overall for the series that leaves me third overall, proving a couple of things solidly. Formost, to finish first, first you must finish. Neil and Chris both had a far better finnishing ratio than me and it worked well for them. Secondly, club racing is a hell of a lot tougher than you may think. The track conditions are far from consistan, the riders have a lot more talent that you might imagine and shit DOES happen. Overall, I've learnt so much in such a short time it's hard to remember where I was six month ago. High point for the winter has got to be the win over Carey Briar and Dereck McAdam in our second meeting out on the bike. Seeing the pride in everybodys eyes in the pit garage after the race and hearing the cheers from the pit wall as I crossed the line was certainly an uplifting experience I wont forget anytime soon. I can't decide when I felt worst, either being knocked off by a falling McAdam at WBP Racings debut meeting while challenging for the lead or throwing it away needlessly while leading a race at Round 4. Either way, they both sucked but as character builders both incidents worked wonders.
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Excellent - I almost felt as though I was on the bike with ya'!! 
and very well deserved too. 
Originally Posted by Dean
, I too kinda have a curvy figure which makes it worse beacuse im a guy. Well the waist kinda goes in and the bum pushes out. When I was in college the girls in my year would slap me on the arse and squeeze because apparently it is firm, tight...
I wear jeans
Seriously, thanks guys, you all did a great job.
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