Well, after a few months off, I decided to drag the old K2 back onto the track. The week leading up to racing was late night after late night, getting both mine, and Two Smoker's bikes ready for racing. We left Auckland at 6am Friday morning to get to Taupo so the smoker could test on his new ZX6R. Huge thanks to Gixser for letting us into their garage for the Friday, and Robert and Kerry from Ohlins for the advice, and laughs.
After a below average sleep (I blame Ange), we rocked on up to the track, unloaded my bike, and got set up for the day. I cheekily asked Kerry if he could have a look at the suspension on my bike which is now all stock. We managed to get the front sag, damping, and rear damping to an acceptable level. Kerry showed me where I'd gone wrong with the forks, and I'm now a little bit more cleverer.
Went out for 600SP qualifying, and was very happy with the bike. I knew I could go faster, and wasn't expecting to set the world on fire, so I was extremely happy when Chloe Brought back my sticker for P10 on the starting grid with a 1:42.2.
F1 Qualifying I kept getting held up in traffic. I wanted to put down a faster lap than I had in F2 Qual. I knew it wouldn't be hard, but just couldn't find any clear track. Qualified 21st with a 1:43.5. On the warm down lap I was gutted to see Kicking Zebra sitting on the outside of turn 4 with bits of his Gixxer scattered around him.
F2 race 1: Got a shit start, absolutely flew past Two Smoker. Then found myself midpack in turn 1, blew past a few guys through the first few corners, and was behind drew, toast, and a couple of others going into the old sweeper. Drew took the best line I've ever seen him take, putting himself on the grass instead of the back straight. "Great" Says I, passing him, and one other bike down the back straight, and tagging onto toast, and a guy on a 675. I managed to pass the 675 by lap 3, and was lining Toast up to take 10th place from him, when I let the clutch out a tad too quickly going into turn one while leant over. The back of the bike swung round rather quickly, and I felt the rear tyre go into a lowside. It turns out that pulling the clutch back in is not the correct way to deal with said situation. The back tyre instantly gripped, the bike stood up, I bounced on the tank, then got thrown into a massive highside.
When I could breathe again. I got straight up, and walked to the tyre wall. Fuck highsides suck!! Best time was 1:41.8
F1 race 1: After inspecting myself, and the bike. I thought I'd go out, and potter about at the back of F1 to see how my body would cope. KZ was on a bike borrowed from Vtec, so he was in a similar mood to myself. With that, we started from the very back of the grid, pulled some wheelies, played with a couple of back markers, and had a ball generally fucking about. Unfortunately we ended up lapping a guy, so neither of us got to finish last. Best time 1:50.5
F2 race 2: Though I was still sore, and barely able to use my left arm, I wanted to get a decent race in. Yet another terrible start, and a stock rear shock trying to control a sticky new Continental tyre, conspired to see me fighting with KZ for 16th place. I managed to take it from him, and had a ball doing it, but knew I was going slow. I cannot swear by the Ohlins product enough. If you ever want to know if it's really worth the money, try it for a month, then put your stock suspenders back in the bike for a day.
Best time 1:43.8
F1 race 2: Unable to find KZ at the back of the starting grid, I thought the cheeky bugger had left me hanging. starting from the back is great for helping one chose a line into turn 1. I started hunting KZ down, found him, passed him, and kept the same pace up. By this stage the rear shock was crying for mercy, Kerry had done all he could to make it work for me, and the bike was still wallowing like a pig in mud. I managed to work my way up to 21st place from 34 starters. Funnily enough, that was my assigned grid position. 1:43.1
Anyway. I rediscovered how much fun racing is. I wasn't there to win any prizes, I was there to go for a thrash.
I have to thank Chris, Kerry, and Robert for their advice. James my baby bro for his help as my pit bitch. Ange for coming down to see what it's all about. Eddie, and team BS for their garage space on Friday, and the ride on Ed's superbike. MikeyG for picking me up from turn 1. Noel for looking after Chris's bike. Jono and Bronwyn for my bike, and all the other KB crew for talking shit and keeping everyone entertained.
If anyone got any pictures of me mid flight, I sure would like to see them.
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
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Good stuff!
still looked bloody impressive as went very sideways then got thrown up in the air a fair way.
Heres the pic of the aftermath any way. Was great to see you back out racing later on.
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