Paeroa, why was I worried???

[Drew]

Well, got there around one on Friday, so got a mint pit spot on top of the stop bank looking down at the dummy grid. Throw the tent things up and we're ready to rock and roll, pity the band playing that night weren't, my God they sucked!!!

Anyway, got no sleep Friday night thanks to some locals in a Skyline, a couple alarms going off, and loads of noise from other sources.

Time for the sighting laps, looks simple enough, just like puke but little. Practice, simple it is not, braking points are hard to work out, particularly coming at the hairpin. Was cool tho cos I got four practices cos I cross entered and my times came down through them all. Only issue I had in these sessions was Nick Prestige goin into turn one with me making a move round the outside, when he decides he wants a break, sits the bike up and his arm straight out the side...at my head hieght...without anywhere to go I cop it in the face, and I'm sure his sore elbow has him putting his arm UP next time he wants to signal that he's slowing down.

F2 R1, the lovely 007XX holding the brollie over my head on the dummy grid and it feels just like any other race event, (except I have a brollie girl). The lotto style qualifying had me on the second row in F2 so I was pretty stoked, managed to leave the line not too bad and it's all on, cant remember fuck all else except I finished 6th. HA... $100 for my trouble!

Bears R1, lotto qualify has me on the back row here, so I am feeling the strain at what's ahead, started OK and got down to bizzo, squat all exciting happened, I passed some people and came in 6th in this race as well.

F2 R2, what a fuck up, I was feeling totally wrecked by this point and couldn't concentrate at all, nearly biffed it twice by not braking when I should have and comin at turn 1 and the hairpin with my bum pullin leather off the seat, finished 8th

Bears R2, had a wee kip before this one and some food, so I was feelin closer to my game, and starting off the first row I was pretty confident. Ok start and I was goin better than I had all day, got by some traffic early on and set about catching Peter Tanner, turned out real easy when I came out of the hairpin to see him sitting on the hay bales at the side of the track. Set about gettin by another RSV1000 and some other bike. Got the job done to put in SECOND PLACE BABY, but as it turns out there was a yellow flag further back coming at the hairpin I hadn't seen and got relegated back to fourth. I fully accept I'm an idiot for doing this, but I would say some other riders can attest that the flags are not all that easy to see in places. AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHH, DAMN MY FEEBLE BRAIN!!!

Anyway, fuckin awesome day, did a couple burnouts and wheelies after the last race for the crowd

A huge thanks to my gorgeous lady for her support and help. Kerry from KTL and Rob and Cherry Taylor for the bike and ongoing support, Anglo American Motorcycle club, Silverdale Landscape Services, BikeTranz, Kerry Dukey from Ohlins, and Henderson Motorcycles. Also to Jimmy and Sue for the wicked support, Patch for endless quantities of humor, Ed and Affman for the same. Huge thanks to Dan for once again ensuring we had caffine and nicotine to sustain us. Thanks also again to 007XX for the shade.

[GIXser]

I was truly amazed at your performance dude, not too mention Vicky's !!
you chaps put on a magnificant show for us,

cheers

[jrandom]

I spent most of the morning with my arse parked just outside the wire under a tree at the entrance to the esses. I recall noting that you were looking quite relaxed and comfortable through there in what I counted as fifth place (I don't pay that much attention; I mostly just turn up to listen to the pretty noises and ogle the brolly girls).

Nicely done sir!

[Sanx]

It was a great day watching you and your lovely lady yesterday. Your second BEARS race was great - every lap, you were an extra place or two up. I'd love to know where you passed under yellow; and I'm wondering if there was a mix-up somewhere along the lines due to both you and Vicky having virtually identical bikes and similar leathers. Obviously, I could only see the bit of the track I was parked on - Vicky passed someone on a yellow coming into the hairpin. I wonder if they didn't get her number, and then seeing an identical bike with a very similar looking rider on the next lap, wrote down your number instead of hers.

Maybe it's worth a query, anyway.

Either way, you both rode extremely well and it was good fun hanging out with you guys the night before. Something I'll definitely miss overseas.

[Drew]

Obviously, I could only see the bit of the track I was parked on - Vicky passed someone on a yellow coming into the hairpin. I wonder if they didn't get her number, and then seeing an identical bike with a very similar looking rider on the next lap, wrote down your number instead of hers.

Maybe it's worth a query, anyway.

Not bothered about it bro, it still feels like second place to me, I worked hard for it and was honestly oblivious to any flags other than a yellow one in the middle of the hairpin, and a red and yellow one on the start line warning of crap on the track.

Thanks loads to all the guys and girls for kind words and encouragment.

[Cherryrob]

Well Drew,What can i say about Paeroa.BLOODY AWESOME. Its just as nerve racking for your sponsors as it is for you. But we had nothing to worry about as you got on the pace and rode the pants off that 749R.Damn that bike sounds nice.We might even put the new fairings on now that you seem to be able to stay up right.Well done Bro,you make us proud . On behalf of the Anglo American Motorcycle club i thank you for the entertainment.Money well spent..L O L. Now how about some more horse power .Hmmmmm. But it will have to be Black.

[Drew]

Now how about some more horse power .Hmmmmm. But it will have to be Black.

Paints cheep, go whip the lights out of it and tape up the holes bro!

[Drew]

Sanx pointed this out to me in the NZ Herald online gallery.

[Cherryrob]

Paints cheep, go whip the lights out of it and tape up the holes bro!

Not allowed the Red one.Its tooooo nice for you to wreck.Got to wait for the next shipment that arrives next week.There are 2 to choose from,It would be good if one is already hot rodded.Are you sure you dont want the 999R so you can show "White Trash" your heals,,,,LOL....Na better not upset him too much .... What bloody photo in the Herald !!!!!!

[Burrt Badger]

Drew. Good effort, but do some work on food intake during the day to keep the energy levels up. If you eat poorly, you race poorly cause the energy levels arent maintained.

[Riff Raff]

Very proud of you Drew. Was great watching you in action out there.

[deanohit]

Man, you did awesome out there, you and WT were pulling some mint wheelies, awesome entertainment!
Must say the dukes sounded awefully nice.

[robertydog]

Yea well done. You guys rocked. I was pretty impresed.

[quallman1234]

Good job man!, You and Vicki Did awesome!

[aff-man]

was good to see the ummm pre race day shinnanigans hadn't scared ya enough to hinder your riding.... although i'm sure you still have dreams of large angry men....

And for someone whose never been there ya put in a sterling effort was great to see ya throughout the day doing the bizzo..

Catch ya soon