I had no expectations going into this weekend. I was feeling pretty flat after the three South Island rounds – exhausted actually! I think I’m too old for this! But I figured if I could stay upright and continue the improvements of the south island rounds then I’d be happy.
I was pleased to go out in the second session on the practice day and find that I dropped immediately into the 1.17s. This was nearly a second faster than I had ever gone previously at Manfeild. We spent the rest of the day working on set up and by 4pm I’d done 5 sessions and I was knackered! Yeah, I thought, knackered the day before the Nationals!!
Saturday and I qualified 9th on the grid – stoked!
First race I got a good start but got pushed in tight going into turn one and lost a heap of places. I worked my way up the field past about 5 bikes to finish 9th in the end. Loved the racing – felt good on the bike. Fastest time was a 1.17.0.
Sunday morning and the weather was still holding. Race 1 I got an excellent start and had a fantastic battle with Tom Bos on his ER6. I think I finished 9th again and although I didn’t feel fast at all was absolutely stoked to find I’d done a 1.16.3.
Last race of the day and although the weather continued to hold, the large chalk stripes around the corners were interesting up close and whether this had an impact on my riding or the humidity was taking its toll on me and the bike, I just couldn’t get it together for this race. Times were back in the 17s and I couldn’t hold off Geoff Booth or Anthony Stephens so I just let them get on with it in peace. Cruised in to finish happy that another weekend was completed with no major dramas and some absolutely excellent racing.
Feels so good to be back up to the pace I know I can do.
Finished with two 7ths and an 8th in F3 which pushes me into the top 10 in F3.
A couple of pics below that I've pilfered - thank you photographers! That fairing makes a lot of noise on the ground!
Thanks again to the usual suspects: Ben and Sally in the pits, Matt (Devil) for putting up with me, Ben and Sally all weekend in the pits, Rodders for his help Sunday (didn’t miss any starts this time eh Rodney!), Pirelli, Dainese for the awesome leathers, Diadora boots, Cardales Stationery City Albany (Paul of course), Haldanes, Autocycle Refinishers, and Kiwitrackdays.
Roll on Pukekohe!
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Originally Posted by scracha
, 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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