After a wet round 2 and some new comers into the Clubman’s class, the series placings were far from decided. Heading into the final round I was placed 2nd in the points with 14 points to the points leader and 3rd place only 10 points behind. Round 3 was going to be hotly contested.
Spent Saturday at the Kiwi Trackday’s Rider Training day getting familiar with the bike again with the newly fitted goodies and some invaluable setup from Robert Taylor. By the end of the day I was feeling very comfortable with the bike and the track.
Sunday morning dawned with a cloudy but dry day. Although I was prepared for a wet track it would be my first time on wets so I was quietly hoping it would stay dry. After a lot of indecision, Leong decided he would at least go out in practice despite the fork issues he was having.
Rider’s briefing came around quickly with the announcement of 2 x 8 lap races of the full A1GP circuit.
Practice: It was a bit cooler than the day before but the track was dry and grippy. I followed Frederick (3rd in the series) around most of the session before taking the lead for the remaining couple of laps.
Race 1: Grid positions were based on series points position so Brent was on pole, me in 2nd and Frederick on my right. Remembering the tips from the day before I get a good jump off the line but obviously brake too early and 4 bikes go round the outside and I’m 5th out of turn 1. Frederick on his R1 is leading, Ian on his SV650, Paul on a 636 and another R1. Not panicking yet as I have 7 laps to go but I hang onto the back of the group for the first lap.
Then down the back straight of the 1st lap I out-brake Paul and the R1 to move into 3rd place. I quickly latch onto the end of Ian’s SV650 and Frederick on his R1. I didn’t recognise Ian’s bike at the time but he was riding the wheels off the SV. After a couple of corners of near horizontal lean and metal sparks flying everywhere, I thought to myself it was only going to be a matter of time before the silver SV would be off. Sure enough into turn 4 the SV slid off the track and I was in 2nd.
The chase was on to catch and stay with Frederick’s R1. Knowing I would be outgunned down the back straight I stayed close to his tail through the infield. I was getting better corner entry speed but didn’t have the power to pass on exits. I came side by side in the usual places but ran out ‘guts’ to push through on the inside. This went on for the remaining 6 laps with Frederick sneaking peeks every lap to see me close behind. Frederick rode a close defensive race, helped by Rusty with his ‘hand signals’ on the pit wall in turn 1 and deserved the race win. I came in 2nd.
Race 2: Brent the series leader finished 6th with engine problems. By now he was nervously working out the points positions needed stay in the lead. His points lead had been cut to 7 points and Frederick was only 7 points behind me in 2nd.
Waiting to the last possible moment I form up on the dummy grid and do the warm-up lap to the start lap. The green flag drops and I get an average launch. I brake later for turn 1 but still come out 4th. Paul (his first ever race) is leading, Frederick and Leong (obviously someone else was paying him more to upset the results!).
With a bit more urgency I push past Leong on turn 4 to move up to 3rd. The next few laps become a bit of a blur but in no particular order:
Frederick takes the lead from Paul
Leong passes me into 3rd and then Paul into 2nd
Paul is proving difficult to pass but I manage to out-brake him into turn 1, almost banging fairings.
Leong takes the lead from Frederick for a lap
I finally get past Frederick in turn 9 only to succumb to the horsepower advantage down the back straight
Frederick takes the lead back from Leong
Race ends with another win to Frederick, Leong 2nd and a 3rd for me. Brent finishes 6th.
Series result. 1st Brent, 2nd me and 3rd Frederick
I’d like to thank the other competitors for such good close racing, Nicki, Frenchy and Leong for letting me share a garage and your support during the series.
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Originally Posted by NinjaBoy
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