Ladies and Gentleman, the time had came to step up a class to the extremely competitive 125GP class from 150SS. Ive heard time and time before that it is a bit of a step up, or should i rephrase that, a BIG step up.
I fall asleep the night before with thought's/nightmare's of riding a high speed mini moto the next day.
Ive only sat on the bike once or twice and that was a while ago, so i had no idea what i was in for. I'm a relaxed type so i wasn't that worried.
Woke up the very next day, helped unpack and set up the Moto GP pit garage ... Sorry i mean Moto Academy Pit's.
Today was the opening of this fantastic new venture. (Bloody good work Steve, thanks a million! More info is linked at the bottom).
After the Official opening of Moto Academy and the riders briefing etc.
It was time to get down to business. I finally got to sat on the "High speed mini moto" and Hello, it turns out its not what it looks like! With me being a short arse (Thank god, finally something what i have an advantage from being short!), it actually is almost too big for me. Sweet, not worried anymore!.
Didn't go out for Scrub in.
Got in my brand spanking Alpinestar leathers/gloves/boots and Arai helmet and finally i was set too go for my first time on the bike.
Crash started the baby and warmed her up (was taught before hand how to properly warm the baby up, 6k rev's till she's warm blip it once and a while).
Rolled on to the dummy grid and got ready to go out for qualifying.
Rolled out on to the track and rode around for a wee bit below powerband (ahem 10m?), then start opening her up!, Hell bell's theres a wee bit of punch too her!.
Very Very surreal expirence because its only a 125 man!.
I Quickly learnt to my advantage that slipping the clutch work's amazingly good - like like really good!
Messed about a bit got used to the bike and qualified 8th (He he second too last!) with a lap time slightly slower than what i was doing in 150SS.
Quite happy with that effort, i went and sat down for a wee while thinking about stuff and getting positive Input from the Moto Academy guys.
(Cheers!)
The major difference i noted between the 150's and the 125's was the amount of weight on your arm's. Massive amounts on the 125's!.
Aim for the first race was to relax and learn the bike a wee bit more.
1st Race
Lined up on the grid having a couple of pointers about starting off the line.
Got a decent-ish start and managed to get a couple of people off the line.
Went around one or two round the first corner.
Race mode took over.
Started pushing the limit a wee bit, Kept going wide (Must improve on this part! lots!), but kept getting good drives out of the corner's.
Ended up having a last lap fight with a Sam (Expirenced 125GP Moto Academy rider).
What was cool as!, was right on him (half a metre?) down the back street but pulled out far too early for the slipstream and got hit by wind!.
Managed to cut 10 seconds instantly off my previous qualifying time (2:02 to 1:52)
2nd Race
Talked to steve and glen (his old bike) before this race and dropped the forks another 5mm to try aviod running wide.
Lined up with the aim of slowing down a wee bit too actually learn something instead of just hitting a "brick wall" in my learning.
Got a shocking start, got my arse kicked by mid pack street stock (Embarrassment!), went around about 5-6 of them around the first corner (Gotta love tyre warmers eh!), picked off the rest of them by the end of the first lap and went after mudboy (fellow first time 125GP rider), who had a 3 second lead on me due to my shocking start! (Excuses *ahem* i know). Got right up next to him in the 3rd lap. Overtook him on the exit of the sweeper, and got the drive out down the back straight, gave him a cheeky look (works better if you have a clear visor) and wave, went past
the little man. Who proceeded to do the same thing to me about 3/4 down the straight (Hey what's happening here!). Still had a lap to get him.
Right behind him over the start finish line. Went inside him on the first corner and never saw him again.
Was lonely for the rest of the last lap although i was pushing a bit trying to see if i could catch Sam and William. Not a chance they had many corners on me (Never give up tho i reckon!). Caught up to them somewhat too about 8 seconds by the end of the race. However the positive is i made a 2.5 seconds gap from luke in one lap
Best Lap was a 1:50:7
Was a bloody good day!
Lots of thanks too!
Moto Academy / Steve bagshaw for putting together a brillant and very professional Learning outfit (Didn't we look cool?!) and setting up my bike how i liked it and doing everything for me so i could focus on riding like it should be. (I wasn't allowed to take off my own tyre warmers!)
AJ for driving me up there.
Jasmine (Meekey_Mouse) and her family for putting up with me for ANOTHER night - Brillance!
Moto Academy Boys for giving me tips etc and generally helping out
(Glen, Sam, Luke)
Mike - for sharing his 'interesting' stories about life and racing.
Cheers
-Kyle #13
p.s More info about Moto Academy see this link - http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=72580
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Karma ... Justice catches up eventually !! 
Originally Posted by koba
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