Nicko Race Report - Tri-Series Round 1 - Manfield
KTL Motorcycles, Anglo American MC Club, Motohaus 2008, Bike Tranz
Unfortunately this will be a short report largely because of the shortness of my day (and typing 1 handed is a pain)!
Back to Manfield after over a year and a half away, in fact last race there was the ole crash twice in the same race but still win trick that I pulled out last winter series.
2nd time on the 999 KTL/Anglo Ducati and keen to get on with getting up to speed on the new beast and had the trumpy there as well to punt around in F2, had brought Vicki's bike down in the trailer too so she was dead keen to try out her new settings and was our first new team outing. Qualifying and was my first experience of the new seal around the track...wow, where'd all the pot-holes and ruts go?! Track was in good condition but wasn't offering too much grip in the morning, good spin-up out of turn 1 on the Duke was testament to this. We got a second qualifying session for supers so used this as a chance to scrub in some new rubber, measured up the sag for the first time and we were a good 2kg off the ideal spring weight in the rear shock so whipped it out and thanks to Robert Taylor of Ohlins had a new spring of better weight for the first race.
Qualified well down the order but got an ok start in the F1 race, 2nd lap and passed a couple of 600 riders, braking into turn 1 tipping in to apex and WHAM!!! (not the club tropicana kind), got absolutely dealt to by a 600 that apparently was using me as a braking marker. Crashes when you get taken out are the worst as you have no opportunity to brace yourself or try to figure out a bail out plan, hit the deck hard and ended in the gravel trap, the 600 must have been carrying some pace as he ended up on the tyre wall. Didn't fancy getting up as ankle and shoulder were rooted so just hung out till race got red flagged and got ambulance over. End result, broken collar bone, wicked twisted and swollen ankle, all gear wasted (did its job) and figured out my day might just be over...
Thanks to St johns crew at track, Dave and the anglo team for their help setting up the bike and then packing the van, Robert Taylor for the quick spring change, Graham for keeping me company at hospital, bringing me back to track and shouting me a pie, the hot nurse who took my xray, Sam Love and Simon for getting my van and me to Tauranga and everyone else who has wished me well.
Not sure when I'll be back on track, gutted to be missing Wanganui and Taupo and feel shit for the team that I'm out and we've got a gravel rashed bike. Paeroa's my favourite day of the year so will be doing everything I can to speed up recovery and get to there and sound of thunder the weekend after. Good luck to all the riders at the next few rounds and remember if you can't win, show off trying.
Thanks again to KTL Motorcycles, Anglo American MC Club, Motohaus 2008 and Bike Tranz
Reply With Quote
:.Looking forward to getting our hands on the 999 without you pushings us out off the way 
.Merry Xmas
SPONSORS OF Paul Dobbs ON THE FLYING DUCATI'S 749R & 999
Bookmarks