Nicksta’s VMCC 09 Round 1
After some time off over the summer I was very excited to get back on the track. Round 1 arrived so fast I didn’t have time to realize it had been a year since riding the A1GP track! My goal this series is simple: Finish every race and have as much fun as possible.
Taupo put on its usual weather deal, not deciding what it was going to do till the afternoon. Not thinking it was wet enough for wets I went out to practice/qualify on my trusty Dunlop GPR-A10’s.
F3 Practice/Qualifying:
Rolling onto the track, I immediately realize half the field are on wets and are flicking up a lot of water. A few bikes pass me on wets, but I was also happily picking through other bikes on dot tyres. Taupo hasn’t changed much, I’m happy and in rhythm straight away. We get the checkered flag after 4 laps and I’m happy I didn’t get passed by any bikes on dot tyres and I qualified 19th on the grid with a 2:14.1 qualifying within the top 20 gives me a good starting point on the 5th row.
Post Classic Jnr Practice/Qualifying:
Only 1 class between qualifying I roll out for the Posty’s on my GPR-A10’s again. The track is drying but still no dry line. The bikes with wets still have an advantage, but I didn’t find the track slippery at all so figured I could still qualify well. On my third lap I gave it a bit too much coming out of T7 (hairpin) and the back end starts coming round, visions of last year quickly kicked survival into action as I’m bucked out of the seat, I button off and Tweety comes back into line and I’m back on the gas, I lost some pace so my faster lap wasn’t so fast. Checkered flag is out after 3 laps; I scratch my head, as I was sure we got 10mins allocated. I qualified 19th again with a 2:13.3 and I’m happy and ready to race.
F3 Race 1, 5 laps:
My goal was simple, finish! We lined up on the grid, I had my full wets on but the track was drying fast. I found it really hard to find my spot as the cones were concealed by the other riders. The lights go out and we’re off, Turn 1 was a mess so I ended up round the outside, I don’t mind as it sets me up for T2. I got a good start with a jump on some of the other 400’s. I settle into a rhythm with no majors. The 5 laps fly by and the checkered flag is out. I finish 11th with a best lap of 1:58.3. I’m very happy to break the 2min mark first race out.
Post Classic JNR Race 1, 5 laps:
With an Ok start, I find myself round the outside of T1 again. There are bikes everywhere and I’m mid pack. I’m determined to not loose the front-runners that quickly and push the first lap. I ease into a rhythm and find a Z1 I believe slot in front of me. Holding me up in the infield I decide I need to get in front, I man up and make a pass that sticks till the back straight when he and a mate fly past. I catch them under braking and make a pass on both through the infield again, I’m buzzing as I’m getting more confident at passing. They burn past me again on the straight and a cat and mouse ensues. I know this is slowing me down and I’m wary of other JNR bikes catching us. A red bike gets past which I think is a JNR till we hit the straight and he leaves me for dust with the other 2, I’m puzzled as to what he is and worry I had lost a place while amazed at his straight line speed. I keep them in check but don’t get past at the checkered. I place 7th with a best time of 1:59.6. A little slower but put it down to being slowed in the infield. I’m stoked to discover the third bike was also a litre bike and I’m buzzing over the awesome dicing I had with the big boys
F3 Race 2, 5 laps:
We line up again and there is a lot of confusion on the grid, the SV’s in front of me seem all intent on one row and poor Skippy cant get them in line. I decide to stay a row further back to keep out of the congestion for a bit more safety. Flag drops and I get swamped from behind, note to self made to practice starts. I settle into a good rhythm again but loose touch with the bikes in front. With no gauge in front, I try to keep pushing myself so I don’t get caught. White flag and I get passed by a 400, then another, shoot another, I try to keep up and catch them down the straight under breaking, I hit a false neutral downshifting and have no idea what gear I’m in, I stomp it down and its too high, I decide to shift again half way through the chicane, I do and find I’m in 3rd, not enough to catch the closest bike across the line. 17th in F3 with a best time of 1:57.9 I’m happy with my times coming down but kicking myself for not being able to chase the 400’s down in the last lap.
Post Classic JNR Race 2, 5 laps:
Amping form the last posty battle, I’m planning to try not to get stuck with the same litre bikes and getting slowed. I get a bad start and start chasing the bikes in front. Dicing throughout the race, but not as hard as the first race I’m totally loving this class this year. I let some Jnr bikes past that I cant catch and settle for 11th across the line. I thought I had gone slower but turns out I got a PB for the day with a 1:55.3 I’m stoked!
Overall I placed 7th in Post Classic Jnr and 13th in F3. I’m very happy about my consistent riding and finishing. I have a lot to think about before the next round especially round starts and tactics. I’m looking forward to a return to Manfeild and the first of 2 two-day events!
Big thank you to Dave and Donna at Kiwibike Insurance for their continued support this series, Paul and Di from Team Showerbuddy, Dunlop Tyres, my man Frenchy for being my awesome supportive pit crew extraordinaire and organizer. Deano and the welly crew for sharing their pits with me, cheers! And Mum and Dad, was great to see you guys there and have your support too
I can’t wait for next month and the much shorter drive to Manfeild from my new hometown!
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................heheheeheeee
Originally Posted by Frenchy
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