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Short version: Made my first 3rd place in a race after three years of trying.
Long version: This is my third year of racing 150’s in only the Vic club Winter series.
in 06 I finished 8th in the Championship
in 07 I finished 5th .
in 08 I couldn’t race due to work commitments.
So in 09, ‘Blue Thunder’ and I were to try to keep the flow going with a top 3 finish.
Round one at Taupo was not such a great start - Wet cold slippery track. The carb jetting I had my hopes on just did not work. Qualified 8th out of 16 in the class.
I reverted back to my ‘fall back’ main jet for race one, which worked better. But on a drying track, basically just did not ride well. Just wasn’t yet ‘in the zone’, and finished a disappointing 9th.
In race two, the dry track, and maybe something to do with me coming out of the first corner as the first 150 (only one 250 in front of me), found me with my ‘game face’ on. A little bit of ‘Do or Die’ attitude kicked in, and the howling pack of two strokes behind me gave me a determination to hold them off as long as I could.
A couple of 250’s got passed me, but by the back straight I was still the 1st 150. A little bit of reality set in when Malcom went flying past on his RG halfway down the back straight. But second position was still more than I come even dream of - when is this checkered flag coming out anyway?
Oh thats right. we’re still on the first lap!
I’m pleased to say I held second place for another two laps, before again on the straights, two more RG’s went past me. I was in the end able to hold onto 4th to the flag.
My First 4th placing secured.
Round Two. Manfield long track.
Came down to the Friday test day and again played with jettings to try and find some speed along the straights. The lean jet I hoped would put me in the ball park showed definite detonation happening under track conditions. This scared me back to my ‘fall back’ rich jet, from which I worked my way back towards leaning it out, but ran out of track time. Can be a Frustrating game aye....
Qualifying on Saturday had me claiming third 150 on the grid, still 5 seconds off my previous BT on the long track, as I struggled to come to grips with those bumpy bits in the extension. But I’m normally good at my starts, so it was shaping up well to again be coming out of the first corner in a good position.
Race one - It was decided at streetstock briefing that we would all go off the same lights as the GP125’s infront of us, as they are so quick to lap us all. Yep - works for me. Get a good start and enter a mess of different bikes going into turn one. Have no idea where I’m placed, but seem to be at the pointy end of the 150’s. Put in a good ride - one or two RG’s passing - Highlight of the race was putting a text book pass on Russell going into Higgins sweeper. He had caught and passed me (Under a yellow flag I might add) down to the first corner, I regained my spot rounding into splash. Between splash and the hairpin he got the best of me again and lead me down the middle straight. Whether he made a mistake, I’m not sure, but I found myself gaining on him with a view to tucking in behind him to get a drag round the track. Unfortunately, by half straight mark I had gain on him so much that I was going to hit him if I didn’t change my plan! So... Slipstreaming ... Slipstreaming.... pull out to the right at the last second.... we get to the braking area.... I run a little deeper before braking to pull right up along side, and take control of the corner. Beautiful! Checking our lap time later, Russell put in his best lap getting away from me after that... so,, I must of had him worried.
I brought it home to the flag with no real confidence that I’d held another 4th spot. To my surprise on official results - I had my very first Third Place finish!!
My First Podium in three years of trying.Ye Ha!
Race two - Was to be a 10 lap affair. 45kms at race pace.
Bogged the start a bit, but luckily, so did the other guys in front. It was now David (4th 150) that was leading us to the holeshot. Having inside track position on him I was again able to roll through and come out 1st 150. The two RG’s past me at some stage, and I mostly had a lonely race with them far ahead, and a big gap back to other bikes.
I did come under pressure though in the last couple of laps. Two young guys on RG’s had found their MoJo and were gaining on me quite well. The thought of championship points enters your mind at a time like this. How much do I continue to push hard to retain my position, but risk falling off and loosing all points. The sight of the white flag is a beautiful thing sometimes. One more lap without incidence and another 3rd place finish was achieved. A BT of 2:32 was a second slower than my BT of 2007. But I felt I could now push it harder into those bumpy areas and cut another second or two off that in the third race.
Sadly that race had to be canceled due to a few major crashers in other races. Heal Fast boys and girl.
Of course.. My euphoric bubble could be burst by pointing out that Malcolm wasn’t racing that weekend. And thats the only reason I got a third placeing....
But we’ll deal to that little hiccup when it come next round!.See you then!
Racey
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Originally Posted by Racey Rider
Karma ... Justice catches up eventually !! 
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