A lapper's weekend madness

**KS34** · 2nd April 2010, 12:55

Last weekend would have to be one of the craziest weekends I have ever had! Leaving Lower Hutt at 7am friday and back at 5am Monday morning the whole weekend seemed like a wet dream.

I had never been to Hampton Downs before so a quick look on late friday afternoon settled the nerves a bit and confirmed what an awesome weekend this was going to be.

We got to the track early Saturday morning and set up our pit along with Danger Dave for the weekend which was great as we could keep an eye on each other as we had our own little 2 round championship going on which he ended up winning 3 races to 1! good on ya mate.

Out on the track for the first practise was amazing, I love the track from the corner 2/3 fip flop to the plunging 5 a mad front wheel hop up the front straight/arc to the crazy arcade game like run to the first corner we are soooo lucky! I was happy with the first practise with 1:15.6 and even bragged during the break that the bike had never been down! I learnt very quickly to keep my mouth shut!!! as the second practise came and I was chasing Spud, I got way past the start finish line and realised I had left it too late with the brakes I straightened the bike up and hit the picks.... with the new pads my little 750 launched the back wheel in the air ...off the brakes then back on them to get some pace off before getting in to the sand.... up in the air again and this time she went over to the right then the left.... christ this is a bit wild... both wheels back on the ground and the wobbles set in holy shit am I going to be able to control this, well yes she settled and I coasted in to the gravel at this stage I'm about to celebrate when the front wheel locks and PLOP a soft landing. Luckily it just scuffed a bit of paint and all was well the highlights to this was it got the crash monkey off my back and also Andrew Stroud commented to me on the dummy grid how spectacular it looked from behind! Managed to get a 14.5 from the practise and was looking forward to qualifying. I was going to run another used set of tyres for qualifying as the ones on for practise were the tyres I had on for the races at manfeild but they were still looking good so kept them on and came away with a 12.7 stoked!

The racing on Sunday was amazing, both Dave and I were abit worried about the 20 lapper and understandably after the state we were in after 15 laps but it turned out the 20 laps were fantastic, we had a great battle in the TT and the laps flew past with Dave in front over the line.

At the finish I saw Craig and James sail past me into the sand and thought I had caused it! Christ last lap of the TT and I F@$*$^$ it up for the fast boys I was gutted, when Craig came back on the ute I appologised, He is a legend he just looked at me and said thats racing mate I felt so much better.

The weekend was Huge everyone I met for the first time and people I caught up with were amazingly cool. People to thank would be Dave, Spud, Shaun, Big Rick, Lynette (AMCC) and so many more. I came away from the weekend with a week long grin I have so much respect for all the top riders what they do do on a bike still stuns me and I feel priviledged to be able to share the track with them. I'm like a stuck record but if you have a chance to do the Nationals you should take it with both hands, I for one am Hooked, you may very well see me next year on a grown-ups thou! who knows one thing is for sure If I'm not I'll be peddling the 750 even harder and loving every minute.

Last words to my Sponsors, Thank you for supporting me in my first year in the NZSBK series Motomart, Pirelli, EBC, Ripe Coffee, Slot Media, Total Body Shop Supplies and Wurth deserve huge success.

**slowpoke** · 2nd April 2010, 15:10

Great attitude and effort Ken. Never saw anything but a smile on your face all weekend, and you should be very proud of your efforts on that purty sem fiddy.

**KS34** · 2nd April 2010, 20:00

Mate had an awesome time, I couldnt believe how much help I got over the weekend forgot to mention Steve Bagshaw the cheeky bugger actually helped alot with pointing out glaring problems in my riding style or lack of it, I still get frustrated about the numbers on the grid although 14 at HD was fantastic .

**Pussy** · 2nd April 2010, 20:10

Great write up, Ken!
Your enthusiasm is infectious.... awesome attitude, mate!

**slowpoke** · 2nd April 2010, 20:25

Originally Posted by KS34

Mate had an awesome time, I couldnt believe how much help I got over the weekend forgot to mention Steve Bagshaw the cheeky bugger actually helped alot with pointing out glaring problems in my riding style or lack of it, I still get frustrated about the numbers on the grid although 14 at HD was fantastic .

WHAAAAAAT! You had some help? That's cheatin'! Er, I don't suppose ya got his phone number bro.......?

Yeah, I look at guys like you and Dave and Reece Pickett who have taken giant strides over the last couple of race rounds, on a shoestring budget too, and it baffles me why more people don't have a go. It's just an opportunity gone begging. I doubt it will but I'm hoping like hell my roster is kind to me for next year so I can have a better crack at it.

**CHOPPA** · 2nd April 2010, 22:15

Good on ya for doin it man! Your goin good on that 750 against the power of those 1000s!

**Shaun** · 3rd April 2010, 10:38

Hey Spud, the very very best thing you could do mate, IS some Physicall training

**slowpoke** · 3rd April 2010, 14:26

Originally Posted by Shaun

Hey Spud, the very very best thing you could do mate, IS some Physicall training

Yeah I hear ya, but I don't struggle too much with that, there's not much else to do out here at work except go to the gym or pull your pud, both of which get the heart rate up.

I mostly struggle with just getting time on the bike, hadn't really ridden for nearly 3 months before last weekend. I've got my eye on an old chook chaser that will hopefully help out a bit.

**KS34** · 3rd April 2010, 14:29

Cheers Guys, Shaun is 100% on it, next year I'm gonna have fitness as a help not a hinderence like this year.

**Shaun** · 4th April 2010, 09:15

Originally Posted by KS34

Cheers Guys, Shaun is 100% on it, next year I'm gonna have fitness as a help not a hinderence like this year.

Ken and Spud, I am more than happy to help you both in any way I can

**KS34** · 4th April 2010, 12:50

Shaun I have appreciated everything you have helped me with and I will take your offer with both hands! Legend

**Marknz** · 5th April 2010, 19:45

Awesome effort in those last two rounds Ken. It takes a helluva lot of commitment to do those two without support, let alone the rest of the Championship. Good on you for putting the effort in, and good luck for next year!

**quickbuck** · 5th April 2010, 20:22

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Yeah I hear ya, but I don't struggle too much with that, there's not much else to do out here at work except go to the gym or pull your pud, both of which get the heart rate up.

I mostly struggle with just getting time on the bike, hadn't really ridden for nearly 3 months before last weekend. I've got my eye on an old chook chaser that will hopefully help out a bit.

Yup,
If you are already pretty fit, I would say do a bit of "Cross Training" on the chook chaser.... It has the advantage of improving your bike control skills too.

**KS34** · 6th April 2010, 14:25

Cheers Mark, the coaching by text worked a treat and for the record you were bang on with your qualifying target! Really appreciate your help. What you up to next summer?