Matt Bleck's Summer of Racing

**Matt Bleck** · 12th April 2010, 10:46

I haven't done one of these since the 3 hour so heres a de-brief of the last 3 events....

Paeroa:
Peter H and I got to Paeroa on the Sat and got everything sorted for the next day.

The sighting lap for noobs was when the realisation of just how dangerous the track is sunk in, maybe it was because I was cruising around and able to really take everything in.

Practise was a whole lot better as I just got down to trying to get up to speed. We where suppose to get 2 practise's in but the bin-fest sorted that out.....

Race 1. Got a reasonable start from 21th on the grid and get into a good rythym, saw Frenchy go wide into turn 1 and didn't see him again until the second to last lap where he tryed to get up the inside going into the hairpin. It was all on for young and old. I managed to keep him at bay until the hairpin where he passed up the inside, it was only the fact that the SV had MORE power than Frenchy's ER6 that I was able to pip him at the line.

I finished 12th with a fastest lap of .53.xxx.

Race 2 was cancelled due to the very nasty incedent in the Sidechair race. Very Sad.

**Matt Bleck** · 12th April 2010, 10:49

Because of the lack of racing we got due to accidents etc at Paeroa, Peter asked if I would be up for pulling the K3 out of retirement which would mean racing in two classes and getting more bang for our buck so to speak. I was more than happy about that so we entered the last two rounds of the BRM summer series.

**Matt Bleck** · 12th April 2010, 11:04

This was held at Taupo Motorsport park on track 1.

F1 Practise was first and I managed a 1.40.836 which put me 7th on the grid.

Next was F3 practise, unfortunatley we had a little problem with the SV and that had me doing a 1:51:018 putting me 15th on the grid.

F1 Race 1: I got of the line alright but let off the gas to soon and was swapped into turn one, I did my best to gain place's but I found it hard to drop the trackday mentality and in hindsight missed alot of passing oppurnities. Manged to get back up to 9th with a best lap of 1:37:67.

F3 Race 1: I new I could make up some places from 15th, had a bad start due to not actually putting it in gear which meant I was last off the line. Clawed my way up to finish 6th in F3 with a best lap of 1:43:928.

F1 Race 2: Got off the line well tryed to head for the inside line but still lost a few places going into turn one, had some get battles and finished 7th with a best time of 1:38:173.

F3 Race 2: Manged to remeber to put the bike into gear this time, still lost places going into turn one but managed to get upto 4th with a best time of 1:42:705.

**Matt Bleck** · 12th April 2010, 11:25

Between this round and round 3 we had Kerry Dukic work his magic on my stock GSXR 1000 forks and we also fitted braided lines to the front brakes! Tested the bike out at the MotoTT trackday the day before. What a difference, it felt like a totally different bike!!!

F1 Practise: I love track 2, I got out just behind Tony Rees and tryed to put in some good laps, the track was still abit cold but I managed 4th on the grid with a time of 1:15:840.

F3 Practise: We had some NEW pirelli slicks on the SV and it handled like it was on rails!!

Managed a 2nd on the grid with a 1:15:315.

F1 Race 1: Got off the line well but again I let off the gas to soon and lost about 3 places by turn one. Had a great time battling for places and managed a to get across the line for 5th with a best time of 1:13:012.

F3 Race 1: I really have to keep the thorttle open for longer at the starts as I'm losing places all the time. I had a ball though battling with Russell Josiah getting him on the last lap going into turn 1, nearly highsided at turn 5 getting on the gas just a little too early, I thought Russel would get his place back, crossed the line 2nd in F3 with a best time of 1:15:523.

F1 Race2: I really stuffed the start of this when I stalled on the line and was last of the grid and into turn one, cursing at myself in my helmet I went hell for leather stuffing it in where ever I could, it was just the kick in the pants I need as it was by far the best race of the day seeing me cut from last in the field to 5th across the line with a best time of 1:14:610.

F3 Race 2: I tryed really hard to hold my place into turn one, it's a dog fight goin in there!! Had an absolute blast in this race, managing anothe 2nd in F3 with a time of 1:15:700

All in all a great day of racing!

A huge thank you to Peter Harkess, MotoTT, Chris Mitchell Motorcycles, Acacia Bay R&R, Kerry Dukic and everyone who stopped in the pitts and cheered us all on, you all rock and your help and good wishes means the world to me, Thank you all so very very much!!!!

**Deano** · 12th April 2010, 11:28

Cheers for the report Paul.

Are you entering the Vic Series this year ?

**Stirts** · 12th April 2010, 11:36

Originally Posted by Matt Bleck

F1 Race2: I really stuffed the start of this when I stalled on the line and was last of the grid and into turn one, cursing at myself in my helmet I went hell for leather stuffing it in where ever I could, it was just the kick in the pants I need as it was by far the best race of the day seeing me cut from last in the field to 5th across the line with a best time of 1:14:610.

All in all a great day of racing!

Just knew you would be cursing in your helmet. But was truly awesome watching you come through and finish 5th!!!!!!!

Best race of the day by far!!!