2002 Results and Race Reports

22th October. Blyton -
well another trip to blyton, but this time the place tries to freeze my arse just to make sure I hate the place.....it didnt work tho, I had the most fun I 've ever had there. Turn up on Saturday at about 4:30pm, there is only 2 vans there, one of them was jim. Have we got the right day, I'm never the first guy there. its a bit chilly too. Didnt do much chatting as it was a bit cold outside, but saw Jim, and Phil, and then clambered into the van to get warm. I was going to walk the track, but they were still building it at about 9pm, so I thought sod it, I'll do it in the morning. I have to get up early as there was no signing on that evening. grrrr. stuck the genny on, and plug in the 2kw heater I brought. that soon heats up the van, but it gets cold soon after I turn it off. Eventually get some sleep. Woke up at 7:30. open my sleeping bag....its a bit cold. the van windows are iced over.....crap. get up, coffee, sign on, coffee, scrutineering, coffee. change the wheels over to the wets. shall I walk the track.... bugger that its too cold, back to the van and the heater.

Practise : I go zooming off. I must push hard as I havent ridden the KTM since anglesey, and it feels a bit odd. I soon get into it. I think I'm starting to like this place. I'm getting nice and sideways on the shale, not even tapping off for it, just keeping it flat out. through the dirt, wow, its looks slippy, bit the KTM is wheelieing out of the turn. cool. dada, dada, dada, and I'm feeling good.........

race 1 : started 14th. got a pretty good start, held my place till we got to 4th gear, then the bikes go streaming past me down the straight. out break a few round turn 1, and then head down to make up some more places overtake a few guys comming off the dirt (hairpin) and over the next few laps get 1 or 2 more to finish.......14th. hmmm its an ok start to the day I guess. best time 1:40

race 2 : started 14th. same start. seems I;'m not too bad getting off the line, but once we get to 4th/5th gear guys just zoom past. need more power. really charge into turn 1, and 2 guys come off, 1 on the inside sliding outwards, the other on the outside.....where the hell can I go???? I wait for the guys sliding on the floor to slow down, then aim for a gap, woooohooo, I missed them, and made up places. race gets red flagged. booooo. Restart. get into a tough battle with a couple of XR's and a KX500. I'm all over the KX through the twisties, but get to the straight, and the KX pulls 2 or 3 bike lenghts on me. 1 of the XR's comes past too. I decide to let the XR scrap with the KX for a lap. hopefully they'll take eachother out. but no. eventually I've had enough, go round the outside of the XR into turn 1, get right on the tail of the KX onto the shale. really spin up the rear to get a tighter line, close my eyes and hope he gives way as we brake for the chicanes. he does. hehe. wooos. as I turn in the rear lets go. for what seems like ages the rear is swinging round, and my inside foot is dabbing along trying to push the bike upright. I grab the clutch, it straightens out, and I zoom off. gotcha. finish 11th. best time 1:39. it was a hard battle, and I loved it. gimme more you batards, I'll have ya.

race 3 : start 11th. another good start, loose out as the pickup speed, but make a few places into turn 1 again. that same bloody KX is in front of me again, with 2 huskies. I get stuck behind the 2 huskies as the KX slowly wonders off. these guys arent giving eachother any room, and as I thought, eventually they bang into each other too much, both go wide in the second part of the chicanes, and a squeee up the inside, forcing them wider. I then caught and passed the KX, and for the next few laps I had a battle with a XR who would overtake me down the straight, and very cheekily look over his shoulder at me as he did. bastard. but then I'd outbreak him round the outside into turn 1. in the end I won. I finished in 10th, best time 1:37.

race 4 : hahahahahahahaha. it was soooooo slippy on the dirt. the front was tucking all the time, in the end I had both feet down, using them as skees, and holding the front up, while it was tucking. It was quite tiring trying to stop my legs from doing the splits, but it seemed to work, as all around me were falling off. I couldnt help but laugh to myself. It was a great day, started cold, ended wet, but some really good battles in the middle, most of which I won. and really enjoyed it. Thats the last race for me this year, time to fix up the bike, put all the original bodywork and things back on, and trade up.....

30th September. Angelsey -
Well got there a bit late, after waiting for my mate to finish his usual faffing about. What time should I arrive, he asks, about 12noon, I say.......1:30 he turns up.....grrrrrrr. anyway off we go...got there at about 6pm I guess, meet up with everyone, put my bike in race mode. Walked the track, as soon as I saw turn 1, I had a BIG smile. Thats flat out I say...coool. got round to the dirt, and my face dropped to a more concerned look, bugger, very varying surface, some places, deep shale (lots of grip), other places concrete (lots of grip), other places concrete with a thin layer of shale (no grip). Hmmmm tough. sort Jims and John's tyres. Had dinner around johns bike (while it waited for the tyre to be cut) lots of jokes about how clean and tidy Johns bike looks Practise: Went out for the first practise, took it very easy, even on the tar, and just tried to figure the lines through the dirt, around all the holes, and the bumpiest concrete, god I felt slow. this track doesnt suit me. its goona be a tough day, I think.

Race 1: Started 15th on the grid. Went round the outside of turn 1, some guys rubbed bars, and went wide, I picked up the bike, just as I felt one of them clip my back wheel, and I ran off onto the grass, but got back to the track ok. As we went onto the dirt I could see a guy still down outside turn 1, and the race was stopped. After a false start, the lights change again, and I drop the clutch, the bloke in front of me stalls, I jump on the brakes, and swerve round him, oh what a great start!! My best overtaking place was comming off the tar onto the dirt, everyone seemed to brake really early there, and I did a few banzai moves onto the apex, forcing people to pickup the bike, and give me the line. still felt slow on the dirt, but I was getting to grips with the tar bit, still rolling off into trun 1, but only just. best laptime was in 52 secs. finished 14th, hmmm not as bad as I thought after having to basically stop on the line to swerve round the staller.

Race 2: Started 14th, got an even start, and managed to do more people going on to the dirt. I'm starting to feel a bit better on the dirt, and now having fun on the jump, 4th gear nearly flat out. had a few little slides comming back onto the tar, but they felt ok. into turn 1....yup you can take it flat out, but I can feel the back tyre struggling for grip, and the damn peg decking out again, ,but I just ignored it, I loved diving into that turn flat out, hold it open thru turn 2, really gaining on the guys in front of me. down 1 gear for turn 3, dive up the inside of the bloke in front (chris #444, one of the guys I pit with, good bloke) he has to pick up the bike a bit to give me the line, sorry mate, no friends on the track and all that.... he's an MX racer so I know he's gonna be all over me on the dirt, so I really gun it. just before the concrete before the jump, I hit a big hole while a bit sideways, flat out, in 3rd, and the bike dont like it. it kicks up really hard, and my legs go flailing, zooom he goes through on the inside, bollox. I manage to hang on and fly after him. he gets a bloke between us, and as I come round turn 3, I see Taz (another bloke I pit with, www.supamoto.com, strange, but cool guy ) lying on the ground struggling, with his bike lying next to him, looking a bit battered. Shit. the race is red flagged. I finished 11th, with laptime of 51 sec.
Taz is ok(ish), we fix the bike, bandage him up (bumps, bruises, and scrapes, big bumps) , and send him out to basically struggle round to pick up points.

Race 3: Cant really remember much about this one for some reason. I started 11th, got a good start, outside line into turn 1 and 2, to pass a few people, but started making mistakes on the dirt, nearly lost the front a few times on the concrete, and had a few scarey tank-slappers landing the jump (I was now taking it flat out in 4th). My best laptime was faster, but I made too many mistakes, and lost too many places in them. finished 15th, with a best time of 50 sec.

Race 4: bloody blew it on the first lap. Got a crap start, too cautious around turn 1 and 2 as I was in the middle, with people either side, so I tried to take a 5 people in one move, onto the dirt, Banzai move, a proper close your eyes job . the front 2 guys (of the 5 I tried to pass) turned side by side, and I dove in. there wasnt much room, they picked up their bikes, but I was too hard on the back brake, too late to grab the clutch, and I stalled it. the rear locked up, and everyone zoomed past. One good thing about the LC4. as soon as I realized it stalled, I hit the starter button, it fired up instantly. I was last (or second last maybe). the rest of laps were just a matter of damage control. I passed as many as I could going onto the dirt, but was more causious over it, and the jump. I managed to make up enough time on the tar to pass a few more people before the dirt, and ended up a mere 17th. best time was still 50 sec tho

well, when I walked the track I was concerned about the type of dirt section, and a ratio of tar to dirt. I thought I might struggle to stay in the B's all day. Although as usual I hope for top 10's, but not likely today, I thought. The track didnt suit me (tarmac bloke is I), but I didnt struggle to maintain B's, so that ok I guess. I have 2 meter's as to how I'm doing, Phil, been racing ages, and damn fast, on a fast bike, and Chris, one of the guys I pit with, who used to race MX for Kenya, so no slouch. I dont know what Phils best time was for the day, but I looked at one of his races, and he was 1 second faster (per lap), and Chris was only 0.5 seconds faster, so I gotta be happy with that.

2nd September. 3 sisters -
Firstly, thanks for comming and watching the racing at 3 sisters. Even tho we dont even see the spectators when we are on the track, its great to know you are there supporting the racers. thanks. It was great to meet all of you nutters, sorry if I forget who you are, I am VERY crap with names, but if I see you again, the word "mate" comes in very handy, and I do remember faces, mostly......

Before the race stuff. Got to the track on Saturday about 5pm, to find carts still going round the track, and some people in the skid pan car (the skidpan is where we normally park up). All the vans were lined up waiting for the car to get off the skidpan. When he finally stopped there was some sort of mini race in vans to get the best spot on the skidpan. We finally got set up, and our other mates turned up, and we built our little commune in the middle of all our vehicles. Had a few drinks, and got the barby going.

Practise: I got up at about 9am, and got Taz (supamoto.com, and part of our commune) to change my cut rear to a full slick. I left the cut front on, ,just to help it get warm. Went out and used the first lap to see how long it takes for the rear to warm up to a reasonable level. had a bit of a slide comming out of the stadium section (as I call it) just before the start/finish. Hmmm, the first lap is going to be tough, must get tyre warmers. After they had got warm, I found I could run a decent pace, and felt pretty confident in a top 5 finish.

Race 1: I started in 15th place, got a decent start, but took it easy on the first lap maybe too easy, and lost a few places. After the first lap, the tyres felt good, and I was scraping the pegs away, and made a few good passes, mostly comming down the hill, and onto the pit straight. I didnt really push it as I was still getting my breaking points and down changes right. no point crashing in the first race of the day, but others didnt think that way. I was scraping with Taz , and I was all over him. He ran wide into the first bit of the chicane, and I tried to cut in tight and take him, but he cut back, and took the line into the second bit. There must have been an inch between his rear wheel and my front. I had to brake mid turn to avoid us both going down. bastard. I got back behind him, and then I remember seeing him just gracfully side off the track half way round the sadium bit, ta very much. I ended up finishing in 12th, which is not a bad start to the day. Best laptime 1:01

Race 2: This was the best race of the day for me I felt. I started in 12th, got a good start. It seems I may have finally figured out these 2nd gear starts. I didnt loose many places, and even made up some before the first corner. I love going over the hill, its such a cool turn. flat out over the top, pegs scrapping, the front juddering over the bumps (hmm maybe I should look at suspension settings.....naaah too high tech). Comming off the hill is my best overtaking place as I seem to carry a bit more speed onto, and over it. I had a few good scraps, the most memorable one, again I made the move off the hill, and into the turn before the pit straight, I got up the inside, but didnt change down right, and was in too high a gear. The guy I overtook came back past me on the outside, and then cut right in front of me to take the inside line into the next turn. I'm not having this I thought. waited for him to break, and then went later, and took him round the outside. I could feel the wind off his front wheel on my leg, we must have been pretty close, but he had enough room, and I made the pass. very cool. One guy went down in front of me, in the turn after the pit straight, there was somebody else between us, and we both braked, me only for a instant, and I thought "you fool get off the brakes and just cut in tighter, he'll slide outwards, which is where you'll end up if you brake". I got off the brakes, and nicelt took another 2 places, haha. After a few more scraps I ended up in 8th, cool, moving up. Best laptime :1:00.8

Race 3: Well this freaked me a bit. I started 8th, I didnt get the best start I've had, and few people passed me on the brakes. I thought that was wierd, cos normally I'm pretty good on the brakes. After about 3 laps, I came off the hill (flat out 80-90 mph?), into the turn before the pit straight, and pulled the front brake lever, it came right back to the bar, and was only half the stopping power of normal. SHIT!!!!. I jumped on the rear brake, down 2 gears, and somehow managed to make the turn, down the pit straight into the next turn, and it was the same, no stopping power, SHIT SHIT SHIT. got round the rest of the lap using the rear brake mostly I got to the hill again, and put my hand up, and slowed, I cant race, when I dont know if I'll have a break at the next turn. Bollox, I was in about 10th or there abouts when it started to fail. I pulled into the pits, stopped for a second, and Trev (another member of our little commune) told me to just get back out and finish, just to get the points, so I went out, and trundled round for another lap till the race finished. I was last, no surprise, and had to go down the the C group for the final. Dunno the best laptime, as I was looking at my front brake bemused. I decided to take out some brake fluid, hit it hard, and see what happens in the final.

Race 4 Final: C group. bollox. I better bloody win this then. Started 2nd. So far most people tap off just before the hill, as the change for flat to uphill is a bit sudden. I figured both the guys on the front row would do that. Got a good start, but so did the guy on my inside. bollox. We went side by side onto the hill, neither of us tapped off. I just couldnt keep up with him. He was just about 0.25 seconds a lap faster than me, and the old, "do I risk a crash to catch him, or settle for second" came to mind. I though sod this, I'm gonna have him, so I pushed for a few laps, and could stablize the gap, but not close it. So I woosed out, after about 5 laps I looked over my shoulder to see we were pulling away from the rest, so I stopped pushing so hard, and concentrated on taking 2nd place. not too bad I guess. Best laptime 1:00.3. 0.3 seconds off the minute club. oh well next time. the brake worked ok, but after I realized I couldnt take 1st place, I calmed down on the brakes, just to make sure it never failed again.

27th August. Blyton -
Before the racing stuff:
Well that was a pretty tiring weekend. I got to Blyton really late on Saturday night, cause I decided to go and watch some tractor pulling near blackpool, which started at 6pm and didnt finish till nearly midnight. If you've ever seen it on Eurosport, it is awesome. Yeah it sounds a bit dull, but these tractors are some serious engineering. One had 2 Rolls Royce Merlin aeroplane engines on it, another had 2 helicopter turbines, another few had 4 Chevvy V-8's on them, ,all methanol, all supercharged. Even the superstock class, guys had methanol powered, with 3 turbos. They run 90psi manifold pressure (serious sports car would have maybe 8psi). The fastest guys were pulling the sledge the 100 metre run in under 8 seconds. The sledge starts as a 90 ton rolling weight, and ends as a dead weight by the end. And I'm still deaf, I stupidly decided not to put my fingers in my ears for one run.
We got to Blyton at about 2:30am, unpacked the bike, and made room in the van, for sleep. The nearby Magott farm was really making a horrible smell. I had to smoke a few spliffs to get the smell out of the van, as it was making me feel ill. Finally got some sleep at about 3ish.
I woke up in panic at 7:30 as the alarm on my new phone makes a stupily loud, piercing noise. Realized how slow the brain felt, but got up and stumbled outside. I went and signed on, and walked the track, or at least the closest half. Realized I forgot to pickup my transponder, so went back to the van and got the bike for scrutineering. Opened the van, to see my friend still in his sleeping bag all toasty. Mumbled some expleetives about lazy arsed bastards. Took the bike to get checked over, and pickup my transponder, also check what group I'm racing in, as I cant remember. The sky looked dodgy, and it started to spit a few times. please be dry, please be dry. it kinda brightened up a bit, but not much, but it stayed dry. I had my newly aquired front cut slick put on the dry rim.

Time for Practise: So lets see what these slicks are like then. Went out, and took it easy for the first lap, as they felt a bit vauge. I got up to speed at the end, and felt pretty comfortable on them. I was a bit worried about how the front would feel on the dirt, but it was ok. I wasnt the fastest, but I wasnt the slowest either. The surface at blyton isnt really grippy, and I didnt feel I had as much grip as I'd hoped, but the last outing was very hot, so that probably made a difference, as it was quite chilly this time. Looks like another day milling around the mid B group. oh well. Still feeling a bit groggy. Must wake up. Must wake up

Race 1: Starting in 14th. The lights change. Errr lights, shit. Fly off down the straight, and into turn one, bollox I'm bloody last. I gotta fix these starts, its killing my races. Nearly every race I have to make up a few places just to get back to where I started, never mind improve. It seems I'm not in the right frame of mind. I'm riding the bike, not racing the bike. The tyres feel ok, and as the race goes on I get more and more confidence in them. Managed to make up a few places as I slowly got up to speed passing a few guys on the brakes, and a few people ran off too. I ended up around 18th. Still, at least I managed to stay in the B's again. Best laptime was around 1:39.

Race 2: Started 18th. I really tryed to concentrate on the lights, and actually got a decent start down the straight. But into turn one, I picked the wrong line, got boxed in, and ended up right at the back again. Take the outside you fool, allways take the outside. I'm feeling more awake now, and I have a bit of knowledge on the tyres, and start going a bit faster in the first laps. I force my way past a few guys who left the door open, just a smidge on the tight dusty chicane. I end up behind a gaggle of 4 or so bikes, and just cant get past. We were all running similar times, and it would have had to be a banzai move, its only race 2, so I chill, and follow them round and finish 15th. best laptime 1:39.

Race 3: They watered the track, well the dusty tight chicane and all the dirt sections, bugger. The shale is ok, but the tight, (dusty before the water) chicane was a bit slippy, and even worse, as you come out of the chicane you throw the bike to the left, and have to gas it hard (while leant over) down the straight towards the next dirt section. The tyres are still wet and I had a few moments as the bike tried to spit me off with the rear stepping out. A few close ones, but managed to stay up right. Started 15th, and got a even start ended up boxed in again, and took it too easy onto the shale and the now watered sections. The other to dirt sections had been nice and grippy, hard packed stuff, now after the water it was slimey and slidey. got passed by a few guys, and I was stuggling in the opening laps, the wetness, and the cold tyres, I just didnt have any confidence. After a few laps I was getting desparate. I look over my shoulder and there is only one guy behind me. I didnt see anyone go off, so I have to pass 2 people to stay in the B's. Shit. second last lap, the guy in front of my runs wide. Just a little, but its enough. I stuff the bike inside, theres not much room, but if I'm gonna go down a group, I might as well crash and come last, as come second last and stay upright. I make the move and force him to give me the place or go down. I need to take another place. I close in on the guy in front, I know him, its old Ronnie Smith from PB. We go onto the last lap, and I'm resigned to the fact that I cant pass him. I managed to catch him towards the end of the lap, but there are no overtaking places before the line, shit, I'm gonna go down to the C's. As we go into the last chicane, Ronnie backs off, he must think there is no one behind him. I didnt back off, I took a wider entry into the last turn and got on the gas really hard, really early, and past him as we went over the line. I need to find out the results, I dont know if I passed him before the line. Much waiting and finally the results are posted. yahoooo. I beat him by 0.04 seconds. I stay in the B's for the final. Much relief. Best laptime 1:40

Race 4: Well I stayed in the b's, that'll teach Ronnie to back off before the line... Before the race Miles, one of the other racers I've got chatting to over the last few races offers me the use of his tyre warmers for the final. He is in the D group so I put them on when he goes out. He finished his final in 3rd, and got his first trophy, well cool. My race is up, I take off the warmers, and head for the grid. I can already feel more grip. cool. The lights change and I fly off. Not a bad start, and take the outside, the tyres feel good. I can carry huge corner speed, and overtake about 10 people. I'm in 8th after turn 1, and head thru the shale, into the tight dusty chicane (the track has dried, cool). Shit...the guy in front of me gets sideways, really sideways. I take avoiding action, but his back tyre takes out my front, down I go, down he goes. the pack fly up, some bike crashes into me, and lands on top of me and my bike. I'm trying to get up, but the bike is completely on top of me, radiator above my head, and the rear wheel over my legs. All I'm thinking is "get off me, how much time am I loosing here you bastard." The bike gets picked up, and I hear someone asking if I'm ok. I jump up, and grab the bike, shouting "yeah I'm sound" ( I guess I was, if I was damaged too much I wouldnt have been able to get up and pick up the bike). I'm bloody last again. I start the bike, and the marshal is looking at me rather concerned, shouting am I ok. I nod and zoom off. Bollox. The brain switched, dunno why, but something happened (even more adrenaline?). I wanted these bikes that had piled into me. I'm on a mission. Dunno how much faster than before I was going, but I was taking 2 seconds easy out of the 5 bikes involved in the crash, past one after a lap, just before the main straight. I got behind him, got on the power the same time out of the last turn, and at that point I had decided I was making the move into the next turn. He braked, I didnt, not untill I was next to him, at least. Yank the brake really hard, and hope it doesnt tuck. Easy pass, just took the line from him in the turn. The next guy was a couple of seconds in front, and I really pushed to get him, it only took a lap, and I made the same move. I just decided no matter what happened, I would brake only when I was next to him. I was a bit further behind him going into the braking zone, but still manage to slow the bike down for the turn and just forced him to give me the line, and the place. By now I have serious confidence in the front. the Next guy was quite close in front, and I passed him going through the ever tightning turn after the main straight. There was a little gap on the inside, so I turned tighter, got next to him and forced him to the outside, taking another place. this carried on till the end, overtaking all 5 bikes that were in the crash, and ending up 15th, setting a fastest time of 1:36, faster than everybody up to 6th place. bollox, if I hadn't been in that crash on lap 1, that could have been me, oh well. At least I got some good laptimes, made some real overtaking manovers, and felt really good in the final. I got another good points haul, by staying in the B's all day. I think the crash woke me up propper, and gave me a bit more adrenaline boost. Seemed to do me good.
3 Sisters next weekend, I've got a bit of mileage on slicks now, know how much harder I can brake, and have delusions of winning the b race, if its dry, that is. Its all tar and suits me, knee down or foot out? maybe both, for different corners. I have a bit of a point to make with that track as its my worst points finish this year after highsiding in the final last time, so revenge will be mine.

30th July. Blyton -
Well that was a bit warm.....
Before the racing crap: Got there on Saturday, sorta 5pmish, met up with another matey racer bloke, and setup camp (err took the bike out the van, so I can sleep in it). Signing on started at about 7pm so I got the bike ready for scruteneering, and went to sign on. looked in the C group, hey I'm not there, bastards. I guess I must be in the D group then.....nope, where the hell am I? Oh thats me, in the B's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bollox. they're fast they are. signed on, and got the bike checked. then went for a walk round the track, and see that the marshalls are still building it, so we give them a hand with the layout. 3 dirt sections, a few clean corners, a few dirty corners, they put a jump in too....... well kinda.

Practise: Woke up 8:30ish got ready for the practise. I had a Michellin wet on the front, and a Konkorde rear. Off we go, and I'm feeling quite good, I'm not last, I can pass people. cool.

Race 1: I started in 18th, and got totally boxed in into the first turn, ended up at the back. Oh look another shitty start, thats unusual, not. the first too laps were ok, managed to get past a few people, a few more made mistakes, and I was sliding into loads of corners, it was so cool. i was loving it. Then the rear started spining on the exits too, no matter what the lean, everytime I open the gas hard, the back started stepping out. It made it really hard work. a few people managed to get past me down the straight. I couldnt snap open the gas like the first too laps, the back would just start spining. ended up in 18th. Man that was hard, wheres the water....its damn hot..... hmmm that back tyre is looking a bit ragged.

Race 2: started 18th again. managed to get an average start, thought I'd go round the outside into turn 1, but some bloke over cooked it, and came accross the front of me completely sideways, he must have been on full opposite lock. that slowed me down a bit as I took avoiding action, but I held my position ish, even past a few people coming off the dirt, which is unusual for me, as I'm not too hot on dirt. I started spinning up the rear to get it round (rear wheel steering??) going through the first shale bit, in 4th gear, I was loving it, normally I cant do that, maybe I'm getting better at this dirt thing. More "backing it in", even onto the second dirt section, letting it regrip just as I went onto the dirt...woo hooo. then the rear started spining out of the turns again, and it got worse and worse till the end of the race, I got passed by a few down the straight again, and ended up 15th.

More water please. wheres some shade?......my arms getting sore......more water....back tyre looking very sorry for itself.

Race 3: Started 15th, got another crappy start, but that gave me a chance to choose my line into turn 1. everyone gets bottled up, and I go round the outside of about 10 people, onto the shale, grab a few more places, and I'm loving it. same as before I can hold the places, even make up one or too, but then after a couple of laps the rear gets too livley, and I get passed, mostly onto the back straight, cos I cant open the gas hard enough through the turn, and end up back in 18th. grrrr. more water please.......errrr wasnt there a few mm of tread on the back tyre before? hmmm not anymore. dieing tyre....

Race 4: God are we still racing??? more water.......
Start 18th, got a good start, wooo hooo, about bloody time.... and got bottled in into turn one....again. came out in last, bollox. got past a few poeple into the next bottleneck after the shale, and managed to hold them up for a few laps, then got passed by a few as the tyre overheated again. dunno where I finished that one, I think 20th. remove leathers, more water.....hmm throw that tyre in the bin........ whos got a slick rear??? oh you? I'll have it.

after the race shit: Next race I shall have a cut slick on the rear, if its dry. then we'll see.........
All in all a very enjoyable day, very warm, in leathers.. I didnt quite enjoy the racing as much as the previous round cause I like to fight for 1st to 5th, but I was in the b group all day (well chuffed with that), on a road tyre (I checked everyone else on the grid, and all I saw were cut slicks). I got some really good slides into the turns, and felt really good about it, I loved the way I was riding on the fast dirt section and backing it into the turns. I need to practise the really tight (1st gear chicanes) turns on dirty tar and dirt, as I think I was loosing time there all day. No trophy this time, but now I'm starting to play with the quick guys.
I wish I had a bit more grip. It seemed I could hold 10th - 15th place, but then the tyre started overheating and sliding alot, and it cost me a lot of time. These Konkordes are very good on the road, but I have noticed them moving around more the hotter they get, but they dont over heat on the road. I guess they just cant take the race pace, or constant sliding. That rear tyre lasted 300 miles.


1st July. Warden Law -
Well.....English summer huh......?

Before the track crap: Got to the track at about 5pm Sat, and had a look round, walked the track, met up with a few peeps and set up the BBQ. I got the bike scruteneered and signed on in the evening, and then got the BBq going and sat down for a few beers and meat. Met up with Phil (finally), in his posh race truck. Cool bike too, and he is one quick rider in the A group. I went to bed at about 11:30 and prayed for sun and heat in the morning. I woke up at one point to the sound of rain on the roof, bugga. It was just a shower, so I still had high hopes. When I got up at about 8:30 it was all dry, but cloudy, and I had a smile.

Practise : Put the Konkordes on, and got ready for my session in the C group. The E group guys went out , and it started to rain. SHIT, SHIT, SHIT. I didnt have time to change my wheels, so I went out, and slid around for a few laps. Kept it upright, but it was very slippy.

Race 1: Still raining, I changed my tyres, (I really need a new wet rear), it was ok, except for trying to get on the gas coming out of turns, where it just wanted to slide all the time, so I lost a few bike lengths everytime we came onto the straight, after a 1st gear hairpin. Started in about 7th, got a shit start, and got to the first turn all boxed in, and ended up in about 15th or something. I rode a steady race, and clawed my way back to 4th by the end of the race. A few people went down in front of me, which was nice for me. I managed to get up the inside of a few people and force them towards the crashers, so it was an easy pass.

Race 2: Still raining...Started 5th got a shitty start again, and got boxed in again, ended up about 10th out of turn 1, but agian managed to get passed a few people and got back to 5th. it was getting hard to pass towards the end, and I had a few good battles. Because I was loosing out comming out of the turns, I had the run into them harder, and nearly hit a few back tyres on my way in. Ended the race in 5th.

Race 3: Still raining...Another shitty start, got boxed in again, and ended up in last place (or thereabouts) after the guy in front of me stalled around turn 3, and I hit his rear tyre, nearly loosing it. Fought my way through again, with the help of some crashers again, another steady race, a few good battles, got passed a few times going down the straight, but managed to hold 5th place again.

Race 4: final:..... Still raining....Do I push it, and risk a crash, for a trophy, or concentrate on keeping it upright, and the points......? Started on the front row. Got an exellent start, woooo bloody hoooo. into the first turn in second place, excellent. Got past by one bloke into one of the turns, bugga, and got done by a few more down the straight again, managed to get past some into turn 1 tho, gotta sort that back tyre, or is it me?!!! I'm now in 3rd, and running out of laps. I decide to push a bit more. Nearly went off into turn 1, the back stepped out a bit too much, so I ran wide and someone else got past . Fourth. hmmph. I'm not having this, so I really nail it in the turns, and get right back onto 3rd place, he runs a bit wide going onto the back straight/turn (high rpm 3rd gear, over the mud the was dragged onto the track). I managed to get next to him, on the inside, and drift a bit wide, giving him the option of giving me the place, or ending up in the grass mid turn. He wisely decides 3rd is mine. I'm still giving it some, and pull away from him, and catch 2nd pace, but I just cant pass him. He's in the right place all the time, and the speed diferential in the turn is not enough for me to go round the outside. I'm all over his arse, nearly hitting him in the rear a few times, but he just pulls enough onto the straight so I cant outbreak him into turn 1. Finished the race in 3rd place, and got a cool little trophy.

Yeah it bloody rained all day again, but I kept it upright all day, and really enjoyed the day, had some great battles, some I won, some I didnt. Top day, race results 4th, 5th, 5th, 3rd.
PhillG was really on it too, in the A GROUP final he was in 5th place and staying with the "big" boys, like Warren Steele, Leaton Haig, etc. But then he got caught out going into a turn, low sided it and couldnt get it started again till everyone had got past, major bummer, but boy was he fast. It was good to meet you mate. See you at Blyton.
Never met up with X81 unfortunately, how was your race? Wasnt someone else supposed to be coming to watch? Never met them either, but I bet they chickened out cos of the rain.

Blyton next "shivver", oh well.

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