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2003 Results and Race Reports
4 October 2003
My season has ended rather prematurely, nothing too scarey, but check out the news section for details.
Round 8 - Blyton - 28 September 2003
This round was supposed to be held at Manby, but apparently the track is too dangerous, due to the lack
of rain...... whatever.
I arrived a bit later than normal, but still got to the track for about 6pm. Not many people had arrived
yet, so I grabbed a few spaces for Jim and Millsie, and Phil pulled up next to me. I was pretty tired
from a late night, so I had a smoke and went to sleep. It was pretty chilly in the morning, I had to get
out of my sleeping bag, start the van, and wait for 20 minutes for it to heat up nicely, then I got up again
and got ready for the racing. The day was a bit dull, but I was expecting it to brighten up a bit, so I was
feeling pretty good. I never walked the track, but how different can it be....
Qualifying: I decided to leave my full slicks on the bike, and see how I felt in the practise session. I took it pretty
easy for the first 2 laps, as I learned the changes to the layout, then I got my head down for a bit of fast
lap. I was really having trouble getting on the gas coming off the shale. A tight right hander, in 1st gear, turning,
and trying to open the gas, the back wheel just kept spinning up, and nearly threw me of once or twice. The slicks
felt very good, even on the shale, on the brakes, the front only tried the tuck under once, and then I just held a
2 wheel slide for a moment. That felt a bit weird, but at least I know how hard I can brake, and I didn't even have
to crash to find he limit. Cool. I never got passed by many riders all session, and I even barged my way past a few
guys. I got back to the pits and found out I had qualified in 19th place, in the A group. cool. Thats not too bad
for first thing in the morning. I got a best time of 1:34, oh and only 2 places behind Phil, but then this is his first
race since breaking his collarbone.
Race 1: At least it was a nice chilled morning this time, and I even had time to attend the riders briefing,
not that there was anything different mentioned this time... Anyway, we all line up on the grid, and the flag
drops. I get a good start, the front wheel hovering about a foot off the deck. Down the start straight, and into
turn 1. I leave the braking pretty late it seems, as everyone else is already on the anchors. I go round the
outside of a load of riders, but get slightly pushed wide on the second part of the corner. This means I'm
prety tight for the next corner, and also drift wide through the shale, and this is where the caos starts. 2
guys go down at the end of the shale, and there is a huge tail back. I decide to cut the corner, to avoid it, but
I gave back any places I gained, and started chasing hard. One rider tried to go round the outside of me, as we
come off the last dirt section, he succeeds, but is very wide. The rider I was about to line up and pass, has a
"moment", as the back wheel spins up, and these 2 are side by side, aiming for the same piece of track. They clip
handlebars and go down in a cloud of dust, and I gain 2 places. ta. I manage to hunt down the next rider in front
of me, and am about to put a mad move on him, as we go onto the shale, when his foot comes out, and his bike
starts making horrible noises. thats another place thanks, and the next guy ahead is Phil. I try like mad to
catch him, but he just keeps getting a little bit further ahead each lap, and I finish about 4 seconds behind him.
I get my results and find that I finished in 13th place, in the A group. yes A A A A A A A A A. oh and my laptime
was 1:32. 13th.
Race 2: I line up on the grid next to Phil on his Vert, hmmmmm drag race? The flag drops, and
we both get lurch forward together. Side by side, about 6 inches apart, the whole way down the
straight, the bikes are identical. The 1st turn is arriving quickly, and everyone starts to brake. Phil and
I carry on a bit, then he brakes, and I fly past into the turn, haha, how much fun is this..... After the usual
first lap madness, I find myself just loosing out every lap to the bike in front of me. As much as I try, I cant
keep up with him, and he slowly pulls out a 5 second gap on me. During the last few laps, I could hear a bike
attacking me every chance he could. I rode a bit defensively on the last lap, as he was all over me, but the only
way he could get past, was around the outside. I saw his wheel a few times, but just kept taking the line from
him, and he had no chance. We finished the race 0.2s apart, it was a really tough battle. Not so many crashes
this time, but I still picked up 17th place, cool, and I got a best time of 1:30.
Race 3:God knows what happened in this race. I got off the line good enough, and into turn 1 in a reasonable place,
but as we came off the shale there was a crash. I was about to go round the outside of the mess, when someone
turned in front of me, and I got boxed in, as a million bikes cruised passed. At the end of the first lap, I was
in 24th place, not good. The bike in front of me just suddenly stopped, and I managed to mug another one, in the
braking zone on the shale. I was just about to make a move on the next guy in front, when Phil came past the both of
us in 2 turns, bastard. Phil takes a few more places, and now there is a 5 bike fight, with Phil at the front, and me at the back. I use
the traffic a bit, and nearly crash into another bike, as I overtake on the inside, with not much room to spare. Phil, another bike, and
myslef pull away from the other bikes in our group for a private battle, but neither of us get a look in, there are
a few attempts, but no one gets a real chance, and we finish in the same places, the 3 of us less than a second apart
over the line. I managed to get back to 19th place with a best time of 1:30 again.
Final: Just before Millsie went out for his B final, the rain started falling. We changed Millsies wheels, and he went out
with a few seconds to spare. I looked at my bike, there was no chance I was going to change wheels in time, as the
nuts on my front brake disk are messed up. I could change the tyre, but I don't have the time, so I ride Millsies new Vert
in the final. What a difference this bike is. The first thing I noticed, was the vibes its like holding a hydralic jack hammer. The
next thing is the gears, there are 6, mine has 5, so it feels like I'm changing gear the whole time. Its also quite a lot lighter,
but I didnt really notice that except when I was turning on the dirt.
The flag drops, and everyone zooms off. I get huge wheel spin off the line, but I intend to take it easy on my
mates bike anyway. I'm last into the first turn, and I hold station, learning the bike, and the wets (Bridgstone, I
use Michellins). After a few circulations people start falling off and I'm getting a feel for the bike. I start pushing
a little harder as I gain confidence and pass a few people in the latter laps, but the main group has pulled too far
ahead. I end the day on a dissapointing 21st place, with a time of 1:34, in the wet. My fastest laptime was set on the last
lap, and was fast enough for a top 15 finish, but I lost too much time learning the bike. Still, good laptime. Another day
in the A group, and I'm getting more competitive all the time. Bring on Cadwell.
I have a practise day booked on Friday in kent, for a bit more practise, check back for some pics hopefully.
Round 7 - 3 Sisters - 7 September 2003
On Friday I went up to 3 Sisters racetrack to get a few sessions in during the open race bike practise. Any race bike can
get on the track for as long as they want during the 2 hours session. I did 2 sessions in the afternoon, and probably spent
about an hour and a half zipping round the tight and twisty circuit. I tagged on to Ady Smith a few times, got my
head into the mad lean angles you can get here, and figured out how hard you can brake into a turn on a slick (pretty damn
hard). I was releasing the front brake just before the peg decked out. At the end of the day, I pulled into the pits for the
day, when I saw Ady going out again. I was about to chase after him, but decided I was tired enough, and would just make a
mistake trying to keep up. As I got off the bike, I heard psssssssssst from the front tyre. Front puncture, Luckily I didn't
go out again.... I got a new tube off another racer, went out for one little session to make sure it was fitted nicely, and
then, packed up, to sit around until Sunday. I could have gone home again, but I am feeling tight arsed, and would rather
do nothing in the van all saturday, than fill up the van again.
I woke up early, got signed on and stuff and found out I was starting in the A group again. Excellent stuff. I was feeling
confident as I strolled around, then out of the corner of my eye, I spy, ....... a bloody tractor. They are watering the
dirt sections, brilliant....NOT. It was raining all day yesterday.
Qualifying: I was sitting in the middle of the pack as we went onto the track, and I was feeling pretty hot till we came off
the dirt section, then the front tucked as I threw the bike onto the tar. I caught it, and snapped the gas open, the bike
just stepped out big style, dunno how I stayed on it was so far sideways. That killed my super confident mood. The tyres were
literally dripping with water as we came of the dirt. Wet slicks on a dirty tar corner, don't work too well. They didn't water
it again, so it got better as it dried out, but I didn't qualify well at all, in fact it was 27th out of 34, with a 1:17 lap.
thats shit that is.
Race 1: My confidence has ebbed away a little, but I know the track will dry, and so it should come to me throughout the day. I
line up on the grid and see many people (bikes) around me that I recognise, and have beaten before, so that picks up the
confidence nicely as the flag drops. (Flag start today, seems the lights are....not there anyway, it took me a few seconds to
figure out where the starter was). I get a good start, something that seems to be happening more and more often these days, and
go round a bunch of people into turn 1, unfortunately
I get really boxed in and come to a complete stop in the next very tight right hander onto the first dirt section, and end up
back where I started.... I hold station for the first 2 laps as the traffic thinned out, and start looking to make up some places.
The 2 guys in front of me are having a good old tussle, so I just show a wheel every now and then, just so they know I'm there.
Sure enough the guy in front of me makes a dive for in the inside of the hairpin. There's no way he's going make the apex, so
I pretend they aren't there and turn in nicely. Richard Freshwater (the bloke in front of me) forces the other guy wide, they have
a little bobble, and I cruise past. 2 places in one move, hahaha, bring it on. I get past another 2 bikes, on of which was a
perfect pass at the end of the straight, just pull out to his inside, brake when he does, and match him into the turn, and force
him wide. easy.... I finished 23rd with a time of 1:13, just a bit quicker then....
Race 2: Now, just before the race I find out that we are only having 3 races today, but longer ones than normal. It would have
been nice to know before I got to the pitlane. Another racer mentions that they told everyone in the briefing....oh yeah, I was
too busy faffing around with tyres, and stuff, and didn't make the briefing...ooops. Maybe they mentioned the lack of start lights
there too. Anyway Off we zoom as the flag drops. I'm on the inside for the first turn, and I take a few places before we get
onto the dirt, and then I have another bike before the pit straight. The track has started drying out nicely, and the tyres
are working well. I'm running with people who are pretty much the same speed as me now, and passing is getting harder, especially
as I still loose ground over the dirt sections. I really have to figure out this bike on dirt. I pass a few more guys in the
next 5 laps, and then just pace myself, as the guy in front of me is some 7 seconds ahead. I finish in 18th place, with a time
of 1:12. now this is getting more like it. I'd really like to get a top 15 in the final....hold your breath.....
Final: 18th isn't the best place to start, right in the middle. I got a pretty good start again, and avoided a bit of chaos in
the first 2 turns, and pretty much ended up back on the tarmac in the same place I started. The pace was pretty hot, but I
passed a few people on the brakes into the hairpin, and was lining up a few more passes. I decided to try to carry a bit more
corner speed onto the dirt section, and get the guy into the right hander before the pit straight. I decided to carry second
gear instead of 1st, and as I snapped the throttle open the engine bogged, and stopped instantly. I had no chance to catch it.
I jumped off the bike, got to the side of the track and kicked the bike over. It lurched forward, still in gear, I change gear
and it still lurches, a few more times, I just cant find neutral, using my foot or my hand. aaaaaarrrrrrgggggg F*$%. I'm
literally screaming in my helmet. eventually I find neutral, and get the bastard, f*$king, s*%tty, bike started, get on
and chase after the pack, who are nearly 3 quarters of a lap ahead.... I'm now soooo tired after all the kick starting, and
the bumps on the dirt are killing me.....after about 12 laps, I see Ady coming up, so I let him pass, and hang on for half a
lap, then I run wide, and loose him, a little while later Jay Smith and David Jackson come up to lap me. I let them past,
and try to hang on again. As the laps wind down a few more top a groupers come past, and as I finish on lap 15, I am 1 second
off the back of people who didn't crash. I finished 29th out of 34 with a time of 1:12. A bit of an anti climax, but I still
had a good day, and had some very good fights with people the same speed as me, most of which I won. Now its getting hot.
There a few more photos in the gallery, some from Blyton, and some from 3 Sisters. Check 'em out.
Round 6 - Blyton - 17 August 2003
I got my KTM back from the shop on Monday, so I havent had any practise again. I managed to go out on the bike after work on
wednesday evening. I needed to run in the new barrel before thraping the motor in the races on the weekend. I managed to
restrain myself for 50 minutes of the hour, then I started to give it a little.
So, BLyton huh. I hope I've managed to remember how to ride this thing properly now that I've been back into the swing of things.
I arrived at the track late on Saturday night, again there was no practise on saturday, but at least I've been riding my road
bike between races.
Qualifying: I just didn't manage to stay in the A group for this meeting, so I was put in the B group for qualifying. I did
a slow lap to learn the track, and then started to try for a decent time, as soon as I went into the turn after the finish line
I ran wide, and ended up grass tracking through the field for a little bit. The next lap I stalled it going onto the second dirt
section, and as I started the third lap, I felt the motor go wierd. It felt like fuel starvation at high RPM's. I pulled into the
pits, and parked up. I then noticed that it sounded louder than it did before. Great. I called Ady across, and he said it sounded
fine. Well maybe I'm just being paranoid about the noise. But it did feel wierd on that last lap. I continue to look around, and
I check the water level, there isnt any water in the rad.....!! I get a bottle of water, and fill it up, but the water is just
pouring out of the bottom, I look down and see a pipe has come off, and all the water pissed out. The lack of water made it
over heat, and sound funny. I reconnect the pipe, and fill it up. I qaulified 20th with a 1:58, its ok, I never made a whole lap
with out running off the track, and I only did 3 laps.
Race 1: The lights go green, everyone zooms off, except for some guys on the front row. I slam on the brakes and manage to
stop before I pile into the back of some idiot. I go round him, and chase the pack into turn 1, but the race is red flagged,
and we restart. I get an average start into turn 1, and onto the shale. Its too dusty to see anything, but somehow I come out
the other side having gained a few places. I have a few battles, mostly on the dirt sections, and I have the rear wheel moving
around, and spinning up quite a lot, but I am starting to feel like I'm getting back into the racing now. I pass a few guys on
the brakes after the finish line, and end up in 12th place. I was faster than the 4 bikes in front me, but couldnt find a way
past. they seemed to get better grip on the dirt, and I lost out a bit everytime we got on the gas out of a dirty turn. I'd
spin up, and they'd drive out. Still I'm feeling faster, and more confident. I got a best time of 1:55
Race 2: I get another good start, everyone is tiptoeing into turn 1, a gap opens right in front of me, and I just leave the brakes
as late as I dare. I tip the bike in, and find myself in 10th place as we go onto the shale, less dust now I'm up at the front.
It's caos back onto the tarmac, rear wheels spinning up everywhere, and people trying to pass without loosing time, or places. I
manage to hang on to the main group for a few laps, then get a false neutral as I go over the table top. Luckily it falls back
into 2nd as I land and I just run wide, instead of falling off, but I loose 2 places. I manage to hold on to the bike in front of me
and towards the end I start to close up on him, but run out of laps, and end the race back in 12th place again on a 1:54.
Race 3: Starting from 12th again, and I'm looking for a good one now. I get a blinding start into the first turn, and hold the line
though the shale. I was in a pretty close battle with 2 other bikes for the whole race. We basically jsut kept swapping places, untill
I got a bit tangled up with one of them, and the other guy got away as we battle it out. I held off the other bike for the last 2
laps, and took a good 8th place. I got a fastest time of 1:51, getting quicker, but I'd like to get into the 49's, so I have a chance
to win the b final.
Race 4: I'm in 8th on the grid, a nice inside line, and not too many people infront of me. The lights go green, and I get another
good start. We all arrive at turn 1, and again I force the issue on the brakes, everyone around me chickens out, and the gap grows
around me. I come onto the shale in 2nd place. Yeah baby, thats what I'm talking about. I know I dont have the pace to pull away
from the guys right behind me, so I just try to keep neat and hang on. The guy in 1st place is slowly walking away from me, and I
have this horrilbe image of a pack of rabid dog motard riders swerving all over my arse, trying to get past. I am going as fast
as I can, but I also start hanging the rear out more into the turns. I figure if the bike is sideways on all the corner entries, its
going to be very hard to pass me, as the bike is 3 times wider than normal. This actually seems to work, till I make a mistake,
and let 1 past as I run wide in a turn. Then on the 2nd last lap I run wide again as I take a bit too much air on the table top,
and cant slow the bike down enough for the dirt turn. I run a bit wide, and 2 guys get past, they don't pull away, but I cant get
them back, and I finish the race in a pretty good 5th place. Best time was 1:49.
3 Sisters next, I cant wait. Hopefully I'll start in the A group, so I can qualify with them, and get a good grid place (top 15).
Round 5 - Anglesey - 27 July 2003
Well I'm back from my holiday, 2 weeks sailing the Ionian Islands (southern Greece), just cruising gentley around the
Med at a max speed of 7 Knots (about 9Mph?). I had a brilliant time In fact I think I'll do a page on it, with some pics
or something, check back for the link.
Anglesey, only the second time I've been here, and I quite liked it, from what I remember, but the dirt sections are pretty
tough. The dirt ranges from rough concrete, to thick shale, to thin shale over concrete and back. So its very inconsistant,
and difficult to get confident on. The tar on the other hand is the sort I love, ballsey, flat out, max lean, 100+mph into
turn 1 and 2, yeah baby.....
There was no practise day on Saturday, starting in the A-group, and having just got back off holiday, I was a bit aprehensive.
I havent ridden a bike for nearly 3 weeks, my longest time off the bike in ages, and I was pretty worried I'd forgotten how
to bloody ride.......
Qualifying: The A group get called up, and we all line up on the grid for practise/Qualifying. I get let loose and just do a
lap to remember the course. There is a new bit that looks a bit tight. My bike feels very flighty over the dirt, and giving
tankslappers at every oppertunity. This pretty much killed my confidence. I hate tank slappers, I've had some really horrible
ones, and I just cant push the bike any harder over the rise off the concrete, and onto the very potholey shale. If that wasn't
bad enough I am riding like a pansy, I have no idea where my max lean is anymore, or how hard I can brake, plus instead of just
smacking open the throttle and forcing the bike around like I had been, I'm feeding the throttle open, what is this? A sunday
ride? I feel slow, really slow, and I have no confidence to push. I think my best time was a 1:02, bloody C group times.....
I'm never going on holiday without one of my bikes going with me again.
Race 1: I qualified about 25th out of 30, so stil not the slowest of the A groupers, but not far off. I got a bad start, and
then pretty much held station throughout the race. I lost a few places on the dirt at the top of the concrete rise, where I
was getting some scarey tank slappers whenever the front landed on a hole. This meant I lost speed accross the end of the dirt,
into the chicane and through the tight tar section. The only place I could make any time up was into turn 1 and 2, but it wasn't
looking like a good day. I need practise to get my confidence back, and then I can push the bike and get some decent times. I
managed to hang on to the tail group, and pass a few people on the tar section, but only managed to finish in 25th place, with
a best time of 1:00. Not good enough.
Race 2: After the 1st race I wasn't feeling very hopeful for race 2, but at least I was getting some track time back on my bike,
if I could only get rid of the head shakes, I'd gain a couple of seconds immediately over the dirt, I'll have to try different
lines to see if I can aviod some of the holes. I lined up in 25th again, and got an average start, but got bottled in through
turn 1 and 2, and lost any places I had got, I was right at the back. I managed to pass a few onto the dirt, but then lost out
again through the bumpy shale. I still couldnt really crack the gas open as I had been, and I wasn't braking nearly as hard as I
was. I watched a few people fall off, but as I came onto the start straight for the last lap, my motor sounded really loud, and
rattley. I finished the lap, even slower, and lost a few places, I pulled into the pits in about 27th place, but more importantly,
what was up with the motor. Best time was still 1:00, and I got demoted to the B-group. I opened the clutch cover, and Ady Smith
had a look for anything obvious, but couldnt see anything, looks like whatever it is, is deeper inside.....
Millsie (Martin Mills #83), a mate I pit with at all the NORA rounds, offered me his XR650 to race in the last 2 races (top bloke
huh). At first I was a bit hesitant, as I didn't want to crash his bike or anything. Everyone convinced me to ride it, and just
get some points, so I suited up again, and went out for my B group race.
Race 3: I line up in 1st place on the grid, the lights go green, and I go backwards, the XR is totally different from the 660.
Into turn 1, I must be in about 15th place. Wonderful. The XR is heavier than the KTM, and has softer suspension, and it just
eats up the bumps. Where the KTM was flighty, and headshaking, the XR just soaks them up. I gain confidence straight away, and
pass people on the dirt, where the KTM was shaking around. Shame the XR lost out down the straight, and in punch out of the turns,
but I actually had a bit of fun. I finished about 15th with a best time of 58 sec. seconds quicker, on a slower bike, that I'd
never ridden before. Thats confidence for you.
Race 4: Still on Millsie's bike, we line up in the pit lane, ready to get out on track. I do 2 practise starts, to try to get an
idea of how to get this thing off the line. We grid up, the lights go green, loads (I mean this thing is screaming)of revs, and
the reverse gear kicks in...... I am giving it loads everywhere, but I cant seem to make up any ground, then as we come down
the straight at the end of the second lap, I realize the clutch is going. I have loads of revs, and am flying through the gears,
but I have about as much accelleration as a scooter. I pull in to the pits, and get a beer. Thanks to Mills for loaning me his
spare bike, sorry I killed it. I guess I need some practise to get back into things, but it all depends on whats up with my
motor, and how long its gonna take to get repaired, check out the News page for news on it. How
am I gonna get some practise in, with no race bike?
Round 4 - Blyton - 28/29 June 2003
Another 2 day event at Blyton, and I'm starting to enjoy this track, and feeling more confident everytime we come
to the place.
Again I went up on Firday night, so I was ready for the practise day on Saturday between the 450 races. I met up
with a few VD folk, and took a nice steady approach to the practise sessions. I slowly worked my speed up when I hit
the table top, and just worked out some nice fast lines. The first time I hit the table top I braked and hit it in
2nd gear, pretty pathetic, but after a few laps, I was getting more confident, and work towards eventually taking
it flat out in 4th, and pretty much just hoping I'd land on the tar ok. The landing doesn't leave much room for braking
before the hairpin, and over the weekend I had a few moments on landing, and a few crashes in the hairpin.
During one session I was building up speed and heard a bike behind/next to me as we turned into turn 1, onto the
shale and he tries to overtake me round the out side of the shale as we rejoin the tar. I glance across and see PhilG hard
on the brakes on the dirty line, and out braking me. Bloody hell he's confident on the dirt, on full slicks, on gravely
shale......hmmm, he must carry good corner speed......oh....nope....too much corner speed......there he goes sliding
down the track....hahaha. I've been down there a few times too, it allways feels like you should have gone faster, and
harder on the brakes, but when you go too hard, if you try to still make the turn, you can very easily end up on your arse.
The next 4 laps I had a giggle everytime I went past him, kick....kick...."bitch"....kick....
I had some really nice slides on the gas, coming off a few of the dirt sections onto the tar, 2nd or 3rd gear, cranked over, hard on
the gas, and the rear starts to drift out, just keep it pinned, the rear grips as I start to pick the bike up, and then
as it hooks, the front lifts into a bit of a crossed up wheelie....cool. As it turns out my rear slick is shagged, but
it did feel cool. New slick on, and now it just fires you down the track. I'm feeling pretty confident for the race
tomorrow. Bring it on....
Race day: Qualifying: After the apparent speed I had the last time we were here, and having hardly anybody passing me
during practise, other than the likes Leighton and Phil, I was feeling pretty good, and barged my way to the front
of the grid for qualifying. I think I only got passed by one person during the session, and that was one of the Alice
racing boys at the begining, and he didnt exactly romp away. I got some good laps in, but in my aggressive "must get pole" attrack, I
managed to bin it twice in 5 laps. Once in turn 1 as it tightens up, and gets a bit bumpy (potholes filled with concrete, etc)
, I was still on the brakes, still on a wet front, and the poor soft rubber couldnt hack it. The front tucked, and I went
down on my left side. Then after the table top I was hard on the brakes as I turned in, and the front just tucked again, and
I went down on my left side again. I was a bit bemused by this, and couldnt figure out why I was working the front so hard,
but in the final race I noticed a pot hole just before my apex, where I would still be on the brakes, and the hole was
just big enough for the tyre to loose it. shame I never noticed it before the final race, but hey. I still managed to
qualify in second place, which is ok.
Race 1: Starting from the front row certainly has its advantages. The lights changed, I got an average start, but so did
everyone else. I got to turn 1 side by side with 1 other bike, but I know where my braking mark is for this turn, and
the likes of you, aint out braking me. He brakes, I drop down 2 gears, grab the brakes, and back it into the first turn.
I get to the shale in 1st place. This is what I'm talking about. Then I run a bit wide at the shale/tar hairpin, and he
comes up the inside and takes the place. hmmmpf. I follow him around for the rest of the lap, and just wait for turn 1
again. Lap 2 here we go, I'm right behind him, he covers the inside line, and I just fly straight round the outside, and
cut him off as it tightens up. Back in first. Over the shale, and I run wide again....he comes up the inside agian, and
we do it all over again. Down the straight again, this time he recons he'll take the outside line, ok. I cruise up the
inside and push him out, P1 thankyou. Over the shale, and Just manage to hold the tight line, so he cant pass, and I
pretty much just romp away for the next few laps. I look over my shoulder on the last lap, and se abot 5 second gap, so I
just cruise to my first B group win....wooooohoooo. Man I was stoked. A group next.....
Race 2: I have to start from the back of the A group, and I went into the race with the intention of just getting round
the first few turns without being taken out, maybe that should have been the first few laps.... Going onto the shale
for the first time, I couldnt see a thing, not even 1 bike length ahead, it was so dusty. I just followed everyone round
for the first lap, and then started trying to pass people 1 at a time. I passed 1 or 2, and then got caught out as 1 rider
got very sideways on the dirt, I hit the back of him, and stalled it. It took half a lap to get the bike fired up again, and
then I cruised round and finished last, because nobody fell off (amazing). Back to the B group.
Race 3: B group again, at least I'm on the front row again, starting form 3rd. Everyone gets an even start, and again I'm
into and out of turn 1 in first place. I lead for a lap, and start pulling away. On the second lap I fly over the table top,
land a bit dodgy, but just turn the the bike in on line, but I'm still trailing the front brake, and I hit that little pot hole
again, and the front tucks. Bang, I go down on my left side again. I jump up, and see the second place guy just about to go
round the outside of me, and third place is just about to land the table top. The bike is still running, I grab the clutch, pick
up the bike, which is still in second gear, and I get away still in second place. I hold onto second for a lap, but then I
start to feel a bit battered towards the end of the race. One guy passes me over the table top and knocks me down to third. I
take a look behind me and see another rider about to mug me. He tries the same move over the table top, but I cant let that happen.
He takes the place, but I take it straight back, getting on the gas hard round the outside of him, and taking the inside line
for the chicane. I finish the race in 3rd place, but I'm feeling a bit bruised up now. I get back to the pits, and get cramp
in my right arm as I pull something getting my leather top off. A group final next....
Final: Feeling a bit battered from the tar/body infaces, plus the cramp I had in my arm, I kinda just chiled for the A final.
It's the best I've ever done, and as it was the last race of the day, I knew I couldnt drop down a group. so I just took it easy
for a few laps, watched a few people fall off around me, and pootled (relatively) round to finish somewhere around 20th place. I
could have done better, but I just didnt want to crash anymore for that day. Still, I made it into the A group on merit, twice,
by winning one B race, and comming 3rd in another. I'm pretty flipping stoked.
Anglesey Next, but first there's a little matter of sailing around Corfu for 2 weeks on holiday.
Round 3 - Blyton - 25/26 May 2003
Blyton is a tough track for me, the tar surface is very grainy and gravely, and just generally not very grippy.
This year there are 4 dirt sections and 2 jumps, one of which is a low, table top apparently, more like a long
hump.
I went up on Saturday night ready for a practise day on Sunday, in between the 450 class races. I do prefer this 2
day setup. I think the practise on the previous day really helps. The first session was just a sighting session, finding
lines, preferably clean ones. e.g., as I went into one chicane I found a line gravel right at the apex, I slid wide on that,
loosing the front, then the rear for a while, but it stayed up right. The lines got nicely cleaned up through the day,
allowing me to push harder, and get comfortable with the track. It was a little showery, occasionally it would spit, and
try to rain, but it only once rained so the track actually got noticeably wet. Typically when I was sitting on the grid
waiting for my session to start. Cut slick front and rear, and it bucketed it down. Millsie and I just looked at each other
and shrugged. He at least had a wet front. Off we went, and I did 2 laps, before falling off on one dirt corner, only slow
speed, and Millsie was laughing as he went past. I got up, went back to the pits, and put a wet front tyre on. The rain
stopped, and it never rained again all weekend.... I left the wet front tyre on, and it felt much better in the dry, so I
used it all weekend.
Race day: Qualifying: I really didn’t think I would be very fast here, even with practise the previous day I never actually
compared myself to someone I knew would be in my group. I let everyone go past, let a bit of a gap grow, and tried to
get in a fast lap, I very quickly caught another rider, and had to pass quite a few during the session. I never got a good
lap in at all. I was always trying to pass, and failing a few times. I even stalled once on the dirt as I was getting so
frustrated. I finished the session and went back to the pits moaning and expecting to be at the back of the grid. I was a
bit surprised to find I'd qualified 7th. I felt very slow during the session, but if that was slow the races should be ok. My
best time was 1:49.7
Race 1: Starting 7th, was pretty good, if I can just get a good start, and get into the front pack after the first turn
(my favourite corner on the track, hard on the brakes, leaning over, changing from 5th gear to 2nd as you go round,
and the corner tightens up), I should have good result. The red lights come on, everybody starts creeping on the line,
I drop the revs, expecting the grid to be reset, and green comes on, everyone zooms past.....shit. I end up 3rd last
into the first turn. I managed to fight past a few riders and ended up 13th. Not what I planned. I had a best time of
1:44.3 I got back to the pits and had a shouting match with one of the new marshals about the start, not that anything
would change, but I was a bit angry.
Race 2: 13th on the grid. There is loads of creeping on the grid again, but I'm ready for it this time. Once I see the first
creeper, I start getting ready, creep a bit, and get a great start into turn 1, I was in the top 10. As we come round to
finish the first lap, we see Chris, with his bike on the ground, right in the middle of the first turn, with him standing on top
of it waving his arms. We all go back to the grid. It seems Chris (who also had a good moan at the marshal with me
about the start) got another bad start because of all the creeping, and stopped the race because the marshals
weren’t controlling the grid properly. I agree with him totally, but I did just get my best start..... Typical. Chris got
disqualified from the restart, and the grid gets ready again. More creeping, but I'm ready. I get a blinding start again, a
hole just appears as we enter the first turn, I release the brakes and just aim for it, and I come out of the turn in 7th
place. Cool. We fly onto the shale section, and I try to hug the inside line, but to get there I need to spin up the rear a
bit. It jumps out as I hit a wet bit, and I nearly go down, but it stays upright somehow. I run wide on the dusty tar after
the shale and loose a place. This corner gets very slippery as the dust from the shale gets dragged onto the tar, just
where you end braking, are turning, and trying to get on the power hard in 1st gear. Quite easy to crash, as I'll find out
later. As we get over the line for the end of the first lap, I get madly sideways into the right hander, The bike is backing
in WAY too much, I have to drift it wide, loose a load of speed, loose the line, and let 2 other bikes past. Damn. I get
it back together and chase them down the straight. Into turn one again, (I like this turn) the 2 riders sit up, I'm not. At the
last second I sit up, hard on the brakes, down 2 gears, and slide right round the outside of the first rider. The turn
tightens up more, I'm still on the brakes, and drop down another gear, just at the apex I loose the front, just for a
moment, my foot hits the deck and the front grips again. I catch the other bike, but can’t pass till after the finish line in
to the right hander before the start finish. The next lap I pass another bike there too, again I get very sideways, I
actually went down a gear too far as we went in. I had to grab the clutch as the rear wheel stepped out wildly. I think
this may have scared the guy, because even though I went very wide, lost lots of speed and momentum he never passed
me back. I managed to pass a few more bikes in the next few laps, and was running 5th as we went onto the last lap.
I had a few seconds behind me, and a few in front, so I just said to myself "big gap front and back, just take it easy and
don’t crash"....... as I come off the shale I brake a bit late, and am still braking as I turn onto the dusty tar. The front
tucks, and down I go. My leg is stuck under the bike, I eventually get up, pick the bike up, and restart, but the next
gaggle of bikes came flying past, and I lost 9 places.... I finished in 14th place with a best time of 1:43.8. Oh well....
must stay upright in future.
Race 3: I'm starting mid field again, so the first turn is crucial. I get a good start, and am about 10th into onto the
shale. I'm in the top group for riders, no one is getting away, so instead of the mad passing I have to do after a bad start
so I can stay with the lead group, I can just stay calm and pick them off 1 by 1. Luckily that’s exactly what happens.
The only manoeuvre I can really recall is on the second last lap. I passed 2 guys by going round the outside of them in
turn 1 (did I mention I like this turn?). I passed 1 on the brakes as we turned in, then still on the outside I got right
next to the next bike, on the exit of the turn, so I was on the inside for the shale. As we came out the first turn, and
we started to pick the bike up, he looked across at me as we were side by side, our bars were about 2 inches apart. He
couldn’t pick up the bike until I had, and I think he was a bit surprised to find me there and ran wide as we went onto the
shale because he lost about 3 seconds on the lap. I finished my first decent race of the day in 6th place with a best time
of 1:41.9. Cool, that’s a good time, the fastest time in the group, and I was only 5 seconds behind the leader, and
closing. Maybe this track isn’t so bad for me after all?
Final: Starting 6th was a lot easier, I got an average start, and was with the front group in about 7th place onto the
shale. I passed one rider who ran wide coming off the shale, and then settled down to chase the front group. On the
second lap I got passed over the table top by some mad guy on a Yam. I think he missed his braking point, as he so nearly
crashed as we landed, but he stole the place from me whatever. Bastard. I managed to get right up behind him on
the tar sections, and just waited right on his rear wheel for the start straight. Easy. We come onto the start, and I cut
to the inside and zoom passed, ha-ha, I have more power. We go onto the shale, and I think I'm too late on the brakes
again, instead of trying to hold the line on the brakes, like in did in race 2, I chicken out, run wide and let him passed
again. I loose a few seconds on him as I recover, and then chase him down again. A few laps later I am nearly on him
again, and I go into the turn after the finish a bit too late, back it in way too much again, and loose too much time on
him. Its the last lap, I cant even see the next guy behind me, and I lost 2 seconds on the guy in front, so I finish in
7th. I got a best time of 1:42.2, had a really good battle with the yammy, and really enjoyed the race. I felt quite
good, and pretty fast for the first time at Blyton, I'm feeling confident for the next round.
Round 2 - 3 Sisters - 20 April 2003
My love/hate relationship with this track continues..........
Saturday Stuff: I went up on Friday to do the practise day on Saturday. I had a really good day doing the practise
sessions between the 450 races, and the F group. When I first went out I was soooo slow on the dirt, it was pretty
pitiful. Running on full slicks I just started off with no confidence at all, that the bike wasn't just going to flip over
sideways when I hit the gravel , but as the day went on, I got some confidence, and started getting a reasonable
amount of speed over the dirt. By the end of the day I recon I was doing 1:17 or there about's.
I knew I was running low on brakes, so I bought some new pads from the dealer on my way up there. At Lunchtime I
decided to change the pads, only to find that the dealer has given me the wrong bloody ones...... twits. I went on a bit of
a mad panic, running around the paddock trying to find some, no one I asked could help.... So I started calling directory
inquiries to get dealer numbers, but everyone I called was closing in 10 minutes. I thought I was screwed. If it didn't
rain on Sunday, I'd run out of pads, and have to quite early.... so I starting hoping for rain so I didn't use as much
brakes.
I sat out the last session so I had a bit more brakes for race day and Lawman sees me out of leathers and asks what's
going on, as I should be on the track, I tell him I'm running out of brakes, and he recons he knows someone who's got
some. Like the star he is, he take me round to Husaberg rider, who recons he's got some at home, and Lawman goes
and gets them, and then drops then off to me later. Top lad... I offered him a drink, but these northern pansies don't
drink????
I ended the day getting a bit pissed, going for a curry, and then passing out in the van.
Sunday Stuff: I woke up and climbed out of the sleeping bag, I thought it was a bit cold, I quick look around and I noticed that we
were so pissed on Saturday night that we forgot to close the van doors. I went to the bathroom, and looked in the mirror,
bloody hell it looks like I've got pink eye, in both eyes, need coffee. Lots of coffee.
I put in my new brake pads and went out for practise. They stuck me in the C group because I only finished 2 races at
Cadwell . I kind of barged my way to the front so I could get some clear laps in and hopefully get pole for the first race,
which I did Coooool. I got a best time of 1:14.7
Race 1: I started on pole, and got a great start into turn 1, I was leading and pretty much in control. Then, after 1 lap,
the red flag comes out. Bastard. Second star, and I stuff it. I end up in 4th into turn 1, crap. I get past 1 dude though the
dirt and try to chase down the leaders. I'm trying too hard though, my tyres are cold after the restart, and with me
messing things up, and I’m having moments early everywhere. After a few laps, I gain confidence in my tyres
again, and calm down somewhat. I can’t get passed the guy in 2nd place, I'm all over him, until we hit the dirt, and then
he pulls just enough to keep me at bay over the tar . A lap or so later, I try a mad move at the end of the start straight,
but leave the braking a bit too late, I'm up the inside, but I cant hold the line for the apex, and he gets the line back.
But now I know I can brake much later than him, so the next lap I try the same move, with a bit of modification on my
braking, and this time I just sneak up the inside, forcing him to pick up the bike, but I held the line, gotcha . Now my
sights are set on first place.... I'm catching him, but I think I'm going to run out of laps, I find some more speed over the
dirt, and mug him on the last lap, as we go over the line. I beat him by 0.085 sec. hehe I is a winner....... I got a best
time of 1:12.5
Race 2: Into the B group I go, but I'm starting in 26th place. I really don't know what the best way to attack the first few
turns are, so that I don't loose too much time on the leaders, and can pass a few people. But as it happened, it didn't
matter. I got a good start, and tried to go down the outside into turn 1. Just before we hit the braking zone, the guy in
front of me moves across, and clips handlebars with me. I go flying off onto the grass. I'm going way too fast, on full
slicks, on grass, heading towards a tyre wall, and a turn. I use the back brake to slide the rear round and slow me down
a bit, miss the tyres, but I'm still heading towards the wall. I contemplate jumping off the bike, but decide I can save it. I
stay on, and manage to avoid the wall, and the tyres, and slow down enough to get back on the track. Still I'm bloody
last, and have given everyone about 5 second head start. The rest of the race is a bit of a blur of some crazy, and
some not so crazy overtakes, as I try to recover. I move from 29th, and finish the race in 9th place, overtaking 20 B
group riders in 6 laps. I got a best time of 1:12.3
Race 3: This one shouldn't be as much work... I hope..... I start in 9th, and get a fairly good start, I think I got round
the first few turns in about 7th. I overtook a few guys on the first lap, and ended up stuck behind Mark/Matt
(whatever it is) Oxley. He was way faster on the dirt, but I was lots faster on the tar, unfortunately he could just hold
me at bay because he got such a gap on the dirt. After a few laps of this, I'm getting pissed off, get out of my bloody
way......bastard. I decide to just try to match his speed over the dirt, by just ignoring what the brain says, open the gas,
hold on, and hope. Waaaayheeey He didn't manage to pull so much of a gap, in fact it’s about half what he was pulling
before. I can have him. I leave it another lap, and then I slide up the inside after the start straight, thank you. The
other guys were too far ahead, and not enough laps left, so I chill, just make sure Mark/Matt can’t pass me again, and
then finish the race in 4th place, another 1:12.4 lap time.
FINAL: Well I didn't make the A group yet, but at least I should get a trophy .......... huh???......well no........ not if I
stall it on the line........ Twit. The revs dropped too low, I didn't catch the clutch in time, and it stalled, bloody big
hairy bastard balls. And the bike didn’t fire up first kick as usual either, after about 20 seconds of kicking, it fires up,
and I fly off down the straight. Now I'm really pissed. Nobody better get in my flipping way now. The race proceeds similar
to race 2, loads of overtakes, too many to remember. About half way though, I overtook one bloke, coming off the hill,
then I missed a gear on the pit straight, and he came passed again and took the inside line into the next turn, but I
thought I'll still have him, so I tried to go round the outside, the bastard only tries to run me off onto the grass on the
exit, I give him the place, flip to the other side of the track, and get a nice line for the hairpin, and then go round the
outside of him and take the place before we hit the dirt. Bastard, try to play with me... I finished the race in 8th
place, another mission of a fight though, from last (29th) to 8th. I got a best time of 1:12.3. The bike was really moving
around in this race, I was really pushing it to try and recover a decent place. Doing 1:12 while over taking 1 or 2 people
every lap, is not bad, but it could have been so much bloody better. Oh well Blyton next. I'll bloody have them then....
PS, I love my 660
Check out the gallery for a few pics from the 2 days.
Round 1 - Cadwell Park - 23rd March 2003
I had a practise day at Cadwell on Saturday, in between the 450 class races, and I was racing there on Sunday too.
Everything was super cool, the bike was lovely and really fast. After the practise day, I was really looking forward to
breaking into the A group.
We all went out for practise, I got the 7th fastest time in the B group. I could have gone faster, as I was always
overtaking slower riders, but that was probably the same for all the fast guys. I went out and did the first race, I didn't
get a very good start (I’m still having trouble with 2nd gear starts on the 660), in fact I dropped down to about 15th off
the line, but I overtook a few people, as we went onto the dirt, and then some more as we all braked into the hairpin. I
finished in 11th, could have, should have got higher, but as it was the first race of the day, I didn’t do many crazy
overtakes. I was thinking to myself, "plenty more races in the day."
In the 2nd race, I got a good start (I've had a few more practise starts now), I got into the front pack, running in 5th
place. As we all brake for the first chicane and turn onto the dirt, and the bike stalls. "Crap" I think, "too much back
brake", that’s not like me though, I haven’t stalled it before like that.. I jump off, and try to kick-start the bike, but it
doesn’t want to start, but I eventually get it fired up, but I'm now in last place. Feeling a bit annoyed, I jump back on, and
zoom off. After a few turns, I'm gaining quickly on the back-markers. I am really taking a few risks to catch everyone up,
and as I get back round to that chicane again, and the bike stalls again. "What the f...?" I jump off again, and try to
start it, but there is so much compression, the kick start won’t even move. I pull the decompression lever and give it a
kick to clear the cylinder, and I see a plume of white smoke coming from the exhaust. SHITE, it’s not supposed to do
that. I guess that’s my race day over.
I got taken back to the pits in the recovery van, and opened the radiator cap to find there was no water left in there.
When I filled it up, I kicked the bike over, and saw the water come out of the radiator cap hole, looks like a head gasket's
popped.
I ended up the day watching the guys I could have beaten moving up to the A group, oh well, next race then….
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