RICHARDWARDRACING - 2005 Race Reports

2005 Results and Race Reports

NORA Round 1 - Cadwell - 29/30 Oct

What a weekend! Our awning blew away and broke on saturday night, my mate crashed in practise, and went to hospital, after hitting that Harley, and it rained on sunday, just enough to confuse the tyre choice. BUT, I qualified for the A's again, which seems to be a regular thing, but I need to move up the group a bit, and get a bit more aggressive with them during the starts. I kept getting blocked out in the first few turns, but I hung in there all day, got passed a few, and avoided all the caos on the slippery track. Thats it for this year, back in the spring time, other than the odd trackday at Wildtracks or such like...Race reports will be updated properly soon as I get a free day.

NORA Round 9 - Topcliffe - 1/2 Oct

Came 4th in race 1 after making a bad overtake on 2nd place, running wide and loosing another place. Came 2nd in race 2, making a small ammends for the stupid mistake in race 1. Then in race 3 I started form the back of the field (29th place), and made a pretty good charge thru the b group, to about 8th place. I dont feel very fast on these dirty, dusty concrete tracks, but that result, from that position, made me feel that I wasnt hanging around too much. I really enjoyed the dirt sections here, with the steering damper off the old 660 on this bike, even the rough stuff was fun.

NORA Round 8 - 3 Sisters - 3/4 Sept

Middle of the A group for race 1, and then had a small mechanical fault on lap 3. My gear lever worked loose, so I couldnt change down the gearbox. I reached a hairpin bend, 1st gear, but I was stuck in 5th. When I exited the turn, the bikes behind me, accellerated much faster than me, still stuck in 5th gear, and I got hit both sides, sending me crashing into the tarmac. The impact force tore my arm open a bit, and the holes had to be packed up with some gel stuff, but no hard injuries. Annoying little fault tho, I'll check that bolt every race from now on. That put me out for the day, but the bike was fine, once I tightened the shift bolt up.

NORA Round 7 - Lydd - 20/21 August

I arrived down in Lydd at about midnight, and decided to see if there was any room left in the pitlane for us lot. People had already started spilling out into the extra grassy area, but I didnt want to go there. Luckily, there was loads of room down the far end, so I parked up, spread my stuff about to reserve space, and just crashed out for the evening. It rained heavily over night, but hopefully it would be finished by the morning.

Millsie arrived in the morning, but Jim is still a bit bashed from his big blyton crash, so was only turning up in the afternoon. It wasnt raining, and it looked like it was going to be a dry day, but the track was damp, and very slippy, so everyone, with a brain, went out on full wets. My first session was the 3rd or 4th one of the day, so the track had got a bit drier, but there were some very big puddles on some of the apex's. Those got swept away after a few sessions, as they werent going to dry by themselves, and after that, people, including my started sticking the cut slicks in the rear. I left the wet on the front, as the dirt was still a bit grimey and slippy, but it was all good. I'm starting to get the hang of this new bike now. I'm getting my feel back from the brakes, which is a relief, as that is one of strong points. I also started using the quick shifter on the straights too, and wow that makes a difference, the accelleration is so much smoother and faster, with a nice little backfire everytime I flick the button. cool. I did have one minor problem where I got my braking points mixed up, the 613 is going so much faster by the time I get to the braking area, that the 660's old braking points just dont work, and I ended up in the kitty litter on one occasion. Once the dirt had dried out a bit, I was starting to enjoy it more, and I think I'm finally getting comfortable in the air, and taking off. Up till now, I have been accellerating hard till the jump, then probably slowing down a bit, or getting a steady throttle, getting ready, and then launch and hang on. I found tho, today I was just pinning the gas till the bike took off, and moving around on the bike, in the air, and blipping the gas, to change its position. Is this a turning point for me? hmmmm.

At the end of the day, I agreed to left Andy Mitchell test my bike, and the elctronics, for the MotardMag guys. So in the last session he went out, and thraped it around for a few laps, coming in every now and then to change the ignition setting. After that we had a chat about the bike, and compared it to his super trick thing. He recons my bike is still heavy tho!!! 105KG, 70Hp, heavy, hahaha, what the hell does that air suspensioned, husaberg wiegh then? in the nicest possible way, bastard. Still, he said it was fast, so I'm happy. He did say that in the dry, he couldnt tell any difference in the ingition settings, but it may have a better effect in the wet, so I'll let him test it in the wet sometime. David Blair took my photo for the Mag, with the bike, but after a days practise, niether me or the bike looked that pretty, haha.

Sunday Practise:I had been told it was going to sunny again, but it didnt look like it when I got up. However, it did generally get brighter all thru the day, and it never even tried to rain on us. I stuck the cut slick whell in the front now, as everything was dry, and I felt I wanted a bit more braking grip in the tar today. I am still stuck starting in the C group, but I think this will be the last time, as I should make up enough points after today, to be qualifying with the A/B groups, and that'll put me back in the A's. Anyway, I went out, took a few laps to wake up, and then set about doing some times. After a few laps, I felt someone was catching me, so a quick check behind, and some poor sod had been trying to get passed my wiggley back wheel for ages, being the nice lad I am, and stuck a leg out and let him passed. I tagged onto him for a while, and then came back into the pits, as I felt I was going as quick as I could just now. I'm trying to get brave and clear the double jump, that'll get me some time, I need to concentrate on dirt really hard, I think I'm starting to click with these jumps and berms. I came in pretty confident of the front row again, and then doing the usual move up to the B group. To my suprise tho, I was 6th with a 1:13.4 lap. Thats crap, must pay more attention in the first race.

Sunday Race 1: I lined up on the second row, the flag went up, and I got a decent start. I slotted into 3rd place out of the first turn, but was passed over the dirt section and dropped to 4th place, thats not the plan. I stuck at it tho, and hung onto the front pack, as we romped away from the rest of the field at about 3 seconds a lap. I was keeping the top 3 in sight, but slowly loosing touch thru the dirt section. On the third lap, I decided to try and clear the double jump to make up some time. I came out of the berm really low, and gave it a handful of gas. The back tyre spun up a bit quickly, and stepped out. I planted my foot down, only for the bike to flick the other way, and throw me on the deck, crap. the bike was lying half way up the jump, still running tho, so I grabbed the clutch and picked it up, just as I see 5th place coming on the dirt section. I jumped back on the bike and zoomed off, not even loosing a place. The top 3 were now long gone tho, so it loks like I'll be doing another C group race. damnit, thats not the plan at all. Still, I pushed hard for the rest of the race, and on the last lap, the front 2 must have had a collision, as I passed one of them, and robbed 3rd place off them. So I'm moving up anyway, phew, lucky that. best time 1:12.2.

Sunday Race 2:27th in the B group again. Well, it doesnt bother me as much anymore, as I've done this a few times now. jeez, theres a few bikes in front tho.... The flag pops up, and I launch down the outside of half the field into turn 1. I'm on the curbs and everything, round the outside, and I slot in just about 10th. I get some really good drive down the straight, and pull out to pass one rider, then, on the brakes, I slip passed another into the turn, and get 2 guys at once before the dirt. 2 guys go down tho, and the race gets red flagged. aaarrrggg. back to 27th. I line up again, and get my head in banzai mode, again. Flag up, and I fly off again, round the outside, and got back to about 10th again, YES, twice in a row, yehaaaaa. Back down to the dirt section, and another crash. red flag is out again. Jeeeeeez. Back to the grid, however I notice that the 24th place guy is missing, so I slot 1 row forward, and rob his empty spot. It ddnt help tho, as I couldnt get my head in to suicide mode for a 3rd time so quickly, and I wasnt as mad into turn 1. I managed to get a few more down the straight, and as we came round for the end of lap 1 I had made it up to 9th, not too shabby. On lap 3 tho, another guy went down, and caused a bit of a mess, I got bulked badly as he went down, and got dropped back to 13th place. Today just isnt going my way. The rest of the race I charged like mad. If there was a gap of half a foot, I'd try and stick my wheel in there, and scare the rider. Diving down on the brakes, side by side till the apex, I wasnt taking any prisoners. My favourite move was to follow 2 guys fighting, get good drive onto the straight, and pass one guy on the power, then wait for the other to brake, and just match him into the turn, 2 for 1. I passed 3 guys on 1 lap after that, and fought my way back up to 5th place. I could see the top 4, but they were pretty far ahead. I never gave up tho, and charged them down. We came on to the last lap, and I was really close, and I thought I might be able to mug some or all of them, but I ran out of laps. I crossed the line 1.7 seconds behind the leader. that was a tough one, best time 1:12.6, must have been all that passing people that slowed me. yeah, thats it....

Sunday Final:5th is a good place to start, 2nd in, on the inside, and 2nd row back. I got a great start, and challenged the leader into turn 1, he wasnt giving up easily tho, and ran all the way out to the curb, as we turned in. I slotted in behind him, and chased away. For the first 4 laps I pushed really hard to pass him on the dirt. Every lap he would take the outside berms, and I would cut thru on the inside, but we allways came out nearly side by side, and gave eachother room to fight. laps after lap, but I just couldnt get the drive to make a pass, then on lap 4 he slipped up a bit coming off the berm, and I stole his line onto the jump, and the lead. The next 3 laps I tried to break him, but on one lap, I landed really hard from the tabletop, and it really stressed my arms. I started to get a bit of arm pump after that, and couldnt push as hard. On lap 7 I got passed over the jump. I tried to fight back, but couldnt, not without the big chance of a crash, so I let him go, he was at least 2 seconds a lap faster than me, so it was a big ask to chase him down. with 3 laps to go I came up to pass a backmarker bimbling along in the middle of the track, at the last moment he took my line into the berm, and pretty much stopped me. As I was about to shout at him, another rider passed me on the inside, and sent me down to 3rd place. aaarrrrggg, bloody backmarkers, I chased after him, but ran out of laps, and ended up in third place. best ime 1:12.2.

Top weekend, mostly dry, and I had some great battles, I'm getting used to the bike now, and loving its power. Shame I lost out in the final there, but I'm not too bummed about it. 3 sisters is next, and I should now have enough points to qualify in the a/b group, which will most likely mean I'll get back into the A's. Lets see what the sisters have in store for me this time..... wish me luck.

NORA Round 6 - Anglesey - 23/24 July

First time out, for real, on my new bike. I expect this weekend will just be a learning curve, as I get used to the new animal. Its hugely different from the 660, in that its about 35Kg lighter, and a good 10Hp more powerfull. The seat, if you can call it that, is a 2x4 plank, and the first time I rode it for an hour around a little karting track, it killed my backside. I've bought some padded cycling shorts to help with that, so we'll see if I can still walk at the end of the weekend....

We got up there at a fairly decent time on Friday afternoon, Jim had saved us a space in the pits, but all the power points had already been taken, bummer, oh well, not the end of the world. We got organised and just chilled in the caravan till some bastard flicked our gennys power switch at about half past midnight. I'm going to booby trap the switch for future, then I'll hear a scream the next time they do it. haha. I bet it was one of the organisers.

Saturday broke nice and dry, it was a little cloudy, but the forecast was good for the day, and slicks were definately the tyres to be on. I went out in the first session, just pootling round really, trying to get a feel for the bike, and remember the track layout. It was all good, except the jump had a horrible little kick to it, which made me a little hesitant as I took off, but it was the same for everyone. That was the only place I felt like I was struggling, but most people seemed to be pretty causious over the jump, after we watched a few people go over the handlebars on the landing, but everyone seemed to walk away, so far. The rest of the sessions on saturday I felt like I was getting faster, and more used to the bike, except for the 3rd session. Being just after lunch, all the late commers had turned up, and NORA just let them all out on the track. At one point 69 bikes were counted on track. Thats just too many, i just felt like I was filtering through traffic all session, and never got any practise in at all. I think that scared a few people off early, as the last session of the day was much better, and I had my best run of the day. I could see someone I know a few bikes ahead of me, and my mission all session was to try an catch him and pass him by the end. That made me do some questionable overtakes as I strived to reach my goal. unfortunately he just kept getting a rider or 2 inbetween us, and I never managed to hunt him down. Afterwards I spoke with him, and he knew I was coming and so his goal was to not let me passed. Its funny, and really great when you have private little races like that. He is on the same bike as me, so it was a good test for me and the bike.

Sunday Practise:The weather cow on the tele had told us that rain was on the way for sunday, but we all hoped that she was lying, just like when she tells us its going to be sunny all weekend, alas tho, she was telling the trueth this time. Our bikes were ready in the pits, with their slick tryes on, and then just before the practise started, the rain started to come down. It was just spitting, but it steadily got worse, and it wasnt long before the ground had started to change colour. The slicks had to come off, so we got the wet wheels out, and stuck them on the bike. There was just enough time to get the warmers on, for a little while, and then we were called out. I was stuck in the C group as I've blown up too many times this year, again, but that doesnt really bother me, as long as I get the front row in the race. Just before we went out I changed my ignition setting from "pro-grippy" to "pro-slippery", to soften the punch when I open the gas. I went out, and the track felt nice, it was wet, but still nice and grippy everywhere around the circuit. The tabletop had been rounded off to remove that little kick, and now we could all take it at a decent speed, and it felt really nice. I dont remember anyone passing me during the session, and I felt pretty good that I was on the front row. The times came back, and I was in 3rd place, just ahead of Jimbo in 4th. good stuff. time 1:17.7.

Sunday Race 1:It stopped raingin after the practise session, and after a while the ground was drying. EVeryone around was looking up at the sky trying to decide if its going to rain again, or stay dry long enough for our next session, the first race. I decided to jump ahead and gamble it would dry. I rammed my rear slick in the bike, leaving the front wet in, just in time for the rain to start falling again, with 4 minutes left before Race 1. Thats plenty of time to change a wheel, but Jeeeeez, again...... We rip out the slick and stick the wet back in the rear, and off I zoom to the grid in the rain. Jim and I line up on the front row. The lights went out, and Jim got a flying start, by the end of the straight he must have been at least 4 bike lengths ahead of me, in second, wow that thing launched. I managed to hang onto him for the first part, and the I made a pass going over the jump. I hooked 5th gear mid air, and just pinned the gas, when I landed the rear wheel must have been doing 90mph, and I fired forward passed him over the bumps. For the next lap or so I felt like I was all alone, and romping off into the distance. After a couple of laps tho, I had the feeling someone was hunting me down. Wierd, I never saw them, or heard them, just had a feeling I was the target. On lap 4 I made a mistake as the rear wheel stepped out a bit quick, and I had to get out of the thottle for a mo. That was all my hunter needed, he was right behind me, and just flicked inside as I slipped about. I tried to make a pass right back, but he was faster than me over the dirt. For the next 3 laps he steadily pulled away from me, untill we started catching backmarkers. I think this spurred me on, as I can use a backmarker to mug him, and I slowly charged him down over the remaining 3 laps. I nearly got him, but finished just 0.18 seconds behind him, in second place. good enough for race 1. time 1:14.4.

Sunday Race 2:The rain had not stopped at all now, and I dont think it stopped again all day, it just got worse and worse, turning into a real storm, with rain at 45 degrees to the ground, the wind blowing around. I watched a bit of the race before mine, and it didnt look fun. Jim was still in the C group, so I quizzed him when he came back in. It didnt look great, aquaplaining thru the fast turns, and blind over the dirt, and through the puddles. I didnt fancy this, do you where I have to start from??? 29th, B group. This is going to be tough. I lined up at the back of the grid, in the pouring rain. The lights changed, and I rocketed off the line, if I'm going to get anywhere in this, I had to charge before we get to the dirt, and I'm showered in mud. I managed, mostly through my great start, to get up to 13th by the end of lap 1, but it was hard from there. The bike infront would hit a pot hole in the dirt, and splash a wall of water in my goggles. For a moment it wouldnt clear, and I was riding blind, knowing there was a corner comming up, it cleared just in time for me to turn, and when I did turn, there was a huge puddle on the apex of the banked, concrete corner. The front wheel just hit it, and floated right accross it, wierdest feeling ever. The other bad spot was turn 3, 5th gear, up a hill, with water running down it, as the front wheel hit the water at 80 odd Mph, it started to aquaplane, and I nearly came off there a few times, but managed to lift the bike just in time to slide, but not fall over. I managed to pick of a few more riders every lap, and heroically worked my way up to 8th by the end of the race. I came back in not too cold, due to adenaline, but very wet, and a bit scared. That race was tough, and I didnt really want to go out in the final, if its going to be like that. best time : 1:17.9

Sunday Final:The rain had eased a bit, not that it would make any difference anymore, the track was as bad as it would get, and it could only imporve from now on, no matter what weather. Everyone around me was telling me not to be a pansie, and to go ride. I spent most of the time looking at the sky, and the riders coming back off the track. By the time it was our last race, the weather had calmed down to just rain, and it wasnt as bad as before, so I put my warmers on, and filled up with fuel in time for the final. I should have started from 8th, but a few people obviously got scared off, as I started from the front rown in 5th. The guy I tried to have a private battle with yesterday was on pole. we gave eachother a little look, and then the lights went out. He got a monster start down the straight, and I hooked onto his tail. I trailed him for the first few laps, but I didnt feel I could pull out and pass him. Our bikes are pretty much identical, except I have a bit more electronic trickery, and that might be the difference, but the only place I was quicker, was on the dirt, and that was a bit hairy off line. After only 4 laps we started to catch backmarkers. He went for a pass, but was hesitant for a moment, and I took the chance to pull next to him, and pass both him and the backmarker in one turn. As we got back to the straight I nailed it, and rode a near perfect lap, in those conditions, and I broke him, pulling out nearly 2 seconds in that one wild lap. I had a wicked moment through the fast uphill tarmac turn, where the front tucked for a moment over the running water, and drifted across the track. I manged to save it though, and I had to tap off a bit after that, but it didnt matter, I was too far ahead now, and I finished the race over 4 seconds clear, sorted. time : 1:15.5

Wow, a very tough day, and I didnt really enjoy it, except the last race obviously, it was pretty scarey sometimes, but I came away with a b group win, in terrible weather conditions, on my first ride out on my new bike. Better than I thought I'd fair, cant wait for teeny twisty Lydd now.

NORA Round 5 - 3 Sisters - 11/12 June

Day 1 Practise sessions :One of the closer tracks to Brum, so it wasnt such a mission to travel there, thank god. We arrived on site late on friday, found a spot and tried to save some space for Jim and Millsie, and just crashed out. Saturday broke fairly sunny, and it looked like it was going to be a good day, then I saw the new track layout. It didnt suit my 660 at all, and all the nice bits of the track had been removed. From that point on I wasnt the happiest of chaps, and I think it put me in a bad track mood all day. To make matters worse, NORA were just pushing bikes out onto the track all the time, there must have been close to 50 bikes on the track at some points, way to much to get any decent practise in. I spent the whole day overtaking people, or getting stuck in a bunch. The worst thing was that I kept catching people just before the dirt, and had to follow most of them till we got back to the tar, when I could make a pass. That ment I never got to try "my" lines thru the dirt, just constantly trying to pass someone. It sucked. By the last session of the day I was starting to get a batter feel for the track, but again there were so many bikes on track, I couldnt enjoy it, and I started shouting at people on track as I got frustrated, not great.

Day 2 Practise:I got up, and the sky looked horrible, it wasnt raining yet, but it looked like it was coming soon. Sure enough about 10am, as the session were starting, it started to rain. I went and got a new set of wets on the other wheels, and swopped them out before my first session. I went up to the pre-grid and pushed my way to the front to get a good starting spot, I didnt want to get stuck up behind a bunch of slower riders. We were released out onto track, and I set about warming up the bike, and getting down to business. Over the tar the 660 just romped around ripping up the new wet rear tyre I had just put in, and by the end of the session the track was drying, and I felt I had done some good laps. I finally got to go thru the dirt sections at my own speed, and pretty soon I found a line that the 660 could deal with, although slowing down was still a struggle at the end of the dirt sections. By the end of the session I felt that I had done some good laps and expected to be on the front row easily as no one had passed me either. To my suprise I was only 6th, a bit dissapointing to be honest, but its close to the front, and 660 power will get me to the first corner sharpish. After the race I changed my rear wheel, and stuck a slick in, leaving the wet n the front.

Day 2 Race 1: Just before the race, it started raining again, so I took out the rear slick, and put the abused wet in the rear, again. We all lined up on the grid, me in 6th place, middle of the second row. The times were pretty tight between the top 10, so I figured if I could get up front, I could hold them off with my leary sideways sylte. The flag went up, and the 660 romped down the straight. Straight away I had next to the front 2 guys, and I outbreaked them both into turn 1. I allways leave a little room on the inside, so as not to get taken out too badly, if it should happen, so I turned in mid track. I came out of the first 2 turns in 3rd place, pretty good I thought. Over the dirt sections and around for the first lap, I have a feeling I'm being chased like mad, and as we came over the first dirt section, and little 450 destroyed me on the brakes at the end of the first dirt section. He held me off over the next dirt bit, and then slowly pulled a gap. It had stopped raining now, and track was drying again, really making my rear wet struggle. The fact that I slide into most turns probably didnt help the poor thing, but thats the only way I know how to ride this bike, but it was now spinning on the way out of most turns too. Around lap 5 or 6 someone tried to have me down the start straight, but my 660 was not having that, and I easily made turn 1 before them, but I knew they were there now. He hounded me all the way round the next lap, but couldnt make a pass anywhere. Then, as we came round onto the start straight again, he got really close up the inside, but again, I have totaly faith in my lump of power, and I out dragged him again. This time tho, he had desided to try a move, but it was too late. As I drifted the bike into the turn, I heard shouting from behind me. I didnt pick up the bike, but I gave enough room for someone to pass up the inside, but he chickened out, picked up the bike, grabbed the brake and and ran straight into my back tyre. It gave me a little wobble, but I stayed up, and ran between the tyres. As I looked round, I just saw him tumbling down the track into the hay bales, he got up after a lap or so tho, so wasnt too badly hurt. I had been knocked down to 20th place or there abouts now. I set about making up as many places as I could before the end, but as I came up to pass 14th place, at the end of the dirt section, he crashed right in front of me. I touched the brake to avoid him, but it tucked, and down I went at about 10mph, as I hit the ground, I felt another bike hit me. I picked the bike up, and it stalled. uuuggghhhh. I pushed it off track and fired it up again, but I had lost interest in this race now. I passed a few people to be safe of not being dropped, but it wasnt the result I was after. I finished it 18th place. With the track currently dry, I put my slick back in.

Day 2 Race 2: 18th on the grid, and there are a few bike ahead. I got an ok start, and ended up having to ride the curbs on the inside of turn 1, but it got me up to about 13th place out of the first 2 turns. I got thru the dirt withou too much trouble, and got away with the front pack of riders. There were no major worries or anything this race, just some blinding passes, mostly at the end of the straight. Although I did make a mistake on lap 3 or 4, where I grabbed the front brake a bit too hard mid chicane, and the rear wheel popped off the ground, but I managed to get the bike turned, and out drag the guy who tried to take advantage of it. On the second last lap I lost a position to a 450 over the dirt, and I couldnt hang on to him, but by that stage, I had already got up to 4th place, so I finished the race in 5th, not bad from 18th on the grid.

Day 2 Race 3: While the previous race was on, it started raining again, so out comes the slick, and back in goes the rather torn up wet, still, its better than a slick. Someone didnt turn up for the race, so I got bumped up to the front row. you know what that means, 660 off the line, yip, holeshot. The flag went, and I got a flyer in to the first turn. I had the inside line, and I chucked the bike sideways, and took the central line. Thru the left flick, and onto the dirt. I nailed the gas, and front nearly tucked as I turned onto the dirt, that wouldnt have been funny, but I stamped my foot down, and got away with it. I nailed the jump, and took the tight line off the dirt. Thru the next dirt section, and back onto the tar. I slid the bike into the 180 degree before the pit straight, as it hooked up again, I nailed the gas. The bike stepped out like a dream, and I picked up the bike a bit, and let the over rev take care of the back tyre. It all came back in line by the exit, and I hooked 4th gear. As I hooked the gear, the motor just stopped. Like instant, the back wheel had locked up too, so I grabbed the clutch, and it never made any difference, the back wheel was still locked up. That really confused me, but I kept it upright, and slid to a halt halfway down the straight. I must have got a good holeshot, as no one was that close, and it was only when I looked behind me, that people started to pass me. Eventually I founs neutral, and pushed the bike off the track. As a racer, the first thing you do is try to start it again, and as I pulled out the kick start, one of the spectators told me there was something pouring out the bottom of my motor. Bugga I said, and then I pushed it back to the pits. When I got back I saw the damage, which you can read about in the news page.

Pro Supermoto Round 4 & 5 - Lydd - 4/5 June

Day 1 Practise:After a 5 hour drive, we finally got down to the little town of Lydd, jeez, if you dont know where this place is, you dont have much chance of finding it. Its down all these tiny little roads, with hardly any signs. Lucky, I've been here before, so it was ok. The morning, dawned ok, not sunny, but a little bit cloudy. It had been raining recently as there were puddles on the dirt, but the tar was dry. I went out for the first session, I had a feeling the track would be a bit slippery in the morning, and I was right. The damp gravel cooled the tyres down a lot, and I never really got that comfortable in the first session, as the bike was sliding around all the time. The edges of the tyres were particularly bad, and the bike just tried to keep slipping out from under me. It made the hairpins pretty slow and boring, it really felt pathetic, the rest of the place wasnt too bad tho, just not confidence inspiring. Like everyone else, I came in moaning about the lack of grip, but it would get better.

Day 1 Qualifying Race:I lined up on the 2nd row of the grid, in the middle. The first two corners are a right kink, into a long left. I figured if I could get on the outside curb into the right, and then just hold off whoever tried to turn onto me. It worked pretty well, I went really wide across the curb, and flicked left. Someone tried to bash me out of the way, but I'm no newbie, I sat up, and stuck my elbow at him, just nudging his arm slightly. This made him sit up a bit and I cruised up the inside, enough to cut in front of him at the next flick right. I came out of there in 5th place, and chased down the first 4. As we get to the straight, I try to get a good line onto it, as this is the only place my bike can get going properly. My bikes power is pretty good, and by the end of the straight I'm thinking about passing the guy in front of me. His Vert is a bit better on the brakes tho, being a lot lighter, and he holds me off as we get onto the dirt. He clears the double and round the first berm. As we get to the table top, he jumps a bit further, but he is making loads of time on me thru the turns, it could be confidence, or wieght. We get back to the tar, and the top 4 have pulled a little gap of about a second. I chase them hard but I can only close the gap on the tar, and loose a little more on the dirt section. I stay in 5th place all race, just trying to figure out the berms and jumps a bit better. I Cant really jump any further, as the bike gets a bit out of control on the landing, Maybe I'd have gone a bit better if my steering damper had arrived, oh well, next race.

Day 1 Race 1:I lined up in 5th place for this race, right on the inside for turn 1, and the outside of turn 2. I got a decent start, but someone stole my line into the 1st kink, which slowed me down a bit, and Bully, on his vert squeezed passed on the outside. I tried to squeezed him as we went round the left hander, and get the inside for the next right. He carried a bit more corner speed and staved me off for this turn and the next. As we got back to the straight, I took my tight line in, opening out the exit a bit more, and fired the 660 down behind him. Halfway down the straight, and I flew past, no problem, then I flicked the bike sideways into the left at the end, no way back past. Again, the top 4 had pulled a gap, and I couldnt catch them, I'm just not quite quick enough over the dirt and jumps yet, but its coming. 5th place again.

Day 1 Race 2:5th again, I must mug a few of these 500's on the start to force them to stay with me for a while, but I got a terrible start and was down to 7th by the time we got to the straight. One of the faster guys had also got a bad start, and was trying to pass Bully (Nick) on his Vert. As we got to the straight, I hung with them thru the turn and again cracked the gas open onto the straight. The one guy jinked to the side to pass Nick, and I flew right round them both. I got far enough in front to kick the bike sideways again, and force them both to stay behind me onto the dirt section. Nick fell back a bit over the dirt, but the other very was all over the back of my bike. As we came back onto the tar, I saw his wheel trying to squeeze up the inside. I tightened up a bit and took a central line into the hairpin, again sliding in. I lumped round the 2 hairpins, and onto the twisty bad section, there isnt really any way passed me there, unless I make a mistake. I managed to hold him off till the straight, and then my 660 power pulled a gap before we got to the dirt, where he was much faster. 1 of the leaders fell off on the berm, woohoo, up to 3rd. I took a tight line every time, and managed to get enough speed over the table top to hold him off, but I knew he was right there. After about 6 or 7 laps, I made a mistake, coming out of the second hairpin, I missed a gear, and he managed to get up the inside over the line. I hung onto him till we got back to the straight, got a good exit onto it, and as I was planing my move at the end, he missed a gear too. I jinked passed him, and flicked sideways onto the dirt again. He must have cried in his helmet. He got some really good drive onto the table top, and as we landed I heard him next to me. Into the last berm, he carried more speed and took me. Straight away he nailed the double jump to try and break me, but I hung on for 2 laps before I ran wide and lost him, and finsished in 4th place. That was hard, trying to hold him off all race, but great fun.

Day 1 Supercup:In with the 450's I knew this would be a struggle on this tight, jumpy track, but I lined up next to Millsie, in 12th and straight away we knew would we had to beat...eachother... The lights went out, and We flew into the turn side by side, but he was on the inside, and took the line. I chased him round to the straight, but I ran a bit wide and that compromised my entry to the straight, someone tried to pass me, but the motor was winding up by then, and they didnt have the staying power. I got back onto Millsie by the end, and tried to pull a late pass. He was having none of it tho, and we gave eachother just enough room not to fall off, and gave eachother a little "you bastard" look as we turned in. I took the wide berm onto the tabel top, and he took the tight line, but went wide on the exit and blocked me good. I popped over the jump with no speed, and nearly lost another place, but I held him off. Back round to the straight again, and I'm right behind Misslie again. I get side by side into the left hander, but he holds me off again, and turn in chopping off my nose at the last moment. Around for another lap and 3rd time lucky I get far enough inside, and managed to flick the bike sideways again to take both lines into the turn. yeeeeehaaaa, I'm passed I take the tight line onto the dirt, and hold him off for the next lap. My bike pulls great down the straight, but the really twisty stuff suits his 450 better, and for the next few laps he hounds me like mad. Eventually tho, I got a little gap somehow, and finished a few seconds ahead. top race, I finished in 10th or 12th, but the battle was great.

Day 1 Practise:Coming soon...again....yeah I know..... I'm busy ok......

Pro Supermoto Round 2 & 3 - Rowrah - 14/15 May

Day 1 Practise:I love this track, its along the lines of 3 Sisters, although probably not quite as fast. You should know by now, that I love fast, and although this track is a bit slower overall, there is a really cool, flat out (nearly) 5th gear, over a bumpy crest corner, which can be a bit scarey sometimes, especially when the rear wheel starts spinning, and the front is lifting up and wiggling, really cool. anyway. I went out for the first practise session, I was about the 8th bike out on track. As allways, I took a few laps to warm up, myself and the bike. I think some other guys shoudl take this approach, as on the first lap out of the pits, there was already someone picking their bike out of the gravel, tit. I passed the few slower riders infront of me, and set about getting into the groove. It was really sunny today, and the tryes just felt soooo good on the quality tarmac. Sliding the bike into the turns was a dream, everything just seemed to hook up at the right time, and work without much effort. After about half the session I caught up to Jim on his 58 rocket, he seemed to be having trouble with his front end (on the brakes, we'll come back to this), and I passed him as he ran wide at the bottom of the course. Topper passed me out of one of the tight hairpins, and I just decided to hang with him for the rest of the sesion. I was struggling a bit getting the power on, when coming out of the hairpins, maybe its a self preservation thing from my highsides, I'm sure I'll get over it soon enough.

Day 1 Qualifying Race:The only thing I dont like about this track, is the start, the grid is on a curve, and the first corner is about 15m away from the pole man, so its not very fast, and a huge bottle neck, its very easy to loose a few places there, and that just makes the rest of the race harder. As it happens, this time I got a good start. Starting 7th, I stayed really tight, and managed to squeeze passed one rider before we got to the fast crest, and I just stuck the bike sideways into the hairpin, makes it harder to pass me back, as the bike is 3 times as wide. Up to 6th, and chasing hard. The 2 guys in front of me, were having a little battle, and as one of them made a failed attempt to pass, I tried to mug him into one of the hairpins. I got side by side over the crest, giving me the inside line for the hairpin, but the scumbag out braked me, and cut into the hairpin. I pushed him wide, and had the outside line for the next hairpin. Side by side down the straight, I went wide, and cut in late, firing my 660 down the straight. that bit of extra room to accelerate, gave me the edge, and I outbraked him into the double apex right hander, no way back from there, matey. I flew onto the tail of the next guy, untill we got back to the straights/hairpins. Out of the first one, and down the straight. When this 660 gets going, it'll fight anyone, inc me. I went flying passed him down the straight, but missed my braking point. All the way up the inside, passed the apex, to the edge of the track, just managed to turn in time, and stayed out of the gravel. But again, that makes the straight longer, and the power kicks in hard as I fire off down the straight after him again. I wait for him to brake into the right hander, and just place the bike next to him, on the inside. I ran about a foot wide, but there is no come back from there. The rest of the race was spent hunting down the 2nd place guy. I was realing him in, but I ran out of laps, and finished about a second behind him. cool race.

Day 1 Race 1:I lined up on the grid for my A race, the lights went out, I dropped the clutch, and nothing happened. I didnt even have time to panic about the bikes charging down behind me, when a bike came flying passed on the grass, haha. I grabbed a gear, any gear will do, and got moving. Its really easy to go from 7th to last, not so easy the other way round tho......Of course this changed my mood, just like I'd had a crash. I went mad. Over the crest on lap 1 I refused to feather the gas, flat out I hit it and went straight round the outside of 3 bikes, carrying more speed than them I then outbraked another into the hairpin. Thats what I'm talking about. Around for another lap, and we get to the crest again, I get my front wheel front the outside of his rear, over the crest, as we exit we are side by side, and I outbrake him into the hairpin, you aint cutting me up this time matey. down the 1st straigth, I'm right on the next guy already, I line him up out of the next hairpin, and do another carbon copy pass into the double right. There's already a couple of seconds to the next guy, so head down, and chasing. It takes me 2 laps to catch them. 1 Of them is Jim, adn he's still having braking trouble, and jumps out of my way again as he unintentionally runs wide. It takes me a full lap to catch the next guy, but I catch him just before the crest, and I just stuck right behind him, and popped out to the inside as he braked for the hairpin. I shot off down the straight, and missed my braking point AGAIN. The guy mugs me, and zooms down the straight. I cant catch him in time for the double right, but I'm all over him again. Down to the first turn, and I take a really tight line, almost on the grass, but I force my bike up the inside, and take the place. There's no one that close in front of me now, but I'm still charging, and nearly catch the next guy by the time the flag drops, came 5th. That was pretty damn busy, but so cool, I love racing, even if I forgot to pick a gear when we started, idiot.

Day 1 Race 2:With my gear selected this time, the lights changed, and we all shot off, I got held up in the first few turns, but managed to stop anyone passing me as I dodged the back tyres of the bikes in front. The front group pulled away, and it took a few laps to pass anyone, but I caught a bike as we hit the crest, adn I kept it pinned, got to the inside for the hairpin, and out braked him nicely. I charged hard for a few laps trying to catch the guy in front, when I got mugged by a CRF into the hairpin. I struggled to hang with him for a while, but he was too fast for me, and I slowly lost touch with him, as he passed the guy I was trying to catch. scumbag. I caught the KTM in fornt, but I couldnt find a way passed, and by the end I was still stuck behind him, very frustrating. racing sux you know.... haha but I still finished 7th, and made it to the the supercup final. woohoo.

Day 1 Supercup: I got an ok start, didnt make anything, didnt loose anything, BUT, I ended up behind the same bike I was stuck behind in the last race. grrrrr. oh, and he is just as wiggley with his back tyre as me, which is annoying. but it looked cool, and I got some great helmet cam footage. he is the guy in the fast 1 lapper on the onboard page. All race I was behind him. I was much faster in the twisty bottom section, where I should have been slower than his 525, but its really hard to pass there, and I was slower down the back section where ther are more passing chances. I never got passed him all race, and got a bit frustrated, but not too bad, as at some points of the track I did loose out to him, but I still think I could have beaten him. Next time.

Day 2 Practise : COMING SOON

NORA Round 4 - Blyton - 01 May

Practise :I was really looking forward to this weekend. Blyton, although it can be tough sometimes, is a really varied track, with lots of different surfaces, and in the dry, it can be great fun. The weather was looking good, so everyone was well up for it. The sunday broke fairly murky and grey, but I still had high hopes it would stay dry. The track was a bit damp, and everyone I saw had decided to use full wets in the morning. I went out and, as usual with me, just cruised around for 3 or 4 laps getting everything up to temp. After that, I started picking up the pace, and overtaking most of people who had started in front of me. people were pretty tentative, especially on the couple of corners after the shale section. There was a little pubble in the inside, and a lot of people had clipped it, spreading the water of the dust that was dragged off the shale. It made it very slippery trying to open the gas in 1st gear, coming out the the hairpin. Everytime I came up to someone, I just waited till a little straight, and used the power of my 660 lump to get me close, and then just outbrake them into the 3rd gear right hander after the finish line, or the ever tightening, left hander, turn 1. the bike is feeling really good today, but the usual quest for more grip at blyton has reappeared. By the end of the session the rear tyre was beging for help and would spin up very nicely, albeit robbing time, on the power out of the hairpins.

By the time my next session was called, the track was quite dry, but still had damn patches in some important places, and that puddle after the shale. I decided to leave the wets on for one more session, I might as well kill them completely. I started out a bit closer to the front this time, there should be less bikes to get passed during the session. Away we went, and I was soon back in the groove, going onto the shale flat out in 3rd gear felt great. There was a small broken up section in the middle of the curve through the shale, and everytime the bike hit it, while leant over, the bike would go into a little two wheel drift before hitting the harder cleaned surface again. the first time that happened it caught me out slightly, and I ran a little wide, and off the clean line. I used the power to spin up the rear wheel a bit, to get me pointing in the correct direction, and back onto the clean surface. the puddle was still there, but I decided to use a wider, more gently curved line through the hairpin, it kept the bike more upright, and meant I only had dusty tar to deal with, not wet, dusty tar... It was fun spinning up in 1st gear, and trying to hook 2nd, keeping it spinning, but not flicking out sideways as I hooked a right gear. nearly happend a few times, but managed to keep everything in more of less the right direction. the back tyre was dead though. time to get a new slick in there.

The third session brought a nearly completely dry track, and I had already decided, after the last session to put a slick on the back, just to help the grip on the exits, so I put on an old very scrubbed in cut slick....Unfortunately I was one of the last to the grid, so was right at the back as we all got sent out, and being and afternoon session, all the late arrivals are in here too. aaah great. With the used slick in the back, I took a couple of laps to warm it up and get a feel for how much grip the slick could give me, and it wasnt a hell of a lot more than the wet, it just didnt rip up as badly. I spent the whole session just making constant over takes on people. By the end of the session I was the second guy off the track, that means I overtook nearly everyone on the track in that 15 minutes, some 30 odd bikes. a bit busy then.

The final session of the day came, and all the world and his buddy had turned up for this session. the grid was packed and I figured this session would be a waste of time for proper tracktime. So it came to be, I spent the whole session weaving in and out of other riders. there wasnt 1 lap that didnt overtake at least 1 person, more often it was 2 or 3 people. The track was nice and dry, and with the slick in the back, the bike was starting to work a bit better, I could actually find some of that grip now. Well I suppose I need practise overtaking, and I got a lot of that today.

Sunday Qualifying:Sunday broke, and it was a really nice day, the sun was out, there was a little chilly breeze that pissed me off, but it was a great looking day. Without any hesitation I wnet and bought a new rear slick, and fitted my front cut slick. I was feeling really good, and looking forward to a great day. We got called out, and I was about mid field as we set off. I was soon passing people, and getting a feel for how the front slick felt on the dirt, to my suprise, even in the first few laps, I was out braking a lot of people on the shale, and they, mostly, had a wet on the front, at least. Cool. I scubbed in my new slick, and got down to bussiness. I had soon cleared the slower riders, and I actually got some good clean laps. I was expecting front row, easily. To my horror, when I checked the times, I was 6th....6TH...what the....? Every bike in front of me, a 450/525, bloody baby bike, anyone can ride one of them.... There was one VERY fast guy, and the rest of us were all within 1 second, so I expect a good battle in the first race, not the romp away I had thought I'd get.

Sunday Race 1:6th off the line, and I got a good start. The front wheel hovered above the deck, but it touched down before I got too close to anyone. Down the straight and into turn 1. There was a guy to my inside, Millsie, and a guy on the outside, I was the filling getting squeezed......I grabbed a little more brake, and slotted in behind Millsie. I'm much quicker over the shale, and I nearly hit his rear wheel, but I jinked to the inside. I gave him the room he needed, and as I turned in on the apex, I saw a wheel aiming at my inside leg, Rossi/Sete style, me being Sete. He plowed into me, got tangled, and fell over. I wanted to scream at him, "what the hell are you doing??? lap 1, f*%$ing 1", but it just wastes time. I never even let go of the clutch. I yanked my bike away from his, picked it up, and chased after the pack, from dead last. Hmmm, been here before....The old adrenaline gave me a kick, and I was charging people down. I was out braking people from what seemed like miles away. I got myself back up to about 15th, when I came up to pass another rider on the dirt. As I was closing him down on the brakes, I could see he was going sooooo slowly. I gave him a shout, but he must have been on the phone or something cause I never had a chance to aviod him, and I clipped his back wheel mid turn. I got my foot down a couple of times, but couldnt stop the bike from flicking over, and down I went again. This TIT that was in front of me, had a wobble, sh*t himself, and stalled the bike without even falling over. Again I never even let go of the clutch, picked up the bike, gave him a wierd look, and zoomed off.....again.....by the second last lap I could see the next guy was half a lap ahead, and although I nevr gave up, there wasnt really any chance to catch him, and I finished a dissapointing 10th. I couldnt believe it. I should have got a to 3 there....

Sunday Race 2:Determined to make up for my bad first race, I sat on the grid in 10th. The flag went up, and I got another good start, but I got blocked and held up on the exit of turn 1. I came through the shale in about 8th place, with Jim in 4th and Millsie in 3rd. I got passed the guy that held me up mid turn, and started chasing down the top group, who had broken away by a few seconds. I was closing the gap, but it wasnt very quickly. Those baby bikes just hook up too well through the tight, dusty sections, wait for the flowing bits though, and just watch the gaps get munched. By about half way through the race I had cought them up, but now I had to get past. I used the 660 power to get me around the guy in 6th, and was looking for a way passed 5th when he mugged Jim. For the next lap I just sat behind Jim, looking at how bloody quick his 580 was. I'm better on the brakes tho, and with 2 laps to go I decided to try it into turn 1, one of my favoured passing places, and Jim knows this, but did he know I was there??? He stayed wide, but I went wider, and I dived down the outside, hoping to brake longer and smoother, so I reach the second apex first. Jim saw me coming, and just ran a little wide mid turn, making me go even further round, no chance to make that work, and now he knows I'm there. Around for another lap, and he makes a little gap, maybe 0.5 second through the twisty stuff and down to the last dirt section, where I start making my time back. Hard on the brakes, round the dirt, and through the hairpin. Jim knows I'm going to try either the next turn or turn 1 again. I'm too far away to try it here, maybe if it wasnt Jim.... Out of the left hander onto the straight, and my front wheel is nearly rubbing his rear, but I get great drive. Jim goes Wider this time, but thats a mistake, and I dive up the inside, our bikes side by side, I'm on the inside, where you gonna go Jim? Back, yeah. round the second apex, and Jim slots in behind. Round we go on the final lap, but I know as long as I stay on line through the twisties, there's no way round, and by the time we pass the flag, we are a few bike lengths apart. over the line, ner, ner, ner, ner....hehe. Finished in 5th place, not the result I wanted, but I great fun in the last few laps.

Sunday Race 3:Started in 5th, got a great start, and took the holeshot through turn 1. I may have squeezed a few people mid turn, and cause a bit of a comotion, as when I came out of the shale, in 1st place, I saw the read flag come out. Crap. We waited around for about 15 minutes as the amulance saw to whoever had fallen, hope they werent too badly damaged. Just as the ambulance was ready to get going, and we could carry on racing, the heavens opened up, and we had a shower. So, there I am on the grid, in the rain, wth my slick tyres. bugga. the moment the rain came everyone who had slicks on the back, ran away. I had slicks front and back, but the rear wet was very dead. the best I could do was swop the front wheel for a wet, if it continued to rain. after a few minutes, I decided to go and get the wet on, as it wasnt going to stop raining in time. I got back to the pit, and changed the front tyre, with my mates help. no time for the rear, even tho its dead, so out I went. as I got to the grid, I could see everyone had already zoomed off, I missed the start. great. the marshal saw me, and waved me on when I reached the grid. I flew off after the group. I reached turn 1, and as I grabbed the front brake, nothign happened. I hadnt pumped the lever after changing wheels. I jinked between the tyres, slowed down, found a gear and flew off again. I was half a lap down, and with a slick rear tyre, but to my suprise I started catching people and passing them. I had a few leary moments trying to open the gas, and the slick would spin around trying to find grip. comming onto the strat one lap, I had a complete lock - to - lock moment. I never shut the gas, just tried to catch the bike by using the steering. By the end of the race, I had passed a good few people, and am told I finished in 16th. not bad for having the wrong tyre, missing the start, and running off in the first turn. Still the results should have been much better this weekend, but we had some bad luck this weekend. Rowrah and Lydd next, now the 660 with chew up and spit out those damn baby bikes, as we reach some tracks with decent grip levels. I think this final race was the best race I've ever had, I learned so much about how the bike slides on the power, and by the end, I was "controlling" how and when it would break away, and slide. thats a really good learing point, maybe one day I'll be able to do that in the dry, on full slicks, now that would be great....

NORA Round 3 - Topcliffe - 16/17 April

Well, i had heard varying reports about this place, but when I got up on the Saturday morning, I realized that, from my point of view anyway, the bad reports were true. Its an airfield track, and the dirts section was basically where they had taken the grass off a field and just left the top soil. after all the rain of recent, it was pretty muddy, knobblie tyres would have made a faster laptime, even with the rest of the concrete track. After I saw the quads come in after their first session of the day, I decided to chill untill the afternoon, as it looked like they had had a mud bath, or just completed a 60 mile enduro. Millsie went out for his qualifying, as he was in the 450 championship, which runs on Saturday. He came back in very quickly, after his first lap, and said it was stupid, even paddling round the dirt, he nearly crashed twice. there's only so much racing wets can handle.... I was just practising, so could be choosy about when I went out, and decided to just have a look at the track, by doing one lap, and then just chill till it drys out. As I got to the pre grid all the muddy bike were coming back in, and the marshals told us they were changing the track, as it was just too wet and muddy. Ofcourse, by now though, the mud had been dragged around the track anyway.... Oh well, at least my bike will be a bit cleaner than the poor quads. I went back to the caravan and waited till the track was changed. At least its not raining.

Practise :After 15 minutes or so I heard bikes again, so I put my kit on and cruised up to the grid. We all got sent off row by row, and I took a few laps to get the bike warm, and myself, as usual. Without the dirt section, the track now was pretty much just a triangle, with a chicane at one corner, and a kink, into a switch back at the other. I only used 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear all day. I never felt like I really got going, before I had to jump on the brakes, for a very dusty, bumpy, somtimes broken concrete, corner. The only bit I really enjoyed was coming out of the switchback, and onto the straight. It's about 120 degree corner, damp, and after a few laps, I was taking it in 3rd gear, waiting till just after the apex, and nailing the throttle. The back tyre would break away, into a nice arc, and hook up as the track dried. If I hooked 4th at the right time, I fired down the straight. I could pass most people easily there. sometimes 2 at a time. haha. The best feeling in the world on a motorbike is when the wheels are out of line, into, or out of a turn......... and you want them like that. I came back in after the first session, not so much hating the place, as just finding it rather boring.

By the second session it had dried out a little. I picked up the pace a bit on the dirty broken up concrete section, but my bike is really flighty there, and I got some horrible tank slappers on. With the bike flicking around heading towards the tyres, and I'm just holding on hoping it straightens up before I get too close. I really dont like them. Maybe I need a steering damper to help me out there a bit. I feel like I'm crawling through that section, and I just cant push any harder without the bike going mad. I pretty much give up on that after a few slappers, gave me some "wide eyed" moments, and started working on finding clean lines throught some of the other broken sufraces. I came in after 20 minutes, suffering a bit of arm pump from the tank slappers, and getting generally pissed off, that I couldnt force myself to push any harder over the tankslapper area.

The 3rd session never really got started. I was late to the grid, so joined in after about 2 laps. I tagged onto a group to warm up the tyres, and then picked my way passed on lap 3. I started pulling away, and was just catching the next pair of bikes, when I came off the "bastard" area, and I must have pulled the front at the exact same time as the tyre was on a piece of mud or something, as without warning the front tyre locked, and down I went in a lowside. That just killed my day. I was kind of forcing myself to give this place a chance, but the short track, no dirt, crap concrete, and now the crash, just made me give up pushing anymore. I pickup the bike, stalled it like an idiot, and pushed it to the side. I fired the monster up, checked the brakes in the pitlane, and then zoomed out again, but I had lost all confidence in my front tyre, especially in that corner. I finished the sesison rather annoyed at the crash, and with a saw hand. aaah.

Final session of the day for me, I went out to get my confidence back, hooked onto a group of riders again, and afew a laps started passing them one by one, and 2 by 2. Just as I was getting back up to speed, and startign to think maybe it wasn't so bad after all, the session was red flagged, as a guy had crashed rather hard on the shaley, broken up section round the back of the track. We all cruised back to the pits early. That was it for me for the day.

After I got back I checked the bike over, and noticed the rocker cover was weeping slightly, but more importantly the oil was all milky. crap. crap. crap. I decided it cant be that bad, as the bike runs ok, so the head gasket must just have a slight leak. I decided to change the oil and blead the filters, and try it in the morning. What to do, what to do....

Sunday Race X:The only session I did today was the practise and qualifying. The good news was, they had decided the dirt was now dry enough to use, and over night they changed the track back, to include the back section and dirt, with one little jump. I went out with the A group and basically pottered round. I was all too aware of water pouring into my engine, mixing around my bearings, which have been replaced once. I never went flat out at all. I failed to qualify for the A's which didnt suprise me, but I had already decided to pack up. It's not wotrh blowing my bike for this place. If I liked the place I'd have probably stayed and run till I blew up, but not today..

Craig from Dyno Torque has already opened the engine up. How good is this service, I call him up, explain to him the problem. He tells me to pop round, and by the time I get there the bench is cleared, and I wheel my bike straight from the van, between the other bikes, and onto the bench. 2 hours later the engine is stripped and diagnosed, and parts ordered. Wouldn't get that from a bloody dealer huh? Thankfully he recons the gasket was leaking, and nothing else was a-miss, so we are just waiting for the new gaskets to arrive, and then I should have it back for the weekend, and the Pro Supermoto round 1 at Westonzoyland, wherever the hell that is. I'm not too bothered about the gasket, I'd have needed a new one anyway, as the bike was booked in with Craig later this week to be stripped and checked anyway, so its not really cost me anything extra, except I lost 1 days track time. not too bad really.

NORA Round 2 - 3 Sisters - 26/27 March

2nd race of the year, and I was really hoping for nice weather here. This is a great track, and I really like it, but I've hurt myself and crashed here a few times too. But on the flip side, I've had some really good races here too. We got there On Friday night, and the place was pretty packed, I could get our usual spot on the entrance to Lunar, so I just parked up in the middle, saved some space for Millsie and Jim, and pretty much just went to sleep, it was late. When I got up, the day looked a bit dull, but not dark enough to rain, so I had good hopes for the weekend. I had slicks on ready, so just signed on got scrutineered, and waited for practise. Once we were called up, I cruised round warming the bike and tyres up nicely, and slowly got up to speed with the track. I tore a tooth of my 40t sprocket at blyton, and I don't have a spare yet, so I fitted a 42 and a new chain, which obviously changed my gearing. I spent the first session pretty much deciding what gears to use in what corners, and it turns out, I think this gearing is better, so I've ordered a new 42 as a spare. After the first session I had really good fun for the next session, sliding the bike nicely after the pit, and the start straight, and that hairpin I high sided at last year. The bike went really well and I was soon grinding my peg sliders away. The place I seemed slowest was coming off the first dirt section, and going onto the second dirt section. so I spent the rest of the session concentrating on there. the dirt itself was great, but the tar after and before gets gravely and dirty, making it a bit slippy. The third session was after lunch, but by then the late comers had arrived, and the traffic got a bit much to be honest. Some riders had been there all day practising, and when you came flying up behind someone who is on their 3rd lap of the track, there was quite a braking difference. I nearly hit a couple of people like that, that session was pretty much a waste of time, there were too many bikes. I turned up for the dash for dash race, at the wrong time, and then got chatting and missed the call, so that was my last session, not a great day, but good practise for tomorrow.

Practise :The day was a lot duller than yesterday, and everyone was talking about rain, not the best news. My wets were pretty dead after Bylton, so I had the intention of getting some new ones when we got there, but I decided to try out the Maxxis wets for the first time. I never really thought about it at the time, but when I went out they felt really different to the Bridgestone's I normally use. They are a different profile, so felt odd when I lent over. After a few laps, I had got used to that, but then I felt the tyres were working differently to the Bridgestone's, and I'm sure they break away much sooner, but when they did, they gave very nice slides. A few times I opened the gas, hard, and the back broke away, into a nice driving arc. By the end of the session I had just about got used to them. I qualified in the A group, Just, 37th out of 39. Not the best really, but its the A's, so a good enough start to the day.

Sunday Race 1:The rain had stopped, and I spent the time between the practise and race watching the track for a dry line, it was starting to appear, but there wasn't enough around lunar, the never ending entry to the start straight, so I stuck with the wets. It turned out to be a good choice, just before I went out it starting spitting again, but only to damped the track. So the track was that slippery state of damp, but not wet or dry. I sat on the grid looking at the 36 bikes in front of me. That damn first 2 turns, what to do, what to do.... The flag dropped, and I got a good start, straight into the middle of the pack. We came to the first 2 turns and onto the dirt, I knew it would happen, and it did, 2 bikes touched in front of me, and everyone was swerving every which way to get round them. lots of aggressive racers scrapping for position, there were a very elbows going around there, ha-ha. I got out of the dirt and dust, and flew over the hill, and caught up to a slower bike. As I moved to the outside to get a tighter exit onto the pit straight, I got mugged by some scumbag. down the straight, and into the 180 degree turn. I got good drive out and nailed him into the hairpin. After a few laps it started drying out, and the tyres started going off. I was hanging to the group in front of me, when I went round lunar and the rear and front tyre started to drift out in the middle. I picked up the bike a bit, but had run wide, and I got passed going into turn 1, bastid. I pulled in behind him, and the rear started moving around again. I couldn't hold on to the guys who had started on slicks or inters, and towards the end the race I started getting attacked from all sides, and lost a few places in the last few laps. By the end I fell right back to 30th place, not at all where I wanted to be, but the wet rear tyre was just folding under, and looked pretty scrappy by the end.

Sunday Race 2:More sky watching, as it had rained and stopped again between races, and at the latest decision time, I swapped back to the slicks, back to what I know. I lined up on the grid, and flew off the line, a great start straight back into the middle of the pack. There was more bashing and barging onto the dirt, where I lost a couple of those precious places, but I came out unscathed. I was hanging in there when I hit the pot hole on the exit of the second dirt section really hard. the bike kicked out, as I hooked 3rd gear and nailed the gas, but I caught it ok, and held on. I tipped into lunar, and the bike felt a bit heavy on the front, I flew down the straight and into turn 1, as I tipped in, it felt like someone was really close inside, and I was leaning on them, but no one was there, as I flicked left, the bike didn't want to turn at all. I looked at the front tyre, bloody flat. The tube had got pinched when I hit the pothole, jeezus. So I sat on the tyre wall in the middle of the track until the race finished. Afterwards I had a new tube put in, and re-fitted the wheel. Great day so far.... DNF on the 3rd lap means I get dropped to the B group.

Sunday Race 3:Would you believe it, its spitting again. For the last 15 minutes I walked around the track looking at the sky and track, it was looking more and more slippery out there all the time. I went back to the pit and saw a few people putting wets on the front. I decided to do the same at the last minute. In a panic I ripped off the wheel, and rammed in the wet front. By the time I had done that it was looking darker and darker, so I gambled on putting the wet in the back too. Rushing to get the back wheel in, in time, as usual (sods law) it wouldn't bloody go in. I got really angry, 5 minutes kicking and bashing and it slipped in. thank god. I got my tyre warmers on, which had been on my slicks to try and get some heat in them before the race. As I finished that I noticed the lights on the warmers were out, the Genny had run out fuel. My dad rushed to put some fuel in, but it was late, and it was only a minute or 2 later that we were called to the pit lane. On the front row with cold tyres. As I left the pit lane I nailed the gas and then grabbed the brake, the rear spun up and the front then locked up, if I had been leaning at all I'd have nearly crashed for sure. Again I tried to get the tyres warm, but getting the front up to temp is hard in such a short time. The first turn might be a bit scary. I did a burnout to warm up the rear, got my head down, and pulled the perfect start, from 3rd on the grid the front tyre picked up, and hovered just above the deck, I hooked third, the wheel still hovering. The bikes either side disappeared out of view behind me. Nearly hit 4th gear, then guess where to break. I was a little late, or soft on the brake, and ran about a foot and a half wide, I managed to hold the middle of the track out of turn 1, flicked left, tight into turn 2 and onto the dirt. Off the dirt and the track was slippery, I gently opened the gas, till I had nearly picked up the bike, then rolled on the gas hard, letting the back wheel scrabble for grip as it was spinning, but still driving me forward. I hooked 3rd as I turned over the hill, and the back moved round a bit, short shifted in to 4th, and rev the hell out it. Hard on the brakes for the pit straight entry, and as I opened the gas hard, the back spun up in a gentle arc, but I got really good drive onto the straight. I backed the bike into the 180 corner, not knowing where anyone else was. For the first 2 laps I pushed really hard, on the 2nd lap, coming out the the 180, the back let go into a beautiful 3rd gear drift onto the short straight, I nailed the brakes, and backed into the hairpin, through the second dirt section, and through the quick flick right/left back onto the tar. I hooked 4th gear, and the back broke away again, another beautiful 4th gear drift, it spun out, and I just held the gas, as I picked up the bike till it rewrapped. I've never rode like this in a race before, and it felt really good. Through lunar on lap 4 the back was moving around a lot as it rained harder, while really cranked over, trying to roll on the gas to get good drive down the straight, the back slipped round quite far, I had to pick up the bike, it was quite a wobble, I ran wide, but shot off down the straight. A few laps later, as I started catching the first backmarker, I looked over my shoulder, and couldn't see anyone behind me. I passed a few guys, and then I was about to pass another when he pulled in front of me, I started yelling at him, but he kept getting in my way. he held me up for a few turns, but I got passed, barging my way up the inside over the hill. After that I started cruising, and just kept checking that no one was catching me. I came up to a gaggle of riders on the last lap, and just sat 5m off the pack, till the chequered flag. Man, that was a demo run.... 2nd place was 8 seconds behind me at the end. I was so happy as I went over the line.

What a brilliant finish to a pretty trying day. We changed tyres so many times, I got a puncture, I had to learn new tyres, my own fault, but then it was off to get my trophy. sorted. Lap times will be up soon, but with this weather its pretty pointless for reference. Topcliffe next, don't think I've been there.... I'm well up for it though, this season is going ok so far, I'm getting back to it now.

NORA Round 1 - Blyton Raceway - 12/13 March

Well, I've got a Caravan now, thanks must go to Leeann's parents for this almost freebie. I gave them some beer money for it, but other than that, it was free. Cant argue with that. So, caravan in tow, Layth and I set off up to sunny Blyton on Friday night for the first race of the 2005 season. I've been looking forward to this for ages, my road riding has got, shall we say, erratic, with my lack of hard track time over winter. We got up to the track at about midnight. There didn't seem to be much space left, but we cheekily went right down the pit lane, and just parked up about 10m from the grid. I was sure we would be moved in the morning, but it was late, just needed to sleep, in my caravan..

Saturday:I got up nice and early, the caravan was a bit bloody cold though, there are a load of vents on the left side, and the wind was blowing right into them, a bit of gaffer tape with sort that out. Poor old Layth looked like he was dieing in his one girly sleeping bag, I got up and threw mine over him, and stuck on the heating and TV. Once I had clambered out of the van, I saw that a few people had parked around us overnight, no way we could be moved now, haha, the grid/scrutineering/signing on/tannoy was only about 10m away. top job. After signing on and all that, it was back to the caravan for a coffee and to warm up, it was pretty chilly out, but dry, it looked like it could be a really good day. Millsie arrived at his usual late time, and squeezed next to us in the pit lane. It was too cold to walk the track, I've ridden this place a 100 times it wont be hard to figure out, no matter what the layout.

Practise :The Open practise group was called out in between the baby bike (450 class haha) races. I don't use tyre warmers when I practise, so I took it easy for the first few laps, just getting back into the swing of things, I had not ridden the KTM since the end of October, but oddly, it didn't feel strange at all, even after I've been riding only the road bike for the last 4 months. There was not much grip out there, and the hard wet rear, was just about hanging in there as I learnt the track and picked up the pace a bit. Not that many people passed me during the day's sessions, other than the Jackson brothers (one of them is champ) and the like, so even with my lack of riding recently, it doesn't seem that I'm very slow, which is nice. Throughout the day the track got a bit grippier and the dirt also got very clean, and hard packed, almost like concrete, which made it very grippy, and it was fun turning the bike by spinning up the rear tyre a bit in 4th gear. the only problem I had was that the gearing wasn't quite right for the one tight hairpin, 2nd gear was too long, and 1st gear was too short, so the I ended up just spinning it up in 1st and using the rev limiter quite a lot, poor thing. It was a really good day, and just what I needed to blow away the winter cobwebs, and get back into the groove.

Sunday Practise:The day looked much like the previous one, nice and sunny, but still a bit chilly for me off the bike, so I stayed around the heated caravan most of the time that I wasn't on the bike. I had been placed in the C group to start with, and I didn't really mind that. I should have been able to move up a group after the first race. I left the wets on the bike, I thought about trying a slick, but it was just too cold and dusty, I thought. I put on the tyre warmers, and waited for my group to be called out. Once on the grid, I pushed my way to the front row, I didn't want to get stuck behind loads of slower bikes, and have no clean laps. We all got sent off one by one, and as I was about to be waved off, Ian, the starter, pointed at my hand, eh? I'd forgotten to put my goggles on, they were still hanging off my handlebars. haha, tit. After I moved to the side of the grid, and let everyone start, I set of, with my goggles on. Well that was worth pushing to the front huh.... I passed most of the field before we had even finished the first lap, and then got down to setting some decent times. The track got all slippery again overnight, but thanks to yesterdays practise, I knew where to find some grip. I would occasionally get stuck behind a slower rider, and have to force a pass on them into a hairpin, but other than that I had a fault free run, and qualified 4th, on the front row, and that's all that matters for a good run into the first corner., no lap times yet, I'll add them when they are up.

Sunday Race 1:With my goggles already on this time, I line up on the grid in 4th place with a little yz450 next to me. The one thing I remembered most about the previous day, was how terrible my race starts had become, I couldn't seem to get it right in practise. The flag dropped, and off we zoomed down the straight. I got an ok start, but the 450 next to me got a better start. By the time I changed to 3rd though, my 660 was eating him up, and I just cruised round the outside of him, knocking over a few cones with my knee as I went passed (there wasn't much room) him. I came out of turn 1 in 1st place. sorted. Over the dirt section and hard on the brakes on the slippery, dusty shale, and that little 450 is back, he just cruised round the outside of me on the dirt, that thing must be so much easier to stop, its a lot lighter. I went as hard as I could to take him back, but through all the tight, dirty sections my bike would just spin up everywhere, while he slowly walked away from me. By the time we got back round to the main straight he had got about a second on me. My bike was so much quicker down the straight, that I thought about going for a pass into turn 1, having killed the 1 second gap, but I was just too far away. There wasn't anyone else in the race so I just tried to keep him in sight, and maybe mug him when we start passing back markers. I nearly had him as we lapped a slower rider, but again, I just got wheel spin and lost out. I finished 2nd, which is ok for the first race. Next one is going to be a bit tougher though. The track was very dry now, and even a bit clean in parts, so I decided to try a slick rear tyre in the next race, hopefully I'll find some of that illusive grip everyone else seems to be finding. I remember my best time was a 1m05s lap.

Sunday Race 2:slick on the back, and goggles on my head, I trundled down to the grid for my B group race. What was my grid spot? 37 you say....I spied a problem here, there are only 36 grid spots....oh well, I lined up at the back, and both myself and the guy next to me, who won the last race, could only laugh, how many bikes in front of us?? the start was going to be slightly busy this time round. anyway, the flag went, and everyone flew down the straight. I waited for a moment, and then flew after them. About half way down the straight a few gaps started opening up, and I had to filter my way through. I tipped into turn 1 right on the inside line, but got blocked in by some slower bikes on the second apex. I got passed a few more by running wide on the dirt, and using my spinning rear tyre to turn round the outside of a few bikes and back on the tar (very dusty). As I snapped the gas open in the left hander, the rear stepped out much quicker than with the wet tyre on the back. I managed to catch it, and get into the next hairpin right. Again though, as soon as I cracked open the throttle, the rear tyre would start spinning. Again I straightened the bike up to catch it, hooked the next gear, and flicked the bike into the next left hander. I gave it more gas, and it started spinning again, I hooked 4th gear, and flicked the bike right onto the next dirt section. Every time I open ed the gas, on tar or dirt, my slick would break away, and I would loose a few metres coming out of the turn, as the smaller bikes seemed to get decent drive. I got stuck behind one guy for that reason. Catching him was easy, but when ever we came out of the turn he would pull away a little, and make it more work for me into the next turn. after 2 laps of this I got annoyed, and just released the brake as he left a little gap into a hairpin. My bike went squeezing up the inside, but I couldn't hold the line, and had to run wide. I heard loads of shouting next to me as I pushed the other biker wide, but we both stayed on the track so there was no problem, just a bit of a block pass that's all. That happened a few times as I forced my way up to 12th place by the end of the race. When I checked my lap times, it confirmed what I thought about the lack of grip from my slick, as I had gone down to a 1m07s lap time. I decided to put the wet back in, it spins just as much, but it give better drive on the dust, and it breaks away more progressively when it slides, so I could be more aggressive with the gas next time round in the B final.

Sunday Race 3:Another tyre change, as I had to put the wet back on for some grip. Starting form 12th this time round, should be a bit easier that 37th anyway. I lined up on the grid, next to a damn Harley, hahaha. jeez. I shouldn't have trouble with it, but it must be a beast to ride on this slippery, dusty surface. The flag went up, and I got a flyer, straight round the outside of everyone into turn 1, as I reach the second apex, and line up next to a bike already there, it was Millsie, a racing buddy. He was on the inside, so took the place, and I tried desperately to hang on to him, but to my horror, and scumbag started to pull away, it must be those damn little 450's (he rides a CRF), somehow they find grip, and I spin up loosing drive. I managed to keep up the pressure, by not letting him get too much of a gap, but then as I grabbed the brake for a 90 degree dirt corner, another little bike mugged me, down to 3rd place. Now though, not only was the bike bucking around, but I was starting to get tired, the winter has made me soft.er. haha. I desperately hung in there trying to pressure the bike in front of me, and it seemed that he was doing the same to poor Millsie, as he cracked going into a hairpin, lost the front and low sided down the track. I thanked him greatly as I went passed. I managed to hang on to the leader for a few laps, but I got more tired. At one point I nailed the gas in 3rd gear left hander, the rear stepped out, the front tucked under for a moment, and it was just luck it all came back in line as I hooked 4th gear, but that was the first of a few moments. so I had to slow down a bit rather than risk a crash. By the end of the race I had dropped down to 6th place, but I was back in the 1m05s lap times to start with. Could have been a better result, but I had too much fun to really care about that. 3 sisters next, that should be very interesting, especially if they've changed the track layout..... check back in a couple of weeks for that report.

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