sradmatt
12-03-2007, 22:33
Brands hatch race report 11th/12th March
Friday testing went well seeing me running consistent 56 second lap times.
Morning practice also went well, with new tyres fitted I ran a fastest lap time of 55.56 while still being well within my comfort zone so as to make sure I was in one piece for the race!
Saturday Race one
Saw me on the 3rd row of the grid in 13th place, grid positions being picked at random for the first race of the season.
I got off to a good start, passing the row in front only to be boxed in by the second row and be passed by about ten bikes on the outside into the first corner!
I was able to cut to the inside and make up around 3 places on the exit and another on the way into druids. Just in front of me there was a big crash seeing two riders off in the gravel, luckily I managed to hold a tight line and avoid it.
I got good drive out of the corner and managed to hold another rider off into graham hill bend.
I was able to get my head down and concentrate by this point, concentrating on smooth, quick lap times and picking off two other riders during the race.
I ended in 13th position, out of 31 starters, my fastest lap being a 54.85, a personal best.
Race two
Again a 13th position start due to the previous result, not such a good start loosing about 5 positions by the first corner.
Over the course of the race I managed to fight my way back to 11th position which I was more than happy with, again setting a personal best of 54.84seconds.
Sunday Race three
I started from 11th position on the grid and got off to a good start, passing another rider on the way into the first corner and holding him on the exit, another rider came past me around the outside of druids, but I managed to stay with him for the next lap and then pass on the inside into Surtees, putting me up to 9th position. We battled for the rest of the race but I was able to out drive him from clearways and beat him to the flag, finishing worn out, happy and 9th!
I again shaved half a second from my fastest lap time, bringing it down to 54.36 seconds!
Race four
Starting from 9th on the grid, I got an ok start, only to be boxed in and passed by other riders again on the first corner!
I was in a tighter group this time and was battling with two other riders for the whole race, although I had dropped back at the start, I managed to fight my way back up to 12th position and was challenging for 11th position when the race was stopped due to an accident on paddock hill bend.
Rules state that the race result be taken from one lap previous to the stoppage so unfortunately I came 13th.
Overall the weekend was everything I had hoped for, I was aiming for a top 15 finish for my first weekend so was really pleased with two 13th places, an 11th and a 9th position. It was also encouraging to see my lap times coming down and only being 2 seconds a lap from the top riders in the class by the end of the weekend.
Well at least i think thats what happened anyway!!
Friday testing went well seeing me running consistent 56 second lap times.
Morning practice also went well, with new tyres fitted I ran a fastest lap time of 55.56 while still being well within my comfort zone so as to make sure I was in one piece for the race!
Saturday Race one
Saw me on the 3rd row of the grid in 13th place, grid positions being picked at random for the first race of the season.
I got off to a good start, passing the row in front only to be boxed in by the second row and be passed by about ten bikes on the outside into the first corner!
I was able to cut to the inside and make up around 3 places on the exit and another on the way into druids. Just in front of me there was a big crash seeing two riders off in the gravel, luckily I managed to hold a tight line and avoid it.
I got good drive out of the corner and managed to hold another rider off into graham hill bend.
I was able to get my head down and concentrate by this point, concentrating on smooth, quick lap times and picking off two other riders during the race.
I ended in 13th position, out of 31 starters, my fastest lap being a 54.85, a personal best.
Race two
Again a 13th position start due to the previous result, not such a good start loosing about 5 positions by the first corner.
Over the course of the race I managed to fight my way back to 11th position which I was more than happy with, again setting a personal best of 54.84seconds.
Sunday Race three
I started from 11th position on the grid and got off to a good start, passing another rider on the way into the first corner and holding him on the exit, another rider came past me around the outside of druids, but I managed to stay with him for the next lap and then pass on the inside into Surtees, putting me up to 9th position. We battled for the rest of the race but I was able to out drive him from clearways and beat him to the flag, finishing worn out, happy and 9th!
I again shaved half a second from my fastest lap time, bringing it down to 54.36 seconds!
Race four
Starting from 9th on the grid, I got an ok start, only to be boxed in and passed by other riders again on the first corner!
I was in a tighter group this time and was battling with two other riders for the whole race, although I had dropped back at the start, I managed to fight my way back up to 12th position and was challenging for 11th position when the race was stopped due to an accident on paddock hill bend.
Rules state that the race result be taken from one lap previous to the stoppage so unfortunately I came 13th.
Overall the weekend was everything I had hoped for, I was aiming for a top 15 finish for my first weekend so was really pleased with two 13th places, an 11th and a 9th position. It was also encouraging to see my lap times coming down and only being 2 seconds a lap from the top riders in the class by the end of the weekend.
Well at least i think thats what happened anyway!!