Mr Loon
21-04-2007, 23:18
Well today was the day i had my first race, although i had decided to race for some silly reason ive only ever done one track day, which was a month ago!
Well got there bright and early for the scruttineering and sign in.
Then come practice there were a few sessions but went for the later one, which i thought would be alot quieter, done ok for the practice, was a bit off the pace, but was still getting used to the bike again.
After dinner was my first race, it was split into a few heats since there were so many riders in formula 600 and powerbikes, started on the grid at 33th and finished 30th, only really gained a place since 2 went down, but i had a bad start and a few went past so i got my place and one back, so atleast i got my goal which was i didnt want to come last. Was also riding with a mate who has done it for some time, but he was having one of those days, he had lots of problems, guess i was just lucky!
Race 2 coming up so went look at the grid positions and because i did a decent fast lap on my first and there were a few heats i was in Pole for the second race of our class (which had now just been put into formula 600), now at this point im looking across to my left at 2, 3 and 4 on the grid and im looking at my bike and looking at they're they easy had a few more grand in them and none of them had orange bibs on.
SO...... warm up lap done and ready to go, light comes on, lots of revs, light goes off and away we go....... im heading for old hall thinking one of these guys is well gonna come up the inside, either way, threw it in anyway and hoped for the best, got round it and was still in first, second major bend was cascades, i get a good line in and do well on the braking.... come out of there still in first, coming down the avenue and i back off for the left hander abit too early (was first so had no pace to follow), 2 of the guys off the front row go past me straight away and as im turning in another goes past, the first 2 guys i had no chance in hell of staying with, they were well faster and didnt have bibs on so obviously alot more experience, but i was behind guy number 3 and was happy with the pace, was only 5 laps and through out that i over took him about 4-5 times and he over took me, still made some mistakes so was working really hard to keep the pace, but for those next 5 laps i just faught with this guy who also didnt have a bib on, i could see his weaknesses and mine when he went past me. came to the last lap and i missed a gear on a straight so he pulled away abit, i glanced round to see what was behind me and was a good gap so i thought theres no way im gonna trash it trying to get 3rd place, so eased off and finished 4th!
Even got myself a trophy and was later told that the comentator was confused coz he didnt know who i was and was very surprised to see a novice so far up the field, so that made me feel even better.
So all in all i had an amazin day which at the start of it i doubted myself a hell of alot, but i worked hard and the bike was fantastic.
:D
First pic is just cruising back into pits and second pic was me chasing guy number 3 in race 2!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/r1loon/DSCF3863small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/r1loon/DSCF3891small.jpg
Well got there bright and early for the scruttineering and sign in.
Then come practice there were a few sessions but went for the later one, which i thought would be alot quieter, done ok for the practice, was a bit off the pace, but was still getting used to the bike again.
After dinner was my first race, it was split into a few heats since there were so many riders in formula 600 and powerbikes, started on the grid at 33th and finished 30th, only really gained a place since 2 went down, but i had a bad start and a few went past so i got my place and one back, so atleast i got my goal which was i didnt want to come last. Was also riding with a mate who has done it for some time, but he was having one of those days, he had lots of problems, guess i was just lucky!
Race 2 coming up so went look at the grid positions and because i did a decent fast lap on my first and there were a few heats i was in Pole for the second race of our class (which had now just been put into formula 600), now at this point im looking across to my left at 2, 3 and 4 on the grid and im looking at my bike and looking at they're they easy had a few more grand in them and none of them had orange bibs on.
SO...... warm up lap done and ready to go, light comes on, lots of revs, light goes off and away we go....... im heading for old hall thinking one of these guys is well gonna come up the inside, either way, threw it in anyway and hoped for the best, got round it and was still in first, second major bend was cascades, i get a good line in and do well on the braking.... come out of there still in first, coming down the avenue and i back off for the left hander abit too early (was first so had no pace to follow), 2 of the guys off the front row go past me straight away and as im turning in another goes past, the first 2 guys i had no chance in hell of staying with, they were well faster and didnt have bibs on so obviously alot more experience, but i was behind guy number 3 and was happy with the pace, was only 5 laps and through out that i over took him about 4-5 times and he over took me, still made some mistakes so was working really hard to keep the pace, but for those next 5 laps i just faught with this guy who also didnt have a bib on, i could see his weaknesses and mine when he went past me. came to the last lap and i missed a gear on a straight so he pulled away abit, i glanced round to see what was behind me and was a good gap so i thought theres no way im gonna trash it trying to get 3rd place, so eased off and finished 4th!
Even got myself a trophy and was later told that the comentator was confused coz he didnt know who i was and was very surprised to see a novice so far up the field, so that made me feel even better.
So all in all i had an amazin day which at the start of it i doubted myself a hell of alot, but i worked hard and the bike was fantastic.
:D
First pic is just cruising back into pits and second pic was me chasing guy number 3 in race 2!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/r1loon/DSCF3863small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/r1loon/DSCF3891small.jpg