madracer
27-09-2007, 14:02
Practice Friday
All went well with testing until the last session when I High Sided coming out of the Hairpin!! Bruised and battered I got away quite lightly but had to spend the rest of the night with Glenn my spanner man rebuilding the K7. Racing was going to be hard after such a crash…..and it was.
Saturday practice.
The first few laps were taken very easy as I wanted to make sure the bike was handling properly, my left knee was very sore and seemed to be resisting my attempts to move about on the bike. However, the bike was OK and I was certain 1000mg of Neurofen would help the knee flexibility.
Heat 3, All Comers
Grid 20th. My first start on the K7 was not great, too quick with the clutch sent the front wheel skywards, and half a dozen places were lost into Coppice, Duh! Onto the back straight the power of the Suzuki quickly made up the lost places and some. A move down the inside at Mansfield passed another 2 riders, more were passed on the start finish straight. Next time into the Gooseneck the bike in front carried straight on crashing in front of me, coming round park a R1 went off the track in a flurry of grass and bike bits then John Black crashed at Charlies, his bike still bouncing as I went passed…. This was all getting a bit disturbing!! However it made an easy 6th place at the finish.
First 751-1300cc
Grid 17th Better start this time but got boxed in at Park corner. As we powered off Charlies and the Gooseneck down into Mansfield, I was working hard just to maintain my position in the pack. The pace had quickened a lot since my last race or maybe I had gone soft!! I was holding 9th behind 4 other bikes and thinking I could go quicker but didn’t have the nerve to make a pass. I was also far too slow through the Hairpin, I really needed to raise my game to get back on form. On the last lap I ran too wide at Barn, immediately a bike was passing me, it was Steve Thorp, on my old K5. I snapped on the power only to fire the front wheel skyward, and Steve beat me to the line. Pleased for him but annoyed with myself.
Second 751-1300cc
Grid 10th Another average start lead me to loosing the lead pack while being boxed in around Park corner….must have more aggression! Lap 2, I passed Christian Slater at the end of Park straight, outbraking him and block passing him on the inside, well that’s better! Then coming out of Mansfield, Steve Thorp, passed me bugger, why did I invite him this weekend!! No I was pleased really and it gave me an incentive to go quicker and chase him. He was faster, just, but it helped me get into a rhythm. A scary pass into Hall bends on Phil Blackmore, was the only other moment of note. Best Lap 1m 39.2 Finished 12th
By now I was having second thoughts about going out again, I have to admit I was finding it all a bit much, my leg was hurting, walking was difficult, and I could not believe I was so much off the pace. I had thought that the K7 would be the answer to all my early season woes, clearly the bike is capable, Daz Bellworthy, who last year I was dicing with for the lead was winning on his K7…..Dom then took me to one side and gave me a stiff French talking to! “Merde Mike! On n’a pas construit Rome en un jour!” OK that helped!!.........
All Comers A Final
Grid 10th Starts were beginning to become a problem as once again I got swamped at the first corner I again ended up following Steve, the pace felt quicker but I was still not happy with my riding. I managed to pass Andrew Haines and Richard Bower but although I caught Martin Appleyard, I could find no way past. Ok I will settle for 10th, that was until another feeble effort at the Hairpin let Jay Dunn stuff his GSXR 600 up my inside for an impressive block pass….I guess that will be 11th then. Best Lap 1m 38.98.
Sunday ACU Star Round
Never having used Slicks before I thought I would try them for this last days racing of the year. All I could find were Bridgestones, they must be OK as my Boeing 777 also uses them!!
Free Practice.
Started slowly as I had only had the warmers on for 20 min, the tyres felt ok, actually, I could not tell any difference. Money well spent then!
Timed Practice
Timed practice is something I have only done once before. I tried to wait a bit to get some free track before going out. One lap to warm the tyres and then go for a quick one, I felt ok but how quick were the rest of the field? Steve Thorp the came by so I latched on to him, and found that I was catching him…hmmmm that was good. I then got another tow from Martin Hutchinson who had been flying all weekend and felt I could also stay with him. Result Grid 8th out of 18, and ahead of Steve, just!
Race 1
Good start, and straight into 6th place held this with the lead group for the first couple of laps, then as I tipped into Coppice, Curt Langan ran off the track, managed to keep it upright and rejoined only to hit the bike in front of me…..some heavy braking was required to avoid the spinning bike in the track, this then let three other bikes past, Steve again!! Anyway I managed to pass one, out riding the mountain and block passing again into Hall Bends and slowly caught up Steve which was progress at last. Finished with a best lap time of 1m 39.1. Still not great but I felt I was riding more aggressively.
Race 2
Only 12 riders came out for the second race. On the grid there was only 2 bikes on the front row so a huge open gap to aim for. As the lights went out I eased out the clutch then pinned the throttle, 2nd, 3rd, drifted right a little to force Martin Hutchinson off line, this was helped by him missing a gear. I kept the power on all the way up Coppice and found myself in 2nd place behind Charlie Corner. On the second lap Curt Langan came by and I forced myself to stay with him, throwing caution to the wind and hoping the slicks would do the job. I kept my head down and stayed with him for 5 of the 8 laps, catching him between Barn and Park but loosing out through the Chicane. On every lap I was waiting for Martin or Steve to show me a wheel but nobody came. Lap 6, I was getting a bit tired, Curt had pulled about a second gap and I chanced a look behind exiting the Chicane…..Nobody was there, I couldn’t see another bike…! Lap 7, I started shouting at myself to keep up the pace, and ignore the fatigue, what the hell do you go to the gym for you big girl!! Despite this verbal abuse my pace slowed and Shane Colbrook, who had held the others back began to close, but not quick enough and I crossed the line in 3rd with a best lap of 1m 37.67. Just off my personal best, more than a second quicker than Saturday.
To finish off the moment we were all kept in the holding area and I had to go to the winners’ rostrum to collect my third place cup!! Great way to end the weekend, I hope to be back!!
All went well with testing until the last session when I High Sided coming out of the Hairpin!! Bruised and battered I got away quite lightly but had to spend the rest of the night with Glenn my spanner man rebuilding the K7. Racing was going to be hard after such a crash…..and it was.
Saturday practice.
The first few laps were taken very easy as I wanted to make sure the bike was handling properly, my left knee was very sore and seemed to be resisting my attempts to move about on the bike. However, the bike was OK and I was certain 1000mg of Neurofen would help the knee flexibility.
Heat 3, All Comers
Grid 20th. My first start on the K7 was not great, too quick with the clutch sent the front wheel skywards, and half a dozen places were lost into Coppice, Duh! Onto the back straight the power of the Suzuki quickly made up the lost places and some. A move down the inside at Mansfield passed another 2 riders, more were passed on the start finish straight. Next time into the Gooseneck the bike in front carried straight on crashing in front of me, coming round park a R1 went off the track in a flurry of grass and bike bits then John Black crashed at Charlies, his bike still bouncing as I went passed…. This was all getting a bit disturbing!! However it made an easy 6th place at the finish.
First 751-1300cc
Grid 17th Better start this time but got boxed in at Park corner. As we powered off Charlies and the Gooseneck down into Mansfield, I was working hard just to maintain my position in the pack. The pace had quickened a lot since my last race or maybe I had gone soft!! I was holding 9th behind 4 other bikes and thinking I could go quicker but didn’t have the nerve to make a pass. I was also far too slow through the Hairpin, I really needed to raise my game to get back on form. On the last lap I ran too wide at Barn, immediately a bike was passing me, it was Steve Thorp, on my old K5. I snapped on the power only to fire the front wheel skyward, and Steve beat me to the line. Pleased for him but annoyed with myself.
Second 751-1300cc
Grid 10th Another average start lead me to loosing the lead pack while being boxed in around Park corner….must have more aggression! Lap 2, I passed Christian Slater at the end of Park straight, outbraking him and block passing him on the inside, well that’s better! Then coming out of Mansfield, Steve Thorp, passed me bugger, why did I invite him this weekend!! No I was pleased really and it gave me an incentive to go quicker and chase him. He was faster, just, but it helped me get into a rhythm. A scary pass into Hall bends on Phil Blackmore, was the only other moment of note. Best Lap 1m 39.2 Finished 12th
By now I was having second thoughts about going out again, I have to admit I was finding it all a bit much, my leg was hurting, walking was difficult, and I could not believe I was so much off the pace. I had thought that the K7 would be the answer to all my early season woes, clearly the bike is capable, Daz Bellworthy, who last year I was dicing with for the lead was winning on his K7…..Dom then took me to one side and gave me a stiff French talking to! “Merde Mike! On n’a pas construit Rome en un jour!” OK that helped!!.........
All Comers A Final
Grid 10th Starts were beginning to become a problem as once again I got swamped at the first corner I again ended up following Steve, the pace felt quicker but I was still not happy with my riding. I managed to pass Andrew Haines and Richard Bower but although I caught Martin Appleyard, I could find no way past. Ok I will settle for 10th, that was until another feeble effort at the Hairpin let Jay Dunn stuff his GSXR 600 up my inside for an impressive block pass….I guess that will be 11th then. Best Lap 1m 38.98.
Sunday ACU Star Round
Never having used Slicks before I thought I would try them for this last days racing of the year. All I could find were Bridgestones, they must be OK as my Boeing 777 also uses them!!
Free Practice.
Started slowly as I had only had the warmers on for 20 min, the tyres felt ok, actually, I could not tell any difference. Money well spent then!
Timed Practice
Timed practice is something I have only done once before. I tried to wait a bit to get some free track before going out. One lap to warm the tyres and then go for a quick one, I felt ok but how quick were the rest of the field? Steve Thorp the came by so I latched on to him, and found that I was catching him…hmmmm that was good. I then got another tow from Martin Hutchinson who had been flying all weekend and felt I could also stay with him. Result Grid 8th out of 18, and ahead of Steve, just!
Race 1
Good start, and straight into 6th place held this with the lead group for the first couple of laps, then as I tipped into Coppice, Curt Langan ran off the track, managed to keep it upright and rejoined only to hit the bike in front of me…..some heavy braking was required to avoid the spinning bike in the track, this then let three other bikes past, Steve again!! Anyway I managed to pass one, out riding the mountain and block passing again into Hall Bends and slowly caught up Steve which was progress at last. Finished with a best lap time of 1m 39.1. Still not great but I felt I was riding more aggressively.
Race 2
Only 12 riders came out for the second race. On the grid there was only 2 bikes on the front row so a huge open gap to aim for. As the lights went out I eased out the clutch then pinned the throttle, 2nd, 3rd, drifted right a little to force Martin Hutchinson off line, this was helped by him missing a gear. I kept the power on all the way up Coppice and found myself in 2nd place behind Charlie Corner. On the second lap Curt Langan came by and I forced myself to stay with him, throwing caution to the wind and hoping the slicks would do the job. I kept my head down and stayed with him for 5 of the 8 laps, catching him between Barn and Park but loosing out through the Chicane. On every lap I was waiting for Martin or Steve to show me a wheel but nobody came. Lap 6, I was getting a bit tired, Curt had pulled about a second gap and I chanced a look behind exiting the Chicane…..Nobody was there, I couldn’t see another bike…! Lap 7, I started shouting at myself to keep up the pace, and ignore the fatigue, what the hell do you go to the gym for you big girl!! Despite this verbal abuse my pace slowed and Shane Colbrook, who had held the others back began to close, but not quick enough and I crossed the line in 3rd with a best lap of 1m 37.67. Just off my personal best, more than a second quicker than Saturday.
To finish off the moment we were all kept in the holding area and I had to go to the winners’ rostrum to collect my third place cup!! Great way to end the weekend, I hope to be back!!