Race Reports
Race 1 F400 - I have a row 2 start. Get a bit of a rolling start (I heard later that there were mutterings on the pit wall) and am first into School (Beths) Led the race for a bit before a bright red/orange RGV came past. He gradually pulled away, still I was in an easy second. I am having a bit of a problem with the visor steaming up - humidity is running about 85%. On the last lap looked under my left arm just as I came on to the start finish straight and got passed by a ZXR400 that had sneaked up on my right hand side. He beat me across the line by about half a bike length - so much for relaxing in an easy second. Times weren't very good - laps were consistent but about 53 seconds, still got a front row start for round 2. Later found out the RGV was Duncan Burns who had a best lap of 50.9. Don't know who the chap on the ZXR was (turns out it was Dave Marsh). Richard Jarrold took fifth and John Buchan was gifted sixth when the two guys infront took each other out on the last lap, Mark got 10th and Brian 11th.
Race 2 Open 250 - Row 2 again. Get a reasonable start but get baulked by Dave Boot who is all over the place. I can't match his GSXR 750 for speed down the straights and he isn't very quick round the corners (Still learning the track). I gradually slip back and the less said the better. Clutch is ok - best lap is 53. Rob Mawby won the class by a mile.
Race 3 GP125 - It is a split grid with the forgotten Era bikes going first followed by the 125's. Get a good launch from the second row (should have been first row but misunderstood instructions). I think I lead the class for a while until John Carrol gets past. I am having a problem shifting down the box. Not a lot to report, bike went well, gearing a bit high - I am running Mallory gearing. Get a second in class with laps in the 53. I feel I can go a lot quicker.
Race 4 F400 - Fluff the start slightly and get to school in fourth place. Duncan Burns is first, a ZXR and VFR are just in front of me. I get past the ZXR by the end of lap one and get the VFR on lap two. In the mean time Duncan has pulled a bit of a gap. I set of after him closing the gap a bit on lap 3 before getting a really good lap in on 4. Get fairly close then just seem to slip back for the last two laps as the riding got a bit ragged. Still, get second and the fastest lap 50.9 - matching Duncan's earlier effort.
Race 5 Open 250 - Row 4 this time. Get a reasonable start but get stuck behind a bunch of slow 600/750s. About lap 4 the GSXR 1100 in front of me starts smoking coming out of the hairpin - so I slow down. By the start finish straight the smoke is so thick I can barely see where I am going. I slow down to a crawl until past Abbots where the Suzi has pulled off the circuit. Next time around I pull in as I am not getting any points and I am not risking it on an oily track - been there at Mallory and it still hurts. Rob Mawby bins it at School on the next lap on the oil. Duncan Burns wins the 250 open.
Race 6 GP125 - Split grid again with the forgotten Era bikes going first followed by the 125's. Get a good launch from the front row - CB500 first then John Carrol then me. At the hairpin John goes wide on the CB500 I go up the inside. Changing down the gear box feels terrible. I come out of the hairpin in third and promptly get passed by everybody. I pull in at the pits as I think there might be some thing wrong with the bike. Shame as I really thought I could do well. Problem was the gear lever had siezed on the bush it is meant to go round on. The bush isn't meant to move but did, just - hence one very stiff gear change. The day overall was good but could have been better. In one way it was a day to be remembered - being the first time that Team T3 had managed to complete a day without somebody falling off! I am a bit frustrated that I can't keep with Duncan - his RGV is a bit quicker in a straight line and he is putting in more fast laps. I am chuffed that I got fastest lap in the second F400 race - shows that I am on the pace. Still I am now ahead of Richard on points and if I don't bin it on Sunday I should get second. I would like get into the 50 second bracket on all the bikes on Sunday if it remains dry.
Race 2 Open 250 - Row 2 again. It has started raining and I chicken out of taking the TZ out on a wet track - so I am out on the KR. Duncan starts on full wets I am on the KR364s which shouldn't be to bad. Get a good start and am in fifth - first in the 250 class. On the back straight an RS 250 comes past but he dumps it at Douglas, so I back into first again. Next time round Duncan comes past so I drop to second. Manage to get past a ZXR750 (he's on full wets) and carry on circulating in about 6th place overall - second in class. The ZXR gets me back on the last lap but I am not to worried. Laps were around 57 seconds. I get second, Duncan got a class win and Rob Mawby was way back.
Race 3 GP125 - The track is wet but with a drying line. It is a split grid again with the forgotten Era bikes going first followed by the 125's. Get a good launch from the front row and am second into School behind the CB500. Get past the CB500 on the back straight. Circulate in the lead for a while catching up the Forgotten Era stragglers. Get stuck behind a couple and am passed by Andy Blow. Andy gets past the two FE bikes and it takes me another lap to do the same. On lap 7 I get jumped by another 125 whilst following another FE bike (I really must be more aggressive passing the tail enders). I nearly re-pass him on the last lap being beaten by half a bike length. Still third and a front row start for the next race.
Race 4 F400 - Not paying attention and go down to the collecting area too early. Sit there for 5 minutes whilst the race before unfolds. It starts drizzling and the tyres are getting cold - we wait another 5 minutes whilst they pick-up the wrecks. Mean time it has started raining. Looking around there are a few bikes on full wets but Duncan Burns ison Michelin Pilot inters, I am on the Dunlop KR364 inters (Though both are Inters my tyres should be better in the wet). Get a good start and arrive in School just behind Duncan. He has a bit of a slide coming out of Abbots, but then so do I. Follow him round on the first lap and it is obvious he is struggling for grip. Again out of Abbots he has a moment - he runs a bit wide into Radar so I go for a better line to get drive out on the exit. He spins up on the exit and moves to the right. I get better drive out of Radar and go for a move up the right but have to back off a tadge as he moves over otherwise I would be on the Grass. Duncan then moves left to take a sweeping line around the hairpin and I go for the inside on the brakes. I run just a tadge deep (deliberately) to force him wide on the exit. Push it through Douglas where the rear get loose. By now it is really raining heavily. Coming onto the start finish straight through Mount View the rear is losing grip over the bumps. By lap 6 I am struggling to see where I am going. The visor is misting and I have water on the glasses. I lead until the end of lap seven when Duncan gets past. I can't stay with him and have to settle for second again. Laps were consistent 60 seconds apart from one in the 59 bracket. So I didn't slow up Duncan went faster. Duncan got the quickest lap at 59.6. I really enjoyed the ride. I don't know what it is about the wet but I am quite comfortable getting the bike sliding everywhere - I just wish I could do the same in the dry (Monday - I am still buzzing - it really was fun - makes it all worth while)
Race 5 and 6 - As it is now really tipping it down I decide to call it a day whilst I am still ahead. If I don't get second in the GP250 class I am not to bothered as if I can't ride one I don't deserve second. Dave is riding the 125 at Mallory next weekend so rather than risk falling off I decide to miss the last 125 race as well.
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