29.9.09
23.9.09
21.9.09
Oulton Park
Another season comes to a close at the amazing Oulton Park in Cheshire, a long haul but defiantly worth it.
I'd booked the test day as last year I rode like a plank and just couldn't get to grips with this long and varied track. The best lap I could manage was 1m;55 way off the required times, my goal was 1m;52 ad a top 50% finish for my National licence signature.
The sun shone all day for testing and everything felt great although there was no timing I felt like I was riding good. The corners I struggled with last time made a bit more sense and I was really enjoying myself even though the mother of all colds was taking root in my head.
The best bit of the day was the final session where the sunlight was just twinkling through the trees at the Clay Hill, Druids section as you hurtled though at 100+MPH it felt really special and like this is what its all about!
After cleaning the bike and going through scrutineering everyone else went off to the bar but I felt so rough that I just curled up and watched a film in the caravan, sad or what?
We had a rude awakening at 6am when they turned on the paddock lights which was a mega bright sodium bulb zapping straight into the caravan waking my little boy up so he started balling but I was blinded so couldn't find the window screen, not a good way to start the day!!
I usually get nervous before practice but it was much worse this time, I actually felt fear creeping in as we assembled for practice and I wobbled around forgetting everything that was learned yesterday but I had an hour and a half before the first race to sort my head out which I'm happy to say I did quite well.
For the Sound of Thunder qualifying race I was on the forth row in 13th but the old Trumpet got off the line like a rocket and I tucked in behind the lead group and felt quite comfortable holding position. My new sparring partner Robert Bowen tried a move at Shell but I saw his wheel and tightened my line but could do nothing when Aaron Ridewood came by on his way to finishing 4th. By the last lap I was really enjoying it and was even catching the front guys but was happy to finish 7th just behind Greg Gibson and smash my best lap time with a 1m;50 lap.
The 600 quali race was to be an exercise in survival with a handful of BSB riders at the back of the grid who were going to be charging through the pack looking for a good grid spot in the final and sure enough my ears are still ringing with the sound of tortured R6 ridden by teenage loonies flying past. By the last lap flag I was dizzy and glad to finish so had to go through the whole sort my head out business over dinner.
I lined up in 7th position for the SoT Final and got hell of a start up to 3rd and held it until the first chicane where 3 Ducati bullies pushed me out and got by, I got back in the rhythm and chased after them until we got to Druids where I saw Greg Gibson flying through the air in a really nasty high side. This brought out the red flags and we were held at the back of the circuit while the ambulance picked him up.
For the re start I got the same drive off the line and had that lovely feeling of not many bikes being around in the first corner but it didn't last as 3 Dukes and a KTM had me on the straight so for 3 laps I had Aaron and Lee Watts just in front until Lee gave me a cheeky look back and took Aaron then buggered off. I could see Aaron was having tyre problems and got him in to the first right hander but was sure he would come back. The last lap was hell, I made so many mistakes but it felt like I'd won when I crossed the line in 5th. This is the best I've ever ridden and cracking way to end the season.
I'd booked the test day as last year I rode like a plank and just couldn't get to grips with this long and varied track. The best lap I could manage was 1m;55 way off the required times, my goal was 1m;52 ad a top 50% finish for my National licence signature.
The sun shone all day for testing and everything felt great although there was no timing I felt like I was riding good. The corners I struggled with last time made a bit more sense and I was really enjoying myself even though the mother of all colds was taking root in my head.
The best bit of the day was the final session where the sunlight was just twinkling through the trees at the Clay Hill, Druids section as you hurtled though at 100+MPH it felt really special and like this is what its all about!
After cleaning the bike and going through scrutineering everyone else went off to the bar but I felt so rough that I just curled up and watched a film in the caravan, sad or what?
We had a rude awakening at 6am when they turned on the paddock lights which was a mega bright sodium bulb zapping straight into the caravan waking my little boy up so he started balling but I was blinded so couldn't find the window screen, not a good way to start the day!!
I usually get nervous before practice but it was much worse this time, I actually felt fear creeping in as we assembled for practice and I wobbled around forgetting everything that was learned yesterday but I had an hour and a half before the first race to sort my head out which I'm happy to say I did quite well.
For the Sound of Thunder qualifying race I was on the forth row in 13th but the old Trumpet got off the line like a rocket and I tucked in behind the lead group and felt quite comfortable holding position. My new sparring partner Robert Bowen tried a move at Shell but I saw his wheel and tightened my line but could do nothing when Aaron Ridewood came by on his way to finishing 4th. By the last lap I was really enjoying it and was even catching the front guys but was happy to finish 7th just behind Greg Gibson and smash my best lap time with a 1m;50 lap.
The 600 quali race was to be an exercise in survival with a handful of BSB riders at the back of the grid who were going to be charging through the pack looking for a good grid spot in the final and sure enough my ears are still ringing with the sound of tortured R6 ridden by teenage loonies flying past. By the last lap flag I was dizzy and glad to finish so had to go through the whole sort my head out business over dinner.
I lined up in 7th position for the SoT Final and got hell of a start up to 3rd and held it until the first chicane where 3 Ducati bullies pushed me out and got by, I got back in the rhythm and chased after them until we got to Druids where I saw Greg Gibson flying through the air in a really nasty high side. This brought out the red flags and we were held at the back of the circuit while the ambulance picked him up.
For the re start I got the same drive off the line and had that lovely feeling of not many bikes being around in the first corner but it didn't last as 3 Dukes and a KTM had me on the straight so for 3 laps I had Aaron and Lee Watts just in front until Lee gave me a cheeky look back and took Aaron then buggered off. I could see Aaron was having tyre problems and got him in to the first right hander but was sure he would come back. The last lap was hell, I made so many mistakes but it felt like I'd won when I crossed the line in 5th. This is the best I've ever ridden and cracking way to end the season.
12.9.09
Donington Park trackday
Billed as the last ever chance to ride the famous GP circuit before the bulldozers move in to strip it back to dull F1 standards the day was always going to be packed and full of trackday hero's with a point to prove and sure enough it didn't disappoint!
I did try to sell my space to put towards some new tyres but no joy so I gave it a go. Any way the weather was looking good and I really wanted to put my bad performance here last year behind me so got stuck in.
The morning sessions were all marred by red flags caused by first lap hero's to the point of getting everyone together for a right royal bollocking from Mark the organiser who didn't mince his words about taking the idiots in hand and I couldn't agree with him more. The standard of some of the riding at track days especially the Inter group is awful, some guys just seem to have something to prove and ride way above their skill levels and wreck the session for every one else. I rode in the Advanced group but even then one guy managed to go on the grass in the sighting lap!.
When we did get a full session though the circuit is fantastic, the feeling you get hammering down Craner Curves is unbelievable and just knowing that Rossi, Lorenzo etc. were all binning it here a few weeks ago is priceless.
As the day went on and I learnt the track I could stay with some of the faster guys in the group without pushing to hard but when an instructor offered to show me the right lines I struggled to keep up, the fact that he'd done a bizillion laps and I'd ridden there once before didn't enter his head so I let him clear off.
Overall a good day on a great track but I'm sure I'll stick to racing as you don't seem to get the problems with big egos as the race results tell the story not by bragging about what laps times you have done.
That's off my chest now and I feel much better. Oulton Park next week and back to the real deal!
I did try to sell my space to put towards some new tyres but no joy so I gave it a go. Any way the weather was looking good and I really wanted to put my bad performance here last year behind me so got stuck in.
The morning sessions were all marred by red flags caused by first lap hero's to the point of getting everyone together for a right royal bollocking from Mark the organiser who didn't mince his words about taking the idiots in hand and I couldn't agree with him more. The standard of some of the riding at track days especially the Inter group is awful, some guys just seem to have something to prove and ride way above their skill levels and wreck the session for every one else. I rode in the Advanced group but even then one guy managed to go on the grass in the sighting lap!.
When we did get a full session though the circuit is fantastic, the feeling you get hammering down Craner Curves is unbelievable and just knowing that Rossi, Lorenzo etc. were all binning it here a few weeks ago is priceless.
As the day went on and I learnt the track I could stay with some of the faster guys in the group without pushing to hard but when an instructor offered to show me the right lines I struggled to keep up, the fact that he'd done a bizillion laps and I'd ridden there once before didn't enter his head so I let him clear off.
Overall a good day on a great track but I'm sure I'll stick to racing as you don't seem to get the problems with big egos as the race results tell the story not by bragging about what laps times you have done.
That's off my chest now and I feel much better. Oulton Park next week and back to the real deal!
8.9.09
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