Race Report - Mallory Park 4th July 2004
(Derby Phoenix)
| This was going to be a
busy weekend for us all told! Firstly, the Friday night was my
brother's birthday celebrations (sore head all Saturday) and then not only
was I racing on the Sunday, but Lesley and I were going to a fireworks
concert at Warwick Castle on Sunday evening so had to pack up as soon as the races finished,
then get home unload the caravan and van and get to the concert, preferably
before 7pm if we were to get a good spot. It was looking a bit tight
to say the least!
We got to the circuit Saturday
afternoon and set up as soon as we were in. They were scrutineering
from 5.30pm so I took the bike up and got it passed off and we began to
put up the Argos gazebo Lesley had bought a while back before we realised
that these things weren't very good in the wind! Well, unfortunately
it wasn't exactly a still evening on Saturday and we had some fun and
games with this thing, but eventually got it secured with ratchet straps
and bungees, plus it helped the wind dropped a little as well.
Either way, it was better than erecting the 'bloody great awning' as it's
now known and more especially for Sunday afternoon, quicker than the hour
it takes to put up and take down that thing! |
 |
I took the opportunity to go on the
regular Wednesday afternoon practice session immediately before this weekend,
just to get some set up and get a feel for the track again. I've practiced
here before and done a couple of track days, but never raced here so needed to
familiarise myself with it. The day went ok and I got down into 1 minute
laptimes easy enough so was happy in the knowledge that I can usually lose
another half a second in a race, which should make me reasonably
competitive. It also gave me a chance to get the gearing right, which I
settled for at 14/43 in the end......revs out early, but better for drive out of
Edwinas and the hairpin.
Grid places for Derby Phoenix are
determined purely
by date of entry received for the programme grid place and I was gridded 14th
for the first race. Tim Bradley was just behind me (he's usually very
strong at Mallory.....he's current EMRA Formula 400 champion so knows the
circuit well) and I could see Ady Warrant on the front row. Lights out and
off we go. I didn't get a brilliant start but found myself in the top 10
around Gerrards, so not too bad. The first lap was a bit hectic and I saw
Tim come past me by the time we got to the hairpin, but I settled in after lap 2
only to find myself in 4th place and under pressure from Mark Adams (#161) on an
RGV250. We battled the whole of the race, with him coming past me several
times and then me getting back past him. On the penultimate lap, he got
good speed around Gerrards and came alongside me to take my line into Edwinas.
We both braked late and Mark ended up taking an awkward line through the
left/right, losing drive and allowing me back underneath him. I knew I was
a bit quicker from the Esses through to Devil's Elbow, but I knew Mark was
quicker around Gerrards so would be back to try the same move again. No
surprise he did and the entry into Edwinas was a carbon copy of the previous
lap, except this time I gassed it to go back underneath him and the tyre let go
and chucked me out the seat (Lesley was watching from there and it gave her a
fright.....apparently lots of ooo's from the crowd!), losing all the drive I
needed and letting Mark get away. I chased and caught him by the hairpin,
but not enough to get past and despite being right on his back wheel I couldn't
get enough drive out of Devil's Elbow to pass and he took 4th from me by no more
than half a bike length. Excellent racing and really good fun......Mark is
a first class rider and deserved it.
| Between the two races,
we started to pack up to get away quickly for the firework concert and we
got everything ready so that all I had to do was pull up the bike behind
the van, push it in and the pack up the few remaining bits to go.
However, I suddenly found myself thinking more about making sure we got
away quickly than the coming race, to the point that I started worrying
that if I binned it then I'd spoil the evening for Lesley and even that we
might not be able to go! I couldn't block this out and lined up 5th
on the grid with a head full of "take it easy" rather than
nailing it for a 4th place or better. Lights out and I was mugged
into the first corner dropping back to about 8th or 9th, but got a few
places back. I was lying 5th when Mark Adams came past me again (he
must have got a bad start as well). I tried to fight back, but I was
still thinking "take it easy" and could feel myself holding
back, so he got away and within a couple of laps had a good lead on
me. I was under no pressure from behind so I settled back, when suddenly on the penultimate lap Mark
presumably had a bike problem and I started to
catch him. I got past him on the last lap and gave him an
understanding wave (if there is such a thing!) to take another 5th.
A bit undeserved really (Mark, if you're reading this the result
definitely should have been yours). I've now agreed with Lesley that
race days are for racing and not for filling my head with worries about
trying to cram in evenings out as well. |
|
Battling with Mark
Adams through Edwinas for 4th place. I think this would have been
race one and I'm just about to be thrown up out the seat! |
Not a bad couple of results all told, but
disappointingly my laptimes were a 1:00.06 best in the first race and 1:01's in
the second, so I need to improve at this circuit, particularly around Gerrards.
I guess a bit of practice other than a few sessions the Wednesday before might
help.
By the way, the concert was a wash out
(torrential rain for 40 minutes before it started) and cold, but thanks to
Marion Carnall (NGRRC Entries Secretary helping Derby Phoenix out for the day)
we did manage to get the Mallory Park circuit staff to let us out before the
day's racing ended and make it there on time. Got massively pissed on
champagne though!
Should also say thanks to John 'Meccano
Fingers' Rees for turning up to support......much appreciated.
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