Race Report - Mallory Park 11th September 2005 (Derby Phoenix)
I wrote in my report the last time I went to Mallory in July that I'm not that keen on the place and I'm still not. That said, I was managing to do high 57's there last time out and that's quick enough to win with most clubs, so there was every opportunity to catch some end of season glory!
We rolled up on Saturday evening to get set up and scrutineered and then kicked back to relax for the evening. I'd done the usual oil/filter change and cleaned the airbox, etc in the few days before the weekend, but I'd noticed after the Oulton meeting the week before that the sag setting for the front suspension was quite a bit out and needed the preload winding up. To get to the right setting, it almost took up all the preload adjustment so I suspect the springs are getting a little tired. Since this meeting I've ordered some new ones to fit ready for Thruxton, but maybe that was one of the reasons for my poor performance at Oulton Park......well, that and the fact I'd just come back from two weeks holiday!
Anyway, onto the races........
I lined up for pole position in the first race and got ready for the lights to go out. They were held red for longer than usual, which got my nerves going a little bit and meant that my start was even worse than they usually are and I entered Gerrards for the first time in 5th place. However, I managed to get through a couple of riders as we went through the long right hander and I ended up 3rd behind Alan Armour as we went into Edwinas. A couple of laps later and I was still behind Alan and with Graeme Frear getting away up front, I needed to get by him. My corner speed around Gerrards was a little bit better than Alan and I managed to get by him on the exit and down into Edwinas on the brakes to take 2nd. I chased Graeme down and managed to close in on him, but there weren't enough laps to make up the distance and I had to settle for second.
Wanting to end my Derby Phoenix season with a win, I was fired up for the second race and got away well to go into Gerrards in 2nd place behind Graeme Frear. I wound on the throttle and managed to get by him as we exited Gerrards to take the lead on the way down into Edwinas for the first time. I knew that once I'd got in front then I could put in some consistent low 58's and even some high 57's to build on my lead and it was all looking quite good for the first two laps. However, it all went wrong on the third lap when I came out of Edwinas and missed a gear going through the Esses, the bike going back down into second as I tried to correct it and locking the rear wheel, with me losing my feet off the pegs in the process. Any gap I had on Graeme had just been lost and then to make matters worse, on the same lap I missed a gear again going through Devils Elbow, losing all my drive down the straight and allowing Graeme to simply drive past me before we had even got under the bridge. I tried to fight back for the remaining four laps and I kept with him all the way. I worked out that I was losing out round Devils Elbow and down the straight and then clawing back yards on him in Gerrards and on the brakes into Edwinas. I had several chances to go up the inside of him at the hairpin, but I just kept thinking it wasn't worth the risk......the bike is for sale and I've got nothing to prove and didn't need the points, although it was disappointing afterwards to not have gone out with a win.
Still, two 2nd places is not bad going and at least I had a bit more to show for myself than I did at Oulton Park the week before! I was half a second slower this weekend than I have been round Mallory before, but I guess not having the need or motivation to push myself for the win means I've slowed down, whether I'd realised it or not!
The usual quick mention for Davo and Benzo, well the latter married his obviously long suffering girlfriend on the Friday before this meeting and for some strange reason felt as though he should take her away and not race.......foolish lad! Davo did turn out, but had a weekend of mixed fortunes and tinkering (bloody two strokes!) to finish 11th and 13th in the F400's (5th and 6th in class respectively). I'm not sure how he got on in the Open 250, but at least he remembered to look where he is heading and didn't go arguing with any bales of hay this weekend!
So there we are......season finished with Derby Phoenix, with just one more meeting left now with North Gloucester at Thruxton on the 1st October and all I want from that is to enjoy myself on the incredibly fast Hampshire circuit and see where I finish. As I've already said, the bike is now up for sale so the last thing I want to do is chuck it at the scenery or damage it in any way.