Saturday Races

After a full night of rain, it was still coming down fairly heavily on Saturday morning and practice was delayed for a while to see how things would develop.  It didn't stop raining, but it did improve a little and practice got underway at around 9.30am.  The track was very wet and there was still quite a lot of standing water around when racing started.  I was in Allcomers Heat 3 and although it had rained quite heavily during the previous heat, it had stopped by the time we completed our warm up lap and the strong wind was drying the track out by the time we got going.  I was 4th row and got a reasonably good start to go into the top six by the first corner.  I then passed another couple of bikes during the first lap and was lying fourth for a while, but with the front two getting away all the time.  Shane Colbrook came past me on his CBR600 'Steelie' on lap two and was going very quickly in the conditions, but this was short lived and he crashed in Hall Bends the same lap causing a red flag.  At the restart, it was much the same after the first lap and I found myself in third place and chasing Mike Chappell for second. I almost managed to catch and pass him, but with only 4 laps in the re-run there just wasn't enough time and I settled for a comfortable 3rd. 

It was still wet for the first Formula 600 race, but with the weather being on and off with frequent heavy showers and high winds, the track was drying in places.   This meant that the back part of the circuit was drying, but the Mountain section still very wet.  I was gridded 2nd and got a reasonably good start, following Richard Gibson and Mick Daly (leading) into Coppice.  I had to keep Mick in sight for the championship, so I got past Richard quickly on the brakes into Park Corner and then set off after Mick.  I was only a second or so off him in the first lap, but as we went into the now drying Coppice for lap two, I went off the dry line and the front started to slide away from me.  I immediately sat the bike up, but this meant that I was going straight on over the sodden grass at over 100mph!  I managed to keep it upright, but was unable to rejoin the track very quickly because of all the traffic coming through, so eventually got back on in 20th place.  I was pretty angry with myself and just got my head down to try and get back as many places as I could, eventually finishing 6th.

For the second F600 race, the track had dried out completely and the weather was now looking a bit more dependable.  The race got underway and despite an excellent start to get my nose in front away from the lights, I missed third gear twice before Coppice and went backwards to 4th.  I got 3rd place very quickly on the run up to Charlies, but then found myself stuck in behind Richard Gibson whilst Mick Daly was getting away in front again.  I had to sit behind Richard for a lap as I simply couldn't get by him, but I planned my move for the next lap around Coppice.  As we went into the turn I moved around the outside of him, but Richard was already quick through there and by using all the track it pushed me out (in fairness he wouldn't have known I was there), which left me nowhere to go and I had to take to the grass AGAIN!  I was going a bit quicker than last time and so was more worried about keeping it upright, but I managed to do that ok and rejoined in about 10th place.  I was now well miffed at my bad luck twice in the same place, so was really not in the mood for any prisoners!  I stormed through the field and made my way back up to 3rd place and was closing on Richard (still in 2nd) in the last lap, crawling all over the back of him through the Mountain section.  However, I couldn't get past and failed to out drag him to the line by 0.16 of a second so had to settle for 3rd.

Sunday Races

The weather overnight was truly horrendous and some of the worst I've experienced for a race weekend.  The paddock looked like a bombsite the next morning, with awnings and rubbish sprawled everywhere from the high winds!  As a result, racing was again delayed for 15 minutes or so for a track inspection, although this turned out to be a good thing because the weather actually improved considerably and the wind dropped a great deal.

I was a bit undecided whether or not to go out in the Allcomers Heat, but decided I would do in the end.  I got a reasonable start and was up to 3rd, with Chris Lang in front of me and Mike Chappell leading.  I knew that if I could get past Chris I could mount a challenge on Mike, but it took me three laps to do that and in the meantime, Liam Marchant (who went on to win) came past me going very well so the best I could do would be 2nd.  I eventually got past Chris, but with only a lap left to catch Mike it was too much to ask.  I very nearly did it and we crossed the line with just 0.21 seconds between us, but I had to settle for another 3rd.

It was still wet conditions for the first F600 race on Sunday, but I was determined to do better than I had done the day previous.  I took my position on the grid and managed to get away quite well, but missed third gear again and was put back to fourth.  I was behind Richard Gibson again and although Tim Harness was now leading (and therefore helping to keep points from Mickey), I knew it wouldn't be long before Mick got past him and got a lead.  It took me four laps to get past Richard and when I did, I knew it was too much to ask to try and get up to the leaders.  To make matters worse, by this time Mick had got past Tim and was pulling away.  With no chance of clawing my way back, I had to settle for yet another 3rd place and some serious damage to my championship standings.

Come the afternoon and the weather had changed completely to be warm and bright, albeit with a good covering of cloud. The second F600 race was for the Gavin Feighery Memorial Trophy and with Gavin being a good friend of Mickey's I knew he would be up for this one!  The warm up lap was like an intense race, so by the time we got going both Mick and me were riding very hard.  Although I got away ok (I did have to get past Richard into Charlies, but otherwise a good start), Mick managed to get the lead and we then spent the next 7 laps locked together in a race long thrilling battle!  I could make ground on him with corner speed through the tighter turns, but he was getting some fantastic drive out of Barn and Charlies Two to make the gap again.  It eventually finished with yet another win for Mickey and a hard fought 2nd place for me, but it put a smile back on my face just to be battling so hard with a rider you can trust and respect.....it pains me to say as not finishing in front has really done some damage to my title hopes, but he thoroughly deserved the win.  When I got back, the whole paddock was talking about the race, but the best was yet to come for me when I found that I'd got the fastest lap with a blinding 1:35.78 seconds!  This is over half a second faster than the last club record I set in May in the 1:36's and demonstrated how much we were on the pace!

For the Allcomers Final, I was going to go out just to have a final run of the day, but they delayed the race because of some suspected bike tampering around the paddock during day and to allow riders to check their bikes over.  In the end, I missed the call and the gate was closed so I couldn't get out, but I wasn't too upset. It had been a long weekend so I was ready to pack up and go home anyway. 

Thanks to Lesley for the usual stuff, but most of all for the sympathy and understanding as I watched my title hopes disappear......I should also say sorry for scaring the life out of you twice by taking to the wet grass at one of the fastest parts of the circuits!  Even the commentators thought I was down!  Thanks also to Davo, Andy (Benzo) and Rob for coming over from Warrington to watch me race and support me.  Davo and the Bennicke brothers were who we shared our awning with last year and are terrific guys.....good to see them again! 

Finally, a special mention to Matt Brown (who shared the awning this weekend) for his fantastic first ever race win in the Formula 400 on Saturday.  He made an inspired decision to change to wets at the very last minute before the race and was one of the only riders out there to do so, him then going on to ride perfectly and completely dominate the race from start to finish.  He won by a massive 27 seconds!  Well done, Matt......fantastic!