Race Report - Cadwell Park 03 May 2008 (Retford & District MCC)
I don't know too much about Retford & District MCC, but apparently there is a great history to the club and although it has been dormant over recent years, there is renewed enthusiasm within the club via Mick Hooley (ex Derby Phoenix committee member) to start to do some meetings again. This was the first of what will hopefully be more meetings and I'm happy to support them.
It also meant that I got some much needed practice and time on the bike after my disastrous visit to Cadwell a couple of weeks previous with New Era, when I fell off and then cut short my racing on Sunday due to the miserable rain. Oh well, at least the weather was good for this Retford meeting so that was one thing that had got better.
Formula 600 Race 1
I was obviously quick off the mark with the postman as I got drawn out as the pole man for the first race, but I didn't get a great start and slipped down a few places into the first corner. It then took me a couple of laps to the front, but once I was there it was a fairly easy and uneventful ride to take the win by just over 7 seconds. It was good to get back to winning ways though!
Formula 600 Race 2
One of the earlier races had resulted in a lot of oil being dropped around almost the entire circuit and although the marshals had done a great job dusting it off, the white dust was laid thick on the racing line in just about every corner meaning that we were all a bit cautious! Fortunately, I got a much better start than in the earlier F600 race, but still managed to slip a couple of places into the first corner. However, I got into the lead by lap three and despite the oil spillage reducing laptimes, took another fairly easy ride to win this one by over 9 seconds. Better news was still to come when I went to collect my trophy, with £75 prize money paid out to the winner.....fantastic!
Retford Open Race 1
The grid was formed by pulling numbers from a bag and I was lucky enough to get 2nd row and started 6th. The bigger bikes always pull out once they're underway, but I managed to get myself into 4th by the time we got through Charlies, only to be passed by Curt Langan down Park Straight. Curt then made an error into Hall Bends and I got past him in the Hairpin to go 3rd. We then battled for a few laps, with my corner speed being much quicker, but the power of his R1 too much down the straights. I held him off for as long as I could, but he got past me down Park Straight on the last lap and was dropped to 4th. Still, at least I was still the first placed 600cc bike. It was tight to the line as well……what I didn't know was Kerrigan Read was right up behind me and nearly pipped me to the post, but I held him off.
Retford Open Race 2
I got another good start for this race, but unfortunately managed to lose out to the bigger bikes in the opening laps and dropped to 5th behind Curt Langan. I followed him around for the entire 10 lap race, although to be fair he built up more than enough lead for me not to worry him. He backed off on the last couple of laps and I caught him in the closing stages, but I couldn't get close enough through the Mountain section and Hall Bends to make a move on him and I finished a credible 5th, plus I was once again the first placed 600cc bike.
Thanks as usual to Frankie for all her help in the paddock and for looking after me. The superb weather was a total contrast to the New Era Cadwell meeting two weeks before and at least it gave her some comfort that this racing lark can be quite nice when the sun shines and it's warm!