Race Report - Donington Park 12/13th July 2008 (Derby Phoenix and NGRRC)
It's not very often that you get the chance to have a two day weekend at Donington, so when the Derby Phoenix and NGRRC meeeting dates were first posted up at the beginning of the year, my entry forms were in straight away. I really like the place.....it's one of those smooth, fast and flowing circuits that really rewards you when you get it right, but sucks when you get it wrong!
SATURDAY
Derby Phoenix Allcomers Qualifying
The format for the Derby Phoenix Allcomers now is 15 minutes qualifying, with the best 40 times going into the A final and the balance into a B final. My attitude with these Allcomers races is still the same though in that I use it as a warm up and practice for the Formula 600 races rather than taking it too seriously, so it was just a run out for me to wake me up! Not a bad run out though as I got 2nd fastest time for the session and straight into the low 1:15's.
Derby Phoenix Formula 600 Race 1
I was sat 8th on the grid for the first race, which isn't my favourite spot at Donington as you can get boxed in at the first turn. However, I got away ok and it wasn't too bad, but I certainly didn't make up any places so I had to do a bit of work in the first couple of laps. I got up to the lead on lap three without too many problems and it was a straight forward run to the flag from there.
Derby Phoenix Formula 600 Race 2
I'd seen Billy Mellor in the race programme and knew he would be quick at Donington (and just about everywhere else!). He had to start frm the back of the grid in the first race, but he had made his way up to 5th and got the fastest lap as well so I knew he would be hard work in the second race.
Despite the advantage of pole, I made my usual backwards start and ended up about 4th or 5th into the first corner. This wasn't good as although Billy wasn't out front, it only took him until McLeans to get the lead and I was still back in 3rd. I took a bit of time to get up to 2nd and by this time (now on lap 3), Billy had stretched a lead of 2-3 seconds and I had my work cut out.
I put my head down and put in some very quick laps and I was delighted to very quickly catch him and just at the right place too as we came up through Schwantz curve and I dived under him at McLeans to take the lead. We then battled for the next four laps all the way to the flag with Billy glued to my tail end, not making his move until Goddards on the last lap when he pulled up the inside of me on the brakes, but with a backmarker wobbling slowly through the turn he had no choice but to sit up and let me take the line through to grab the win.
Fantastic stuff and I was really happy with what was a good clean battle and some fabulous laptimes (although Billy did get the deserved consolation prize of fastest lap).
Derby Phoenix Allcomers A Final
I was happy with my two F600 results and wasn't really that fired up to go out again for the Allcomers Final, which I don't usually do anyway, but I like Donington so I thought I'd give it a go. I was gridded third row from what I can remember, but didn't get away too well and was stuck in with a pack of 1,000's doing the usual in-fight with each other. However, things got a lot worse as we went down Craner when a guy on an R1 (sorry, didn't find out who it was) highsided spectacularly in front of me and forced me onto the grass. Not good at 125mph I can tell you! I managed to keep it upright though and went through the gravel trap and back on trap well and truly in last place. A few corners later it was red flagged, so at least I got another chance.
My get away was a bit better in the restart, but still not great and the extra oomph of the 1,000's always outdrags you to the first corner. It was then the usual Allcomers problem of getting blasted down the straights, but then getting held up in the turns and whilst Billy managed to get away and go with the front guys (who at least corner at a half decent speed), I was getting pulled back into 10th place and further back, so after 8 laps I gave it up and pulled in early. Last thing I needed was to get the red mist and do something daft in one of the corners.
SUNDAY
NGRRC Open 600 Races
All Saturday evening I was thinking about how well I'd done in the two F600 races, but how I didn't want to trash the bike ahead of the British Supersport round at Oulton Park the following weekend, so not surprisingly I woke up Sunday morning not particularly up for doing any heroics with the NG guys! As a result, I'd really already made up my mind that I wasn't going to race in the 600 final.
The qualifier went ok and I managed to get a good start, but my laptimes weren't good and I just couldn't seem to find the groove that I had on the Saturday with Derby Phoenix. The conditions were the same, if not a bit better, but I just didn't want to push as hard and although I lead for a brief period in the early laps, it didn't take long for Steve Tomes and Billy Mellor to come past me and then for Andy Lawrence to come past me towards the end as well. Disappointing, but then I had already decided this was just a run out for me and I wasn't going to do the final anyway.
We stayed around to help out my good mate Dave Williams in the F400, who's bike was instantly recognisable to the NG crowd as Pete Thompson's old machine. He had a couple of good results and is certainly getting to grips with it now, but I'm just glad he's finishing races as opposed to repairing that bloody Aprilia all the time!
Thanks as usual to Frankie for keeping me fed and watered and for her paddock and pit board skills, which are improving all the time. Thanks darling!