Have a look on Alex James's Facebook page. He put a few pics up yesterday, several of Matt/tyke on there.
Mr Cooke on his Phone! https://www.facebook.com/1695868397...821538966224/1243820838966294/?type=3&theater
Ok so no excuses, first round over and i did shit Totally messed my qualifying for the first race and ended up 26th on the grid. Got the worst start possible off the line for the first race ending up in 32nd place after the first couple of bends Managed to grab a few places back and finish the race which felt really good Second race was worse on Saturday, poor start again and then crashed on the first left hander Must try harder for Snett next month.. The only glimmer of light was grabbing the fastest lap and lap record for the Island circuit (newcomers) Fantastic meeting up with everyone and so grateful for all the help and support.......
Well I'm off to Snetterton tomorrow for two days on track and with only an 11th place finish under my belt from Oulton I've got a lot of catching up to do. Snett is a circuit i really like but for some reason i just can't seem to put down any reasonable times. I was there with a few from here a few weeks ago and my best time was a 2:13.. Perhaps i should ask the Barron to come and give me some pointers. I also crashed there a few weeks ago washing out the front on the first hairpin So i need to find 10 seconds in these two days one of which is an open pit lane. We have our second race meeting there in two weeks with NoLimits racing so fingers crossed i can be more competitive....
So I'm safely back from Snetterton without a single spill. Monday was wet, very very wet so i did one lap, that was until the evening session and things had dried up a little but sadly although we had an empty track my times didn't improve, just a little to damp and cold to push so i concentrated on lines and braking markers... Tuesday was perfect weather wise and my first open pit lane. Don't ever ever do an open pit lane, complete waste if your there to push on. There were far to many on track at one time and most were there just to amble around having fun which is fine and good on them. I was just under the impression that open pit lanes would be full of racers looking to smash lap records, lesson learnt... So it was impossible to get any clear laps so again i concentrated on lines and braking markers and when i was in a clear sector i'd push as hard as possible in that sector.. I had fun and enjoyed it and despite not getting any clear laps still managed to knock just shy of 7 seconds off my lap time.... We race there next weekend......
I've just been asked by a mate who the very responsible fire attendant is in this photo....with beer? I just said "that's Dave, he operates better when well lubricated"
Round 2 Snetterton over and for now i seem to be going from bad to worse Friday was test day but it just didn't stop raining all day, i don't like the wet and cold but forced myself to go out for a test. I lasted just a few hundred yards before i was sliding on my arse into the mud, front end washed and that was that... No damage to me or the bike just confusion as to why i couldn't last longer than two bends.... I gave up for the day, maybe i shouldn't have and now slightly regret not going out again in the wet.... Saturday for race 1 was wet again so i decided not to go out and missed my first race but the day was a fantastic one with me cheering Jimbo Jase and Cookie on as the boy's took second place in the endurance race, what a brilliant result but very well deserved. All three are quick lads and make a perfect team with the help of team manager Dave. I don't know why we are so surprised they came second because their well capable of wining every time they go out...... Highlight of the weekend for me and wouldn't of missed it for the world... Sunday i went out early as it was qualifying for my 3rd race, i managed to get 5th spot on the grid second row, i was ok with that but should have been on the front. Race 2 i had to start from the back and we had a 30min delay due to oil on the track so yet again we were starting with cold tyres. I learnt my lesson from Oulton so took it easy for the first couple of laps to allow heat into the tyres before pinning it I came home in 12th. Disappointing Although we only had a 4 lap race... Race 3 was with me on the second row of the grid, for me it was my chance to finally battle for the win.. Didn't go to well to be honest, sorry, it was the worst start to a race possible with me flipping the bike off the start which meant i didn't even cross the start/finish line Full throttle and dumped the clutch hoping that the launch control would help... My over eagerness to get to the front landed me on my back watching 30+ bikes hurtling toward me We move on Because i had failed to get off the line in race 3 meant that i had to start race 4 from the back, Lmfao, the race officials say its to dangerous for the others for me to start from the front... Anyway the race was reduced again to 5 laps this time but i managed to battle to a 4th place finish... Big thanks to Barney, Jase, Dave, Jimbo and Cookie for their support and the many thousands of well wishers On to Donny next, my favourite circuit, tune in folks because just about anything could happen
You did awesome mate and without you in the endurance I'm sure it wouldn't have gone has well- legend. Now learn how to wheelie properly
