WELL!!! What an awesome weekend again with Mr Wedge. KNOCKHILL First all I must say what a difficult circuit. Went out in practice on Friday and first lap after the 3 sighting laps nearly had a big highside down turn 4. Missed the second session due to it starting to piss down and me being on racetechs. Got out for the next two sessions on the wets and spent some time learning the track a bit more instead of trying to attack it. Seems like when you go out in the wet you rely more on decent braking markers, turn in points and lines. Wet normally equals smooth or a trip to the scenery if not. The test day was weird cos they ran it 1-8, so after the two wet sessions and with a tea time break for an hour I decided to pack in and get scrutineered. On Saturday we woke up to a pea souper!! Couldn't even see the track. Left the wets on as the track was still quite damp. Got out for qually and it suddenly dried up, everyone else pulled in but I stayed out on the wets, with a fair bit of movement and put it on pole for my class- well chuffed. Race 1 was awesome, we were mixed in with the 1000cc class this time with fruit loops like Michael Neeves on his HP4. Had some big slides and almost stacked it big time into turn 1, was struggling to stop my back wheel from locking and as it started to come round I had to turn in or stand it up, may of looked like I was "backing it in" but it snapped and almost sent me into the grandstand. Anyway managed a 2nd place and a top 10 overall. Got back into the paddock and checked my bike to find oil leaking out of the RHS case cover (due to an off at Anglesey I suspect), no wonder I was sliding it was dripping straight down my fairing onto my back wheel!! After sorting that out I went out for race 2 and had some really good battles, 2nd place again. Seems too easy when there's fewer people there so bit of a hollow victory really, although I was pushing my hardest. Its bloody brilliant wheeling the start/finish straight at 140mph! Had a curry and a load of beers Saturday night, standard. Today was awesome, went out this morning in qualifying on my dry tyres and it was spitting after a few laps, tried to put it to the back of my mind and get a good time in. Kept pushing on after realizing I had the track to myself and got down to a 56 second lap, had a huge slide at turn 3 getting on the power and amazed that I didn't highside decided to pull into the pits and call it a day. Managed to get on the 3rd row . I was only 0.2 of a second behind one of the lads that is known for being rapid so I was happy. Both races in the wet today were damage limitation really. I went backwards as soon as the 1000s got chance to stretch their legs but managed to hold off most of the 600s and get another 2nd and a 3rd place. It is amazing how fast you can go in the wet, did a 1 minute lap in race 1 only 4 seconds off my PB in the dry lol. People always say a decent workman never blames his tools but I am starting to feel that racing a standard bike is making things difficult at times. This winter its gonna be full suspension upgrade and a racing slipper clutch, although I may grab myself a fully setup 675 if I see one. Top weekend again, grabbed 76 points which puts 7th in the championship overall. Top 5 by year end is my new goal!!! Thanks to wedgie for being a top lad as ever. Bring on Oulton Park man!!!
Awesome mate can only imagine it makes it that much more addictive when you start getting trophies. Well done.
Good for you mate!! Trophies are a good treasure to have. Fix your eye on the big winning one cos they do spur you on.When you have trophies on a regular basis you fixate on the the next level then their tophies.
Well what a weekend at croft and what a way to finish the season. Went out for practice on friday and struggled to learn the circuit but managed to get down to around a 1.36 with a small off round turn 3 (no idea what happened both tyres just let go?) Went out for qually in the wet on sat and got 3rd to last spot on the grid gutted. Got away OK in race 1 and was getting into it when on the last lap the bike decided to drop a valve. My weekend over. Was mega pissed off and decided fcuk it get on the beers and try and enjoy the last round with all my pals at hottrax. Out for a curry sat night and one of the lads who is in absolute legend told me to use his bike in the modern classics. There was 4 people who offered, wedgie included, but I knew justin wasnt racing anyway so I took him up on his offer. His bike is a 13 year old 100bhp gsxr 600, absolutely nothing under 10k rpm. Entered the modern classics and had to start at the back, I was 31st out of 31. Only had 5 laps in the morning warm up to get used to the bike. Race 1 was epic!!! Had a good battle with wedge who has deffo got his mojo back and I made up 18 places from the start. Managed to get 2nd in the 600s!! #unexpectedtrophy Race 2 was also mega and got 2nd again but nearly looped the bike on the start and had a couple of other moments. Managed a 1.35 on the ol shitter and was amazed that it felt so much better than the r6, deffo something a miss!! Plan now is to break the bike for parts and fix the engine to sell it. Mega kudos for my team mate getting 3rd in the championship well proud of ya mate. Cant wait for endurance next year. All in all a fantastic season, met some friends for life and had the best year ever.
