|
End of the 2008 Season
17/10/08 Donington
I was riding at Donington on the Saturday and then racing at Mallory on the Sunday.
The test day at Donington went well and I rode my new Aprilia for the second part of the day and was lapping quicker on that bike.
So it was decided I'd race that bike for the last race of the year and the last race that would count for points.
18/10/08
I woke up to a rather nice morning, quite breezy but weather looked promising.
There was two qualifying sessions to endure that would determine my grid position.
There was a lot of competition out and I knew the racing would be hard.
I qualified 11th and knew what I had to do to make sure i finished the races with good points.
First race started well and the front 7 peeled away from my group which then left 6 of us all battling for the same place. I put some strong moves in and my poitsiton was always changing.
The last lap flag came out and I was 8th but then coming down the dunlop straight someone pulled out of my slip stream and took me before the start finish and I finished 9th. Not bad as I started 11th.
Race 2.
Last race of the year and one I'll remember for a long time.
The race started and my clutch didn't feel right but I got away and joined the pack.
I was battling so hard and was so determined. I'd come past in 8th then 12th but I wouldn't let anyone keep in front of me for half a lap.
Again I was 8th and failed to beat the same lad and finished 9th!
In the cooling down lap I did attempt a burnout but I pulled a wheelie instead as I forgot about holding the front brake and I impressed myself with what I did!
A great season in the Superteens and now I had to pack up and travel to Mallory and race with Thundersport in their Race of the Year to finish the season off.
19/10/08 Mallory Park
I went out in qualifying as the first group, cold track, and my first time back at Mallory since July.
I was riding ok but my new bike wasn't performing and I was struggling to change gear and I qualified 11th suprisingly. The first race was 7 laps so it would be a fast one and I was going back out on my number one bike so I was up for a good race.
It was tough battling my way through hungry Superteens and handling my bike at high speed through Gerards and I finished 5th.
I was pleased with that considering I started 11th.
Tom Sykes was racing there that weekend in the race of the year on his Rizzla bike along with Karl Harris on a co-orrdinated Yamaha.
He signed my leathers before my last race which I hoped would bring me a bit of luck.
Last race and the engines of the Aprilias were buzzing, my start was incredible and I was right up at the front fighting my way around.
Every lap I was gaining and passing lads I'd never been able to keep up with at one point in the season.
Last lap I was 4th so I went for a flyer of a lap and found myself coming down the start finish straight in 2nd!
I held it after putting some hard moves in and was delighted to finish a year of progression on the podium with the big boys. This year started with me stalling the bike on the grid at Mallory and finished with a podium position in second place.
The progress I have made this year has been above and beyond any of my expectations.
I now have 5 months to prepare myself for an assault on the Superteen title for 2009, something I now know I am quite capable of achieving.
This again however will only be possible with the help and support of my family and sponsors in particular Flethers Solicitors and Aspire Rail.
May I take this opportunity in thanking everybody for their kind words of encouragement throughout this year. See you next year.
|