Race Report Round 2 Elvington Park 8th April

After climbing out of bed at around 5:30 am I decide to watch the first round of the Moto GP from Japan I thought that it might give me a bit of inspiration for the day ahead, watching Rossi been pushed around by Max Biaggi was a bit on the rough side. Anyway that's not important to me because nothing like that would go on at club racing, Like hell it wouldn't.

 My wrists where a lot stronger than the last round and also hoped that I had a box full of cogs luckily for me I had. Went out for our first practice just to have a run around to make sure there weren't any faults with the gearbox and to make a few suspension changes (now my hands are stronger I can push the bike a bit harder therefore working the suspension harder).

The second session decided to see how fast I really could go to see if I can compete with all these newer R1's and R6's seemed fast enough in the second and last practice session but the racing will really tell. I also decided to have a bit of a gearing change for racing I wasn't revving out in top down the back straight.

Race 1 1300cc Clubmans Challenge, well what can be said, as I arrived into the holding bay Ian the guy telling us our grid positions said "what was I doing here" naturally I thought strange question what's he on about. He said "you wasn't listed for this class" after checking it out he found out they had just forgot to list me in the program nice one and my punishment for there mistake was having to start at the back of the grid NOT LIKELY. By this time we must have spent 10 minutes deciding I wasn't so mine and most of the other guys tyres were just about cold GREAT ORGANISATION, any way I set off to the grid found a spare place on row 4. On the warm up lap went round as fast as possible and pushed my way in on row 2 taking Adam Brown's place pushing him out onto row 3, a big sorry to Adam. As the flag dropped I launched my CBR's front wheel into the air not getting the best start in the world been about ¾ of the way down the field out of the first corner might as well started at the back. Slowly picking off the riders to finish 6th place of the good sized grid for Elvington maybe a few more laps and I could have done some thing about 5th and 6th places.

 Race 2 Formula 600cc, well at least they new I was here by now I was given a second row start on the grid I arrived on the inside of the grid got a good take off of the line but as the start/finish straight isn't straight more like a long bit of a kink in it as everyone moved over for the shortest root possible I got squeezed and had to shut off. Oh well just have to do a bit of overtaking again climbed up to 5th place. Now I was starting to enjoy my racing bit of action that's what it is all about.

Race 3 1300cc Clubmans Challenge , As I arrived at the holding bay I was greeted by my mate again to tell me that I was on the back row we soon negotiated that I would be on the front row, good chance of a flyer then. As we left the grid I had a cracking start first into the first corner with Pete Wilson on his R1 trying to show me his front wheel on the way in. ha try again Pete I held him off for a lap or so until the he found a way through as I was expecting, I chased hard for a few laps but slowly dropping back. Next I screwed up at the bottom complex as Goodings came through on his fast R6 (or maybe it's him that's fast on it) on the last lap I had already lost ground on Mick and had Bob Farrington right behind on yet another R6. I decided that I would go a bit more curious through the complex as not to make the same mistake again, I did and Bob found a way past me maybe a bit to careful oh well the at the hairpin Goodings went down. Dam that was second place I gave away to finish 3rd.

Race 4 Formula 600cc, since I have changed a few more suspension settings my bike is staring to feel faster around the bends giving me more and more confidence to push the front around the bends. From yet another 2nd row start I discovered that if u aren't careful in placing yourself on the grid you cannot really see the starter guy with the flag all I could see was it disaper behind Bob Farrington's head oh well best go. A reasonable start in about 6th place gained a few places including putting some wrongs right by passing Farrington towards the end of the race finishing 4th.

Race 5 1300cc Clubmans Challenge Trophy Race . Well as it was not for championship points I would try and have a play with the suspension some more after what seemed like a 15 lap battle (well maybe about 4 laps) trying to pass a gutsy guy on a R1 who seemed to like to riding side by side around every corner. As u line them big Yams up around the corners they just seem to blitz u down the straight so all the hard work is to be done again. I finally passes him though the bottom complex to keep him behind me to the next corner the hairpin as he passed me down the straight I was close enough to get him on the brakes, once I had the clear track in front I could concentrate on reeling in the Kawasaki in front. If only we had more laps (or I could pass faster) I might have been 3rd but 4th will have 2 do.

 Race 6 Formula 600cc Trophy Race. You guessed it 2nd row start not the best start again (should be good at starting by now) once I had got to 3rd place I had a good gap to bridge to second place, I didn't feel to be losing any ground on Goodings in first place but was closing down on second place just not enough laps. Well I need to be getting the front row starts then I might be able to get away with the leading pack if I have done enough to get into the top 4 in the championship I will get them much needed front row places. Maybe a nice modern R6 might do as well but unless any much-needed sponsorship arrives I will have to struggle on with my old CBR.

Many thanks to the guys at KFM for the loan of the van hope to see u at next round at Carnaby2 on 29th April