Second Race Day
Mallory Park - EMRA Round 2
Things went from great to bad in a couple of days before my 2nd ever meeting. Food poisoning on Friday and Saturday meant I arrived feeling weak but up for it. After all we have been waiting for 6 weeks since the last meeting. We decided that waking up trackside was the better option and would have proved to be a great decision had the next door not been up till 2am in what seemed like full party mood.
The long night had affected us all but heyho, I was feeling much better and ready for some solid food to try and prepare me for the day. Scruteneering was its usual painfully slow process but as per we get through no quarrels and head back to sign on. Knowing I won’t be out for qualifying for a while I take the opportunity to go and see a few people I know. Everyone was pumped for this meeting and with 17 degrees forecast, spirits in the very grey morning skies were good.
As I prepare for qualifying the rain comes down, not a shower but spotting more and more each minute. Although never quite managing to wet you it was a confidence drainer for me and as I went out on dry tyres I wasn’t happy about it all.
Set off ok and as per the usual madness of Superstock qualifying was frantic, riders going both sides at any chance. After a couple of laps I try and get confident on these tyres but a couple of slides through The Esses makes me ease off until Woody (Mark 'Hungry' Woodburn) came shooting past me I thought hang on I’m well off the pace. Thanks god he came past when he did as I got two flying laps behind him and improved by 2 seconds a lap. Came back in very disappointed with myself, and the fact it was dry although I couldn’t quite get my head around the rain on my visor. Anyway, qualified 16th with a 1:04.2. Well down compared to last time but confident come racing I can make my way through the pack and get a decent result.
Race 1 seemed to take ages before we got underway. A few crashes and stoppages from earlier in the day but finally here we are lined up and ready to go. After my poor starts from the last round I concentrate on not making a complete cock up and fire away as the lights go out. Unsure of where I got to but I know it’s a cracking start passing quite a few riders. I managed to make another move at Edwinas to gain another place before settling down behind someone for the rest of the lap. With the two in front of me battling between themselves I got the chance to catch and pass both of them before Ryan Oliver came shooting past me whilst braking for the hairpin. What a great battle we had for the rest of the race, with Gary Anslow also getting in on the action (again another pass at the hairpin). I had him back on the start finish straight every time and could easily catch back up with Ryan going into Gerards only to lose out on the brakes every time into Edwinas. Although the pace of our entry into Edwinas was slower than I liked he had the line and stopped me every time on the entry. Fortunately I kept finding amazing drive out of it and passed him a couple of times into the Esses only to lose out on brakes into the hairpin every time. I even tried letting him have the lead into Hairpin and taking a wide line for better driver to bus stop only to find Gary Anslow nicking the place again. Which he also managed on the penultimate lap but yet again the Midland VW Yamaha R6 out dragged him on the start finish straight to get back up to Ryan on the last lap. Yet again we went into Edwinas together but this time I couldn’t make the exit stick and get underneath him at The Esses and there we stayed until we crossed the line. Not a clue where I had finished but didn’t care as that was an awesome race made even better close but safe racing from all 3 of us. Big credit to Gary and Ryan for that race.
After going up to race control I find out that I'm 6th!! Bloody 6th on my 3rd ever race!! A result I’m still trying to get my head around. Crack on Race 2!!
Well this one didn’t take ages to come round and before I know it I’m on the start line with a clear view of the line I want. Must have had some crashes during the day and the 2nd place rider hadn’t started our race. Lights go out and Dane Oliver makes a beeline for the gap I wanted but manage to hold onto him as we tip into Gerards. As we approach Edwinas I yet again get out braked as Mark Pennington shoots past me. I manage to hang on as we get round to the hairpin where he out brakes himself allowing me to sail by. Now to catch up to the Oliver brothers in front I get great drive out of Devils Elbow which allows me to close right onto back of Dane Oliver as we tip into Gerards only for a scorching Rich Wardle to skim underneath me causing me to sit up slightly but this takes me way off line and I just about manage to stay on track but lose out and get shuffled back down to god knows what position. Unfortunately that’s where I finished as I couldn’t manage to bridge the gap between me and the next rider Marcus Langford. Great race but gutted I couldn’t get the gap back. Next time maybe! Still finished a very respectful 8th. Good but not good enough so now its time to get some training in as my fitness is lacking and also work on my braking as I cant keep having people fly by when braking.
Yet again I’ve managed to smash my targets and drop my lap time. So now aiming for top 5 and 57’s seeing as I’m now down to 58.636. Great stuff!!