Next Race....

My next race is less than a week away and i can't wait.

I'm at Mallory Park and i definitely feel from i can be at the front, i've proven to myself i can go quick and i know i can mix it with the front runners.

So 31st August, put it in your diarys and we'll see you there

Si 131#

Craig Jones

Just wanted to say how sorry i was to hear about the death of Craig Jones, a world class rider who i'am sure would have been World Champion.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

rip 18#

Race 2

Race 2 was here and if i hadn't mentioned it before the weather was really hot, i'd been drinking water since i got to Mallory Park and i'd gone through about 6 litres so far.

The lights were out and i got a decent enough start, i'd gained a few places into Gerrards and another into a very busy and hectic Edwinas.

I was feeling far more relaxed on the bike and instantly felt quicker, i was gaining constantly on the bikes in front.

It was about half distance when i got right on the tail of a KTM SuperDuke, i was all over it on the brakes but out of the corners it had far too much torque for me and i couldn't get past.

I was still trying really hard and with about 2 laps to go my tyre had gone off, i knew there were bikes right behind me and i still had to keep on the pace, i was now sliding coming out of the slower corners, and into Gerrards it was moving around.

Through Edwinas for the final time and a bit of a slide coming out of Edwinas and through the Esses and upto the hairpin. I was leaving the brakes as late as possible when a bike came past on the inside!!

Luckily he'd overshot the corner and re took the place on the inside, through the Bus Stop and then the sprint to the line.....

I'd had a much better race and felt far more relaxed and it definitely showed through the race.

I'd finished 14th overall from 21st on the grid and 7th in class.

I had really enjoyed the race and best of all and i'd posted my fastest ever time round Mallory a 1:00.804

I was over the moon when i saw the time sheets, 7th place had done 1:00.390 so

i'd proved to myself that i can go that bit quicker and now i had the belief that i can break the 1 minute barrier.

I was well and truely knackered but had loved the good racing and a big thank you to Thundersport GB for a well organised event and hopefully next year i can run a full season with them

Before i forget the races will be on Motors Tv on Sky Tv

Race 1

I was a long way back on the grid ( 2nd from the back) and as they say the only way is up or in this case forward.

I didn't get too bad a start and quickly settled in, i was up a few places into Edwinas and another into the hairpin.

I was trying harder than ever and this proved to be my downfall, i was too concerned about getting past people on the brakes as i was down on power on quite a bit of the field, and it all started by going into Edwinas and taking 2 bikes on the brakes, and then nearly going off onto the grass.

This wasn't a good race i wasn't racing with my head and every time i took a place i seemed to lose it moments later, as hard as i tried i just seemed to be making more and more mistakes.

I wasn't too happy at all.

I'd tried and given everything but it was to no avail, i'd shown that no matter how hard you try it's not necessarily the best way to race.

I'd finished 18th from 21st and i'd finished 9th in class,which all considering wasn't too bad i suppose but i do know i can do better and know i could go quicker, my fastest time in the race was slower than my qualifying time a 1min 1.574 sec.

Qualifying

I was slightly unsure how to approach this, did i go away with all the pack or just hold back and go on my own with free track in front of me so i could build up and not get duffed up by other riders.

Well i decided to sit back wait for everyone to fire away then i was off, i wanted to settle myself into a rythem then build up faster and faster.

I felt comfortable on the bike, and i was pushing harder and harder then after about 7 or 8 laps going up into the hairpin i got arm pump, i'd suffered from it before and knew instantly that i'd struggle to go any quicker, i completed another lap but that was it, i had to come in early, i couldn't go any quicker... that was that..

I'd qualified 21st out of 28, the decision to hang back was probably not the best but you live and learn and at least i know what to do next time..

Thundersport GB (Mallory Park)

This was a first for me, i'd heard about Thundersport GB and knew that the competition was really good and also that it was televised on Motors Tv on sky.

This was a real last minute decision to run this meeting and was made possible by Eddy Roberts at Complog who forked out the money for the entry fee.

The layout of the day was i'd have a 10 minute practice session then a 15 minute qualifying session then two races.

Qualifying? I'd never done this before and wasn't too sure how to approach it.......

Here goes...

Donington (Race 2)

The second race was ready to start and i was 16th on the grid and was more determined to be a bit more aggressive.

Into Redgate and i was on the inside and it was manic, but i was gonna stand my ground and get in amongst it.

Round Coppice and i was not losing too much out of there and up the straight, i was hard on the brakes and right up behind a few bikes, i was quick through the chicane but i couldn't keep the momentum up as i was being slowed down through the corner.

I'd managed to break away from the bikes right behind me and was gaining on the two bikes in front, i felt quicker than i was in the first race and as soon as i got some free track i closed right up on the bikes in front, i was feeling quicker and quicker and felt i could catch and get past the two bikes in front.

I'd finally managed to get my nose in front and now had free track in front and got my head down, i was braking later and later and getting on the gas earlier and earlier.

I was coming down Craner Curves and flat out in 6th when just through the left hander when the rear tyre decided to keep me on my toes by having a bit of a moment, by this time it was the last lap and i'd gained on the bike in front but didn't have the time or to be honest the energy to get past.

I'd felt much better in this race, i'd relaxed a lot more and felt quicker than the first but i wasn't, my fastest time in race 2 was a 1min 23.28

Oh well, i'd had a good day and was looking forward to the next meeting..

Donington Park (North Gloucester)

Well after the previous week at Mallory and winning my first trophy i was full of confidence and couldn't wait to get on track. I'd done a few afternoons at Donington on the National circuit and i was pretty confident of doing well.

The last time i rode with North Gloucester was at Thruxton and i remember how quick some of those lads were.

We went out for practice and i didnt feel too confident, i kept getting caught in traffic and never had a clear lap, i really didn't feel confident and i kept getting passed on the back straight and to be honest i was pretty concerned.

I came in after practice and looked at the times, I'd done a 1 min 27secs and was 24th overall out of 43.

Not too bad as i know i didn't push to hard, but my gearing was wrong for the back straight and knew the race was going to be a struggle......

On the grid for the 1st race and i was 20th and what seemed to be a long long way to the front. Anyhow the lights were off and we were away, i didn't get too bad a start but still seemed to get swamped, upto Redgate and it was madness there were bikes on either side, were were nearly bashing fairings into the first corner and off down into Craner (the joys of club racing) and i was slowly gaining on people in front, i'd listened to Alec from SMT Honda (BSB Team) and after he'd showed me the lines round Donington i was keen to put it into practice.

So after the first few laps i knew where i was strong and where i was struggling, i was getting better and better on the brakes but out and out top speed i was struggling on the back straight.

I got into a bit of a battle and was swapping places every other corner, i was quick through the last chicane, good on the brakes through Redgate, down through Craner curves and the Old hairpin. The only place i was losing out on really was coming out of Coppice and the back straight.

I thought i was doing ok, but again i was out dragged on the straight but managed to pass them back on the brakes and the outside of the chicane i was back through.

Onto the last lap i was into Redgate and upto about 14th or 13th, then through Craner and the Old Hairpin, soon as we got on the straight i was passed by 2 bikes, i was gutted, and i couldn't get back at them.

I'd finished 16th and knew i could do better, but i suppose i had to settle for it and learn from the first race.

I had done a 1min 23.13s and i knew i could go quicker as my times were quicker than the guys in front..