Mallory 2nd June 2002

 At all rounds so far in the 2002 season we have decided to do the official practice session that is held a each venue the day prior to each round.  Although this weekend was bound to be a little different as it was Mallory on the Sunday Oulton on the Monday, with travel from one to the other overnight.  Hence we knew there would be no opportunity for a practice at Oulton the day before, although we thought we might be able to book into Mallory for Saturday.  On investigation Mallory only do motorcycle practice on Wednesday (every Wednesday as it happens).  As going up the Wednesday prior wasn't really feasible we realised that we would have to forgo practice at both tracks this time.

The last time we visited either track was last year for the round that were held there when competing in the rookie 600 championship.  It seemed such a long time ago and as such I was a little apprehensive, as it had become such a mental crutch for me to 'get dialled in' to each track prior to racing there.  I was not hopeful that I would be able to perform as well as I would like to because of this and not be able to bring it home in the top 5, keeping the clubman 600 championship alive for me even at these rogue events.

There is 10 minutes practice on raceday now at every event which was better than nowt and would give us an opportunity to remember how the track went.  Although it had been a while since being at Mallory It is a pretty basic track and I seemed to be holding my own in practice.

Race one was called and the clubman riders all gathered in the collecting area.  Due to my standing in the championship I was placed on the front row as usual.  I took this opportunity in the holding area to chat to my fellow front row competitors to see if they had done any practice here since last season (hence measuring up my competition), two of the three hadn't so I didn't feel so bad. The three of us that hadn't been there joked that we would simply have to follow Kenny round.

I know this sounds bad but I was pleased to see that Chris Greg the championship leader wasn't on the grid, I enquired as to why to my fellow front row competitors, they said he had broken his wrist.  Although being competitive of nature this was good news for me, had this been any of the other competitors I would have felt sorry/been concerned for them.  But I consider Chris to be a dangerous and over aggressive rider and including the time he took me out at Oulton last year I must have half a dozen 'clashes' with him.  Silly/unnecessary things like him cutting my nose off on the warm up lap and nearly taking me out, and that he ran into my boot in the collecting area with no reason or apology offered.  This and several needless highspeed 'knocks' hasn't made him the most respected rider in my books.

We formed the grid, did the warm up lap and the lights went green I got a pretty good start and entered the first corner in 3rd.  This for me was where I wanted to be and not to drop back to about eighth or so as I have done in previous rounds where I don't want to get tangled into first lap kafuffles hence don’t go balls out.  Slipping back so far on he fist couple of laps normally means that I generate a great deal of needless work for myself to get on the podium.  Felt pretty comfortable in 3rd and made a move on Mr 2nd place into the hairpin.  Made a clean pass and got my head down.  Had a near highside on the left hander from the busstop which was a bit brown trouser, but I got my head down again.  A few laps went past, Kenny was defiantly faster and I didn't see the point in pushing it to try and catch up when I could simply bring it home in 2nd.  I took a look over my shoulder again and there was someone there (hadn't been anyone in touch prior) a silver CBR6.  This confused me slightly as it didn't fit the bill of the usual front runners.  Held him off for another lap or so and the Red flag came out. Just in time too as I think he was about to put a move on.  When we bunched up after race stoppage, it became evident that he had come from way back in 23rd ish to the front.  Respect!!  The race was re-started and it was an exact replay of the first part ... only this time a few laps in the CBR took me taking 2nd from me, I figured that was bound to happen if he had managed to get from right back there to the front and didn't see any point in pursuing, just kept myself in spitting distance of the front pair so as to pick up the pieces in event of an incident (they were dicing quite hard).  They didn't have an incident and I crossed the line comfortably in 3rd. with the CBR bloke taking the win.  I was kinda disappointed with myself that I let them have it like that, when if I was honest with myself I could have pushed harder and matched or even exceeded their pace.  However in my books the 3rd was a good result and if I dad of pushed it I may have had an off myself …all things considered I had done ok and kept my championship alive.

Andrew had managed to get a 7th place, his best yet and I was pleased for him as it was a good result and it proved to himself he was a top 10 rider whatever the conditions (before it would only be if it was in the wet and he had been lucky).  Not a bad mornings work all in all.

Next up Supersport 600 race.

I had my wheels changed to get my knackered old Dunlop’s put in to save the good Pilot Race2s for the Clubman races (i.e. not to worried about SS results and would rather save my decent rubber for the Clubman events where I have a championship to think of).  My right had slider had worn through so I put a new one on.

Andrew and I were side by side on the grid, great that meant we go to mess with each other.  The lights went green and Andrew got an awesome start, I wasn't far behind mind.  I noticed on the first couple of corners that my knee wasn't sliding as normal, this was traced to a missing slider ... yes the BRAND NEW one I had put on just prior to the race had fallen off ... I was a bit peeved and I realised I would have to pick my knee up in the corners ... however I hadn't considered what an aid/integral part to my riding kneedown was, I felt I didn't know how far the bike was over and how much further I could lean the bike.  Andrew was disappearing at a rate of knots and I was getting frustrated, but felt I would simply have to get on with it take it relatively easy and finish the race all be it feeling uncomfortable and off the pace.  A couple of laps later and that distant orange figure suddenly became closer ... no not because I had found warp speed but because Mr Mires was on his @rse!!  I saw that lovely orange bike go full chat into the tyre wall and Mr M spinning on his back on the track, I thoughtfully steered round his carcass and the race was red flagged.

From what I saw of the incident it didn't look too serious so I wasn't that concerned for Andrews safety.  Sitting waiting for the re-start I took the opportunity to swap my left kneeslider to my right knee (like most tracks Mallory is predominately right handers).  The lights went green and we were off ... that is the last I remember of being at Mallory ...

I guess my first recollection was of Matt and Kym talking to me ... I realised that I was in Hospital and concluded I must have had an off.  It was Sunday evening and the race had been held at about 1 that afternoon ... the time between was a total blank.  The only thing I really remember from that evening was that Matt and Kym were talking to me and told me Andrew was in another ward after being admitted too, I asked after him and they said he was essentially ok, but they were keeping an eye on him after suspected spleen injuries.  I said I would like to go visit him, but was told I couldn't go anywhere. I had to take their word for it that he was ok(ish).  I just felt tired and kept on drifting off (do remember the lovely back massages though, thanks Kym) ... I had massive pain in my back but it didn't stop me from sleeping.  All I remember from the rest of the night is doctors coming round wakening me up taking my blood pressure and asking me to wiggle my fingers and toes ... oh and shining a bright light in my eyes. 

What must have been the next day I came too and desperately need the loo ... tried getting out of bed ... the pain in my back was immense but I persevered and got up ... shimmied across the ward to the loo and relieved myself ... hobbled back to bed and went back to sleep ... woke up what must have been a few hours later to the merry faces of Matt and Kym again.  Asked once again if I could go see Andrew but the nurse said only after the doctor has been round.

The doctor did eventually come round and did a few tests on me. He asked me questions like what day is it (which I felt really hard to answer, but managed to blag it) and he pressed down my back around my spine asking if it hurt.  To be honest it all hurt like hell, but his individual prods didn't give me any stabbing pain, so I said no.

He asked me if I had suffered a back injury before as he could see some fractures in the x-ray ... I said I hadn't, no, he obviously wasn't too concerned as he discharged me.

I realised the events at Mallory could spell the end of Miers Racing as Andrew was on thin ice on the racing front as it was with his wife Annett (understandably ... she is his caring wife and they have two lovely kids).  I had spoken to Andrew on the way home and said that I would understand if he wanted to/had to quit racing and that I would probably do so too and not to feel he has let me down or something.  To be honest the way I was feeling I was ready to quit and needed an excuse!!!

However the next day I woke up and realised what a big part of my life racing is and how if I think about it I couldn't quit?? ... what would I do with my life!??!? ... I expressed my new feelings with Andrew and he said he doesn't want to give up either but thinks he should/will have to.  As said earlier, I am totally ok with that and have the greatest respect for Annett, the kids and Andrews other commitments.

5 days later now and although my back is showing a little improvement, my head is still fuzzy and I need to go to sleep every few hours ... The question remains .. what am I going to do????