Donington Park 18th & 19th July 2003  

Click here for Donington Layout

Donington is one of those legendry tracks that everyone associates with British motor racing, much like Brands Hatch and Silverstone.  I had raced at both the latter tracks with my normal club, but they didn't hold rounds at Donington.  Matts club however were running a round at Donington this season, so I thought it'd be rude not to enter and I could then say I have raced at all 3 of the UK most prestigious tracks. 

I had done a practice trackday a few weeks prior, but due to weather and red flags etc didn't really get much value from it. Also it was the full GP circuit, and the race was to be on the short circuit (this only means missing out Foggy Esses and Melbourne loop, but still different!). Therefore I decided to sign up for the official practice held there on Friday (18th), especially as Matt intended to do it (and I was to be travelling with him so be there anyway) it was only 2*20 min sessions, but that would be OK. 

I had been under whelmed by Donington on my first visit, but was hoping that with a proper stab at it, it might grow on me?? 

I had but one objective for the weekend.  To beat/be faster than the NEW improved Matt, who I had noticed is defiantly coming to form of late (not that I am competitive or anything!). 

Well two actually, I wanted to stay on as I didn’t want another off rocking what confidence I had been getting back after my off at Snetterton.  So in short, ride as fast as I could, but not beyond myself and not take too many needless risks and try to steer clear of trouble.  That was unless I got to dice with Matt at any stage, when it was a 'win it or bin it' strategy.  Even thought he is on form at the mo, he wasn’t going to beat me!!  To make me perform my best I have to have this sort of incentive/goal, I pick someone I want to beat and just dig deeper and deeper until I make it so.  I have always needed this to make me go that extra mile (pardon the pun) and missing of late as I don’t know/recognise anyone who I am racing against race on race. 

Matt was in different qualifiers to me, so morning races there was no chance of a dingle.  He was also starting from the front of the gird in the 600s and I was near the rear, therefore chances are that I wouldn’t be able to qualify too near him for the final. i.e. if you finish say 10th in the qualifier you are actually gridded 20th(or 19th) for the final as the other quaifier top 10 are mixed in.  Therefore actually 10 positions behind where you finished in the first race. where as if you finish 3rd you are positioned 6th (or 5th) only 3 positions behind where you finished the first race.  Consequently the further down the pack you finish the more this effect works against you and you are further back as a percentage. Matt was starting on the front row in his race so would not get into any 1st corner gridlock and all being well probably finish in the top 5-6. Starting back in 28th I’d have to be lucky in the first turn jostle (can make or loose many many places) and realistically I’d have to be flying to even get a top 10 finish and if I did that would still mean I’d start at least 10 places behind him for the final. 

I actually like the concept of qualifier races BTW it gives the first race more purpose, just realise it meant the chances of getting anywhere near Matt for the 600 final was slim. 

However the Open was a different matter entirely, Matt was actually set to start a couple of rows behind where I was in his equivalent qualifier so the chances of us qualifying close together was higher. So the Open qualifier was my race of focus. 

Practice day session 1 

Weather was good, brand new tyres fitted so intended to take the first few laps easy to scrub them in.  This would also give me an opportunity to re-settle in and work out the new chicane where the split between the full and short circuit occurs.  Matt set off before me and bearing in mind he had never been to the track before (although done many a lap on the x-box ;o) ) set off quite briskly.  Not really a problem keeping up, but I wouldn't have wanted to go much quicker with unscrubbed tyres.  A few laps passed and the pace picked up.  Didn't feel too comfortable with the new Pirellis as they were very different feel to the Michelins I had been using.  But realised that the tyres were good, just needed to re-adjust/calibrate and convince myself and get them nicely scrubbed in.  Matt was still ahead, but I had purposely not let him get too far away, started to pick up the pace now to catch him, getting right on his heels but slower riders getting in the way so loosing ground on Matt until I passed them.  Matt was luckier and more confident with the back markers.  I felt I was quicker through the left hander of Craner than him and finally was in the position where I could make a pass into the old hairpin, which I executed.  I did mess up the hairpin a bit though actually over braking and then having to pick the bike up as I was set to apex to early.  But my position on the track meant that Matt had nowhere to go, ended up more of a block pass, but heay. 

Went though the next few series corners ok, but not as fast/cleanly as I had been doing, guess I was conscious I wanted to keep matt behind.   Got to the backstraight and about 1/2 of the way down I could hear this growling from behind, I know who that is I thought ... then whoosh ... Matt streamed past at probably 10mph more!!  ... Ouch ...  I was hoping to make the ground back on the brakes, but Matt was pretty late there too and held his line good, so I wasn't in a position to pass.  I did make another pass on him and held him off for longer this time.   

There were some people that were pretty slow into turn 1, but it is a funny corner that tightens up on itself and has a very late apex so you don't really want to be entering it offline.  And I generally wasn't making passes there, especially as I was pretty slow out of the previous corner (Goddards) onto the start-finish therefore not really in any sort of 'sling shot' overtake position for this turn 1.  On this lap there was one of these particularly slow people that braked far to early, I sensed this as I noticed he was slow into the chicane but as I said I didn't really feel comfortable making a pass here, so pre-emptively braked early too ...  hard on the brakes and starting to slow then BANG my left bar was smacked pretty hard ... the bike lurched left ... elbowed my way off the other rider who was still going a good 5-10mph faster ... it was Matt ... luckily I didn't go down, but was now going into the corner too fast, so with the bike still unsettled had to hit the brakes hard, the rear rose in the air and started snaking to the left and I had to ease off a bit, I was also looking at Matt wondering if he was gonna make it as he had swerved into the extra bit of track that is the pit lane exit, heading straight for the kitty litter. He did manage to bully the bike back on track and we both made it round the corner ok, if not in a very messy manner.  As we exited turn one, Matt looked behind to check I was ok and I gave him a signal to say I was ok, I was actually giggling/sniggering a little as I was gonna be able to give him some stick about this (and no harm had actually come of it).  We then both recomposed and buckled down.  Shortly after it was red flagged.  

It was safe to say there wasn't much in it between us, I felt when following him that I was stronger on the brakes and had a better line into turn 1 (Redgate), through Craner down to the old hairpin and some of the other corners round the back of the course, but Matt had the confidence to get on the power sooner and would pull away on the exit of the final chicane (Goddards, a dodgy right, off camber left chicane) every time.  I could close up at several points but others I would loose out like on the back straight and final chicane every lap (I think I was extra wary on the exit of Goddards as it is reminiscent of Russels Chicane at Snetterton where I had high sided powering up on the exit recently). 

The next practice session went much the same pace wise, but traffic seemed thicker and the differential was a bit less making passes even harder.  Matt and I did carve our way though some of the traffic, but I got stuck behind a pack of about 4 that Matt had got through, but I felt they were too erratic to cleanly pass.  I'd get past one for example then the one in front would get in the way/cut me up and I’d have to back off so I wouldn't run into them and then the other bloke would pass me and stuff me up again.  It was only practice and I couldn't be doing with all that. So Matt and I didn’t get to dice. 

Best laptime 1:21.7  

Race day 

Practice  

Went out for my morning practice, as soon as the bike hit the power band the clutch started slipping ... Oooo ... tried winding in the adjuster on the leaver in case it needed adjusting but it made no difference.  Why did it not do this yesterday so I had a chance to change it last night!?!?! <expletive> I had noticed the clutch was on its way out as it had been causing the odd little slip here and there at other races for a while, but never been a constant/big problem.  Now it was a different matter entirely though, this was proper slip and lots of it!!!  Persevered and the clutch did get much better after about 3 laps, only really slipping noticeably coming onto the backstraight.  Morning practice was busy and I was struggling to get ‘on it’ with clutch slip too, was at best a couple of seconds slower than my previous best the day before. 

I did have a new set of clutch plates in my spares box, but not enough time to change them before the next practice or race ... carp!! 

This did make me a bit despondent and didn't know what the best course of action was.  The first time when I would defiantly have enough time to change the clutch would be over lunch, so decided I’d have to make do until then.

Race 1 600 A qualifier

Was in different qualifier (and practice) sessions to Matt for both the 600 and Open (any cc bike) races. 

Start 28th on the grid.  Knowing I didn’t have a great clutch and that race starts were particularly hard on them I didn’t want to give it to many beans at the start, else this might burn it out totally.  The light sequence took ages to change and loads of people made a semi jump start (lurched forwarded then stopped) Actually got away pretty good and made a few places into Redgate but got caught behind slow bloke so lost out on the exit and it was the old hairpin before I could get past him … worked my way forward a bit after that, finished 17th best lap 1:22.? Not exactly fantastic and slower than the day before. 

Watched Matts race (straight after mine) he was starting 4th! on the grid. He got away good and held 4th (might have been 5th) into turn 1.  For the first couple of laps he had a great dice with his racing buddy Stu, great to watch and you could tell it was firing him up.  He put in one unbelievable 1:19.? in the chase (lap 2) (which made me sweat a bit as I hadn’t even broken the 20s!! he was on fire!!), but he then seemed to slow back into the 1:20-22s when he lost touch with Stu (later found out he had had a big ‘moment’) and ended up loosing another place or two, he was riding well anyway, but luckily for Matt two of the leaders went down (in separate events) so still finished 4th. 

Race 2 Open B qualifier 

Start 23rd Andrew a couple of rows back, great start cleaner through Redgate, but still loosing out.  Clutch started to bite better after a lap or two, got settled in, started to make my way through the pack and making good progress, but found racing against more powerful bikes (remember Open means R1s etc) and people that evidently didn’t care if they (or you) went home in a body bag … really frustrating. The classic blast down the straights, erratic lines and hold you up on the in the corner and at a track like Donington you are always playing ‘catch up’ on the brakes, but not quite enough to make a clean pass .  Finished14th  

Actually qualified 2 rows in front of Matt when the grids were calculated.  Nice. 

Lunch (no lunch) Clutch 

There had actually been loads of standing around due to plenty of red flags causing restarts and hold-ups.  Thus there had prolly been enough time to change the clutch plates prior to my second race, but I had planned to do it at lunch so hadn’t even thought about doing it prior but a bit miffed that the opportunity had actually been there in the end.  Things were now running so late they had cancelled lunch so I was now unsure if I should risk changing it as I no longer had as long before my next race (i.e. lost an hour due to no lunch) ... would there be enough time before race3?? but if I didn’t change then I’d be running with a slipping clutch still ... but if I did change and was still fiddling come race start then I’d miss it … also even if I did get it changed the tyres would probably not be up to full temp where the warmers had been off  (I had originally thought it was a bike ‘on its side’ job for clutch change so the oil wouldn't come out, (like it would on all the other bikes I have done a clutch on), and therefore stands (and warmers) would be removed).  However on closer inspection the clutch on the R6 is above the dipstick, so it should be above the oil level ..... I had been ummming and arring but after discovering this and realising that if the bike was kept upright warmers etc could be kept on I decided to go for it ... with Matt’s and Edi's help it was a slick maneuver and done in plenty of time, phew!! 

Race 3 600 A race 

Races had now been reduced to 5 laps. (as it was a very ‘full’ day they were a measly 6 laps to start with!! … ) 

I had actually qualified right at the back of the A final.  (Matt had qualified on the second row). 

I had just fitted the new clutch so starting from the back row might be a blessing in disguise as it took the danger emphasis of getting away cleanly from the line away.  So I could safely do a fairly mechanically sympathetic start, I don’t think a race start is the nicest christening for a brand new clutch!!    

Kept the revs pretty low off the line and short shifted up to Redagate, remaining in last place, but surprisingly only losing out by about 10 bike lengths to the next bloke (which I largely made up again on the brakes).  Short shifted for the entire first lap and worked it up from there, by lap 2 I was starting to take people then a bloke went down out of old hairpin, he was left spinning on the racing line, bikes swerving everywhere, but we all managed to miss him. 

Was building speed lap on lap now as I knew that the clutch was bedding in so I could be more free with the revs/power and starting to get dialled in hunting people down.  Over the next lap or so I worked my way past a few more. Then when I was already heavily on the brakes into the last turn/chicane (Goddards) a bloke shot past my RHS at a rate of knots, it was if he hadn’t even begun to brake, he was going to go straight on surely?!?! … normally that wouldn’t have effected me as I could simply let him do so and get the place back after he has gone wide … but there was 3 people right in front of me … he was gonna be very lucky if he didn’t collect one or more of them … preparing for the carnage I slowed more than usual … he was still on the brakes in a straight line as the bloke in front of me was turning in, somehow (only by luck and the riders in front of me’s fast reactions) he didn’t take any one out, but I had lost all my momentum. Suicide bloke and the guy in front managed to make the turn (good job the track is deep at this point) and get back on the power and in the way enough so I couldn’t complete a pass.  I did pass suicide bloke later in that lap and the other guy too and all was well … then the suicide bloke did the same stupid move into Goddards, but nearly taking me out this time.  I though, you obviously want this and are willing to take us both out in the trying … all for what late twenty summin place?? … poke that … and chased but didn’t bother passing again for fear he would collect me.  Passed chequered flag and from a pace point of view I felt as if my race was only just beginning.  Looking at my lap times I had been getting faster lap on lap and was actually about a second or so faster than my previous best (which I had actually achieved on the practice day and not bettered race day).  I was set to only go quicker if the race was longer and if suicide bloke was to go commit ‘hari cari’ peacefully somewhere to get him out of the way.  Perhaps the clutch made a bigger difference than I had thought? I think I was mentally more dialled in for this race too as I was settled in and winding it up and up …  

dunno exactly where I finished, but probably only a couple from the back. 

Matt had started from second row, but struggled with tyre problems and slipped back to 22nd which unbeknown to me meant he was only a handful of places in front of me at the finish. 

Matts mate Stu had highsided big coming out of Goddards onto the start finish, smashed his rear wheel and snapped his frame in two, luckily he was just badly battered an bruised, nothing serious, but the bike was well poorly. 

Race 4 Open B race 

Due to running even further behind schedule now (more red flags/restarts and sidecar spilt its guts big style taking time to clear) all races were now only 4 laps!! 

Matt had been running slicks but decided to change tyres after his tyre problems in his previous race, he had new Supercorser front to put on, and a semi used Supercorsa rear. 

Knew Matt had this new front in, thought this might buy me a lap or two whilst he scrubbed it in … although Matt said he reckoned the warmup lap would be enough … hummmm possibly, but if it were me I’d prolly want a lap or two more before I really pushed it to make sure … I think he realised this too, however with his mentality/confidence of late and knowing I was in front of him, I wouldn’t have been surprised if I saw him attempting to go round the outside in the first corner!! So would have to make good job of it from the off!! 

First race start with new bedded in clutch … I was starting from the second row so knew I had a good chance of a top ten, possibly a top 5 finish and wanted to get away well and then have some free air to get my head down, my previous race and new clutch showed I was starting to get my laptimes down despite interruptions, therefore without suicide bloke and running at the front, with the knowledge/incentive of wanting to keep Matt at bay I was hoping/expecting better still.  I was stating to get focus and performance was reflecting this. 

The lights were an eternity on red and many people lunged forward … catching this in the corner of my eye, I knee jerked and rolled forward too .. but realise it’d be a false start so pulled the clutch in … the lights instantly went green … doh!! … so I declutched again … this means but one thing … WHEELIE … and yep she rose … clutch in … clutch out … fought to keep the front down but was doing the classic front wheel ‘nod’ where I was desperately trying to get the power down still … I was now in 3rd gear with the wheel still reaching for the sky and only because I had to hit the brakes for Redgate did I finally get the front down … although I am sure it looked spectacular it was a disaster and I had lost loads of ground in this manoeuvre. Got mugged into turn 1 and during the first few corners where I wasn’t in ‘the flow’.  

After this abysmal start it took a lap or so to settle in and I then started to make a bit of ground. Took a few riders, but not really that comfortable/was unsettled.  The other riders lines etc seemed really erratic jostling for position and there was the ‘going home in a body bag' mentality problem making things really dodgy too … reminiscent of a BEMSEE SS6 race!!… I didn’t want any of that … it was my birthday and I didn't want the irony of it being me death day too!! … I was getting held up … as my primary goal was to beat Matt, I just held a reasonable pace but without getting ‘involved’ and thought I’d only start proper trying/take risks in dicing if/when Matt passed as I had some incentive then.  A bike passed … I jumped to attention … aha here he is … but na it wasn’t Matt … and let them go … a couple of people did pass in this manner, but as soon as I realised it wasn’t Matt I let them go … the race was over all too soon and Matt hadn’t overtaken. 

Matt had not been comfortable with the new front tyre … he was trying to brake as late as he was on slicks and the tyre was having none of it … probably a factor of it needing fully scrubbing in and it not offering the same grip/feel of a slick??  

Summary 

Well day over and both Matt and I were going home with ourselves and bikes in one bit which is always a bonus.  We had both suffered mechanical (if you can call tyres mechanical) problems at different times over the weekend and found our best form at different times and not really had the opportunity to duke it out for real head to head, but overall it had been a good, if not eventful day. 

The races were a bit to short for me to perform, it usually takes me a couple of laps to settle in (things to calm down tyre temp etc) and it seemed the races were all over to quickly.  I always used to perhaps loose ground for the first couple of laps then make my way forward … in a 4-5 lap race there isn’t much time for this!!! 

Although I do like it a bit better now, I am still under whelmed by Donington and although glad I have done it/raced there, and it was a great opportunity. I will not be champing at the bit to go there again.  I expected more from such a prestigious track. 

Oh and I have been concentrating on my breathing of late thinking it may be linked to fatigue I sometimes suffer.  On the way to work the other day I realised why I tend to hold my breath/shallow breathe even on the road .… it is not a actually a nervous thing as I at first perhaps thought, I think it actually stems from my road riding.  I noticed (now I am looking out for it/wanting to practice making myself breath on the road in the hope it’d become natural) that I tend to hold my breath/shallow breathe, especially at lights/in slow traffic etc … why??? … to prevent my visor misting!!! (I ride bikes in all weathers year round and spent most of my riding life without any form of anti-fog other than cranking the visor open slightly), I noticed once that I naturally lifted my visor right open at one stage and I took a massive breath … my body was evidently telling me to breathe …. I had been sat there too long without breathing properly (I had actually been stationary in a row of traffic (solid white lines meant I couldn’t pass)) for a bit at the time….  When racing you have to have your visor fully closed at all times … I bet this subconsciously makes me breathe less … I noticed I was sat on the grid hardly breathing … as soon as I noticed this, I purposely took deep breaths (it was red hot out and I have a fog city in my race lid) this relaxed me more and yet also made me more alert.  When actually riding I also made sure I took constant deep breaths (when I had the odd opportunity to be thinking about such things).  It felt really good, placebo maybe?, but I didn’t suffer from fatigue (to the extent where I have to slow) at all on either day.  Admittedly the races were a bit shorter than normal though, but I have done the breathing thing on my last trackday and it worked then too. 

Confidence is growing and I am looking forward to my next round, which is coincidently at Cadwell!!!!  Only problem is it is a month away … I could really do with ‘striking while the irons hot’ … but heay wot can u do??!!  Well track days, but that is hardly the same and I do have to watch budget!!!!