Snetterton 5th April 2003  

Click here for Snetterton track layout

This round was held on the Monday (bank holiday) directly after a full weekend (Sat and Sun) where another BEMSEE event was being held.  This meant that the practice day would have been on the Friday, which was too inconvenient for me.  I had already raced at Snetterton four weeks prior, so although hardly ‘fresh’ in my mind it was not as if I was totally raw.  Also there had been Oulton round a fortnight prior so I had been on the bike since.  So I decided to forgo the practice day and just go for race day. 

My best (recorded) time at Snetterton is a 1:14.  When I was there at the start of this (2003) season I had battled hard to eventually get a best time of 1:16.  My aim was to get back to 1:14s by the end of the day 1:13s or less would be a bonus. 

Went out for morning practice, which is only about 10 mins.  After initial lap or two, was comfortably banging in 1:17s.  Then the flag came out, but I was pleased that I wasn’t struggling at all and yet nearly matching my lap times from my last visit, I was obviously much more confident.  I could see where I needed to improve and felt that 1:16s would soon come after a few laps in the first race, mibie even the 1:14s. 

Race 1  Supersport 600 

13th on grid, I was pleased with this as I seem to have been placed well rear (if not back row) of the pack of late, this is bedlam and you really have your work cut out.  I never ride well when surrounded by lots of unpredictable people/bikes, as there are too many variables and I can’t confidently carve my own line, which is off-putting and I always have to leave that ‘margin’ for error (in case they do summin stoopid) which costs me a two or three seconds a lap.

Got a good start, plenty of drive, pretty much held my own on the opening lap, mibie losing 1-2 places overall in the frantic first lap jostle (take some - loose some).  Was catching the guy in front round Corams and managed to close a bit more on the brakes into Russels chicane.  Then I noticed the guy in front of him dumped it on the exit of Russels; had to roll off and change line to avoid him/his bike, not as close as things were at Oulton, but very reminiscent.  Although not as butt-clenchingly close, it held me up and lost momentum and was now in the wrong gear.  The guy in front of me prior had managed to avoid the carnage and had gained about 20 bike lengths on me by the time I got rolling again.  I think the others behind me got held up too as I didn't get taken straight away.  However come the back-straight I got mugged by 2 riders. 

Closed back up a bit on the brakes and got good drive out of the Esses towards the Bomb Hole.  Then we were round Corams and entered Russels for the second time I powered up on the exit, perhaps a little keener than before (but then I had been particularly ginger through there so far this season) but still what I thought I was fairly reserved.  Then the back slid out, then bit again, quick as that, I was ejected out of the seat in a highside. As I was still holding on to the bars I did a monkey swing over the front like a Gymnast on 'the beam' … with my feet past vertical in the air and the screen/front of my fairing tapping against my visor, I realised at that point I’d probably not get this one back … then just relaxed and waited for the inevitable.  Can’t really remember the next bit as it happened so quick, but I obviously went down and I remember sliding backwards, I felt my lid tap the ground and thought oh <expletive> not another lid … and I lifted my head, slid a bit more then was rolled on my side in the turf.  Jumped up as soon as I could and ran to safety (the tyre wall). 

As I ran over I saw something dangling from my arm, it was only my ‘kill switch’ lanyard I had recently fitted to the bike (a bit of cord that connects your arm to a switch so when you and the bike part the ignition is cut, the same thing can be seen on jet skis).  This obviously had been put into use and had popped off as it should. Took my lid off and checked that over … it had taken a tumble, but luckily the damage seemed to only be a little bit on one of the plastic ‘ducts’ on the top and the visor clamp cover on the side, the lid integrity/shell looked untouched.  After realising my lid and I was probably ok, and now behind the tyre wall, I looked back at my bike, the marshals were attending to it.  There was ominous smoke coming from it and I could see one of the rearsets/pegs was nearly at right angles to its normal position.  At this point I was a bit miffed I was doing pretty well and I had lobbed it so early on … I started swearing lots … and paced up and down, not sure I stopped swearing for some time … 

I then saw my pitcrew they asked if I was ok, my first words were “yeah … are my leathers ok?” <twiddling round> … they said “yep seem to be”, then I continued pacing up and down, swearing some more.  My bike had been parked on the tyrewall now and I decided to look over the top at it … I could see the clip-on was toast and my nice new front master cylinder reservoir was too, gutted!!

Asked my pit crew who were still stood at the fence if they had got any pictures of me being spat off, the answer was no. I then pointed out if I was going to go to the trouble and costing myself hundreds of pounds in repair bills for their amusement, they could have at least had the curiosity to take a photo of it!! ;o) 

I then swore and paced some more … then the race ended and I returned to my bike ready for the recovery van.  It was spewing oil out of the LHS casing (generator cover), I walked round to see a massive hole in the casing, it had obviously smashed on impact and I worried about where the fragments would have ended up.  I also noticed grit/dust sticking to the side where the oil was spewing out.

They loaded the bike and it spewed out more oil in the van, they thoughtfully ran my bike right through the oil … 

The scruteneeers made a note of the damage and released the bike.  I was a bit confused as to how I had broken the RHS clip-on, yet it was the LHS casing that was smashed and the LHS rearset that had bent in two. 

When I got back to the awning I asked what had happened (from a spectators viewpoint), as I already knew I had gone over the bars holding on, but after letting go the bike supposedly ran me over (my tummy) and flew through the air rolling over (NOT end on end ‘cartwheel’, a roll). The clip-on obviously caught in the roll and snapped, the bike evidently flicked up a bit more and continued its roll in mid-air and then came back down HARD on the engine casing and peg. 

That explained the damage to the bike, but I would have thought I’d have felt it if the bike had run me over!  I think it must have just looked like that from where they were stood??  

The crash was down to two possible things, 1: cold (not optimal temperature) tyres and getting on the gas, or 2: slipped on oil (or summin deposited by the other bike the lap before when it went down). 

On removal of the smashed casing, two bits of fragment became visible but lining them up, they weren’t all of them.  There was also masses of grit all round the area, which had evidently been scooped in there when the bike slid across the turf/dust after the casing smashed it open on impact.  Nasty.  The bigger problem is that there is passage ways from this area into the main area of the engine, you could clearly see the lobes of the crank thought the passage way, hence the big-ends, mains etc were covered in grit too.  At this point I started to worry bigtime.  What damage could this have done scooping all this is when the engine was running??? 

As I mentioned I had fitted a lanyard kill switch, which should have stopped the motor when I departed from the bike (obviously far enough for the cable to pull out and activate the kill switch) but had that happened before the impact?  If it had then I might be lucky and the engine would have potentially been stopped (or nearly stopped) when it smashed and scooped.  If it had been running, then the potential damage of them metal fragments and grit/stones was unthinkable. 

Decided at this point that I would have to drop the sump off.  I was glad I did as there was loads of grit in the bottom.  I looked up to see particles of grit indeed sticking to the bottom of the crank.  GULP!!! I then bought some brake cleaner as I figured that was the best way to get rid of the gravel.  i.e. it has a powerful jet and if you can de-grease (de-oil) the engine components then the grit (that isn’t wedged in somewhere) should simply fall/blow away.   

Bought the other spares I needed and borrowed a reservoir off Andrew (who luckily had one in his spares box as the bike spares stalls didn’t have any for sale).  The rearset was bent, but worth a try to see if it would hammer back into shape.  Much smashing with a club hammer and twisting in the vice and is semi-resembled its former self.  With alli you are lucky if it doesn’t snap on bending it back, so I was well pleased/relieved as I didn’t have a spare and again no one had a direct replacement part available (could have bought a whole new pair of rearsets for £many though). 

I bought a new oil sump gasket (well pleased/surprised spares man had one of those as I was expecting to have to resort to instant gasket, which would then mean replacing at a later date) some more brake cleaner and a oil filter.  My intention was to clean all visible grit and then fill with oil. I had enough oil to do this in some partially used tubs (i.e. need 2.5L at change, buy 4L tubs thus have ~1.5L left) to mix and fill it up. I’d run the bike at tickover for a minute or so to hopefully flush any other bits I couldn’t see/get to into the oil and then do an oil and filter change. 

My second race of the day was now called and I was gutted I was going to miss it. 

Race 2 Supersport 600

... Missed

 Time passed whilst cleaning and sorting out the rearset etc. 

Matt had been sorting the new clipon and reservoir out whilst I was cleaning the engine (internals) and we filled it with the oil I was using to flush it.  Laid the bike over on both its sides to let the oil ‘wash’ round the engine a bit (bottom end etc would have been bone dry with all that brake cleaner).  

I guess I had collected a good mug full of grit all in during the cleaning process. 

Pressed the button and I was pleased that the bike started ok and didn’t make any horrible noises or seem to smoke.  Let it run for a bit, then stopped it and changed the oil&filter. 

I was the last race of the day too and had been frantically trying to make that, hence been working relentlessly all day.  It was now about 40 mins before that race was due to start. 

I then restarted the bike and let it run with the new oil.  When the engine had been running for about 2 minutes Matt noticed some smoke out the back, I just thought it was condensation at first, but then I revved the bike up and oil smoke then was clearly visible. With Matts help too here and there it had taken me in excess of 7 hours to get to this point and I was mortified that after all that work, my initial fears of ingestion and engine damage seemed to have come true.  At this point the realisation set in that I had seemingly effectively totaled the engine in this crash, that and the physical and mental endurement of the day I was close to tears.  This signified not only the end of my race day, but probably the end of my season and race career.  I simply can’t afford a new engine and to race. 

I took a few moments, and then Andrew popped in and said ‘well done Mr Bailey, you’ve managed to get it going in time’ (he didn’t realise/know that it was now smoking or the gravity of the matter to me, just herd it running)  I was so gutted at my recent findings I couldn’t even muster a response and stayed silent staring at the floor. 

A few more moments passed, I was in a trance, in another place.  I then mentally slapped myself in the face and spoke to Matt.  There was a possibility that this smoke was simply residue from the cleaning process (used plenty of WD40 too) that may have found its way into the downpipes (to get the sump off you can simply split the exhaust off from the downpipes, rather than taking the whole lot off, this leaves the open end exposed), it was a long shot, but I didn’t really have anything to loose by running it.  The harm was already done, so what the hell.  I’d just keep my eye out for a black flag (shown when you are requested to come in, usually because there is something visibly wrong with your bike) I’d know what it was for and come straight in if needed. Hopefully it was just residue and would clear fingers were firmly crossed. 

Washed the bike (grit was and oil was all over the chain and tyres and everything) and took it to scrutineering.  They passed it (and my lid) and it was straight back to the pits.  Tried to scuff the tyres up as they looked scary shiny with a file and put the warmers on.   I had about 20 mins before the race now.  They had luckily decided to split the race that was due to be one prior to mine into two separate races, this bought me about another 1/4 hr.  I was pleased of this as it would give a chance for the warmers to … well warm ...

It also gave me time to sit there and contemplate what I was about to get myself into … 

Race 3 Clubman 600 

I had missed all that track time on what turned out to be a great day weather wise, I’d had no practice day to get dialed in either so was still raw, I’d taken a tumble, I had oil impregnated/over my tyres, which were shiny with the scuffing/buffing in the crash and I was placed 2nd on the grid for the start.  There aren’t many times when I wouldn’t want to be on the front row, but this WAS one of them!!! 

To make maters worse Snett is a basic track with long straights and little chance to

scrub in the tyres in one lap, especially the LHS.  It was a shame that I had missed the second race of the day as this would have been a good opportunity to clean the tyres up and get dialled in.  I had decided that I would have to take it easy for the first 2-3 laps of the race to clean the tyres up.  

The bloke in pole didn’t form on the grid, so I was essentially 1st (but still positioned 2nd) I decided that I needed to psyche out my opponents on the warm-up lap to show I was boss and hope they would respectfully form behind me in the opening part of the race (when I would be taking it relatively easily).  Pulled away well and out dragged and braked Mr 3rd 4th to Riches (turn1) I then let Mr 3rd slide up the inside as I needed to take it easy, I then closed again and passed on the brakes into Seares, totally stealing the line and forcing him to concede, I took it pretty easy round here, but the back did start to slide, I didn’t dare get on the gas too early and yet he hooked up as normal and took me down the straight, this game continued for the rest of the lap.  I did get the better of him and I approached the stratline in 1st place after receiving a nice slide round Russels (and obviously I was taking it easy, but the tyres were impregnated with oil etc, so it still happened). I can’t say I was full of confidence in the grip available to me at this point … 

The lights went green and I got ok drive, making my way to the RHS of the track trying to defend my position and minimize risk of getting taken out at the first corner, lost about 6 places into this corner as I was so tentative, and about another 3 into Sears.  So much for me psyching out my opponents …  Down the end of the back straight (Revett) we got to the braking zone and I hit the brakes in good time, then this bloke came scything round my outside, chopped across my nose doing a good 20mph more than the rest of us, and swooped through the pack, I thought he was gonna smack into someone for sure and slowed even more.  But he did make it, admittedly this move must have made him 6 or more places, but he was extremely lucky he didn’t collect anyone in the process.  In my opinion although evidently effective, not a good racing move. 

Coming out of the bomb hole I was closing on the bloke in front, I noticed he slowed at the entrance to Corams and I decided to slip it up the inside, I then noticed him stick his hand in the air, shook his head and lift the bike up, I presumed the reason he had slowed was he had a mechanical.  I kept it pinned. I then noticed a red flag at the next marshals hut (obviously why he had slowed, he’d seen a previous red flag that I had missed as I was concentrating on him) on realisation I then too stuck my hand up and backed off.  

It took 10-15 mins to clear, and by this time my tyres would be stone cold  (there was a fairly cool breeze and ~1800), however there would be an upside, I got another chance at a start/opening lap as I had lost a good 15-18 places on that attempt!!  I have said before the Michelins I use are awesomely grippy, but very temperature sensitive.  So again not good for confidence knowing that not only did I still have semi ‘soiled’ tyres, but they were now cold (outside best operating range) too.  Asked the flagman if we could have 2 warmups (give the tyres a chance to warm up properly), he laughed ... I wasn't joking. 

On the warm-up lap I noticed there was an oil spill (marked by cement dust) through the right hand part of the Esses (chicane at end of backstraight) this is one of my strongest parts of the track normally and this oil spill was right on my line.  I took a different line when I saw it but still got a slide (possibly cold tyres, not necessarily a patch of oil). That was all I needed.  

Pretty much a repeat prescription of 1st race on re-start, loosing loads of places into turn1.  At the end of the Revett backstraight I got to the braking zone and made a good attempt, a bloke slid up my inside and got me fair and square, I then started to turn in, he evidently thought he had overcooked it and was baling, not turning in and going straight on.  I picked my bike up as he was alongside me still and squeezed a bit more brakes, then released them and attempted to turn in again, missing his rear wheel by a knats.  A brown trozzer moment, (you start braking from 165MPH, turning in at just shy of a ton) but I was glad I did attempt to make the turn else I would have been forced to go straight on too and have been out of the race.  However I was now offline and in the ‘dirty’ part of the track, made it round, but got mugged through the Esses (especially as I was ginger because of oil). 

Hardly surprisingly I was very steady thought Russels where I had crashed earlier, especially on hooking up at the exit. 

After a couple of laps I had got some heat/confidence in the tyres  (but not wholeheartedly), then got taken by a bloke with one arm.  I had seen him race before in another series and was impressed and in ore of how he rides with only one arm, let alone races, and he is no backmarker!!! Respec!  However this gave me a kick up the bum, I didn’t want to be beaten b a 1-arm bandit!!.  He/his bike was well quick down the straights and before I managed to get my head fully in gear, he had made about 1/2 the backstraight on me.  I buckled down and managed to close back up on him in a 2-3 laps, could have made a move into my fave right-hander on the track, Sears, but bailed as I didn’t have the confidence it’d grip if I slung it fully on its side as hard as I normally would.  I could also have got him on exit of the Esses had that oil not been on my line preventing me from getting my usual drive.  I still hooked up better than him and got virtually alongside him at the bombhole, but again I bailed and braked early as I didn’t have enough run on him to 100% make a clean pass. 

Started to close again around Coram and lined him up for the chicane, but by no big surprise I kinda bottled on the brakes and let him have it as I knew I would be slow through there and I’d risk him running into me.  I wheelied out of Russels when I got the bike upright in frustration on exit …  

I crossed the line in 14th, gutted, a 2nd place start gone to waste and it hadn’t done my championship standings much good!!  Still I had got out there! 

Got back to the pits and revved the knackers of the bike to look for smoke; none was really visible (well a bit of soot when it bounced of the limiter, but that is to be expected). Great!!! 

I can’t rest easy about the engine yet as who knows what nook and cranny/bearing grit might have found its way too, only time will tell.  If it has found its way somewhere then know soon enough as the engine wear will be greatly accelerated.  I’ll change the oil again now it has had a proper run and hope that will get rid of the remaining particles (if there was any remaining (probably))  I see little point in stripping the engine fully now as these race tuned engines don’t like to be taken apart and put back together, I may do more harm than good. 

So I had spent the whole day hurriedly fixing the bike and felt I had really missed out of what could have been a great days racing and a very real possibility of a podium or race win, but on the positive side I was unhurt and the engine was possibly ok. 

Although the Michelins have seen me many a podium place before and can offer oodles of grip when at operating temperature (like slicks), and in that respect I really like them, but they do need to be in that ‘zone’ or are useless if pushed hard.  When racing you don’t have the luxury of taking it easy for a few laps to get some heat in, else you’d be in last place.  If I can time it well with the warmers and it is a warm day then they are great, like they were at Oulton, pretty much faultless, but if a race is red flagged or delayed whilst in the collecting area and the tyres have a chance too cool off, or the ambient temperature is v-low then I am in a world of uncertainty and you don’t want that when you have to push hard from the word go. 

Although I don’t 100% know if it was cold tyre problem or oil that saw me down in this instance, these things have potentially had me on my @rse 2-3 times now … I can’t mentally afford to have this worry, or financially&physically! so am gonna change to Supercorsers, which like most sports/race tyres do still need to be hot to work best and they may not be as ultimately grippy as the Pilots, but do seem to have a bit more of an operating ‘window’ and I need that more than ultimate grip right now. 

A very emotional w/e but I am actually still very positive about the whole thing and I think changing to Supercorsas might give me a mental crutch, which I really need now.