Brands Indy 23rd October 2004

Prologue

Decided to do the practice day for two reasons, 1 it was Andrews last race weekend ever, so we might as well make as much of it as possible, and secondly my engine hadn't been running properly at Snetterton and I wanted to try and sort it before race day. I had got some new plugcap/coils off ebay in the hope that these may have been at fault. There was still the long shot that it was simply the fuel to balme.

Practice day

Bit damp in the morning, from rain the days/ night before. Tried just filling bike with fresh fuel in the hope that is all it was. Alas it was clear in the first session it was still playing up, came back and swapped a plug cap coils over for one of the new ones. But again alas that hadn't got it! Tried a few combinations in as the day went on, with no real gain. Also tried a new ignition pickup again with no joy.

Although it had been dry for most of the day my times were nothing special, but wow did Andrew, Paul Mullen and I have some fun in the last 2 sessions we did!!! Real neck and neck tight stuff, big smiles all round, AWESOME!!!

I had taken my compressor with me this time and totally stripped the carbs, giving them a big blastout in the hope it was carburetion. But I'd have to wait until raceday before I found out!

Raceday Saturday 23rd October 2004

Morning practice

As forecast it was wet, so full wets on the bike. Engine was still playing up!! The forecast had been for wet all day, so as far as I was concerned this is unlikely to go to well for me results wise anyway, so I just wanted to go out there and get wet practice and hope the engine stays together, it was due to go in 'the shop' for a refresh after this round anyway, so hopefully Mr Seton could sort whatever is wrong with it at the same time.

Race 1 Supersport 600 qualifier.

Started 10^th Finished 21^st.

Wow, 10th on the grid, ordinarily that would have been awesome, but in the wet to be honest I wasn't that fussed, if anything would prefer to be starting further back so I could keep out of the way. The race started off we, but not raining. As the race went on there were some definite dry lines appearing round paddock hill and druids. To be honest I had slipped well back by this point and I had tyre conservation on my mind. I didn't want to fry my wets when it was set to rain again and I had 3 other races to go!! So the last few laps I just held off a bit in the drying bits. Crossed the line a lowley 21st (out of 23 finishers!). That'll be the Non Qualifiers final for me then!

Fastest lap 0:59.38 (Wet)

Race 2 Powerbikes AM

Started 9^th Finished 18^th.

Again awesome start position. Thankfully it had started raining again now, so tyre conservation was no longer such an issue.

Now Andrew had crowned himself king of the wet and been winding me up about the wet all season, this was my last chance to curtail his fun and beat him, beat him good!! :) So I didn't care where I finished, just as long as it was in front of Mr M!!! I realised Mr M had me as a focus too, but he was starting a few rows back. So it was crucial that I got away and kept my head down.

Did manage to get away pretty good and almost hold my own in the opening laps, I then slowly slipped back, but no sign of Andrew!! Crossed the line in 18th

Fastest lap 0:58.14 (Wet)

Andrew finished 25th .. HA! :)

Race 3 Supersport 600 PM N/Q final.

Started 4^th Finished 2^nd.

Now I realised that my morning result would probably mean a N/Q final but I expected the grid to be full. There was only 6 people that were set to be on the grid though, and I was 4th!! Mr Mullen was on pole.

What made this even more of a joke was that only 4 of us showed in the gird, Paul, Mr 5th and 6th and I!!

Paul had been going well all weekend and although I had been with him for a bit ion the first race, he had cleared off. Now I was a bit more dialed into the wet after the first two races, I wanted to challenge Paul. The bonus would be that it would probably mean a race win if I did!!

Got off the line ok, but Paul got the whole-shot, I was right up his chuffer though!! Followed him pretty close for the opening lap or so, then he gradually opened a gap out on me, he was making most of that on the power down the start finish and back starights, but to be fair he was cornering slightly harder too. He eeked out the gap and eventually 'broke' me, at this point I didn't see the point I admitted defeat i have to say. I didn't back off totally as if he made a mistake I'd hopefully be right back on him, but i wasn't going to force my way forward. However Paul rode a faultless race and crossed the line way ahead.

Fastest lap 0:59.76 (Wet)

Race 4 Powerbikes PM

Started 18^th Finished 19^th.

Fastest lap 0:57.11 (Wet)

Andrew finished 23rd .. Double HA! :)

Summery

It had rained all day, which in a way I was pleased about as my motor wasn't right and in the wet I am not as confident, so don't expect much anyway. A engine that is down on power isn't really going to have as larger effect on my results as in the dry. The other benefit was that I got to use my wets up, i.e. I will need a nice new set for next season!

Real bonus was that I beat Mr M hands down in BOTH races. The excuses did come out, but the results don't lie, not only did I finish in front, my fastest laps were quicker than his! really proving the point! :) Andrew did consequently go 1/10th second quicker than my fastest time in his last race of the day (Supertwins) but lets face it conditions change, who knows what times I could have put in if I was out there?

Big Summery

Well that is 2004 season over. At tracks I have attended, I have beaten ALL my personal lap records this season, so pleased about that. But my results still don't reflect my efforts I feel. I have been dogged with one engine problem or another for the past 4 rounds, which was disappointing, especially at Snetterton where I felt I could have done much better if the engine was on song and my mindset was therefore better too. But hey, I have kept it sunny side up all season, which is a great bonus!! :)

Biggest downer is that Andrew is forced to retire due to family pressures. I can understand that perspective, so don't think he has been unfairly dismissed, but it is still a shame as he really wants to continue.

I (Nick) still want to race in 2005, so will have to do it on my todd!!

I salute you Mr M and what a great experience it has been, I have no regrets!!

So Miers racing is now officially disbanded, I will put up a bit on the home page at some stage to discuss my way forward for 2005, but to give you an idea, I am thinking of going up a ring and doing the MRO supersport 600! :)