Cadwell Park GP 21st August 2004  

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Overview 

When I received my entry for Cadwell I was disappointed that a letter was enclosed saying that I had not got an entry for the Supersport 600 class.  I had however got a confirmed place in Open 1300.  When I had originally sent off my application I had entered for both Supersport 600 and in the absence of Powerbikes at this round, the Open 1300 as my second class.  Cadwell was a long way to go for no championship gain (i.e. no SS6 or Powerbikes).  But hey it had been so long since I had been racing I was gagging to get out there, also as I was going with Andrew it wasn’t like I had to make my own way ALL the way there.  I had been a bit gutted that for one reason or another that I hadn’t got any practise before this round, but again where I wasn’t really THAT interested in the Open 1300 race, I wasn’t that worried. 

Got to Cadwell on the Friday afternoon/evening and it was raining, it continued to rain all evening!!  Although the forecast was actually good, bearing how wet it was in mind and the fact that I had chewed my front wet at the last round (Brands) I decided to buy a new front wet in preparation.  Unfortunately none of the paddock tyre men had a tyre the same as the one I had on, but they did have another Dunlop wet, which the guy assured me was compatible with the rear. So I went for it £100 up my shirt!  

Saturday 21st August 

It had evidently not rained ALL night as I awoke to a fairly dry surrounding, the sun was out and it was getting dryer by the minute, great! 

Signed on and just out of curiosity I looked at the SS6 grid in the programme, just on the off chance and all that.  To my amazement?!? My name was there!!! Humm perhaps someone pulled out and I got a place, perhaps they sent me that letter by mistake? Who cares, if it is in the programme, I am in!! :o) My thoughts were threefold here.  1 It was cool that I had actually got a place, but 2 I was regretting not having practice now and 3 I hadn’t really mentally psyched myself up for a SS6 race .  Also as I had not intended to be competing in anything I cared about I was going to run my part worn tyres from Brands for the day.  I would have wanted a new set if I had known I was competing. I could get some fitted now, however I took the executive decision NOT to buy a new set as I was a bit too green to green to get the best out of them and I hadn’t actually budgeted for a set now. 

Morning Practice

 Went out and expected to be a bit rusty as it had been 6 weeks since I had straddled the bike, but to my disappointment, even by the end of the session I wasn’t feeling at all confident. My first race was to be Supersport, it was a shame it wasn’t the Open 1300 first as I could have used that as extended practice. 

Race 1 Supersport 600

Start 26^th Finish 27^th

Quite a way back on the grid here, but where I wasn’t particularly confident at the moment (as totally out of practice) it probably wasn’t that bad a thing.  Got away form the line ok and into turn 1 madness, loosing a bit of ground, but not as hideous as it could have been.  Got over taken by a few more on the opening lap whilst I was settling in.  As the race progressed I started to feel more comfortable and started to make my way forward.   

I was trying to pick the pace up and I used to love the fast left uphill hander just after the start finish, namely Coppice so was going in there harder, consequently then trying to hold a better pace round the next tricky series of turns (Charlies).  I wasn’t pushing THAT hard, but the rear gave a nasty slide!! This did worry me as like I said I wasn’t really pushing it that hard, I took this onboard and just presumed it was where I was using an old (but I have to say it LOOKED in good condition) tyre.   Nothing I could do about it now, but I consequently didn’t try pushing the rear. 

On about lap 5 there was yellow flags out at Park, so I went through with caution, I was then greeted by a rider down and bike/debris all over the track.  A guy had gone down between Park and Chris Curve, by no surprise, the race was promptly red flagged. 

Although riding better than in the brief AM practice session , things were still not ‘right’ I was missing apexes, using the wrong gears and well, not going into turns anywhere near hard enough!!! Still early days. 

Race 2 Open 1300

Start 27^th End 21st

This race was only a couple of races later than the Supersport race, so I had no time to change the tyre (and get it warm) or anything.  I would have to just bear it in mind and ride accordingly,  I could change it over lunch.  I wasn’t that bothered about the Open 1300 result anyway. 

Got away from the line well, but got mugged into turn 1. I let things settle down, then got to work. It is a shame that with the knowledge of the rear susceptible to sliding I couldn’t go as hard as I wanted, it would hold me back.  I was felling more at home though although could see room for improvement, felt my laptimes must be falling. 

Just getting into the swing of things and taking a few places back, when I got a bit of a slide on again.  I looked behind and I had dropped the people behind, so I just ‘bought it home’ not trying anything heroic. 

That was until I closed up on this 04 R1, it was the last lap and he was in my grasp, I made a pass on him hooking up out of the hairpin making a block pass into barn, I knew that I couldn’t give it full on the exit however due to the tyre, but fed in as much as I dare.  I moved over to the right to block the probable insuring pass, I thought I had got away with it and then indeed the R1 flashed past a few yards before the line, doh!! 

Overall thought felt much better on the bike, so pleased. 

Race 3 Supersport 600 PM race

Start 27^th End 25th 

As I had no confidence in it I HAD to change that rear tyre, I had another part worn on my other dry rear wheel, so decided to slap that in and give that a try, again it looked in good condition and I didn’t really want to splash out on a new one. 

Got a reasonable start bearing in mind where I was.  

As the race went on I started pushing the bike harder and harder, although I was a little tentative, the rear was seeming to grip well and giving me lots of feedback. 

With more confidence in the rear, I was really starting to feel I was pushing harder now taking a few people on the way.  Then kind of got into no-mans land, so had a pretty lonely remainder of the race. 

Was disappointed to get back and hear that my laptimes were actually no better than the previous race!!   But anyway felling better still, now I was riding the bike rather than correcting it!!! ;oD 

Race 4 Open 1300 PM race

Start 21^th End 21st 

Thought I had done a great start, managing to take quite a few round turn one and some more before the backstraight! Unlike me for things to fall right for me and to do well on the opening lap, Cool, this might be a ½ decent result coming here! 

As the race went on I took a few more, much more confident in what I was doing. After clearing the people directly in my grasp, I was kinda a bit out of touch with the people in front, only slightly gaining.  Then on the last lap there were a series of yellow flags, this would be holding the bunch up ahead up. I seized this opportunity and buckled down (obviously taking care in the corners as there could be oil/debris down, but making sure I was late late on the brakes :o) ).  To my amazement I had closed right up by Mansfield, the rear one being a silver Ducati 996,  not enough to make a pass before the new chicane, but I was hoping I could hooking up well out of the chicane and getting him on the brakes into the mountain section.  He hooked up well and used the 996s power well, so I didn’t have the run on him to make the pass there.  

I thought I’d take a tighter line than him through the mountain just too see what might happen, to my joy he didn’t hook up very well on the landing after the crest of the mountain, he may have missed a gear? I however did hook up well, and got alongside him, he then got on the power well and started to inch forward, I could have backed off at this point admitting defeat, but I kept it pinned, I had the better ling for the entry to hall bends, just hoped he wouldn’t chop my nose off!!! Luckily he conceded and I stamped my authority on the pass!!  With the new(er) tyre I had more feel to hook up out of barn, I knew this was crucial as if he was right behind he could se the power of the 996 before the line.  I hooked up as much as I dare, rear slightly squirming, then buried my chin into the tank!! To my glee he didn’t manage to make a pass before the line!! 

I thought I had done a good job there, expecting to be 18^th or so, perhaps better? To my disappointment my pitcrew said I was about 25^th (actually I was 21^st) a bit gutted by the result, but felt really pleased as I was really feeling good on the bike again.  So I finished the day on a high.

Summery