Silverstone 25th September 2004

Practice day 24th September

It had been over a year since the boys had done Silverstone (last BEMSEE round) so we decided to do the practice day.

My fastest time there last year was a 1:09.46, so my main goal was to beet that!

First session out and boy did it feel horrid!! I didn’t like the chicane before the start finish they put in for 2003 back then, and my love was no better this time!! It was a dry, but cold day and I was not ‘feeling it’ really.

Think my best time in the first session was about a 1:13. Still, a long day ahead.

Things felt better with practice as the day went on and I began to get a bit happier with the chicane section, by the afternoon sessions I was dropping the odd 1:09 in but mainly in the 1:10s (or more). In the final session I managed a couple of high 1:08s, so was happy with that, more to come and with new tyres for race day, things were looking good on a personal lap record goal point of view.

I did notice that my clutch seemed to be slipping in 5th (or was it 4th??) down the back straight, but I didn’t have a spare with me, so was hoping I could live with it for the weekend, a short shift seemed to keep it under control, but was loosing me drive/time.

Saturday 25th September, Race day

Morning practice

It was cold again, so not wanting to push the new tyres too hard whilst scrubbing them in. After a few ‘settling in’ laps brought the time down to a 1:10s, then the session was over.

Race 1 Supersport 600 A M race

Start 27th Finish 23rd

Starting this far back on the grid it was pretty obvious I had my work cut out. Got away from the line ok-ish, into turn on and typical SS6 madness resumed, bikes smashing into bikes, a good 6-7 people involved in 2 separate incidents on the same bend!! Just took a tight line and tried to not get involved. This unfortunately meant I got ‘bulked out’ a bit, but hey, this was the first turn of the first race!!

With my slipping clutch it was hard to hold my own down the back straight, and although I felt I was braking later than the guys in front of me and could corner harder (especially at the end of the back straight), unfortunately this was not enough to make up the deficit and make a clean pass. As I was not 100% confident in the grip and my line into the turn at the end of the back straight myself, I just ‘got in line’ and followed them round.

Made a few passes, but not an impressive race. Crossed the line in 23rd, fastest lap a mid-high 1:09. So about on my old official fastest lap time, but I knew I could go quicker.

Race 2 Powerbikes AM race

Start 9th Finish 22nd???

This was a good start position, I was keen to do well. Unfortunately I got completely stuffed into turn 1 and the loss of drive effected me for the whole first lap, I went backwards getting bullied everywhere!

When things settled down, I got my head down and made a few passes, started to stitch what I thought were some ½ decent laps together, feeling more at home than in the SS6 race but still suffering from clutch slip.

Forgetting the first lap or so, I figured I’d ridden well all things considered and come in about 16th to 18th, was disappointed to find out that I hadn’t even made the top 20!!

Was pleased to find out that I had smashed my personal (official) lap record of 1:09.46 with a 1:08.15???? So happy with that. Lets see what I can do in the PM races, I had made work for myself with the poor finishes, but feeling more confident now.

Race 3 Supersport 600 PM race

Start 23rd?? Finish 24th???

Unfortunately the heavens had opened over lunch, so it was a wet race, there goes my personal lap record breaking challenge, but at least this was ‘proper wet’ and not dodgy ‘damp’ conditions.

Andrew had done his Supertwins race just prior to this race and he cam back saying “it/he felt awful out there, slippy as hell” Now bearing in mind Andrew likes the wet, that didn’t instill me with confidence. He said in particular Turn 1 and the white line onto the backstaraight were treacherous.

To add to the cocktail of joy, the sidecars that were the race prior to mine had dumped oil and petrol on the track, on the wet track at that. It took the officials about 20mins to try and sort that lot out!! Ordinarily if I end up sitting in the collecting area for too long by the previous race clear up I get really frustrated. Primarily because I am quite anal about having my tyres up to temperature before I race (we do spend all that time and money using tyre warmers after all!!) but as I was out on wets I wasn’t really bothered from that perspective as I don’t warm wets. Not good for the nerves waiting there and hearing over the tannoy that they were clearing the track at several points!! Ok so just take this one as it comes Nick.

It had stopped raining now, but defiantly still ‘wets’.

Due to the wait, they gave us two warm up laps, so plenty of time to ‘sight’ the track. Everyone (from where I was starting/gridded) seemed to be really taking it easy, even I thought it was too slow and I intended to take it steady, but happy just to stay in line to find out what was ahead.

I thought, ‘well if everyone is this cautious then I might actually not do so bad here’. The point I took it particularly easy was on the white line that crosses the join between the main track and the back straight, even taking it easy, I could tell this was slippy.

Race got underway an I was amazed how frantic things got all of a sudden!! I wasn’t that bothered and just wanted to keep out of trouble. Can’t really remember much of this race, but didn’t do anything spectacular. It was still ‘wets’ even when I had finished, but I had noticed the track beginning to dry in sections.

Finished 23rd?? (of 24) with a 1:21?? as my fastest lap, which was 7 seconds faster than Andrews wet time in his Supertwins race. With that in mind I was looking forward to a wet Powerbikes race where Andrew and I might have a showdown! :o) But at this rate it was set to dry out before then, come on rain!

Race 4 Powerbikes PM race

Start 22nd??? End 24th??

Unfortunately it hadn’t rained any more it was still looking a bit wet out, but knowing the track was drying when I was out last I decided to gamble and go with drys, primarily as my wets were fairly new/in good condition and I didn’t really want to fry them on a drying track. Andrew was sticking with wets, that was probably the best tyre, but his were pretty well worn, so it wasn’t like a total waste of his, besides he can afford it ;o)

In the collecting area I could see pretty much everyone else had gone for wets, oh well!!

On the warmup lap it was evident that I had made a tyre choice error, so I wasn’t going to do much here, but hey, my battle/aim was now with/to beat Andrew :o)

A bit cautious away from the line as I didn’t want to light the rear too much on the line (and risk nasty highside) so didn’t get the best drive, however didn’t get THAT bad a start. But not surprisingly went backwards on the open lap, wasn’t overly bothered, if anything pleased that I had let most of the people past so chances of getting ‘taken out’ by over zealous riders (and me going relatively slow/being cautious on wets) were less.

Kinda then got in no-mans land but this allowed me to ‘feel’ what was going on and settle in.

On about the 3rd or 4th lap I heard this ‘booming’ twin behind coming into the turn that leads onto the backstraight. Andrew hadn’t passed yet, and that sound was familiar!! It was either Andrew had caught me (he started further back on the grid) or another twin. Right, lets kept it tight here, game on!!!

As I hooked up onto the backstraight this bike went round the outside, yep it was Andrew, he was duly giving me a ‘I’ve got a sore wrist’ ;o) hand signal totally laying down the gauntlet!!

I knew Andrew was on wets, but it had taken him this long to take me, perhaps I can hold in there, I felt strong down the start finish and on the brakes at the end of the back straight (again considering it was wet and I was on drys). I actually got him back onto the brakes at the end of the backstraight, so although took it relatively cautiously round the left hander at the end, made myself ‘wide’ so he couldn’t get past. Andrew tried to slip it up the inside going into the right hander at the start of the new chicane section, but I kept it tight also kept it tight so as not to give him (clear) room. He then went round the outside.

Right, I know I am strong on the start finish, just gotta try and get drive out onto it!! Andrew took a different line to me, he took the normal racing line, I ‘squared’ the exit of the chicane off allowing me to hook up well, and I took Andrew down the start finish, holding him off into turn 1!! :o)

Andrew got me back again going onto the backstraight, I held with him and closed up on the brakes at the end and held it close on the left hander at the end. Got it alongside/tried going round the outside of him on the right hander at the start of the new section, tentatively going as fast as I dare, it was great, within inches of each other, I wouldn’t have been comfortable doing this move on anyone else, but I had total confidence in Andrew and that he wouldn’t (purposely/stupidly) take me out. It was still a high adrenalin move, I didn’t really have the grip/confidence to complete the move, but it was a great sensation!! :o)

I didn’t get to make another attack on Andrew but was keeping in touch. Then a bloke took me down the backstaright and got in the way a bit round the next bit allowing Andrew to ‘break me’. From this point on it was kinda game over, the guy eventually got Andrew too, but like I said, I had lost touch really now. I had had a few scary moments on the white grid position lines on the start finish (i.e., when hooking up out of the chicane trying to keep with him) So admitted defeatand just ‘bought it home’

Summery

What a great little battle with Andrew there, he had had a bit of a rubbish weekend with his Duke playing up again (ended up racing the SP1) and he was ‘revived’ by our dicing too.

Overall I was pleased I had officially beeten my old personal lap record by quite a margin, but was a little down about my results. At least the PM races meant it was a bit easier on my slipping clutch and it didn’t really make much difference.

Snetterton in only a week, I’ll get me clutch sorted and game on!!

Photos