08 June 2010
The weekend of the 4th-6th may was the 3rdround of the ASBK series at Queensland Raceway. I was hoping to place top 10 for the weekend as it is not one of my favourable tracks to compete at.
Thursday was an open practice day where I had 3x 20 minutes sessions, but there was no official timing for the day. I used the day to re-familiarise myself with the track and to play around with suspension. I found the day to be productive even without knowing my times against everyone else’s.
Friday was the first official day of the meeting with 3x 20 minute practice sessions, I tried a few different suspension set –ups and tried the new generation tyres we received for this meeting (and the rest of season). I had a great day and ended up 5th overall for the day after the practice sessions, which gave me a good boost to my confidence. I knew that a few locals would be ready to fire for qualifying on Saturday though.
Saturday came around and I had 2x 20 minute qualifiers and 1 race for the day, my goal after Friday’s proceedings was to qualify in the top 8 for the races. After the first qualifying session I was 9th overall. I knew I could go quicker than the time I had set. 2nd qualifying came around and we tried some different gearing and suspension settings, I put in some hard laps at the start and moved up to 7th place so I decided to save my tires for the races and park the bike with over 5minutes left in the session. I lost one place by the end of the session and ended up 8th overall for qualifying, which I was happy with and my times were 2 seconds faster than last year’s personal best.
Next up was race 1; I was ready and raring to go. I got off to a reasonable start and made a few places into the first turn. I lost a place into turn 3 on the first lap and got in a rhythm behind this person, I was having a few suspension issues during the race and bike temperature was high. I lost concentration during the race and lost 3 places in the last 2 laps and finished 10th overall, which I was disappointed in myself. My bike overheated in the holding bay after the race, which meant for a manic afternoon trying to work out the reason for this problem. Dad and I checked the bike over and over. We bled the cooling system a few times in the afternoon and also Sunday morning to hopefully be able to finish the weekends racing.
Sunday came around with lots of hope in the bike to last the 2 races left for the weekend. We tested the bike in warm up and the first hurdle was passed. Race 2 came along for the weekend and again I got a good start and I was on the back of the front runners at the end of the first lap (excitement in my helmet). As we approached turn 1 I tried braking with the 2 riders in front of me, as I tipped into the corner I started losing the front end, as I was trying to save this with my knee (which I did) the rider in front of me crashed into the rider in front of him and they both crashed out. I saved my mishap but lost contact with the front group, I had a good battle with a young local for 5th place which I ended up winning after a last lap braking lunge which paid off. This was my best ever place in a national race.
Race 3 for the weekend came along and I was still buzzing after my last race result which I was hoping to replicate, I got an average start and lost a few places on the first lap. I didn’t have much rear end grip from the start of the race, so I had to keep my head down and ride the bike to the best of my ability. I lost another place close to the end of the race. I finished 7th for the race which was a bit disappointing after my previous race in my eyes.
I placed 6th overall for the weekend and moved back up to 6th place in the championship and I am now within 3points from 5th place. The next round of the championship is at Broadford Raceway and is a double Header (2 Rounds) 2nd-4th July. I am hoping for a top 5 overall finish for this event.
Dad and I now have a lot of work to do before the next round with the suspension setup (few new ideas) and also trying to work out our overheating problem.
Again I could not have done this race meeting without the ongoing support of my sponsors: Motorcycle Rimstickers, Motorcycle Race Gear, Mornington Kawasaki, ASR Suspension, Peninsula Ice, Ozzie Moto, and Emtek Racing.
Thank you for your support
Hoofy #43
