Brands Hatch Round 1 7th and 8th March

At last the first round has arrived! Unfortunately due to this new credit crunch and lack of sponsors we had only had one test on the bike (unless you count a snowy snetterton!) – although testing has gone well and we got some good settings it is obvious that we have some catching up to do as lots of the other guys have been abroad testing on their new superbikes and are well up to speed already.
However – we wanted a challenge and we have defiantly got that – looking at the line up it going to be tuff and with a few BSB wild cards popping in for some testing we should learn a lot.

The fist Qualifying is dry but cold and I scrub in the new tyres and pads and get a few laps in before the rear of the bike starts jumping around a bit – I come in and Jamie checks things over but we can see no problems – we miss the end of the session tho and head back to the awning – we take the tyre off and re balance but all is ok.

For second qaul the bike is again moving around and I keep getting stuck in traffic – I come in to pit lane a few times to try and get some clean air but never really get a lap in, we qualifying 13th – but only a few tenths separate 5th to 17th so we are still in with a shout – when we get back we notice the rear tyre had completely delaminated which would explain the movement and lack of grip!! ARSE

The first race in cancelled on the sat to be run on the Sunday so here hoping for a better day.

I get a good start but from the 4th row it was always going to be hard, as I tip in to clearways all I can see is bikes and there is nowhere to go – this puts me well down the field and I start picking off a few places until I get to 11th – where I get stuck behind 3 guys battling it out and I cant find away past. I rode a better race that the result would dictate and got my Lap times right down whilst catching the guys up. Good enough times for 6th place if………
Just before the next race it starts snowing/haling/raining and the win blows! We just get the wets on and to the track – but my inexperience at Brands in the wet and the new bike in the wet show as I cant make any progress – the visor steams and that’s that all over! Terrible race which I really didn’t enjoy – at the end my lap times where as good as the guys ahead but it was all too late by then. But I will be more prepared for next time now!!

Race 3 and I am so determined to make up for the last race! Its really cold and the we have reverted back to slicks again- a great start sees me up into 6th place at paddock hill, a bit too much throttle down the hill gives me a big slide and I fall back to around 10th into druids – I come back for a good 8th place tho so all in all pretty happy – especially considering the line up and I was the first stocker over the line against 40k’s worth of superbikes in front.
But… I can do better and will!!! I am revved for the next one and really do think we can be a contender with some more miles on the bike.