Oulton Park

Even though I haven’t been to Oulton for a few years (the triumph only managed 1 lap and I crashed the SP the year before!) I love the circuit and was really looking forward to the weekend – as it’s a Friday/Saturday meeting and all racing is on the Saturday we are allowed extra practice Friday morning before Qualifying.

First session out to learn the circuit again – it’s still awesome but thank god we had the extra practice! Times where well down as the gearing was out and some other changes were needed. I had rebuilt most of the bike after the Snett highside and pegs and levers needed some tweeking.
2nd session – much better and a big chunk off the times but only 9th fastest – there are some wild card locals in the mix as well to add to the fun!
First Qualifying and again we get closer but the tyres are starting to protest as we have been on scrubs all day – so time for a new rear to see if we can get front two rows.

Second Qual and at last we are down in the mix with the times – the bike feels good – although in the heat I’m getting tired and pull in early as I’m just burning the tyre for nothing.

First race on Saturday – it’s still hot but more overcast and humid – I get a terrible start as I creep a bit, stop, then lose time as they all tear away – I must have been 12 or worse into the first corner and had to set to getting past a few early on. I work my way through the field but get stuck behind an R1 – I can’t get past him easily and I can feel arm pump again – although I am very fit I am down on bike time and couldn’t stop the pump – I had to ease off and struggle the last few laps to get an 8th – pretty gutted really because without the arm pump I could have done ok.

Race 2 and I get a much better start and am straight into the fast lap times again – I’m in 5th with a big gap when the dreaded happens again and I get arm pump even worse this time, I slip back through the field to finish 9th – I’m not too happy with the result but I couldn’t have tried any harder – my arms where even hard to move the next day.

Looking back the results just don’t do the effort we have put in any justice! We were running good lap times and a decent result could have been on the cards with more testing and bike time – if we could have started the weekend with a good setting rather than only having two sessions to get it we could have been more relaxed and well in the mix for that elusive podium finish rather than scraping a top ten. After speaking with Colin at 100% suspension he agreed the arm pump could be coming because the suspension is getting soggy now as we have not been able to afford a refresh.

We now have 3 weeks to raise some money for the next round – if anyone is able to help it would make all the difference as at the moment we don’t have the money for tyres and will be running the same scrubs from Oulton – as you all know this will not get us to the front, the entries are in as I have never done the full GP track at Brands and we are looking forward to taking on the BSB boys who will be there testing for the next round of their championship. So if anyone reading this can help out we can negotiate a good deal and see how we can make it benefit you as well