Round 9 and 10 Cadwell Park

Back to Cadwell for the penultimate round and we start with a 7 point lead in the championship.

The weather is nice and the sun is out and the top 4 in the championship are only 29 points apart and it is all to play for.

There is only a small grid so qualifying isn't too bad with plenty of space and I manage to get some ok laps in although the few KTM's on the grid are around 10 seconds a lap slower and it did make it interesting at times!. I qualified 3rd which is ok with Skelly pole and Russell Mears 2nd and Marcus Wade in 5th place.

Race one I get a terrible start and about 6th into the first corner - it takes me a few laps to get through but I get into 3rd and start trying to chase down Marcus and Skelly in front - it's pretty clear I am not going to catch them and can only watch the battle from a safe distance! Marcus falls trying to take Skelly and gifts me 2nd place.

In the second race I am determined to get a better start and try to stay with them, in between we tweaked gearing and suspension and it seemed to work - I get the whole shot and lead for the first few laps but Marcus eventually makes the pass and I seem to be able to keep with him, eventually Skelly blast us both down straight and pulls away, I was pushing and pushing to keep with Marcus and on the last lap going into Chris Curve a back marker was blocking the line so I have to turn a bit tighter to get through trying to pass him and Marcus at the same time - unfortunately I was already on the limit and the front let go firing me off the track and out of the race - losing the advantage I had pulled in the first race when Marcus crashed, DOH. Considering what a fast crash it was the bike and I are ok, some new end cans and fairings and we are ready for Sunday - although my thump is swollen and hard to move! At this point I have to give full credit to the Berik Leathers and gloves supplied by Terry Rymer at Moto-Direct for this season - I got up without so much as a bruise although the leathers are only good for the bin. Thanks Terry!

No qualifying on Sunday - thank god as moving my hand is very hard and braking is a bit of a problem. I get a good start in the 1st race and hold a comfortable 3rd to the end - never really able to push or challenge any more - disappointing but at least we are out there, on the last lap the clutch lets go but I get it over the line.

Last race and my hand feels a bit better and new clutch is in, Danny in 4th jumps the start and I get a little stuck behind him while again Skelly and Marcus clear off, I tried a move on Danny and cocked it up losing time and wasn't able to close the gap again coming over the line in 4th. A few people tried to challenge the result but it stood as no jump start so 4th it was.

I still hold 2nd in the championship but only just and Mallory is going to be really tuff, Marcus and Skelly are both riding well and I was never really able to match the pace at Cadwell - although I was close at times which aint bad for 6 year old bike against Triumph and Ducati's best! With the championship all but decided (I think Skelly now holds a 44 piont gap with only 50 to play for) 2nd 3rd and 4th are all still available - so let's hold tight and see what happens!!!!