Anglesea Race report

We head to Anglesea leading the championship but still not having won a race we really are chasing the win this weekend.

Qualifying 1 is in dry but windy conditions and I have the normal part warn tyres on – I get a few laps in early on and manage to set fasted lap of the 1000 class to set pole position – it has however done no favours to the tyre and ripped it pretty badly – for last part of the session I work on race pace with the finished tyre and seem to be able to still lap at a consistently fast pace which bodes well for the last session of the race.

Q2 brings very strong winds so we use the session just to prepare for the race and learn the new conditions knowing that we cannot improve on the time from the day before.

Starting from pole I sprint across the track only for the bike not to start straight away – it takes a few stabs at the starter and I have already lost lots of time – I manage to claw back some places and get on the rear wheel of our main championship rivals Sweatshop racing within a few laps – they are running the single bike rule so I know that sitting behind him is not enough and I need to get passed.. however the weather steps in and the heavens open leaving us wobbling around on the slippery surface, sweatshop pit early but I stay out trying to give Andy time to change his wheels – eventually I see the ‘IN’ bored and thankfully pit allowing Andy out on the right wet weather tyres. A big shout to our new sponsor Visorvision – in the down pour I had 100% visibility and no misting of my visor – that stuff really does work!!

We swop my bike to wets and before I know it I’m back on track – however all is not well as I cant get the bike to turn or hold a line – it’s the first time on the Michelin wets with no set up at all on them and its going to be a tuff session – I manage to match sweatshop lap for lap but I’m unable to push without sliding and losing the front so I settle for just completing my time as smoothly as possible. The track is drying now and Andy is out on dry tyres again and pulling more time on Sweatshop.

Back to dry tyres for me and I get a few laps in with Dean from Graphic UK who has upped his game and is on it now!! Great fun but I am being held up a bit and when he pits I am able to get back to my pace and manage to Lap sweatshop who have suffered with the wheel changes on the single bike. My tyres are really suffering now but my session is soon over. Andy is out again and as usual gives his all - by now we have a comfy lead but as I pitted early in the first session I have to go out again for the last 15 mins – luckily I can ride around gently knocking a good few seconds of my pace and bring it in for our first win of the year. Awesome.

We have extended the lead in the championship and proved that we can beat the single bike rule – the weather helped but we now go into Pembrey keen for more of the top step of the podium.

As usual a huge thanks to the whole team and all the people who make it possible.

Roll on Pembrey in 3 weeks!