Pembrey Race Report

With the weather forecast once again looking very dodgy for the weekends racing we were hoping for a replay of Anglesea where the conditions played into our hands to give us our first win of the season.

Qualifying was dry and I had an old hard compound rear tyre in that was certainly not giving me maximum grip – there was a high entry so we need to be somewhere near the front to negotiate the first hairpin cleany and make the break. It was hard to get any free track and my team mate Andy had had an unfortunate fall in morning warm up so we were happy when we secured 3rd place on the grid – the top 9 all in the same second so the start was going to be all important.

Come the race and I am very lucky that one of our main competitors felt sorry for me and brought me some fresh rubber for the race – cheers Buddy if you’r reading this! – From the Le mans style start I get a great run – probably the best all year- and cleanly get away into 2nd place. I am able to consistently knock a second from my qualifying time to pull a good gap to third place and maintain this when I hit the traffic after 10 or so laps. I was having so much fun it seemed a very short time until I was shown the ‘pit’ board and I’m in to let Andy out to play.

My rest sessions goes even quicker and I’m soon out again – we are still holding a good 2nd place but I really want to bang some more time in on 3rd and keep the pressure on the leaders – they have the one bike rule so have not pitted yet and are a lap or so ahead – if the conditions stay dry we won’t be able to break the gap as we still have many pit stops to do but I want to keep pushing and keep some pressure on. This session again is great fun - the traffic is heavier so I can’t lap as consistently fast but again we are pulling away from 3rd and now have 2 laps up. Andy is out again but the towards the end of his session the pace car is out and we have to pit – this loses us a lap on 3rd place are they are now only 1 lap behind.

I’m off like a scolded cat again for my session as I really want to bang a gap into 3rd and make sure we are safe – I manage to do it and pull in safely for Andy to finish it off, on coming into the pit I am told the leaders are out with gear box problems.. we are now playing for our 2nd win of the year- -I was glad I had kept my head down and given Andy some breathing space in his last stint. During Andy’s session Danny Lister in 3rd is pulling some time from him but we know if we play it cool we have it in the bag – Andy crossed the line with 40+ seconds to spare and takes the win. Awesome.

This leaves us with only Graphic UK able to take the Championship win from us at Cadwell. We need to score 4 points to win – presuming they take the win. The pressure is well and truly on…..