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PMCC - Summer Series - LukeM Racing
The summer series started this weekend at Manfeild and after a pretty rubbish winter series, I was super keen to have a good one. Bike remains unchanged from when I put it away a month back.
Quick version: Qualified 12th, Finished 10th and 8th. New PB of 1:16.4 Epic version: The VMCC winter series kind of fell a bit flat on it's face for me with missing half the rounds and having pretty bad F2 races in those I did make. It made me super keen to get back on the bike and fresh out of levels 3+4 of the suberbike school earlier this month I was really looking forward to the start of the Summer Series. Forecast was looking great which was nice as I am so fed up of rain and racing! Practice Pretty good day - Head out in fast group, rather than race to go over some of the CSS drills. Some of that goes out the window as I am just having fun on the bike, but trade up to race later on as fast is getting busy and very unpredictable. Laptimes are 19s which is average for me. Want to be consistently in the 17-18s during the race. Qualify As I sign on, I look down the F2 list of entries and none of the usual mid->back pace F2 riders have entered!? I was hoping for some good racing and it looks like I may be at the back by myself. Have been stuck in a qualifying rut this year where I just sit behind someone and follow their pace, so instead, I go out early for some clearer track. End up 12th with a 1:17.9 which I was fairly happy with as being in the 17s was a goal for the weekend. Race 1 Get a pretty good start and go round the outside in turn to make a couple of places. A bit more aggression from me on that first lap would have seen a few more. Get down to chasing a few riders and make up a couple more positions before coming up behind Nick Prestige. I sit behind him for 2 laps to compare where we are strong in the lap and figure I could make a move and hopefully make it stick through the infield. However, I miss a gear change coming into T1 on the last lap and go round in 3rd, which let's Nick pull a few bike lengths that I couldn't pull back. Ended up 10th with a best time of 1.16:4! Pretty stoked at this until I look at my time sheet to see that the majority of laps were in the 16s - Woohoo! Race 2 Get a better start and manage to stay ahead of the guys behind me on the grid. The field spreads pretty quickly and and catch up to Nick again on the 3rd-4th lap. This time I don't hang around and pass him early. I can see Mark B ahead though he is pulling ahead slightly on each lap. Getting a bit tired now and start making a few errors, so knock the pace off slightly just to not make a mistake and go home with a broken bike. Finish 8th with a best lap of 1.17:0 Overall, I had a great weekend! I was hoping for 17-18s and end up with 16-17s. What was even more encouraging was my laptimer gave me an optimum of 1.15:9 in the first race (the best 5 splits). Been stuck at the 18s point for so long that it feels great to move everything up a notch and now I can't wait to get out there again as I already know places where I can improve. Also puts me 8th in the championship for F2 :) Roll on round 2! Cheers Luke http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4930/dsc3704.jpg http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9524/dsc3902h.jpg http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8760/dsc3866z.jpg http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1...riderr1627.jpg |
Re: PMCC - Summer Series - LukeM Racing
Been a while since I did an update!
Unfortunately work came along and stomped all over round 2 so I missed that completely. Shame as the weather was awesome! Still, round 3 (and the final round) came up last weekend and the weather was looking ace once again! This was only my second time on the long track at Taupo, with the 1st being a year ago during last years Summer Series. Best time then was a 1m48s and the only difference between then and now is more race experience, a couple of day at CSS and some suspension tweaking. Sat Practice: Chuck on a new rear and scrub in. Because of the weather I have opted for a softer rear and am really concious not to chew it up too much before the race day. Complete 3 sessions and everything is feeling great. Check my laptimer and am into the 43s! Nice so that is last years PB knocked out of the park! Spend the rest of the day in the sun, the hit the pub for a few beers and some dinner. Qualifying: I decided to cross enter into BEARS (British, European and American brands of bikes only) to get 2 more races. However, I didn't check teh program first and BEARS where out immediately before F2! Sh!t! That means finishing a race and gridding up straight away for another. As I zip up my leathers, I feel a bulge around the neck when I pull the zip it come apart! I run over to the leather repair man, but with 5 mins before qualifying, there is nothing he can do but go nuts with some duct tape! That lasts all of 2 laps before falling open, so I put in a fast lap and come in before I get caught and black flagged. This does mean that I can't go out for F2 qualifying as I need to get the zip fixed, but it is so hot, that I'm not fussed about missing back-to back racing! End up 2nd on the grid with a 1m44 behind a 1198s! Race 1: http://vimeo.com/19963697 Password: triumph124 Leathers are now properly fixed up with a new zip. Get an ok start, but not used to taupo, so lift too early! Drop back to 3rd behind a 1050 triple, but I know that I am quicker so wait and pick my moment coming into the back half of the lap. Miss a gear change and expect him to pounce back before the back straight, but hold 2nd until the rest of the race. Damien on the 1198s has disappeared which is a shame because I was hoping to tack onto the back and pick up some tips Race 2: http://vimeo.com/19919888 Password: triumph124 Get a better start and could hold 2nd into T1, but leave a gap and Damien jumps through! doh. This time another 675 has jumped into the fray. He is holding me up in a number of places through the infield, and I try to outbrake him a few times, but off-line, I just can't carry the same corner speed! I am getting much better drive out of the hairpin than he his, so figure I'll do try there on the next lap. It's a ballsy place to overtake though as it is the fastest corner on the track - flat out in 3rd for me. Fortunately it sticks (Man and what a feeling going round the outside on a corner like that!) and then I pull a gap. Damien has cleared off in this time again, so I finish another lonely 2nd. Good news is I have a new PB of 1m42.76 - roughly 6secs a lap quicker than last year! Also, I didn't realise, but this is the first round they are running BEARS points and since it is the last round in the championship... I finish 2nd in the championship! Would've been nice if they had run the class from the start of the season, but hey, I'll still take that! This marks the end of racing my Triumph :( Watching the videos back makes me sad and I am pondering changing my decision as I really am starting to gel with the bike. The Winter Series (6 rounds) kicks off in May, by which time the NC30 should be ready to go! I'm looking forward to the class jump as well so watch this space for some updates If I can find any pics from the weekend, I'll add them here :) Cheers Luke |
Re: PMCC - Summer Series - LukeM Racing
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Re: PMCC - Summer Series - LukeM Racing
Awesome reading. Sounds really good fun.
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Re: PMCC - Summer Series - LukeM Racing
Nice report Luke, sounds like you are having fun
did having a jafa behind you quicken your pace? |
Re: PMCC - Summer Series - LukeM Racing
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