VMCC Rd6 : Luke's race report

Don't really have a section for general club racing - just minitwins, so I'll stick this here if anyone is interested (from Kiwibiker)

#124
Daytona 675 - Clubmans B

First ever race meet for me this weekend and I had a great time! Couldn't sleep last night I was still so wired - I think it is going to take a week for it all to sink in It's been just over a year since I have been on a track (and then until now it has just been trackdays) for various reasons and man, I ache like a bitch today!

Firstly, a massive thanks to Johan for looking out for me all weekend and to the Vic Club for a great meeting.

Friday Practice

Since it was my first time to Manfeild, I thought it might be a good idea to do Friday practice and figure out which way the track went before qualifying on Sat! Unfortunately, the downpour the day before ment that the track only opened around lunch time and we only got 2.5 session in. Riding a 600+cc bike put me out with pretty much all the F2 and F1 bikes. Daunting is an understatement - especially going out onto a track that I have never been round before!

Qualifying:

Went to **** a bit! Started off well and was slowly building up the pace when I came out of the hairpin, went to change up and found nothing under my boot. Looked down and my shift lever is swinging by itself. Nice- pull off the track into the swamp beside Higgins. Completed 3 laps with a best of 1:30 putting me second to last on the grid. Very gutted as I knew I was quicker than that. (thanks to CKT for their bolt sawing skills so I could fix my rearsets!)

Race 1:

I'm usually pretty good with nerves, but these were full on! Pretty sure everyone has been though this so know what I'm talking about! Get a pretty good start but bottle it in Turn 1 not really knowing where to brake from a standing start. Get through without any hassles and then field spreads out. Bit of a lonely race, but get a best time of 1:23.8 which is also a new PB! and 7secs better than qualifying.

Race 2:

Woke up on Sunday morning expecting sunshine and get drizzle in Parmy. Expecting it to be wet, but luckily it seems dry over Manfeild and whatever damp patches are there, disappear before the first race Get another good start and am marginally more confident into turn 1, but still lose the places I have made from the start. Chase down a couple of people ahead of me then pretty much alone again for the rest of the race! Felt better and quicker than Race 1, but didn't improve on my laptimes.

Race 3:

Feeling pretty knackered now, but the sun is shining and I know i can improve on my Race 1 times. Get held at the lights for ages, but get a killer start. Don't lose out too much in turn 1 and the race is red flagged by the time I get to the splash (still don't know why?). Second start is terrible (think the clutch is cooked after the first as it doesn't bite until the very end of the lever) but this does give me a chance to catch and pass a few people. Almost take out a 125GP bike as he misses a gear coming out of Dunlop and manage to catch a couple more people, but the next rider is so far ahead of me and I'm feeling tired so I ease off a little. Fastest lap was quicker than Race 2 but not Race 1.

I went into this weekend with 3 goals- To not crash, not come last and to have fun and am pleased that I did all three! Really want to get a trackday at Manfeild before the next round as I want to experiment with lines, braking and turn points but couldn't really do that over a race weekend. I know I have more pace and I know where I'm losing time - I just need to get some practice time in!

Unfortunately I'm going to miss Rd 6 because I'm in Oz, but will definitely be back for the summer series. Plus, next time I won't have to wear the orange bib, which has got to be worth at least a couple of seconds a lap in drag!

Cheers
Luke

[fizzwheel]

Edit -

Luke I dont think the Kiwi bikers forum liked you hotlinking back to their smiles list, so it replaced the smiles with pics of ladies with not much on and doing naughty things...

I've removed the links from your original post

Cheers

Fizz

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Edit -

Luke I dont think the Kiwi bikers forum liked you hotlinking back to their smiles list, so it replaced the smiles with pics of ladies with not much on and doing naughty things...

I've removed the links from your original post

Cheers

Fizz

Crap - ok, i'll watch out for that in future!


EDITED: With .org smilies

Congratulations mate, glad to see you enjoyed it

I will do it one day, just got to find the funding for it