EMRA 23rd May - Race Report

After a good track day the Thursday before the weekend I knew it was going to be a scorcher and I was really looking forward to racing again as I've managed to lap consistently getting PB's at almost every new outing, especially on my dry bike which is now back after having its head gasket sorted.
We got to the circuit a bit later than usual but still managed to get scrutineered pretty quick, And the plan to change tyres after first practice quickly went out the window as I thought we had plenty of time to do it now.


Got some new tyres on quickly courtesy of Rod Harwin (Doing a great deal on Diablo Supercorsa Fronts at the minute). Got everything back together and as I'm stepping back from fiddling with the front callipers I trip on the generator wire.
Bugger it.
The Tyre warmers aren't getting power.
Bugger it.
The Generator isn't working.


Now it seems like every time I go racing or to a track day something gives out on me or something doesn't go to plan, And with my luck, it never ever seems to be anything small.
After throwing a paddy for a while and kicking a few bits around I realise that whilst fiddling with the bloody thing I've missed my practice.
Double Bugger.
This is when the nice gentlemen next door told me his generator gave up at the last round and that he would be happy for me to plug into his new generator (What a chap!).


After my old man ran (It was more of a slow jog to be honest..) to the race office I was now in place to go out and qualify with the road stocks. I wasn't expecting my time to count for anything abd everyone likes the idea of storming from the back of the grid to get up to the sharp end so I'm figuring...why not...
I get out for the practice and try and settle into a rhythm, Finding that the red mist still seems to have a bit of a grip on me, Posting lap times of about 1:05 but at least they are semi consistent, Pull in at the end of the session and get the bike back up on stands ready for Race two.
I must say that EMRA have always been really good with me, They refunded a meeting when my bike was playing up and have always done their very best to get me out on track if it is at all possible, So then came the call to the race office.
They couldn't find a time for me with the road stocks so couldn't place me on the grid, I wasn't that fussed to be honest, But I'm still pretty grateful to the guys and girls behind the scenes that they even tried for me.


Race two came along and the grid was so packed my qualifying slot of 34th was not even in the assembly area. I lined up for the start of the warm up lap aiming to try and scope out the best direction to head to get clear of as many of the back group as possible, Flag comes out, revs up and the bike bogs down. Still get a chance to see that the outside line is going to be the best plan of action, sticking it wide through Gerrards and cutting out really sharp to get a good burst of speed into Edwinas. Back on the start for real this time, Revs up to 9000 and lights go out, slip the clutch pull about five metres, And bog down again. Bugger.


I manage to make up a couple of places through gerrards and edwinas and get the passing on a couple more going up to the hairpin.
Watch as someone pings themselves up into the air off the nasty rumblestrip at the bus stop exit and Get a clear blast down the start finish straight, Now I'm clear of the back group its time to get the head down.
The Laps went past pretty quickly and I felt quick, Going into one of the last two laps I managed to overtake one of the blokes I've been having tussles with since the start of the year and get well clear of him before the end of the race, Ending up in 22nd place with a PB of 1:02. Pretty chuffed with that and again, I know there is more to come.


Second Race I was starting from 22nd place, Had the same problem with bogging down off the start and went backwards off the grid. Quickly managed to regain my places and then enlisted in a race long battle with an SV650 and a Honda, Almost passing both into Edwina's on the last lap as Leon Jeacock came steaming past to lap us, Unfortunately they both sent eachother wide, in turn blocking my pass and keeping me behind them. Great battle and great fun to end up in 15th place.


Was a great weekend and I'm already counting down the days until July to get out there again. I've found the nerves have started to wear away now and rather than spending about 40% of the time crapping myself I'm 100% loving it now.
Also just quickly – Does anyone know if there is much difference between the front Diablo Supercorsa Pro and the Front Dragon Supercorsa Pro? It felt like the old girl was very vicious on the tip in on the new diablo's but its probably just another thing I need to get used too.