SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum - quiet on here these days! i'll post a race report just to read.

Well after august break from racing wasn't feeling that confident. Weather forecast was appalling for test day and race day which didn't help as my wet riding has been **** since a couple of wet highsides! Needed to get out in the rain on Friday and get some laps in.
Got there on Friday late morning,Only a few bikes on track and they were practically crawling round so off I went. Had my usual racetec wet on front but wanted to save the only good rear I had for raceday so I put a Bridgestone rear on I got off eBay. NOT SURE WHY! It was a 180/640/17, I've never come across a 640 before? It was dated 2007 and had some green moss on it! (it was only £20). Didn't really notice anything at first as I was so stiff and bolt upright apart from rear end felt low after using 180/60 dries. After a good few laps and lapping the other bikes on track I slowly upped the pace a bit. Wasn't too bad but back end felt 'hard' on faster bumpy bits plus it was breaking away when trying to get power on. With the rear tyre right in the front of my mind I was ready for it though. Came in and checked pressures and had a brew, it was bloody freezing! Went out for a couple more sessions and felt like rear was holding me back so swapped onto my 'best' wet rear (still 3 yr old scrub off eBay) It was like riding a different bike, ride height and hardness felt 100% better and confidence inspiring. Did about 8 laps but I was now soaking, don't have a jonny jacket or van/caravan/gazebo to stay dry cramp was setting in feet, inner thighs and fingers from being so tense and cold. Call it a day and save tyres.
Left my bike there in Eddy Hoskers(current pre inj championship leader) awning to avoid getting bike even wetter on m62 in spray with an open trailer. Had to go home, last time I did it in wet bike missfired on warm up lap then cut out on start! Come raceday the bloody weather was cool but dry and sunny so my wet practice was all in vain. Bugger . Swopped wheels, got scrutineered and signed on, sorted. A few threatening clouds about, everywhere you looked someone was looking up at the sky! Started spitting as practice began so put wet front back in just in case and waited... Left it as late as I dare then put dry back in as Sun came back out. Practice was mayhem, there were quite a few first timers who had come for another signature. **** myself after neatly rear ending an old fz600 at end of straight when he panic braked. Felt a thud on my left kidney area as the concertina effect went on behind me! Everyone stayed on though.
Trophy/qualifying race 1 pre inj.
Drew bloody 11 on grid. Luckily c/ship leader eddy drew worse and mike bampton(in third) drew 12. Think by end of first lap all three of us and Trevor stokes had got to the front! Some proper close racing ensued! Mike buggered off to get the win with a 57 something lap in his steelie. I was battling with Trevor stokes for 2nd/3rd with eddy playing it sensible thinking if the c/ship in 4th. Last lap coming over the top of the hill we came up on a back marker and I saw my chance and went round the outside of him and Trevor to claim 2nd. Beat my best lap with a 58.1 on the old srad which I was well happy with.
Trophy/qualifying open class race 1.
Not best suited to my old nail. Drew bloody 11 again! As if not up against it already. Also on grid, superstock rider Jamie Devine, iom rider Rob Barber, Dominic Herbertson(who I think is an established rider) last years f600 champ Liam Weston and Rob livesy on Rob Barbers old bike. Bit of mayhem to start with but once it all settled down found myself somehow in 2nd! Not for long though Rob Barber come past me like I was stood still :o and Dominic then Liam and Rob livesy as expected. Thought this will do if I can hold on to 6th on an old standard 600srad. As things progressed I caught back up with Liam who didn't seem to be on usual pace and went round outside of him on the hill section. Then I caught Rob livesy coming into hairpin. Got a bit giddy and out braked myself, with back wheel hopping I took inside line and ran us both a touch wide. No contact though ans apologized to him after but kept him behind me and took 4th. Next the main one for me.
Points race pre inj.
Obviously 2nd on grid needed good points to keep my 2nd in c/ship from mike bampton. Warm up lap formation the rain started! Oh ****, we came around and reformed. Everyone looking at sky and shaking heads. I thought just stay on and get some points. Off we went, Mike was going for it me and eddy were going as quick as we dare. 3 sisters is like a patchwork quilt, some bits grippy in wet some bits like glass. We were all together over the hill(a grippy bit) but as soon as we got to the right hander by holding area me and eddy backed it off, mike didn't! We avoided him but there was carnage behind us. Think there was almost half the field missing by end if race. I could see wet line on Eddies back tyre so took it steady then he backed it up a bit so I was right on him again. The rain stopped and the track seems to dry really quick so we went for it again lapping quite a few who didn't like the conditions. Second from last lap I felt I was quicker in a few places so I tried overtaking on the outside over the hill again. He didn't know I was there and nearly put me on the grass at bottom of hill. **** myself! Last lap I thought I'll have another go but need to go earlier on the hill cos his bike is quick. At end of straight I dived round the outside on the uphill part and we ran right up to edge if the grass but I kept gas on and went round then held in for the win!
The marshal at that point told me after he actually reached for his flag thinking it was going to end in tears :o
Points race open class.
Not a bad start but devine, barber, Herbertson ans Weston were too quick for me. I was knackered and making mistakes so reigned it in a bit to bring it home in a fairly easy 5th.
Well happy with everything, gone from thinking I could lose 2nd in pi c/ship to being only 4 points behind leader. Think I'm top 4 or 5 in open aswell due to barber, etc not doing early part of season. I think mathematically I can't drop out of top 3 in pi now even if I don't turn up to next double header. Championships were of no concern at beginning of year. My target this season was just to get rid of my novice bib,this was my first time without it. So its all a bit strange to me. Roll on October