Round 3 - Ruapuna

I was still not happy with the front end and braking performance so I decided to bite the bullet and buy a new billet radial master cylinder from Kevin at Race Supplies. They are a seriously nice piece of kit with folding lever and replaceable tips. It took me an hour to fit this and thus I missed the first session of the practice day. After a bit of bleeding the lever came up nice and firm, a lot more solid than I ever managed to get the stock setup.

I spent the rest of the day getting used to the feel of the new master cylinder and also the Vesrah brake pads I managed to source off someone else in the pits. I was starting to get towards a feeling that I was happy with and at the end of the day I managed to get to the low 1.41's, faster than last year already but still a good 2-3s off the pace I would need to run.

Saturday dawned with clear blue skies and by first practice it was already over 20. I went out and did half a dozen of laps to make sure everything was ok and decided to come in early cause it was hard to get a clear lap in. I did however manage a new PB of 1.40.3, bettering my fastest lap on my 125 of 1.40.5. Afterwards I put on the one race old rear tyre from Teretonga and waited for qualifying.

I was really keen to get into the 1.39's for qualifying and knew if I did I would be on for a front row start. I went out and immediately got onto business. My first flying lap was a 1.39.99 on my lap timer, ok I thought but knew there was another half a second to find. I came across another rider on the straight and managed to pass him out of the first corner. I put my head down and did a really smooth lap, coming up to another rider out of the dipper. Across the start finish line my laptimer flicked over and I saw 1.38.64! I was absolutely astounded, I didn't think I had that in me. Straight away I knew I had done enough for the front row (thinking probably 4th but maybe 3rd on the grid) so came in, saving the tyres for the race.

When the times were announced I was ecstatic to hear I was 2nd on the grid. Easily my best ever performance in qualifying at nationals. The front row would give me a good advantage over my main competitors in the championship Neil and Terry who were 5th and 7th. However I firmly reminded myself that as of yet it counts for nothing!

By the time our race was up it was nearing 30 degrees and the track temp was in the mid 40's. I was quite worried about how I would handle the hot temperatures, knowing Ruapuna is the most physical lap out of all NZ tracks. I got a great start, slotting into second into turn 1 and holding that for the first lap. Jason Easton came past on lap 2 and in the next laps Neil and then Terry came past. I tried to follow these guys but the hot track was making conditions a bit slippery. I had a few rear tyre slides and lost a bit of confidence to get on the throttle early. I gradually lost touch and had resigned myself to 5th place. However on about lap 7 Neil was only 50m or so infront of me and lost the front going through the fast infield right hander. I came around the corner to see his bike hitting the grass out of the corner of my eye.

I rode smoothly for the remaining laps and crossed the line in 4th place, a distant 8 seconds off 3rd. Looking at the lap times my caution was quite evident, with a fastest lap of 1.40.3. A pretty average performance, I didn't put my race face on and it showed. Maybe I was a little too worried about the air and track temperature and forgotten to think about racing. I actually lasted the 9 laps fine, my fitness had held up so that was reassuring for Sunday's two races.

Sunday was a different day, gone were the 30+ degrees of the previous day. It was overcast and only nudging 17 degrees when the first race started. I got a good launch but lost about 5 places when it took me 3 goes to change from 1st to 2nd gear. I got past the pro twin of Johnny Small into the hairpin and set about following the leaders. The next few laps are a blur, it is hard to put in words but I was in the zone. Comfortably holding my own with Glen, Terry and Neil, and even managing some cool late braking moves into turn 1 and the hairpin. That new Race Supplies master cylinder and the Vesrah pads were doing the trick.

Towards the end my times started to back off as my forearms started to get a bit weak but I was still hot on the heels of Neil who was holding 3rd place. On the second to last lap he had a moment coming out of the final corner and I didn't need a second invitation. I shot past and kept my head down for the rest of the lap, not daring looking back. Going into the fourth to last corner I didn't get my throttle blipping quite right on the change from 3rd to 2nd gear and the rear didn't want to come around the corner with me. It bucked me up and I came down with my helmet hitting the screen right out on the ripple strip. I pulled it back onto the track, taking as defensive line as possible to enter the dipper. I came out, head tucked and got into the final turn as tight as possible. I got good drive and held me head down, making sure my gear changes were as precise as possible. With the line in sight I saw Neil out of the corner of my eye but I managed to hold him off, by a mere 0.029s!

What a race! I had my first podium of the 2011 season, although was slightly fortunate due to Glen Williams having an electrical problem. However I had to try and keep my emotions in check because the NZGP was still to come. I was determined to get a top 3 in this and knew I was riding well enough to achieve it.

I chucked a shiny new set of Continental race attack slicks on the bike and after a nervous wait was out on the grid waiting for the lights to go out. As the first race I missed my gear change and lost a place due to this. On lap 3 I was passed by Terry and relegated to 4th. I managed to pass him back into the hairpin and he came back past on the straight. I decided I would follow him for a few laps and try save my energy for the last few laps. However the plan didn't quite go right and he slowly eeked out a few tenths a lap, till with 3 laps to go he had a 2 second lead. I had a few glances over my shoulder and could see Neil was a few seconds further back. I cruised through the last few laps and came across the line in 4th. A pretty solid performance, doing my best stint of low 1.39 laps in the first 5 laps. Terry managed a 1.38.4 which was too fast for me to consistently do.

The weekend had come to a close and it was a pretty satisfying set of results. I was starting to doubt if I was good enough to challenge the front runners but my riding at Ruapuna showed I certainly am up to the task of giving them a run for their money. I am now sitting in 4th position in the championship standings, 6.5 points behind Terry in 3rd. I have my sights set on that and will be doing everything in my power to make sure I beat him at Hampton Downs and Manfeild.

Finally I need to make sure I say a big thanks to my sponsors, they have been good to me and I can't say how much their help means to me. Alexandra Panelbeaters and Alexandra make my bike look awesome (apart from after I crash) along with Two Wheels Unlimited, Shoei, Five Gloves, Silkolene, RK Chains, Afam Sprockets, Race Supplies and Continental Tyres.