Day 4 – Off the track

Race day for the Motogp classes was upon us and this meant it was also time for our last race of the weekend. We had the prime slot just after the Motogp warm-up before at 1020. The weather had also finally come to the party. The sun was shining and the breeze had died down, but was still evident. The track temperature would also be the warmest it had been all weekend, nearly 20 degrees! This was also a longer race by 2 laps (total of 8) so would be a great chance to improve on the first two races.

The five minute call came and we all gridded up in the pits ready to be let go for our sighting lap. After a few minutes of waiting around we were instructed to go back to our pits because Pedrosa had skilfully managed to loop his bike practicing a start after their session and spilt petrol on the track. So back to our pit garages we went and put our tyre warmers back on, this is never good for the nerves.

So just as we got everything back on the bike we were called up again and were out on the track for our sighting lap. I had promised the Kiwirider crew that we met up with the night before to give them a wave at Siberia. I hope they saw me, cause I was looking hard for them but wasn’t able to see them.

Again I got another good start and this time managed to latch onto a group of about 4 or 5 riders and was sitting in 14^th after the first lap. Looking at the time sheets this was 2 seconds faster than the first lap from my previous race which was a good improvement and an area I was looking to build upon. Thought it was still 6 seconds away from the first place guys standing laps, long way to go there.

So the 2^nd lap began and I was tussling for position with Adam and two other guys. I passed one of the guys coming into Honda hairpin and was right on Adam’s tail going through Siberia and in the lead up to Lukey heights. Just when I turned into Lukey one of the guys behind went for a pass around the outside and clipped my front fairing as he went around me. This was enough to unsettle me and I stood the bike up. I tried as best as I could to stay on the track but was eventually forced to stand it up and run off track. I went through the corner of the gravel trap and onto the grass. I had managed to go off late enough that I was pretty much parallel with the track and managed to rejoin before MG hairpin. In the process I lost 2 positions and about 6 seconds that lap but I was still on my bike and could see two guys in front (one of which was one of my other team mates James).

For the next three laps there was a big tussle between myself, James and #61. We were constantly changing positions every lap and all had parts of the track where one was faster than the others. On the 7^th lap I managed to cross the start/finish line ahead of both in 13^th place but was passed by James coming into the first turn. I kept right on his tail through the southern loop and had a look coming into Honda hairpin but he was very good under brakes. All race I had been getting a better run out of Siberia and down through to Lukey heights. This time I knew it would be my last chance and I pulled up along side him going through turn 8.

All weekend I had been having a small problem being able to change down before tipping into Lukey heights. If I didn’t manage to get it from 5^th to 3^rd the bike would just bog going up the hill and I would loose a lot of time. The same thing happened this time and I ran it quite wide on the lead up to the crest of the hill. In doing so I was told afterwards that I nearly ran James off the track (sorry mate). In doing so I created a bit of a buffer back to the two behind and managed to cross the line 1.1 seconds ahead of James.

This left me in 13^th as per the race on the previous day and overall 14^th for the meeting. I was also happy to see I had dropped another 1.3 seconds off my lap times and was down to 1.50.6. Just outside my goal of dipping below the 1.50 mark.

So that bought an end to the weekends racing. What a great experience, racing on the best track in the world against a massive field of some top quality racers. Also watching the GP riders up close is something just to add to the experience. Well worth it in my books, already started saving for next year.

Finally, a big big thanks to everyone who helped me get there. My sponsors www.tenderlink.com and www.motorbikeparts.co.nz. Also Steve, Mel and Jill for helping out in the pits, made life so much easier for us. Lets see how Team Kiwi Challenge can go in 2008.