26 August 2010
Brighter Future...

Photo courtesy of Motoprofessional.com

With the wonders of modern technology I’m typing this on the way to the next round (9th) at Cadwell. Don’t worry I’m not driving... 

I’m trying not to bleat on about some of the frustrations since I last put finger to keyboard (a good while ago) for the last blog.

BUT...

Heading into the last third of the season, I’m pretty disappointed if I just look at the result sheets at how the seasons panned out. In fairness I don’t think we’ve had one meeting this year where we haven’t had bike problems, or been knocked off or something similar – I think you’ve got the picture by now...

Taking that into account we’ve still scored points at the last five rounds which makes me think what how would things have turned out with a smoother run?

Time to be a bit philosophical about it me thinks and look forward to finally getting a chance to show what we are capable of.

We’ve also got some plans we are trying to put into place before the end of the season – but that’s a different blog altogether...

Till next time...

TT#21

3 July 2010
Knockhill Qualifying

Ordinarily after finishing qualifying in 22nd I’d probably be a bit miffed but this is Knockhill and I’d been lightly tapping my head against a hard Scottish brick wall of most of the weekend...

This round last year [aside from the Brands/concrete wall crash-fest] was our worst results of the year, and it looked like 2010 was going to follow a similar pattern.

Free practice 1, 2 and 3 all ended with similar lap times even though we’d made quite a few changes to the bike set-up in each session. I was starting to think I was getting myself my very own “bogey circuit”.

With the help of Ohlin’s and the team we came up with a completely different setting for the 20minute qualifying session – the good news is even before the end of the out lap I knew we’d gone the right way.

After the second flying lap I’d lapped faster than I’d even done around this tricky little track & 3 Laps later I confirmed the progress by lapping half-a-second faster still.

The slight frustration of missing out in the 2nd phase of qualifying was quashed pretty quickly with the relief of not having to fight the bike every lap – removing the “imaginary” brick wall - and finally making some decent progress.

So it feels a bit weird... 22nd an all – don’t get me wrong we’ve not spent all evening high-fiving each other but I will sleep a bit better tonight and when I see Knockhill on next year’s calendar I won’t get a sinking feeling.

Anyway ALL the previous work this weekend is more than likely to be thrown right out of window as according to most of the paddock its going to be traditional Knockhill with heavy rain tomorrow...

The joys of racing! I blumin love it!!

TT#21

26 June 2010
Mallory Blog

Photo courtesy of Motoprofessional.com

After [a much needed] five week break its fantastic to be back on the bike.

We used the time off to finally get our ship back in order – it’s fair to say the first part of the season didn’t quite go to plan and the last round at Cadwell our bike had oil leaks, an electronics system that wasn’t talking to us and bent chassis parts...

All of which are now fully sorted – things can take a little longer in a smaller team!

Also managed to escape on a last minute break to Zante [Greece] for a 4 day break the result of a trip to the local travel agents with £200 in my hand!

Definitely stuck to the plan of relaxing, in fact we [me & Heather my girlfriend] relaxed really hard, doing 10 beaches in 4 days...

The temperature here at Mallory is about the same its still 27’C in the awning [@7pm] with the guys prepping the bike for tomorrow.

Needless to say the times are as tight as always. Not exactly over the moon with a grid position of 23rd but only 0.16seconds and I’d be 11 places further up the grid.  I did 5 or 6 laps within a tenth of my fastest time so consistency ain’t an issue.

With a track made up from 3 chicanes and a hairpin + a lot of heavy breaking = a physical circuit on a superbike. Which is kinda highlighted by 600 Supersport bikes lapping at comparable lap times to the superbikes. 

That all added to temperatures nudging 30’C means tomorrows two races are going to be a bit of a grueller!

Still can’t wait though...

The goal without doubt is to chase after a top 15 finish and some more of those lovely championship points!...

TT#21

21 May 2010
On the back foot... (but stepping forward!..)

Photo courtesy of Motoprofessional.com

It’s been a very eventful few weeks since I’ve updated the blog...
The black flag > bike fire in race one at Thruxton – starting from the back of the grid and just getting pipped for points by Chris Walker in race two, and then Oulton...

If you’ve read the news report from there you’ll have an idea what happened but the end results was me & the bike bouncing/sliding down the track @100mph+.

It also meant that out of the first six races of 2010 I’ve only finished two!?! And none of the DNF’s my fault – and that’s not just the racer talking, mechanical problems & being knocked off doesn’t feel too good as I sit here in the race truck at Cadwell - 

Definitely not the script I had planned over winter...

The few weeks since Oulton have been crazy trying to get the bike back in shape and unfortunately we kinda ran out of time. 

We have no control over the electronics at the moment so if we get 1 problem with it this weekend we’re... well.... it wouldn’t be good!

With a few supplier & part issues we knew today would be a test as much as the start of a race meeting – definitely on the back foot!

The first session proved to be pretty much that and it didn’t go too well. The bike wasn’t going in a straight line, or going through right hand corners the same as lefts... = a bent motorbike.
Now Cadwell’s hard work on a superbike anyway but when the bike wants to veer off the narrow strip of tarmac it’s a bit more than I bargained for.

An early shower and more hard work for the guys:
Bent Swingarm swapped & Fork Triple clamps replaced & out for second session...

Fortunately this time the bike was a bit more “predictable” and it was a case of starting from scratch and getting into Cadwell & although we still have some issues to sort out to get a better feeling with the front end I’m hoping it’s just a case of set-up rather than another chassis change...

Oh and the guys are now swapping the engine after all the work over the past few weeks let alone few meetings its relatively a small task these days!

Hoping for a bit more sunshine and unproblematic track time tomorrow, fingers crossed.

I’m even looking to my lucky racing undercrackers for extra luck... anything for a straight forward meeting!

TT#21