cyclist, dirt bike rider, sports bike rider, all round petrol head. Diver and photographer.
Most of the stuff on here will be my own work. If I do come across stuff that I like then it will get posted/reblogged.
Final chequered flag of the weekend so back to the garage to pack up and go home.
Image Credits: Ian Chamberlain
Photo with 1 note
The pack closes in. Note the shift light reflecting in my visor.
Image Credit: Ian Chamberlain
Sound of Thunder Holding area. Paul Willis, Oliver Hill, Darren Rumley and Shane Smith.
Image Credit: Ian Chamberlain
NGRRC Donington Park RD6 Race Reports
NGRRC Sound of Thunder RD6.
The race program was running slightly behind schedule by the time my main championship race came around. A few spots of rain had already started falling by the time the Sound of Thunder was called. Having a second bike was paying dividends. Whilst everyone else frantically rushed around changing wheels I warmed the old bike up and had a cuppa.
I’d learned my lesson the day before so full wets was a no brainer. I had a brand new soft compound rear on the bike so I would have to scrub it on the warm up lap.
Seventh on the grid again for my qualifier I had a reasonable start but the red flag came out almost immediately. There had been an incident on the grid resulting in a couple of riders down so we were pulled straight into pit lane to wait for the clear up to take place.
The rain had really started to fall now so I knew the wets were the right choice. We were called to the holding area where the board to indicate a shortened race was shown. 5 laps instead of 7.
I got away fairly well again but quickly got overtaken by a couple of riders to settle into 10th for a couple of laps. The track looked drier around Coppice so I was very wary of getting on the gas too much. It was only a qualifying race and after finishing 9th from 17th in Saturday’s race I chose to try and preserve my tyre for my main race. I finished 13th from 20 starters.
My final race of the day came fairly late on Sunday and it was most certainly wet. I was happy my rear was nicely scrubbed so I intended to try and push on a little, but not too much.
My usual good start meant I was amongst it at Redgate after coming across the front of Dave Beynon on his Ducati. I think I was in 8th to begin with but as I came out of Mcleans I saw a couple of riders doing a bit of grass tracking. Leon Morris had gone down and pushed Oliver Hill wide onto the grass so I passed him on the run up to Coppice. That meant I was in 6th for a couple of laps. Another faller meant I got up to 5th, although I didn’t realise it.
I knew Oliver Hill, Rumley and Beynon would be hunting me down so I just concentrated on being smooth and staying on. It took Darren Rumley a while but he appeared alongside me into the last chicane under a yellow flag. I think he had already committed to passing me so went with it. He waved me through onto the start finish straight after realising his error. It didn’t take long until he genuinely got past. Dave Beynon got past at the hairpin too. I tried to stay with him again but couldn’t do it without struggling with my ribs so I settled behind him.
Oliver Hill passed me on the following lap to leave me to finish in 8th position. For me that was a success. I’d scored a few points, stayed on and considering I had a big crash 2 weeks prior I was pleased.
Next stop Castle Combe and hopefully I will be back up to race pace.
Photo with 3 notes
Another bit of indirect sponsorship to mention. A friend I used to work with who now lives in Spain gave up biking a few years ago so he sold me his old leathers at a very good price.
Thanks Ron, bargain of the year for me and very timely as my other leathers are wrecked from crashing at Cadwell. I owe you a beer or two.
Image Credit: Ian Chamberlain
Photo with 1 note
Forest Dunn right behind me after showing me a wheel under braking.
Image Credit: Ian Chamberlain
Post with 1 note
NGRRC Donington Park Newcomers Open RD3 Race Report
It made a nice change to not be woken by the rain. Instead the boy woke me at around 0600 jumping up and down on my head and pulling the curtains to one side in the caravan.
First practice was at nine o’clock so at around seven thirty I had some painkillers for breakfast and started getting the bike ready.
My first race of the day was to be the newcomers open and so far it was looking good to be a dry race. I had to win or come second to keep my position in the championship so this was my most important race of the weekend.
I rolled out to the grid to take up my pole position. I looked over to see that the second slot was empty. Andy Payne had crashed in the Open race on Saturday so wasn’t playing. I felt a little disappointed as we normally have a bit of a scrap. That said, Oliver Hill was due to race and he would certainly give me a run for my money so he was my main concern.
Warm up lap complete I came out of the last chicane onto the start finish straight to see Oliver Hill waiting at pit exit. He obviously missed the warm up lap. I figured he would be starting from the back of the grid so I had a good chance of beating him.
As I left the line the front wheel lifted on the 8 and I’m pretty sure it didn’t come down until my braking marker for Redgate. The new bike never fails to make me smile in my lid.
My plan for the race was simple. Ride as hard as I was comfortable with and if Oliver Hill caught me I would push on a little but was happy to take second. I led from the outset until just before the start of the last lap. Braking for the last chicane someone showed me a wheel. I assumed it was Oliver and as I came onto the start straight I realised I was going to have to race for the top slot.
A little harder on the gas, a little later on the brakes everywhere and I hoped to hold him off for at least a lap. I actually missed the last lap flag so I figured I had two laps left to fight for first place. Thankfully I was wrong and I was relieved to see the chequered flag to take first. The fastest lap of the race was that last lap so I must have pushed on a little.
Turns out that it wasn’t Oliver Hill. It was Forest Dunn on his Gixxer Thou having a go at me. Oliver didn’t start due to gearbox trouble on his new bike but I didn’t know that until after the race.
A successful race for me and I knew I could relax slightly for the rest of the day with 25 points in the bag.
Photoset with 1 note
It’s always a worry when someone doesn’t return to the garage after a race. Marcus went down at Craner Curves in the 600 race. Highside and a bit of gardening for the bike. Thankfully he was ok and has a few weeks to patch the bike up before the next round.
Image Credit: Ian Chamberlain
Photo with 1 note
The real life glamour of the paddock. A shitty old caravan with the pushchairs good to go for a quick race around the garages.
Image credit: Ian Chamberlain
Page 1 of 14
