Here's my report... it was a very eventful first race for me !
Arrived at Mallory on Friday night and it was freezing cold so looked like the forecast was holding out ! While everyone was in their caravans or tents I snuck off to my cozy B&B round the corner.
Arrived at the paddock at 7am to wake them all up and start unloading the bikes. Went out for the first session and it was damp and cold but the racetecs held out well and I was enjoying it. Loved Gerrards and going round the outside of everyone there, found I could get round it faster taking a wider line and cutting in the get a good drive out. Third session was dry and I went out behind Claire and Bones to get some lines although I couldn’t adjust to them, my dodgy lines just seemed to work for me. Tried loads of different lines for devils elbow and still managed to slid the back end out nearly every time, soon got used to it though I can't believe it's not butter!.
After lunch it was chucking it down with rain and hail and we had problems getting my wet wheels on so I missed my session so went out the next session with my wets on but the track was drying and it was my first ever time using wets so was a bit of getting used to. First lap and coming out of devils elbow once again my back end went but this time it chucked me out the seat, don’t know how I managed to stay on that one but after that I was a bit tentative round that corner I can't believe it's not butter!. Didn’t bother going out for the last session as would of had to swap wheels again so called it a day.
This was my first ever time at Mallory but it was easy to learn with it being so short and I really enjoyed it.
Found out my brake lines were illegal as they were both on the right hand side which is legal for Scottish racing but not English so it was mad panic trying to get brake lines. Track Craft kindly gave me a R1 brake line but our next problem was getting a double brembo banjo bolt. Couldn’t get one so the boys from RJS kindly lent me a YZFR6 master cylinder so finally got that sorted for getting the bike scrutineered in the morning.
Once again I went off to my cosy b&b and had a nice sleep J
Sunday morning was just rushing about getting stickers on the bike and getting it scrutineered, thankfully it passed. I went out first for qualifying, after 4 or 5 laps I noticed my laptimer said I did a 1m01 which I was pleased with so came in early and let Claire out. Unfortunately that time didn’t get picked up on the transponder but Claire managed to qualify us with a 1m02 and we qualified 13th overall which meant 26th when starting with the seniors and nationals.
I started the race so we had a few practice runs in the paddock as I had visions of me kicking the tail unit and knocking the bike over but it was a lot easier than I imagined. Once we lined up I was standing waiting for the flag, didn’t see it go down so just ran when I saw everyone else running, got a great start and got away quicker than most around me and then weaved in and out of quite a few bikes to end up behind Bongo, NR racing and ABH so was keeping pace with them and managed a 1m01 until I decided to go over the huge cobbles coming out of the bus stop then sliding out the rear at devils (again!) but I started making progress on them. Someone crashed at the hairpin so the safety car came out for about 6 or 7 laps so we all bunched up.
Once the car came in we weren’t allowed to pass until the start/finish line so i’m going for it, knock it up into 5th, throttle pinned then bang, all I felt was a huge impact from behind as a guy on a ZX10R hit me from behind and next thing i’m sliding down the track at about 130mph, felt like forever then my slider must have dug into the track and sent me into a crazy fast spin down the track. OUCH !!! Hobbled up and kinda collapsed over the wall beside the marshalls, I was so winded, dizzy and dazed and sore I can't believe it's not butter!. Bucko came running over to check I was ok and get the transponder from my bike.
Once I composed myself I ran to my bike and managed to get it started although it was stuck in 5th so took a few minutes to get it into 2nd then was allowed to ride back to pits off line. Finally got into pits and didn’t think they’d be able to sort my bike but everyone mucked in and were great. Even though I was in pain and thought i’d broken my finger I was determined to go back out if my bike was fixable so everyone cracked on. Big thanks to Eric, Andy, Bucko, Steve, Lily and Freak for getting it done. Claire finished her 30 minute stint but we still didn’t have a shark fin so a homemade one was stuck on and off I went. Think we probably lost about 20 minutes all in. I went out and was nearly back on pace doing 1m02s and 03s but I was really struggling as the clutch was too far out for me with my sore fingers and i’d obviously hurt my arm so my left arm muscle were going into spasms and could barely get the bike turned into the left at the esses. I stayed out for 20 mins I think but gave the signal to pit crew I was struggling so got the IN on the pitboard. The guys sorted out the clutch so I was happy to go out again. On Claires session there was a red flag and the race was stopped so that gave me some time to chill out and take painkillers. Claire went back out to finish her 25 minutes then I went out for the last 20 minutes, it was the longest 20 minutes ever as my left arm had totally seized up so when I saw the chequered flag I was so relieved.
All in, we came 6th which considering we lost so much time I think thats great, I know as long as its incident free myself and Claire can do much better and Claire did an excellent job getting out early to cover my lost time
Big thanks to everyone who helped over the weekend and so nice to meet all of you. Even though it was a very eventful race I cant wait for the next one. Got some excellent bruises ring piece, hip and shoulders and my finger I think might be broken has turned a nice shade of black I can't believe it's not butter!.
Aint got any pics yet but hopefully get some up soon
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