Race Report 19th. May 2013
After mixed weather leading up to the weekend, we managed to
have a dry, and at timers quite sunny day for the meeting at Cadwell Park
on Sunday.
We were out in first practice / qualifying. The bike developed a misfire but I still
managed to get a few reasonable laps in and qualified 9th on the
grid.
I had also entered the all comers race at the last minute,
just to get some extra track time (not knowing what I was letting myself in for
at the time!)
After 1st practice, we set about trying to find
the misfire problem, having narrowed it down to number 2 cylinder, we found a
little bit of dirt in the carb, after cleaning it out, it seem to be running
fine again! Job done.
It was then time for the 2nd practice /
qualifying, for the all comers, unbeknown to me, I was up against top six
British Superbike regulars, James Westmoreland and John Kirkham on the factory
BMW’s!!
After a few laps everything was going well, then
Westmoreland came past me on Park Straight as if I was stood still, I truly
didn’t realise just how quick those BSB boy’s really are!!!
After five laps the misfire returned, only much worse. I
pulled off circuit as I knew my first Earlystocks race was straight after
practice, then I noticed that the radiator was starting to pump the water out
of the overflow into the catch bottle!
We managed to empty the bottle with seconds to spare as we
were being called to the start line.
This really wasn’t the start to the season that I was hoping
for, far from ideal, going to the start with the engine now getting hot and a
worsening misfire!
We did the warm up lap and I took my place 9th on
the start line, the light went out and on dropping the clutch the engine just
bogged, I got away but the misfire was worse than ever, I was running around
two thirds of the way down field and had adapted to the problem by running
everywhere (possible) a gear higher (where it was not misfiring as badly) and
keeping up as much momentum as possible not to put too much strain on the
engine, with the hope of limping home for a few championship points.
Unfortunately, towards the end of lap four the engine had
obviously had enough and blew all the water out of the rad!
I pull off circuit into the paddock, following a full
inspection (after it had cooled down) it appeared that I have blown the head
gasket!
As this was the first meeting on the bike and having only
had a few laps testing, I had brought along my FZR 600, in case of such
problems. After several discussions and a bit of arm twisting, I managed to
persuade the organisers to let me out in the second race on that, but as it is
not eligible, I would not be awarded any points and I had to start at the back
of the grid.
I went out for the second race and went like billyo on the
warm up lap (to get some heat into the tyres as we are not allowed tyre warmers
in this class).
I took my position right at the back of the grid. The light
went out and I was gone, passed three rows of the start ( I was always good at
starts, even though I do say so myself!) passed about another six or seven
riders around the outside on the first corner and up the hill.
Passing as many as possible in the first few corners is
critical, as the front runners start to stretch out a lead you always get held
up getting through traffic, making it difficult to catch them up.
At the end of the first lap I was up to sixth place, as
We then settled into the race I picked off riders one at a
time until I was up to third on the fourth lap, they were quite spread out by
this time but I kept my head down and got second position with two laps to go.
I then set about chasing the leader who was quite a way in
front by this time, by the end of the
lap I was almost with him, I then saw the last lap flag and thought this is it,
I have only one lap to get past him! I managed to get along side him down Park
Straight, I waited for him to brake and I didn’t, one, two three.. hit the
brakes hard tipped into park corner and I was in the lead. I managed to hold it
all the way to the finish.
From last to first in my first race back with Earlystocks, I
was over the moon! Just a shame the points don’t count, but that said, the FZ
750 is infact a little quicker than the FZR 600, so this boads well for the
rest of the season.
Now back home and I need to get in the workshop and start
work on getting the bike sorted.
The next round is a two day meting at Donington Park
in four weeks, so I hope I can get it re-built in time for that!
I will keep you all informed nearer the time, as to the
situation, in the meantime I would like to thank everyone who helped me over
the weekend, especially Nigel who came up to mechanic for me. Also I would like
to thank my sponsors, KJD Motorcycles, Hiflo filters and Mid Norfolk Mouldings
for all their help and support.
Also a big thank you to Cass and Steve, who allowed me out
in the second race, and the other riders who didn’t object even though the bike
wasn’t eligible.
Many Thanks
Keith #221
