Mallory Park 16/03/14

 

We arrived at Mallory Park late afternoon on Saturday, unloaded the van’s and managed to get the bikes scrutineered. Then we set about putting up the awning in high winds, we eventually got it all sorted, and without going hang gliding over Hinkley!

 

A few final adjustments to the bikes we then had a curry and a few beers!!

 

Up at 6am, preparation for the day ahead begins, bikes out of the awning, final checks, a few photo’s and then get changed for clothing scrutineering and signing on.

 

Noise testing went well (as we were unsure what levels we were at!) then out in first practise and qualifying. This went well enough and we qualified 5^th and 6^th, both on the second row (this was a mixed grid as we were in the same race as the 125GP class).

 

First race, we both got a good start and were 1^st and 2^nd into Gerrard’s, I was right behind Nigel, everything is going to plan! Nigel managed to pull a small gap on me as I was being extra careful on the first few laps due to the cold track and tyre temperature (for some bizarre reason, the Earlystocks club still don’t allow tyre warmers!!).

After two laps, I was holding the small gap that Nige had pulled. By lap 5 I had started to get a misfire whilst accelerating out of the corners, this allowed Nigel to start to get away slightly more and I was starting to get caught from behind! The bike got worse throughout the remainder of the race, but I managed to get it home, 10 seconds behind Nigel but 1 second in front of the third place rider, so although not ideal, we still managed 1^st and 2^nd in class and in the overall Earlystocks race.

 

Back in the paddock we set about getting the tank off my bike, drained carbs, nothing really to see but we did notice that the air filter wasn’t quite sealing on number one carb! We refitted the air filter and put the tank back on. Fired it up and now is running fine again!

 

Race two and once again a flying start, I tucked in right behind Nigel and tried to stick with him on the cold tyres. He did manage to pull a small gap once again, after three laps he had pulled about 4 seconds but I was now matching his speed and holding the gap.

I then started to reel him back in. Lap by lap I was closing on the brakes into Edwina’s chicane and also the Hairpin. I then focussed on trying match him around Gerrard’s (apparently the longest single apex bend in the world) on a race track anyway. He had been stretching out a bit around there, where I was better on the brakes, after a couple of laps I was actually closing on him around Gerrard’s so I was right on his tail by this time. Knowing how good he is, I decided that I would sit behind him and out brake him into the Hairpin on the final lap. If I can block pass him then I should just about out run him to the line!

A lap and a half to go and Im right on his tail, then the misfire comes back, I could not believe it, I was fuming! Out of every corner Nige was just gaining a little every time, we came onto the start and finish straight for the final lap and just to add insult to injury we came up on two more back markers just in the wrong place, Nige got passed them going into Gerrard’s that pushed the second one across into my line, I had to brake harder going in which meant the end of any hope of any dare devil braking manoeuvres for the lead! I got around the outside of the two back markers and got my head down, I did close him down on the brakes but the lack of drive just gave him the edge. We crossed the line 1^st and 2^nd once again, this time Nigel was only 1 second in front of me!

As I pulled off the track the bike cut out all together, after further investigation, it appears that there is some sort of blockage in the carbs causing them to flood.

Not sure if this is due to the off in testing, but its back to the workbench and carb cleaning and servicing once again!

 

When we got the time sheets from race control, it turned out that I had actually got the fastest lap of the race which was also my personal best for Mallory Park!

 

All in all, a very successful meeting and start to the 2014 season!

1^st and 2^nd in both races… We couldn’t ask for better than that!!

 

I would like to say a big thank you to our team sponsors

Mid Norfolk Mouldings

JT Chains and Sprockets

KJD Motorcycles

HiFlo Filters

Peels4u Graphics and Clothing

Slipscreens

And Rock oil.

 

Without the help of these people and companies, we would not be able to do what we do!

So Thank You all very much from all the team.

The 2014 Season is almost upon us, the bikes have been built (or rebuilt) and its time to see where we are up to!

 

 

 

Testing at Donington Park 26/02/14

 

After five months we finally got back out on circuit to test the two FZ 750’s which we are racing in the 2014 season. We have done a lot of work in the off season, as well as rebuilding last years bike which Nigel is going to be racing, I have also built a new bike which I will campaign.

As well as all that, we have also got ourselves an FZ 750 road bike which we have used for development. This has been invaluable and been well worth the extra time and effort, as we have managed to get a lot of the set up and development work done on the roads in preparation for the upcoming year.

 

We arrived at Donington Park on Wednesday evening in dry chilly conditions, after a good meal and lots of banter we got our heads down, only to be woken be the heavy rain storms throughout the night!

Up at 6am we got ourselves a garage on pit lane and unloaded the vans.

The rain had stopped now, and although it was brightening up and a steady breeze, the track was still extremely wet.

 

After doing the paperwork and signing on, we eventually got out on track at 9.20am.

We fitted ‘wets’ which we haven’t used before (due to club rules) so with a new bike on new tyres, we took to the track and started out steadily building up speed throughout the session as confidence built!

At the end of the first session, it was all smiles, evident that the road bike development had been extremely successful, the bike was far better than last years with both better handling and a lot more power with better delivery!

 

For the second session, we continued with the wets, as the track was still wet but drying out. We continued to improve on speed as the track was now starting to dry quite quickly, by the end of this session both Nigel and I had done our fastest ever laps around Donington in ‘Damp’ conditions.

The extra power that we now have has brought some new issues, as we are both now suffering with clutch slip, this is fairly easily remedied, with new slightly heavier clutch springs.

 

The third session was totally dry, so we went back to dry tyres, (getting plenty of practice in changing wheels!) I followed Nigel round, He is very quick and I have known all along that it is going to be a tall order to actually beat him when it all gets underway in just two weeks time. He was setting a blistering pace, but I managed to keep with him ok, he would pull away on the straights as my clutch slip was getting worse preventing me from getting good drive, but I was pulling him back down Craner curves and the old haipin. The session got stopped due to an incident, so we pulled into pit lane and lined up ready to go back out. This time I led Nigel and knowing how fast he had been going, I set off like a scalded cat! He didn’t manage to get passed me, and afterwards said he could just about stay with me, so I was really pleased. I also had a few battles with some guy’s on ‘Modern’ bikes! Had some good ding dongs, they would come past or accelerate away down the straights, but I would catch them or pass them on the brakes and through the corners. One guy in particular, riding a new R1, didn’t seem happy as I went around the outside of him at Coppice, he then came back past me down the back straight, but as he hit the brakes for the Foggarty esses, I sailed back passed him again on the brakes. I don’t think he was very happy being beaten by a 27 year old bike!

 

During the lunch break we had a heavy storm, as we were second group out we waited to see if it was going to dry up as the rain had now passed. The first session went out and it was apparent that it was not drying, a mad wheel change back to wets, finished just in time to get out for the start of the session. My front brake didn’t feel very good, possibly down to the pads getting bedded in on the dry wheels! In addition to this, the visibility was very pour, with a lot of spray coming up. The clutch was now getting a little worse, so it ended up a steady session.

 

The last session ended with mixed results. The track still totally wet but with the sun out, I lead Nigel out onto the circuit, He came past on the second lap and started to gap me. As I started to get used to the conditions, my confidence grew along with my pace. I could see Nigel about 200 metres in front and I started to reel him in. After another two laps the gap had halved and I was really starting to push.

Unfortunately I pushed a little too hard and found ‘the limit!’ At the end of the back straight I hit the brakes and the front tucked! It is slightly down hill and I was now using my ‘dry braking marker’, so I had just braked to hard. It was my own fault and far better to happen now than in a race!

Thankfully there was very little damage, with the crash bug taking the brunt of the impact. Just a broken handlebar and clutch lever / master cylinder!

Oh.. and I now need a new helmet!

 

All in all, a very good successful test day. We have a few minor things to address and I have my paintwork to do, but otherwise we are now ready for 2014!

 

The first meeting is at Mallory Park on 16^th. March, so if you are able to come along, it would be great to see you!

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors

Mid Norfolk Mouldings

 

KJD Motorcycles

HiFlo filters

JT Chains and Sprockets

And

Peels 4U