Pembrey

Thursday 7th May

Pembrey, South of Wales was the race Circuit to be hosting the 3rd round of the Aprilia Superteen Championship with Thundersport GB. It had taken us 5 hours to get to Pembrey and when I got there it was windy and miserable.
As we put the awning up and set-up camp I couldn’t help but remember the four good races I’d had here last year and was hoping to repeat that kind of performance again. Pembrey, themselves, were to put on the Track Day for Friday and they announced that ‘signing on’ would commence at 7 pm on the Thursday evening. All the track day sessions I have attended at the other circuits the ‘Superteens’ have usually had up to six 15-20 minute sessions during the day, and I saw Pembrey to be no different . So you can imagine my disappointment when ‘signing on’ I discovered that we had only been given two 30 minute sessions, one in the morning and one later on in the afternoon. Had this been explained over the telephone prior to me travelling down to Pembrey then maybe suggestions could have been made to find us more track time. The organizers at Pembrey had made their decision and this was final.

Friday 8th May
I awoke on the Friday morning to grey skies and strong winds, and maybe just maybe the two 30 minute sessions would be ideal considering the conditions. Testing went ok, but ideally more time was required to test different gearing and to scrub new tires in! The word in the paddock was much the same from other ‘Supreteens’ and their parents, but we were all in the same boat and just had to get on with it. The wind continued and with the scattering of showers throughout the day South Wales was as bleak as it could be.

Saturday 9th May
Qualifying
The grey skies and winds were still with us and with only one 20 minute Qualifying session I was hoping for a dry circuit. I had a new set of tires fitted to the bike and I knew for the first couple of laps they would need to be scrubbed in. The session started and was only 5 minutes in when the rain came, for 10 minutes it did not stop and this affected everybody’s times as the wet circuit slowed the whole field down. By the end of the 20 minute session I was just thankful that the 4th lap I completed was quick enough to put me 6th on the grid out of 43 Competitors. My time of 1:10.43 was on a par to the times I’d been doing the day before. I would be on the second row of the grid for all 4 Races and was confident that with good starts I would be able to compete with the front runners.

Race 1
The starting lights went on then off, I was away. Through the first 6 Laps I was contesting for 6th place with 4 other riders. We had come across back markers and they were proving difficult to pass. By lap 7 I was now in 8th but a fast left hander was approaching and I knew I was strong through this corner so I lined up the 7th place rider and made my move – as I drew up on his inside, the long left hander sweeps around to the right and as we both tipped into it he caught my front break with his arm and off I went. I was in 5th gear doing around 90 mph and boy it hurt! Over and Over I rolled until I came to a stop. My visor had been ripped off my helmet with the impact - it was that severe! In the minutes that followed I couldn’t help feeling so fortunate that from such a high speed crash I had managed to walk away from it, relatively unscathed and miraculously so had my bike with only minor repair work needed. This was my 4th crash in 9 races, surely my bad luck could not continue!

Race 2
Less than 3 hours after my crash in Race 1 I was back on the starting grid for Race 2. Whilst I appeared confident and focused for this race, deep down I was still shaken up from my exploits earlier on. I knew if I could get a good start and be with the front 3 or 4 by the end of lap 2 I would be in with a chance. It was a 10 Lap Race so time was of the essence. I got the good start I wished for and by the end of lap 3 I was in 4th place, by lap 6 I had got myself up into 3rd place, but again, as in Race 1 the back markers were proving to be difficult to pass and were slowing me up. The front 2 riders were in effect too far away to catch and I knew from my Pit Board that I had ‘company’ with me contesting this 3rd position. As the last lap flag came out I was passed on my inside going down to he hair pin at the end of the start/finish straight. Surprisingly, I did not panic and waited for my moment, it came soon after on a long fast part of the circuit – I slip streamed the rider in front of me before making my move, as we raced into the final bend I was a nose in front and with perusing traffic after me I held my position for a well earned 3rd position and podium place. This was for me my best performance as a ‘Superteen’. Coming so soon after my crash a now knew I had what it takes to cut it as a motorbike racer but more importantly so did everybody else. The congratulations I received after this race you could have been mistaken in thinking I’d won it.
Sunday 10th May
I woke on the Sunday morning feeling a little stiff and sore! I soon cheered up when I saw blue skies were upon us and the wind had dropped. Before my warm up though I had an interview on TV about my progress so far which was quite cool and I was asked about various things so that will be on TV when the racings shown. I had a 10 minute warm up session in preparation for race 3. So in my mind I had a plan, and the plan was this – If I could get out in front for the warm up and not be passed in the session then not only was I sending a message to my fellow riders I was also going to give my own confidence the world of good. My plan worked a treat, although I wasn’t the quickest on circuit, nobody passed me, or even looked like doing so. I now couldn’t wait for Race 3 to start. The sun was out and the cameras from Sky TV were covering today’s Racing as is normal. My crash the previous day was now a distant memory! The two races today are 12 laps and I knew that this would suit me better.

Race 3
Again, I got a good start and came across the start/finish line in 5th place, I got up to 4th but soon fell back to 5th when in lap 4 the red flags came out and the race was stopped. There was to follow a 5 minute stoppage so now the re started race was to be only 8 Laps. Could I get a 3rd good start on the trot, yes I could as I passed my dad on the Pit wall he was holding the pit board that read I was in 4th position, the next 3 laps I changed position more times than I care to remember! There were 5 riders all with 1 second off each other and I knew in my mind that this was my race to win. During Lap 6 I was up into 2nd place and on the back wheel of the leader, I was so confident I could win the race that I was now setting fastest lap times. Then to my disappointment another red flag! The race is stopped again, only this time as we were over half way through the 8 laps a count back to the end of the last completed lap would determine the outcome of the race. It took a bit of time to sort out but when the result was announced I’d been placed 3rd. It was another podium finish, it was another excellent performance from me but I could not help feeling my bad luck had returned. My first ever ‘Superteen’ win had been snatched from me with that Red flag.
Race 4
Could I make it 3 podiums on the trot, could I get another good start? The final race of the weekend was underway and again I was travelling well. By the end of lap & I was in 4th place and looking comfortable. The front 3 were still in my sights, but, more importantly I had dropped the perusing pack all but for 1 rider so I knew it would be tough, for the next 4 laps I kept my lead on him never showing him the door or giving opportunities for him to be able to pass me and all the time I was drawing nearer to the 3rd place rider. The last lap flag was out, as I looked at my Pit board I knew I had a 0.5 second of a lead on him and was determined to keep it. Unfortunately on the last lap I passed two back markers and the man chasing me decided to try and pass me where there really wasn’t any room and clipped me into the back marker and down we went.

A little disappointing end to the day however I was riding great all weekend despite this bit of bad luck lingering over me. I know I have the ability to bounce back from major incidents and can run now at last with the front lads and set a good pace. The weekends racing will be shown on the 25th May at 7pm on Motors TV Sky channel 413.

Thanks