Pembrey Round 2

Pembrey: F450.com Moto 450/Supermono Cup

Day 1: 10th April 2010

After a full day of testing on my RRV 450 I was pleased to wake up to glorious sunshine and idyllic views of the Welsh Mountains. With conditions as good as perfect, the weekends racing on the very fast and sweeping Pembrey circuit, was going to be very challenging. But I was hopeful for some good results following Mallory Park. Although the setup of the bike was still not perfect I was confident of being able to compete for podium positions once again.

My main aim in qualifying was to try and put myself on the front row of the grid where I felt if this was possible then I could definitely be contesting the lead in races. Qualifying was going well and during my 20 minute practise and with less than 5 minutes to go my pit board read 4th position. I knew I only had possibly 3 laps remaining to try and improve my position. Sadly this did not materialise as on the fast sweeping left hander I ran off circuit pushing too hard and had a very fast and hard crash. Tumbling and falling for at least 10 seconds. I can remember thinking “I hope my bikes alright!” The session was delayed and then restarted for the final 5 minutes. Although I could not take any further part in qualifying nobody went any quicker than my time of 1:02.959 for the 1.456 mile circuit and I maintained 4th position for the weekend races. Even though it had been a fast crash the damage to the bike was minimal and I had walked away with only a bruised wrist and a sore lower back.

Race 1: This was going to be my 1st attempt at a super pole race. Briefly this means that the finishing 4 riders who occupy the top four positions start from these positions for the following two races on the grid. The remainder of the grid is then made up of your qualifying position. (Confused? I am too!!)

The race was over 18 laps and so was going to be a test not only of my riding ability but also a mental test as I had never raced over this distance before. I started the race well and in fact by the 3rd lap I was in second place and starting to gap the trailing pack. As the race unfolded and the laps went by the leader didn’t really pull away but by now I had been caught by two other riders and I was in a battle for a podium position. Mentally and physically it was very tiring under the hot Pembrey sunshine I was finding it hard. With the last lap flag out and by now in 4th position my main concern was maintain this finish which I managed. By the time I had crossed the line I was 8 seconds behind the winner which considering the distance we had raced I was very pleased.

Day 2: 11th April 2010

Race 2/3: After my super pole position of 4th this is where I started today’s races. Both races were very similar in the way they panned out. Again under near perfect weather conditions racing was fast and hard. I had 2 good starts and for a while was contesting 2nd and 3rd positions. Eventually finishing both races in 4th place.

Even though I hadn’t gained podium finishes I was still relatively pleased with my overall performance, my quickest time of the weekend was 1:01.991 and considering I knew I still had suspension issues with the bike along with break and gearing concerns this was a good time.

Pembrey: Michelin Thundersport GP2 and Minitwin Cup

10th / 11th April 2010

Unlike Mallory Park I had already done a qualifying session in my F450 class and so I was hopeful of a good solid grid position for the races ahead. During the 20 minute qualifying session I had managed to gain pole position where I had lost and gained it again no fewer than three times. As the chequered flag came out to indicate the end of the session I had managed to gain 3rd place with a time of 1:02.690. I was pleased to be starting on the front row again just like Mallory because I knew the competition was so strong. This is exactly how it turned out to be with any one of five riders contesting for the lead in all the races. Try as much as I could I never felt I was in a position to win any of my races mainly due to the previous concerns I had about the bike. The two races on Sunday brought me two podium finishes and while I was pleased with my finishing positions I was not getting carried away as two riders in each of the races had unfortunately has to retire while positioned in front of me.

Race 1: 4th
Race 2: 6th
Race 3: 3rd
Race 4: 3rd

Quickest time in this class 1:01.954 for the 1.456 mile circuit.