Round 4 – Oulton Park

Oulton Park was to be the venue for the 4th race meeting of the Dunlop Superteen 2009 championship. In theory this was my home Race Circuit, being only 1 ¼ hours away you would be mistaken in thinking I had raced here many times but in truth I have only raced here once before and that was 12 months ago in my second race meeting ever!
After continued beautiful weather over the previous 2 weeks I was praying that this weekend would continue to bring us glorious sunshine. Friday was lovely and sunny, scattered showers had been forecast but they never came. The sun shone right throughout the whole day which made conditions very good for improving on lap times. My test day was to take in 3 x 20 minute sessions on the hour from 9 am, lunch would follow and then 3 x 15 minute sessions were scheduled for the afternoon sessions. It was my first outing back on the bike since Pembrey – 4 weeks earlier where in my last race I had unfortunately crashed.
My first session of the day was mainly to get my lines right whilst at the same time I was running in a new Piston. So the times were not really important to me in this early session. With this first session now out of the way I knew I couldn’t waste any time in getting into a good rhythm and more importantly achieving good speed consistently. With Oulton being the longest Circuit that I’d be racing on this year I knew I had to keep my concentration to maintain my consistency and hopefully my lap times would show this. By the end of the morning sessions I was averaging 2 min 5 sec for the 2.7 mile Circuit. Although I was pleased I knew I could still go quicker. I took advantage of the lunch break to talk things over with, my mechanic and Race Advisor, Andy Machin. After discussing several options we changed the gearing on the back and tweaked the rear suspension slightly. In the afternoon sessions I continued to go quicker and in the final session of the day I managed to get into 2 min 2 sec which I was over the moon about. I knew from the other ‘Superteens’ who were out that I was well on the pace and Saturday couldn’t come quick enough for me. The lap record around Oulton Park for a Superteen class was 2 min 2 sec and I knew in my own mind I was more than capable of breaking it should the weather stay dry of course . . . . . .!
Saturday was now upon us, I had gone to bed dreaming of sunshine, blue skies and a big crowd and the TV cameras would be here once again to witness one maybe two podium finishes, was this too much to dream for? Saturday morning arrived and it was raining, it was cold, it was windy and it was nothing like the weather yesterday. The clouds were rolling in the skies but they were either black or grey and they were to stay for the rest of the day. The rain started at 6:15 am and continued well into the afternoon, at times it fell heavier than at other times – but it never stopped! Lap records would not be broken today, in fact, just to complete the race would be an achievement in itself. Qualifying started at 9 am and the ‘Superteens’ were out first – a 20 minute session in which to put myself as high up on the starting grid as possible. Now although I don’t like the rain I’ve never really had to do qualifying sessions in these wet conditions other than 10 minutes at Pembrey. In the 20 minute session I managed 6 laps, my Pit Board told me I was in 6th place, I came in made up with myself. When the final listings did come through I had dropped 2 places to 8th as a couple of riders had put in fast, last laps. I was still on the second row of the grid and very confident now going into my two races in the afternoon. The first race was scheduled for 12:50 so I had plenty of time to get myself right mentally to race in the rain. Speaking to other riders in the paddock I wasn’t alone in thinking that these were possible the worst racing conditions that any of us had witnessed and therefore we were all now in the same boat, so to speak.

Race 1
I was sat on my Aprilia on the start grid in position 8, it was an inside line I had which I knew would favor me, but I had holding water on the Circuit right were my back wheel was and I could not help but think that it would play some part in my start off the line! The lights were off to start the race and away I went, not a brilliant start but the puddle of water that submerged my back wheel hadn’t really affected me. By the end of the first lap I was in 9th position. It was a 7 lap race so I knew I had time on my hands to make my way up the leader board, with conditions worsening, the spray on my visor was, at times, making viewing impossible. Riders were coming off at all parts of the Circuit and it was hard to visulise just were in the race I was. At the end of lap 4 I looked across at my Pit Board which said #25 P5 – I hadn’t overtaken anyone in 3 laps, yet I was now 5th. Unknown to me several riders in front had crashed and I was lying in 5th! This spurred me on I could just about make out some riders in front of me but we were coming up to back markers shortly so I knew if I was to push a little harder I could possibly catch them up and use the back markers to my advantage. Although that was my plan in my head I knew it was still going to be difficult – at the end of lap 5 my Pit Board still read #25 P5 but I could now see the two riders in front of me #53 was Joe Ravenscroft and #31 Greg James. I was close enough to Joe and managed to outbreak him at the end of the start/finish straight and now I was hot on the tail of Greg. A podium 3rd place was now possible but I still had about 6 seconds to make up. As I passed my Pit Board for the last lap I was in 4th and still some way off Greg. My dad told me that because to front 2 riders were well in front the Circuit commentator was now concentrating on my duel with Greg for 3rd! The gap between us was getting shorter all the time and I knew I could pass him if I had a chance. With 2 miles to go I was right on his back wheel. I slipped streamed him before pulling out and going late on the breaks into Shell Corner, try as he did I now had him and soon pulled away. Rounding the final bend and with the chequered flag in sight I knew 3rd place was mine. As I crossed the finish line I kicked my leg out in delight! I had achieved a Podium 3rd in terrible weather conditions but more to the point I had proved to myself I could now compete in the wet as well! On my way to finishing 3rd my time in the last lap of the race was the 2nd fastest of the race and that pleased me even more. Oulton Park, my home Race Circuit and I was on podium again . . . . I was well chuffed!
Race 2
Well I’m back on the starting grid for Race 2 and I’m looking down at that puddle again thinking the same as last time! I’m full of confidence and my plan of attack is simple – its only a 5 lap race this time so I’ve got to get a good start and be with the front lads at the end of the first lap, I know from my times in the first race that I have good travelling speed so I’m not afraid of anyone I just need a good start.
The lights are on then off I’m away . . . or am I? Remember that puddle? I now have water spraying everywhere from my rear tyre as it spins away ferociously trying to grip the tarmac for what seems like forever but in fact was for only a couple of seconds – riders’ are passing me when suddenly it grips and I’m off. By the time I have completed lap 1 I’m up into 7th position, its now 4 laps for me to get as high up the positions as possible. The front three riders are all but clear and gone but I can see a small group of three riders ahead of me, by the end of lap 2 I’m still in 7th position but tagged onto the back of the small group in front of me. One of those riders is Wayne Ryan and another is Nick Anderson both of whom are above me in the Championship. It would be hard enough to pass them in the dry but now in the wet it’s even more difficult, the third rider is Greg James, who I had just about beaten into third place in the first race. As I started lap 3 I knew I needed to get past Greg and quickly if I wanted to catch the other two, I was finding the pace quite slow now so I made my move on Greg, nothing special just got more speed coming out of a corner than him and off I went, next up was Wayne, Wayne had won three out of the four races at Pembrey the previous month and had qualified 2nd on the grid here this weekend. As we approached a left and a quick right I saw my opportunity I went on the outside of him through the left and I now had the inside line through the right, Wayne drew up right onto my shoulder and as we came out of the right hander almost together I was on the throttle first and edged in front. I passed the last lap flag and my Pit Board read #25 P5, brilliant! By now I was floating across the puddles and sailing round the corners I suddenly found these conditions to my liking. Nick Anderson at this point was at least 5 seconds ahead now but I as going to give it a go, after all it was a race, not a practice session! I rode as hard and as fast as I could and could feel myself reeling him in. Nick must of sensed this because he was now looking over his shoulder, by the time I caught him up there must of still been over a mile to go I wasted no time in waiting for the right opportunity and as we headed down the hill towards shell corner again I drew level, I had the perfect race line into the right hander, as I passed him, Nick ducked in to take the corner and we briefly collided, thankfully we both stayed on and I continued home into a well and hard earned 4th position. Again I had the 2nd fastest lap time in this race, I had completed two very good races in awful weather conditions and finished in very respectable positions in 3rd and 4th.
My 3rd place Podium finish was my fourth this Season and by far my best. It was especially satisfying as I had never really fancied racing in the wet but I love Oulton Park and I was determined to ride well here, whatever the weather……!
May I take this opportunity in thanking all sponsors for their continued support: Fletchers ‘Bike Legal’ Solicitors, Aspire Rail Consultants, Marshside Health Club, Short Stop Tyres and Buff headware. Thanks to Andy Machin and Grandy.
The next Race meeting will be with the World Superbikes at Donington Park 26th – 28th June
Oulton Park showing : 22nd June Motors TV channel 413