Snetterton

Snetterton: F450.com Moto 450/Supermono Cup

Day 1: 1st May 2010

Unlike the previous two race meetings the test day was going to be split up into just 4 practise sessions during the morning and a 1st qualifying session in the afternoon. Something that Thundersport are now to adopt for the remainder of the season. Snetterton is well known for its two long straights and its fast circuit. In my two previous visits here, during my Superteen days, I’ve had a right mixed bag of fortunes from crashes to poor races and to podiums and this weekend was to continue in that trend.

The Saturday morning testing went really well and I was more than pleased with the setup of the bike especially after being at Cadwell Park. I felt I was on the pace and very confident for the qualifying sessions in the 450/GP 2 classes in the afternoon.

Looking at the weekend weather forecast with conditions due to deteriorate for the Sunday and Monday I knew the best chance I had for a front row grid start in both my classes would be to post good times today.

My two qualifying sessions went really well. Although I crashed during qualifying for the Buff Supermono and Nitro Moto 450 I had managed to post the third quickest time of 1:16.502 for the 1.952 mile circuit putting me on the front row of the grid for the weekend’s races. Ironically in the Michelin Thundersport GP2 and Minitwin Cup Class I had also posted the third fastest time, only a thousandth of a second quicker, with a qualifying time of 1:16.501 for the 1.952 mile circuit. Pretty consistent I must say!

Day 2: 2nd May 2010

As predicted the weather did deteriorate for the weekend, the sunshine had gone and the grey clouds and East Anglian winds were upon us. The second qualifying sessions on the Sunday morning were a lot slower and so for my next seven races I would be starting from the front row in both my classes. One thing I did manage to gain out of the sessions was some valuable track time riding on my wets and putting in some reasonable times.

Race 1: Superpole Race – 14 laps.

After a good start I quickly got dialled in to some quick laps and at the half way stage of the race found myself battling for a top three position. The conditions for the race were dry but very windy and with the ever present threat of rain conditions were liable to change at any time. As the race came towards its final couple of laps the front two had dropped me and I was some five seconds behind them. At the same time I was a good ten seconds in front of my nearest challenger. Over the remaining two laps I closed the gap significantly and when I took the chequered flag in third place I was only 4 seconds behind the leader and 2 seconds behind the second place rider. My lap times were on average in the 1:16 mark and I was very pleased with my overall performance. As it was a Superpole race I would start my next two races in this class in third position on the grid, the same position I had started with.

Day 3: 3rd May 2010:

During my warm up session this morning I had managed to go the quickest in very difficult conditions, I was riding on wets and felt very confident about not only the setup of the bike but also the circuit.
Unfortunately for me my two previous races this weekend in the GP2 class had resulted in crashes from which I was to break a finger. Although physically I was OK apart from this, mentally I was a little bit apprehensive for my next races, as I wanted to score as many points as I could I was now conscious of the fact I wanted to finish races.

Race 2:

Again after a good start I had managed to come round after the first lap in third place but during the remainder of the race I did have a few bike issues and with my confidence a little bit low I settled for a solid 4th place finish. Overall it was one of those races that nothing really happened for me up the front and with the issues with the bike and riders passing me I had nothing to retaliate with and consolidated my position in 4th place.

Race 3:

Final race of the weekend and I am really up for it. The weather conditions are terrible with grey clouds overhead and scatterings of blue skies the conditions were changing all the time. It was decided that I would start the race with a dry setup. Now that I am getting some really good starts under my belt it is becoming expected of me to be in the top three or four at the end of the 1st lap and I didn’t disappoint. Four laps in and lying in 3rd place the racing was fast and competitive. However the weather was to have the final say. During lap 5 on a section of the circuit that is notoriously quick you go through an area called the Bomb Hole – it was here the heavens opened. It claimed 5 victims on this lap but thankfully I wasn’t one of them. When I passed the start/finish line for the 6th lap I was leading the race. Unfortunately and unbeknown to me the carnage I had left behind me meant the red flags were out and the race was stopped. It emerged that two of my friends and fellow competitors had been hurt and needed medical attention. The race was called a result and I was given the win. Obviously under the circumstances I would have preferred a different outcome but never the less a win is a win!!
Overall the weekend gave me some good results. Third in the Superpole race and the victory in the last race have given me some good points in the championship and I now look forward to Cadwell Park at the end of the month in the hope I can improve on my second place positioning in the championship as I am only 25 points behind the leader. My best lap time recorded for the weekend was 1:16.359 for the 1.952 mile circuit.

Snetterton: Michelin Thundersport GP2 and Minitwin Cup

1st/ 2nd / 3rd May 2010

With two qualifying sessions in this class to determine my grid position for the weekend races I was determined to make the most of the weather conditions today. (Saturday) As it turned out the weather deteriorated for the remainder of the weekend and nobody went quicker than the Saturday times and I would start my race from the front of the grid in 3rd position. Ironically my same start position for the 450 class. The four race that I have had had been a right mixed bag. In race 1 I was never really in contention for a podium finish and settled in the end for 6th place even though the race was cut short with the red flag. In race 2 this was a real battle and one I learnt a lot about for myself. During the last lap and in the last corner while battling for 3rd/4th I high sided the bike and took a heavy fall breaking my finger in the process. During race 4 in atrocious weather conditions I was in a comfortable 2nd place with more than a ten second gap to my nearest challenger, I again high sided but this time I blame myself for wrong gear selection. In the final race came probably my best performance of the weekend. After electing to go out on wets on a fast drying circuit the decision was to prove the right one. At the half way stage of the race there were only three riders in contention and I was one of them. During the remaining four laps of the race I hunted the front two down caught then and one by one passed them and when I started the final lap I was leading the race. My pit board told me I had a two second advantage and this I maintained through to the chequered flag winning by a clear 3 seconds and taking my first victory on wets. I was more than happy with my performance!

Race 1: 6th
Race 2: DNF
Race 3: DNF
Race 4: 1st

Quickest time in this class 1:16.428 for the 1.952 mile circuit.