Members racing thread
Discussion
stew-STR160 said:
Cadwell this weekend with Thundersport. Weather is looking lovely.
Anyone else racing this weekend?
I'll be there! Helping William White - 600 Elite. Anyone else racing this weekend?
We had a tough time at Oulton park, William got taken out in qualifying so hoping to crack on and get some points back on the board this weekend.
Bikesalot said:
I'll be there! Helping William White - 600 Elite.
We had a tough time at Oulton park, William got taken out in qualifying so hoping to crack on and get some points back on the board this weekend.
I was going to swing by and say hi to him and Hannah. I saw his Instagram pics from Oulton... not good.We had a tough time at Oulton park, William got taken out in qualifying so hoping to crack on and get some points back on the board this weekend.
stew-STR160 said:
I was going to swing by and say hi to him and Hannah. I saw his Instagram pics from Oulton... not good.
Yeah - wasn't ideal, his last race of the day was a real battle with shoulder pain. I'll be in a BirotarUK jacket - make yourself known if I don't see you first, I'll look for #48!
Morning all.
Round 3 at Cadwell Park with ThundersportGB, done!
Got there early on Friday afternoon to fog. Lots of fog. Like village of the damned fog.
It cleared by Saturday morning, I was due out in the afternoon for testing(one day behind due to bank holiday). 3 sessions, all going ok, warming myself up.
Sunday qualy- Something I really need to work on, get on the pace from the outset. I didn't qualify well to be honest. 33rd of 38. Was only out for a few laps but I didn't feel relaxed, almost fighting the bike.
Race 1- DNS! Ok, backstory- during the bike warm up for qualy I noticed the choke cable(remember those?) was loose, not doing much. So after qualy, take the tank and airbox off, sort the problem, put everything back on. 10 minutes if that.
So when the race comes around, I start the bike, warm it up, ride to the holding area, then out on to the track which is when the bike started stuttering. I'm trying to give it some gas and wake it up, but no improvement.
Bike then cut out and wouldn't restart on the grid. So there I am thinkin WTF is going on...and it dawns on me...I hadn't turned the fuel tap back on when I put it back together. And to access the fuel tap you need to lift the tank.
To say I was furious with myself would be an understatement.
Lesson learned though.
Race 2- reduced lap count due to earlier delays. Because of this and my lack of running I wasn't on the pace. I managed to make up a few places during the race but I didn't get far or get a decent lap time in for day 2's mega lap grid allocation. Day 2's grids are based on fastest lap times on the first day.
Add into this the fact all the cement dust on the racing line along the start/finish up through Coppice into Charlies... I didn't know the grip levels.
Day 2, race 3-
As per the above, mega laps had me starting 33rd again.
I had been out for warm up at 10am, got a few laps in to see the track was all good. Race was at 10:50, so I was fresh and ready to go.
Off the line I made a decent start staying with the pack. First corner melee resulted in everyone getting through but most people around me fixated on the apex of Charlies 1 leaving half the track empty...except for me. I used the slingshot up the hill to throw it round the outside of about 6 other people and off I went.
As the race unfolded I was finding better pace, picking off people along the way to end 20th (I think it was).
At the end of the race I was buzzing like I've never felt. Properly chasing down people, going for gaps which were fairly tight, but fair.
Race 4- pretty much the same as the first race. Same result and events upfolding during the race. However at the start, on the first lap going though Chris Curve I had a 'moment' on the tarmac join in the middle of the track. Which I think spooked me a little so I ended up doing the whole race wary of that patch and wouldn't relax through it. I made up the loss of time there elsewhere, but just couldn't shake it.
I finished the race about 25th and thoroughly exhausted. Holding the bars far too tight, unable to relax properly.
I learned a good amount about myself and how to ride faster at Cadwell. I know I still suck at slow speed right handers. I struggle with the Hairpin and Barn. If I could sort those out I'd probably be a couple of seconds faster just through there. And the mountain...I don't want to jump it...hahaha. I left my balls at home I think.
Next round is Mallory Park late June. I have a TD there on the 16th to learn the track as my only experience was a cold November a couple years ago. Hopefully I'll get a better result and decent qualifying.
Round 3 at Cadwell Park with ThundersportGB, done!
Got there early on Friday afternoon to fog. Lots of fog. Like village of the damned fog.
It cleared by Saturday morning, I was due out in the afternoon for testing(one day behind due to bank holiday). 3 sessions, all going ok, warming myself up.
Sunday qualy- Something I really need to work on, get on the pace from the outset. I didn't qualify well to be honest. 33rd of 38. Was only out for a few laps but I didn't feel relaxed, almost fighting the bike.
Race 1- DNS! Ok, backstory- during the bike warm up for qualy I noticed the choke cable(remember those?) was loose, not doing much. So after qualy, take the tank and airbox off, sort the problem, put everything back on. 10 minutes if that.
So when the race comes around, I start the bike, warm it up, ride to the holding area, then out on to the track which is when the bike started stuttering. I'm trying to give it some gas and wake it up, but no improvement.
Bike then cut out and wouldn't restart on the grid. So there I am thinkin WTF is going on...and it dawns on me...I hadn't turned the fuel tap back on when I put it back together. And to access the fuel tap you need to lift the tank.
To say I was furious with myself would be an understatement.
Lesson learned though.
Race 2- reduced lap count due to earlier delays. Because of this and my lack of running I wasn't on the pace. I managed to make up a few places during the race but I didn't get far or get a decent lap time in for day 2's mega lap grid allocation. Day 2's grids are based on fastest lap times on the first day.
Add into this the fact all the cement dust on the racing line along the start/finish up through Coppice into Charlies... I didn't know the grip levels.
Day 2, race 3-
As per the above, mega laps had me starting 33rd again.
I had been out for warm up at 10am, got a few laps in to see the track was all good. Race was at 10:50, so I was fresh and ready to go.
Off the line I made a decent start staying with the pack. First corner melee resulted in everyone getting through but most people around me fixated on the apex of Charlies 1 leaving half the track empty...except for me. I used the slingshot up the hill to throw it round the outside of about 6 other people and off I went.
As the race unfolded I was finding better pace, picking off people along the way to end 20th (I think it was).
At the end of the race I was buzzing like I've never felt. Properly chasing down people, going for gaps which were fairly tight, but fair.
Race 4- pretty much the same as the first race. Same result and events upfolding during the race. However at the start, on the first lap going though Chris Curve I had a 'moment' on the tarmac join in the middle of the track. Which I think spooked me a little so I ended up doing the whole race wary of that patch and wouldn't relax through it. I made up the loss of time there elsewhere, but just couldn't shake it.
I finished the race about 25th and thoroughly exhausted. Holding the bars far too tight, unable to relax properly.
I learned a good amount about myself and how to ride faster at Cadwell. I know I still suck at slow speed right handers. I struggle with the Hairpin and Barn. If I could sort those out I'd probably be a couple of seconds faster just through there. And the mountain...I don't want to jump it...hahaha. I left my balls at home I think.
Next round is Mallory Park late June. I have a TD there on the 16th to learn the track as my only experience was a cold November a couple years ago. Hopefully I'll get a better result and decent qualifying.
stew-STR160 said:
Morning all.
Round 3 at Cadwell Park with ThundersportGB, done!
Got there early on Friday afternoon to fog. Lots of fog. Like village of the damned fog.
It cleared by Saturday morning, I was due out in the afternoon for testing(one day behind due to bank holiday). 3 sessions, all going ok, warming myself up.
Sunday qualy- Something I really need to work on, get on the pace from the outset. I didn't qualify well to be honest. 33rd of 38. Was only out for a few laps but I didn't feel relaxed, almost fighting the bike.
Race 1- DNS! Ok, backstory- during the bike warm up for qualy I noticed the choke cable(remember those?) was loose, not doing much. So after qualy, take the tank and airbox off, sort the problem, put everything back on. 10 minutes if that.
So when the race comes around, I start the bike, warm it up, ride to the holding area, then out on to the track which is when the bike started stuttering. I'm trying to give it some gas and wake it up, but no improvement.
Bike then cut out and wouldn't restart on the grid. So there I am thinkin WTF is going on...and it dawns on me...I hadn't turned the fuel tap back on when I put it back together. And to access the fuel tap you need to lift the tank.
To say I was furious with myself would be an understatement.
Lesson learned though.
Race 2- reduced lap count due to earlier delays. Because of this and my lack of running I wasn't on the pace. I managed to make up a few places during the race but I didn't get far or get a decent lap time in for day 2's mega lap grid allocation. Day 2's grids are based on fastest lap times on the first day.
Add into this the fact all the cement dust on the racing line along the start/finish up through Coppice into Charlies... I didn't know the grip levels.
Day 2, race 3-
As per the above, mega laps had me starting 33rd again.
I had been out for warm up at 10am, got a few laps in to see the track was all good. Race was at 10:50, so I was fresh and ready to go.
Off the line I made a decent start staying with the pack. First corner melee resulted in everyone getting through but most people around me fixated on the apex of Charlies 1 leaving half the track empty...except for me. I used the slingshot up the hill to throw it round the outside of about 6 other people and off I went.
As the race unfolded I was finding better pace, picking off people along the way to end 20th (I think it was).
At the end of the race I was buzzing like I've never felt. Properly chasing down people, going for gaps which were fairly tight, but fair.
Race 4- pretty much the same as the first race. Same result and events upfolding during the race. However at the start, on the first lap going though Chris Curve I had a 'moment' on the tarmac join in the middle of the track. Which I think spooked me a little so I ended up doing the whole race wary of that patch and wouldn't relax through it. I made up the loss of time there elsewhere, but just couldn't shake it.
I finished the race about 25th and thoroughly exhausted. Holding the bars far too tight, unable to relax properly.
I learned a good amount about myself and how to ride faster at Cadwell. I know I still suck at slow speed right handers. I struggle with the Hairpin and Barn. If I could sort those out I'd probably be a couple of seconds faster just through there. And the mountain...I don't want to jump it...hahaha. I left my balls at home I think.
Next round is Mallory Park late June. I have a TD there on the 16th to learn the track as my only experience was a cold November a couple years ago. Hopefully I'll get a better result and decent qualifying.
Good effort that. Cadwell is a mint track and those old R6's can really fly can't they!Round 3 at Cadwell Park with ThundersportGB, done!
Got there early on Friday afternoon to fog. Lots of fog. Like village of the damned fog.
It cleared by Saturday morning, I was due out in the afternoon for testing(one day behind due to bank holiday). 3 sessions, all going ok, warming myself up.
Sunday qualy- Something I really need to work on, get on the pace from the outset. I didn't qualify well to be honest. 33rd of 38. Was only out for a few laps but I didn't feel relaxed, almost fighting the bike.
Race 1- DNS! Ok, backstory- during the bike warm up for qualy I noticed the choke cable(remember those?) was loose, not doing much. So after qualy, take the tank and airbox off, sort the problem, put everything back on. 10 minutes if that.
So when the race comes around, I start the bike, warm it up, ride to the holding area, then out on to the track which is when the bike started stuttering. I'm trying to give it some gas and wake it up, but no improvement.
Bike then cut out and wouldn't restart on the grid. So there I am thinkin WTF is going on...and it dawns on me...I hadn't turned the fuel tap back on when I put it back together. And to access the fuel tap you need to lift the tank.
To say I was furious with myself would be an understatement.
Lesson learned though.
Race 2- reduced lap count due to earlier delays. Because of this and my lack of running I wasn't on the pace. I managed to make up a few places during the race but I didn't get far or get a decent lap time in for day 2's mega lap grid allocation. Day 2's grids are based on fastest lap times on the first day.
Add into this the fact all the cement dust on the racing line along the start/finish up through Coppice into Charlies... I didn't know the grip levels.
Day 2, race 3-
As per the above, mega laps had me starting 33rd again.
I had been out for warm up at 10am, got a few laps in to see the track was all good. Race was at 10:50, so I was fresh and ready to go.
Off the line I made a decent start staying with the pack. First corner melee resulted in everyone getting through but most people around me fixated on the apex of Charlies 1 leaving half the track empty...except for me. I used the slingshot up the hill to throw it round the outside of about 6 other people and off I went.
As the race unfolded I was finding better pace, picking off people along the way to end 20th (I think it was).
At the end of the race I was buzzing like I've never felt. Properly chasing down people, going for gaps which were fairly tight, but fair.
Race 4- pretty much the same as the first race. Same result and events upfolding during the race. However at the start, on the first lap going though Chris Curve I had a 'moment' on the tarmac join in the middle of the track. Which I think spooked me a little so I ended up doing the whole race wary of that patch and wouldn't relax through it. I made up the loss of time there elsewhere, but just couldn't shake it.
I finished the race about 25th and thoroughly exhausted. Holding the bars far too tight, unable to relax properly.
I learned a good amount about myself and how to ride faster at Cadwell. I know I still suck at slow speed right handers. I struggle with the Hairpin and Barn. If I could sort those out I'd probably be a couple of seconds faster just through there. And the mountain...I don't want to jump it...hahaha. I left my balls at home I think.
Next round is Mallory Park late June. I have a TD there on the 16th to learn the track as my only experience was a cold November a couple years ago. Hopefully I'll get a better result and decent qualifying.
George29 said:
Eventful weekend with NLR at Donington this weekend. Just managed to get a engine fitted in time for the test day on Thursday. Only to get there and find there was a slight oil weep from a bolt that was covered by the frame, didn’t get more than an out lap in all day. Dropped the engine out again and fixed it Friday. Straight into qualifying on Saturday morning, went out thinking it would all be good, but a mist of oil on my boot again... turns out the pulse cover was the cause of the oil mist all along. Took that off, saw there was a hairline crack in it. Tried to get a spare at the circuit but no one had one, managed to find one at a BMW dealer not too far away so raced over there to pick it up, fitted it, then got out for race 1. Started 38th, got an ok start and made up a load of places, then someone crashed in front of me at Melbourne and pushed me wide to avoid the bike and rider, then just couldn’t really get any clear track and was stuck in a gaggle of riders all trying to overtake each other at every corner, making it difficult to get past any. Finished 21st which was s
t, but was 14th on the grid for Sunday.
Then did 2 stints in the endurance, did 24-25 laps each stint and was doing consistent 41s with a best lap time of a 39. Was happy with that as we had no chance of winnng anything and had never ridden on Pirelli’s before.
Got a shocking start on the sprint race on Sunday, again struggling to get past people. Eventually finished 16th.
Determined not to get another shocking start I set off just before the lights went out in the next race, pulled the clutch in, stopped then went again. Still got a 10 second penalty which seemed harsh as I actually went backwards on lap 1. Crossed the line in 13th but the penalty put me down in 16th.
Last race was 10th on the grid. Got a good start and was up to 6th, dropped to 7th after a bit but was comfortable running consistent 1:38s and managed to get into the 37s on one lap which I was really pleased with. Then coming out of McLean’s on lap 9 there was a misfire as I remembered i only put 5 litres of fuel in and not the 7 I normally do as I got distracted half way through. Pretty much coasted the last lap trying to short shift everywhere, had 7 seconds on the guys behind me but 2 overtook me at the Melborne loop, then one just beat me to the line. So finished 10th, not ideal but some positives to be taken from it. Set the 5th fastest lap in that race and closed the gap to the front from previous races. Won’t make the fuel mistake again either!
Great job George! 37's is a cracking pace. How did you find the Pirelli at the end of nearly 30 laps? Brand new they're fine from what I've heard/recall.t, but was 14th on the grid for Sunday. Then did 2 stints in the endurance, did 24-25 laps each stint and was doing consistent 41s with a best lap time of a 39. Was happy with that as we had no chance of winnng anything and had never ridden on Pirelli’s before.
Got a shocking start on the sprint race on Sunday, again struggling to get past people. Eventually finished 16th.
Determined not to get another shocking start I set off just before the lights went out in the next race, pulled the clutch in, stopped then went again. Still got a 10 second penalty which seemed harsh as I actually went backwards on lap 1. Crossed the line in 13th but the penalty put me down in 16th.
Last race was 10th on the grid. Got a good start and was up to 6th, dropped to 7th after a bit but was comfortable running consistent 1:38s and managed to get into the 37s on one lap which I was really pleased with. Then coming out of McLean’s on lap 9 there was a misfire as I remembered i only put 5 litres of fuel in and not the 7 I normally do as I got distracted half way through. Pretty much coasted the last lap trying to short shift everywhere, had 7 seconds on the guys behind me but 2 overtook me at the Melborne loop, then one just beat me to the line. So finished 10th, not ideal but some positives to be taken from it. Set the 5th fastest lap in that race and closed the gap to the front from previous races. Won’t make the fuel mistake again either!
StuB said:
Great job George! 37's is a cracking pace. How did you find the Pirelli at the end of nearly 30 laps? Brand new they're fine from what I've heard/recall.
Thanks 
just need to get into them consistently now!The Pirelli’s were good to start with (bearing in mind they were scrubs that had done one race at Oulton Thundersport), but by 25 laps they were moving all over the place. The front felt really nice though but I won’t be swapping from Dunlop any time soon. I’d probably do more endurance races if it wasn’t control tyres. Or if they were more reasonably priced since you’re forced to use them!
Off to Snett this weekend with NG. Anyone else racing here?
moanthebairns said:
Team sorted and entered for Anglesey endurance. Look out for road rash racing, anything other than last is an achievement.
Don’t forget Lucking Fast will be there too, with roughly the same ambition. Hebegb and I are entering the sprints as well in Newcomer1000 and Cup1000 respectively. EDIT:
You’ve jinxed the f
king weather. bks
Edited by Gavia on Tuesday 5th June 10:55
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