This is me in Race2 following Nr. 44 on a RD350, and Nr. 55 on a 750 Honda Martin. During the first part of the race I was happy following, but as the race came to a close I found I was close enough to get past both 55, & then 44. This clip is two seperate laps one with me following, and one with me having overtaken 55, and coming up to take 44 as he opens the door to let the race leaders through. I overtook him in a similar fashion in race 1!
Sunday, 19 August 2007
Monday, 13 August 2007
Le Vigeant - Val de Vienne
Well, Monday 13th August, we arrived back from Le Vigeant yesterday, after a Saturday packed full of action!
We left for the circuit on Friday morning despite having drilled through the lighting cables on the trailer Thursday evening after Libby had bought me a new ramp. I had to drill holes for the ramp to fit through and in the process I drilled lightly into the cable. So Friday morning we left late after a hasty repair job on the the cable.
We arrived after 6.5 hours of driving, through the rain. The circuit itself is near Poitier and my parents were meeting us at the circuit on the start of their summer break in France. It is 3.7kms long, and very difficult to learn. We had a "proclassic" training time at 18:00 on Friday evening, and the bike ran perfectly. The driver however was having extreme difficulty finding his way around the circuit. I could only really remember about the first half of the circuit after the Friday practise. Much more difficult than Le Mans to learn, for example.
The Saturday started early with timed practise at 9:20 am, which went a little better but still only allowing me to access the last line of the grid - 2 mins 20 seconds - not good.
The first race, for a change, I got a great start, I overtook the line in front of me, and despite losing a few places down the straight I was feeling pretty confident. After the initial settling down - I am getting better at this - instead of following people around (easy to do) you really have to think, I am faster than this, and get to overtaking people!! My objective I had set myself for the weekend was to catch an RD350 typically in front of me in previous races, and I found myself following him round, and even being quicker than him at certain parts, there is a difficult bend after the back straight chicane which you enter really heavy on the front brakes and then it tightens up and you have to drop the brakes and heft it over to get round the bend. I was catching on this bend and also quicker on the bend after the start/finish straight. A plan was hatching!!
In fact I overtook on the slowest bend of the circuit after we were lapped. My rival slowed, whilst the front guys went through and I made the most of an open door, that he left. I went through and then opened up a comfortable lead on him to finish the first race in 26th position (stratch), with 9 people behind me - not bad, but still not exactly great.
Race 2
Started one line up after my Race 1 result, and again a reasonable start. I found myself once again behind the green RD350 and no. 55 on a 750 Honda. I was behind both of them for the most part of the race, although I really started to discover the circuit and where I could start going a lot quicker, I even experienced a couple of rear wheel slides which I think is an indication of my limits being reached. Anyway, I got past No. 55, and then I flew past the RD again, not leaving them any time to catch up again. I finished a couple of seconds away from the guy in front and was catching fast. I was really pleased that I had managed to get past these guys as these are two bikes that are "normally" in front of me.
I finished in 20th position and had bettered my lap time by 3 seconds again (!).
From the qualifying time of 2:20, I had got it down to 2:14, although I am still 4 seconds off the quickest LC, but I am getting closer!
The Saturday evening was spent celebrating results, birthdays etc.. and we packed up Sunday morning for what turned out to be a 7 hour drive home. But it was worth it!
Next race is Ledenon (nearly my home circuit!) on the 1st and 2nd September. I am hoping to be able to fit my expansion chambers and newly tuned barrels and head for the next race - we will see if I can run it in or not.
Despite being happy with my result I only finished 14th in my category which is worse than Le Mans, but still, I scored some points which is good.
Photos and video soon!
We left for the circuit on Friday morning despite having drilled through the lighting cables on the trailer Thursday evening after Libby had bought me a new ramp. I had to drill holes for the ramp to fit through and in the process I drilled lightly into the cable. So Friday morning we left late after a hasty repair job on the the cable.
We arrived after 6.5 hours of driving, through the rain. The circuit itself is near Poitier and my parents were meeting us at the circuit on the start of their summer break in France. It is 3.7kms long, and very difficult to learn. We had a "proclassic" training time at 18:00 on Friday evening, and the bike ran perfectly. The driver however was having extreme difficulty finding his way around the circuit. I could only really remember about the first half of the circuit after the Friday practise. Much more difficult than Le Mans to learn, for example.
The Saturday started early with timed practise at 9:20 am, which went a little better but still only allowing me to access the last line of the grid - 2 mins 20 seconds - not good.
The first race, for a change, I got a great start, I overtook the line in front of me, and despite losing a few places down the straight I was feeling pretty confident. After the initial settling down - I am getting better at this - instead of following people around (easy to do) you really have to think, I am faster than this, and get to overtaking people!! My objective I had set myself for the weekend was to catch an RD350 typically in front of me in previous races, and I found myself following him round, and even being quicker than him at certain parts, there is a difficult bend after the back straight chicane which you enter really heavy on the front brakes and then it tightens up and you have to drop the brakes and heft it over to get round the bend. I was catching on this bend and also quicker on the bend after the start/finish straight. A plan was hatching!!
In fact I overtook on the slowest bend of the circuit after we were lapped. My rival slowed, whilst the front guys went through and I made the most of an open door, that he left. I went through and then opened up a comfortable lead on him to finish the first race in 26th position (stratch), with 9 people behind me - not bad, but still not exactly great.
Race 2
Started one line up after my Race 1 result, and again a reasonable start. I found myself once again behind the green RD350 and no. 55 on a 750 Honda. I was behind both of them for the most part of the race, although I really started to discover the circuit and where I could start going a lot quicker, I even experienced a couple of rear wheel slides which I think is an indication of my limits being reached. Anyway, I got past No. 55, and then I flew past the RD again, not leaving them any time to catch up again. I finished a couple of seconds away from the guy in front and was catching fast. I was really pleased that I had managed to get past these guys as these are two bikes that are "normally" in front of me.
I finished in 20th position and had bettered my lap time by 3 seconds again (!).
From the qualifying time of 2:20, I had got it down to 2:14, although I am still 4 seconds off the quickest LC, but I am getting closer!
The Saturday evening was spent celebrating results, birthdays etc.. and we packed up Sunday morning for what turned out to be a 7 hour drive home. But it was worth it!
Next race is Ledenon (nearly my home circuit!) on the 1st and 2nd September. I am hoping to be able to fit my expansion chambers and newly tuned barrels and head for the next race - we will see if I can run it in or not.
Despite being happy with my result I only finished 14th in my category which is worse than Le Mans, but still, I scored some points which is good.
Photos and video soon!
Monday, 6 August 2007
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