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24/06/08 - Snetterton Race Report

We headed into Snetterton after a disappointing Anglesey as we had some bike issues.  The practice went ok without any problems and I was looking forward to the first race.  We were the first race and during the last practice session of the morning the heavens opened!  On the Saturday of the two day meeting I was also riding a standard ZXR600 which I had borrowed in the formula 600 class.  It was my first outing in practice on a new 600 and I loved it.

Race 1 (400)
It was a drenched track and I started 2nd on the grid.  The lights went out and away we went spinning from the line.  I was 3rd into the first bend and  dropped to 4th on the big straight.  I was sat in 4th right behind the leaders not trying anything silly just wanting to wait to see what was going to happen over the 8 lap race when my bike started missing out of the bomb hole on the second lap.  I got to the last chicane and the bike completely cut out, which meant my race was over!
After that disappointment I wasn't looking forward to riding the 600 in the drenched conditions!
Race 1 (600)
As it was my first formula 600 race I was starting from the back of the grid.  I got a reasonable start and took it easy as I had never rode the bike in the wet and had no experience of the bike even in the dry.  I rode round getting use to the bike finishing in 17th after nearly getting wiped put!
Race 2 (400)
This race was started on a drying track with everyone on wet tyres.  I had to start from the back of the grid as I DNF in the first race.  I got an awesome start and was in the top 12 by the first bend but in all the drama I forgot to go back a gear and lost a load of places out of the first bend!  Had a good race from there on catching and passing groups of riders finishing 5th overall.  By the end the track had a wide dry line and ripped the wet rear tyre up.
Race 2 (600)
The track was completely dry by now and I was looking forward to it.  I was starting 17th and got a good start getting into the top 12 by the back straight.  At the chicane a rider went onto the grass and crashed.  His bike came back onto the track just in front of me causing me to nearly stop trying to avoid the spinning bike.  After that there was a gap in front of me to the next group but on lap 2 the red flag came out.
On the restart I got a good start and was in a group of about 6 riders battling for 6th.  After about 5 laps I started to drop off the back finishing 12th.
After this race there was a scratch race which was £10 for a 10 lap race and anyone could enter so I decided to do it on the 600.
Scratch Race (600)
I started 15th and with a good start I was in the top 5 racing with another 600 and two 1000. I was racing with these for about 5 laps passing the 1000s round the bends and getting blastered by them down the long straights.  The last few laps they eventually started to pull away.  I went nearly a second faster than I had gone in the F600 race which was earlier in the day.
Overall I loved riding the standard ZXR600 but couldn't afford to race the 600 as well as the 400 on the Sunday so I had to knock the 600 on the head which was a shame as I was only about 1.5 seconds off the fastest F600 Lap time in only my second dry race on the bike.

Sunday
Race 1 (400)
The sun was out but it was very windy.  I started 5th on the grid and I soon got in a battle for 3rd place with a zxr400.  The zxr400 kept passing me on the back straight for me to pass him into the last bend.  This happened for most of the race until I eventually pulled away finishing a lonely 3rd.
Race 2 (400)
I started back on the front row for the last race of the weekend in 3rd.  I got the hole shot into the first bend but it didn't last very long as I was passed on the back straight by another zxr400 which was just to fast on the long straights even when in the slip stream.  Then on lap two I was passed on the start finish straight which put me back to third.  From then on I watched them disappear into the distance.  I then had a lonely race to what I thought was 3rd but it turned out to be 2nd as one of the leaders broke down.

Overall it was a up and down weekend having some more problems with the 400 but hopefully now all them are solved so roll on Donington Park on the 12th of July.
A big thanks to everyone who helped through out the weekend and a HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD, MARK FISHER.

 

07/05/08 - Cadwell Race Report

Cadwell being G&S Racing’s home circuit I wanted to put on a good show for all who was coming to support us and also for myself.
Race 1:
Race one I was starting on the front row in second position.  As we sat on the grid it started to rain but not much, I decide to go as fast as normal hoping others would not push as much.  Got off to a brilliant start taking the lead into the first bend but as I flicked from left to right I lost the front and nearly ran off the track, then I realized it was slicker than it first looked.  On the run up to park corner on the first lap Chris Smith passed me on the brakes only to crash right in front of me coming out of park.  I only just missed running his arm over!  I also had a slide through hall bends which knocked my confidence a bit and I ended up finishing 5th.
Race 2:
Starting 5th on the grid, first on the second row I got a brilliant jump off the line but got boxed in on the run to the first bend which kept me in 5th.  Made my way up to 4th coming out of Charles 2 onto the back straight.  Then Paul Ellerker crashed out at the goose neck giving Alan Armour a bit of a lead.  A few laps in it was a 3 way battle for the lead with Alan Armour, Tim Bradley and me.  A few laps later it was a 4 way battle.  With a few laps to go we started to get lapped riders and they was not kind to me. I got held up a little and had to watch the battle for the lead and settle for 4th.
Race 3:
Back on the front row in 4th I got another brilliant start being second into the first bend.  This was a brilliant race with the top 4 all battling for the lead all race long. I eventually finished 3rd beating the championship leader a gaining a few valuable points back on him but later proved to be wasted as I DNF the last race of the weekend!  In this race I did a 1.41.7 which is the fastest I had ever been round Cadwell Park.
Race 4:
The first start to the race was red flagged on the second lap so we had a full race re run.  I got another good start and led for almost 3 laps but then let it slip and dropped to 3rd over the next few laps.  At the start of the last lap I was passed on the start finish straight which put me back to 4th.  I pushed a little to hard into Charles 2 and ran a bit wide on the way in which made my exit speed a little slower then normal giving me abit of work to do to get 3rd back. I then ran to hot into Mansfield running a bit wide and as i picked the throttle back up the back end just spun out from under me with no warning.  Before I know it I was sliding along the track and over the big kerbs hurting the bottom of my back!  The rider who had passed me for 3rd also crashed a few bends later which would have gifted me 3rd back but that's motorcycle racing for you!

Apart from the final race of the weekend it was brilliant close racing and really enjoyed it.
I would like to thank everyone who helped out over the weekend as none of it would have been possible without them.  Now we just have to repair the bike in time for the next round at Anglesey on the 31st May.

 

26/03/08 - Tom's comments on Brands Hatch 21st - 22nd March 08

 

Motorcycle racing is an expensive sport and Tom would welcome any kind of sponsorship support. If you feel you can help please
contact Mark Fisher on 07711048362