Friday Test day
Before we were on track Tango was noise tested and pass first time. It
was dry all day Friday so we got some good set up time. First of all we
put Clint’s setting from last year on as a template which I thought
worked well but we did change the gearing and went down 1 tooth on the
rear. Which I found better, but later on once I’d got into the test day
more we went up 1 tooth and I was quicker my fastest lap of the day was
a 1:17 which I was happen with.
Saturday: Qualifying
I was first on the track and got straight into the 1:17 and was pole
for 3 laps then Elsmere and Hutchinson put in there fast laps. I put in
a low 1:17 and was pole again. But later Hutchinson put in a low 1:17
to and got pole by 0.009 of a second so it was very close. I had
qualified second.
Saturday: Race 1
I got my best ever start and was 2nd
into the first corner behind Elsmere. Into turn 3 I went up the inside
of him and was leading for 3 laps then I pasted by Hutchinson and then
Elsmere so I was 3rd I thought to myself if I stay behind
for a few laps ill surprise them later but I few laps later we hit the
backmarkers. Elsmere and Hutchinson got past one but then the
backmarker swerved in front of me so I lost 1 second and finish 3rd in class and 3rd overall. But I wasn’t happy cause I know I could have won or came second in that.
Saturday: Race 2
Me and Hutchinson both got rubbish starts and were 5th and 6th into the first corner. Coming onto lap 2nd
I came into the first corner a bit to hot and lost the front nearly
taking Hutchinson with me but he managed to stay on. I didn’t finish
that race because of my crash. When I fell the bike landed on my hand
and badly sprained my hand I didn’t think I would be able to ride.
Sunday: Race 1
I got another terrible start and was 7th into the first corner but got up to 4th quite quickly and was catching Brown in 3rd.My hand was hurting by now and I made a mistake at turn 3 and lost some time but brought Tango home in forth.
Sunday: Race 2
I got an awesome start and was 2nd into the first corner and really trying to fight the pain in my hand but I soon got the better of me and I drop to 3rd and stay there till the end of the race and got a podium. Good times J .
Conclusion
It was an ok weekend considering my crash but I did still enjoy riding
tango and riding for KRR. Thanks guys and girls. Looking forward to
Donington this will be the one J . thanks again to Unipart, Motodirect, Purbrook Garage and Mum and Dad.
Wednesday, July 29 2009
SNETTERON - TSGB
By Sam on Wednesday, July 29 2009, 13:10 - Race Reports
Thursday, June 11 2009
Oulton Park - TSGB Rnd 7
By Sam on Thursday, June 11 2009, 15:11
Hmm… Oulton well what can I say, my luckiest meeting so far?
Friday: Test day
It
was dry in the morning so I just got used to the track. During the
sessions Alan had me trying different gearing and suspension settings
until the bike felt awesome Then we decided it was time to the new
slick rear tyre Alan and Nick fitted it and I was instantly 1 second
quicker which even surprised me, this really improved the grip of the
bike and gave me even more confidence through the corners. The next
session I got out right behind Elsmere (championship leader) and was
with him the whole session. I felt this was really promising cause I
knew I could challenge him in the race. All in all another great test
day.
Saturday: Qualifying
We got up Saturday morning to
heavy rain. There was only one chance to qualify, a 20min session just
like Pembrey. I started off by putting in 2. 09’s because it was
soaking wet and there was a lot of standing water on track which was
catching people out. I managed to put in a 2.08 which put me 2nd in
class and 5th overall. One place away from a beautiful brolly dolly! I
was reasonably happy though as I was just concentrating on being smooth
and staying upright, this was my first real ride on Tango in the proper
wet.
Saturday: Race 1
Not
a brilliant start, I was 8th into the first corner but I kept it cool
and was soon passing people and was back into 2nd in class. It was
absolutely tipping it down and visibility was really poor. My pitboard
told me I was 2nd in class but I was aware of a 400cc machine behind
me, so concentrated on fending him off. This wasn’t going to be the day
for challenging Rob for the lead as the wet conditions were not good
and I needed to consolidate as many points as possible. I managed to
bring tango home in the 2nd place only to be told back at the garage
that I had won the race due to the winner being disqualified. Fair play
to Rob as he came round and told me and congratulated me like a true
sportsman. Not they way I wanted to win a race, but a win all the same.
Good times.
Saturday: Race 2
This
was gonna be a 5 lap dash due to stoppages in previous races. I got a
better start in this one and was 5th into the 1st corner. Again the 400
bike was behind me but I pulled a gap on him. The last lap flag
appeared before I knew it and as I came over the rise after the chicane
I saw Elsmere going straight on and passed him, and I wasn’t sure if
he’d got back on track or not so I just gunned it home for the last
half of the lap and won the race.
All in all a very
successful weekend as I needed the 50 points and have closed the gap to
the championship leader and am now 2nd in the Junior Powerbike
Championship. I never thought I would be sitting in 2nd place after my
no-score at Mallory Park, but I owe it to Alan, Charlotte for preparing
such a fantastic bike, and all the team for the support they give me on
and off track. Thanks to Unipart Automotive, Moto-Direct (RST leathers,
AGV helmets and PUMA boots), Purbrook Garage Services Ltd who are all
helping me this season.. Love you all. Bring on Snetterton - I’m comin
to get you Rob.
Wednesday, May 13 2009
TSGB - Pembrey Rnds 5/6
By Sam on Wednesday, May 13 2009, 12:36 - Race Reports
I
was coming in to this one quietly confident after such a great weekend at
Friday: Test day
We started on a wet front and a treaded rear because of the damp condition and
especially the wet coming into turn one. I did the first 2 sessions on the wet
front and then by the 3rd session its was almost all dry so I decided with Alan
to go for a treaded front and it worked so I got 4 sessions of dry practise
which was helpful. I put in some good times and the bike felt good all
day.
Saturday: Qualifying
There was only one chance to qualify, a 20min session. I circulated fairly good
in the 1.05’s then a had a minor problem where a spark plug cap fell off so I
pulled in to the pits and Alan sorted it out straight away. I got back out
right behind class leaders, Rick and Rob which were 1st and 2nd at that time in
qualifying so I stuck with them straight away and on the 2nd lap behind them I
saw on my pit board that I was 2nd on the grid which I was chuffed with. Then
the spark plug cap came off again so I pulled in again. I ended up with 3rd in
qualifying which I was very happy with because being on the front row is a good
advantage and it meant I also got a grid girl on Sunday, good times.
Saturday: Race 1
We fitted new spark plug caps, so I didn’t have to worry about that anymore. I
didn’t get a brilliant start I was 4th Junior Powerbike out of the first corner
and a few Streetfighters got in front so Rob and Rick pulled a gap and it was
me and Alan Brown fighting for 3rd and then Mike Edwards appeared and got in on
the action and slowed us both down because he was on a Moto 450 (a different
class) eventually I got Brown and was trying to get past Edwards and on the
last lap I had the inside line going into Honda curve and he turned in on me
and we clashed fairings but we both stayed upright. After the chequered flag
Edwards gave me a smack on the back which was uncalled for, as I nearly fell
off. Overall I finished 3rd in class.
Saturday: Race 2
Got another bad start and got caught up with some Streetfighters and was in 5th
after the first corner behind Brown and McCartney I got in front of them both
and I was in third but I couldn’t find a way passed the Streetfighters and Alex
Heaton got past me on lap 8, I managed to out-brake him into the hairpin but he
got me back again later on in the lap so I finished 4th.
Sunday: Race 1
Another dodgy start I was 3rd out of the first corner my tyre didn’t feel right
all race it was lacking traction and it kept stepping out and nearly high
siding me off out of the corners. A bit later on McCartney got into 3rd but I
managed to get him back then the race was red flagged because Mark Lumb crashed
right in front of me (get well soon Mark). I kept it together and
finished 3rd.
Sunday: Race 2
We had a team discussion and decided to put a brand new tyre on the
rear and make some suspension changes for this one. It was a gamble that paid
off well because I got a great start and was right behind Rob and Rick into the
first corner and I could see them all race but I was racing with Steve Tomes
(Moto 450) and Barry Utting (Street Fighter) which was great fun and I managed
to get into the 1.02’s which was a target for me all weekend. I had a 9 second
gap back to 4th place so I was flying and I was very happy coming 3rd again.
Overall it was another brilliant weekend, a big thanks to Alan, Clint and
Nick for setting the bike up and the KRR team for their support on and off
track. Well done to Clint on his great weekend also. And thanks to mum and dad
for taking me and well done to Dad for finishing 7th, 4 times in the
Streetfighter A class. And thanks to Nan,
Granddad, Uncle Simon for coming up and supporting me, Uncle Steve for the
videoing and Penny Stopthorpe and family for the support and brilliant flag.
Also, thanks to my sponsors www.PROPPA.com, Motodirect (RST & AGV) and
Unipart Automotive.
Bring on Oulton 6th June 2009.. Can’t wait- is it time yet?!?!?
Sammy boy #9
Thursday, April 23 2009
Cadwell Park TSGB Race Report - Junior Powerbike
By Sam on Thursday, April 23 2009, 16:53 - Race Reports
I was looking forward to this one especially after Rnd 1 Mallory’s disaster of a broken collarbone. On Friday night me and Nick (spanner man) had a chat about gearing and got things sorted after Nick had discussed this with Alan. Also I had a chat with Clint and he told me what gears to be in on each corner for Cadwell Park on the Ducati M800 (Tango) which was very helpful.
Saturday: Test day
The Cadwell test day
was very helpful because we had a discussion about suspension settings
and Clint and Alan thought it might be a good idea to sort out some
suspension changes, which proved to work for wet and dry conditions
and Nick fiddled with gearing and found the perfected setting to suit
me.
Qualifying
The first qualifying session was red flagged
so only got 1 lap in. but they added an extra 5mins into session 2 so I
was happy I got a good time I think it was a 1:44 which landed me 4th
in class on the grid. I was a bit frustrated because there was a lot of
traffic.
Sunday: Race 1
I
got a good start which I was pleased with considering it was my first
race start on the M800. But it was soon red flagged after Clint and
Alex Heaton crashed out. I had my race head on so Clint coming off
didn’t worry me I just hoped he was ok.. The restart was a 5 lap dash
so I got another good start and was fighting Richard McCartney on his
SV 650 for 3rd place eventually after a good fight with him, I brought
it home 3rd. I was pleased to have got a podium in my first race on
Tango.
Sunday: Race 2
I didn’t get the best start in the
world because I wheelied off the line but managed to pull back 5th and
4th so, it was me, Alex Heaton and Richard McCartney fighting for 4th
in the end me and Heaton pulled away from McCartney and gained on 3rd
place Tony Rand we both got right on the back end of Rand then me and
Heaton start to fight again so Rand pulled a bit of a gap again. Me and
Heaton had a very fun race together because he was In front of me till
the last lap and I managed to overtake him again coming out of
Mansfield and brought Tango home for 4th place.
Monday: Race 1
This
race was probably the hardest of them all this weekend. I got a fairly
good start and was 4th into the first corner right behind Rand with
Heaton right on my tail coming out of the gooseneck Hutchinson lost the
front and crashed out so Me, Rand and Heaton were all fighting for 2nd.
On lap 6, I managed to overtake Rand but he was still right behind me
on lap 7 he lost the front at the gooseneck and crushed out as well
like Hutchinson I was in front at the time so I didn’t see the crash.
Coming on to the final lap the race was red flagged because of Rand’s
crash so I finished 2nd which I was very pleased with and so was KRR.
Good Times.
Monday: Race 2
I got
another brilliant start and was 3rd into the first corner and on the
first lap I overtook Hutchinson and was slowly catching Elsmere for the
lead. By lap 4 I was right behind Elsmere but unfortunately an Aprilia
RSV1000 overtook me and Elsmere down the start/finish straight and got
in the way because through the corners me and Elsmere were much faster
but the RSV1000 kept getting us down the straight. On lap 5 Elsmere
managed to overtake the RSV1000 by nearly falling off and I didn’t want
to risk falling off and losing points so I settled for 2nd again and
also I managed to lap in a 1..39.9 which I was very happy with because
all weekend I was trying to break the 1.40 barrier all in all it was
another very successful race and I was very pleased.
In
conclusion I thought it was a fantastic weekend and great fun. Thanks
to Alan and Charlotte for their support and faith in me and also
providing such a great bike to ride. Thanks to the Knight Road Racing Team http://knightroadraceteam.co.uk for setting the
bike up so it was perfect for me and to Nick for supporting me for
fuelling, tyre and gear changes.
Thanks
to Clint for being a great team-mate and giving me hints and tips and
for mentoring me and well done to Clint for getting back on the bike
after such a big crash and finishing 4th in 2 races which was very good
after what happened. Thanks to Slick for pit boarding and occasionally
getting it wrong (last lap…last lap…) and thanks to Uncle Jim, Uncle
Simon and Granddad Dave for coming up and supporting me as well and to
all the KRR supporters for their words of encouragement.
Oh
I nearly forgot, thanks to Mum and Dad and my sponsors UNIPART
AUTOMOTIVE, Motodirect (RST & AGV) too - couldn’t do it without
them..
Thanks again,
Sammy boy #9