Here we are at round 10 Assen, my favourite circuit on the calender. The weather didn't look great over the weekend but I was still excited about getting out there on track! FP1 was a good start but FP2 was wet/drying conditions so we sat out the session. I got out in the Dutch Supersport session on the Saturday just for some extra practice after missing FP2 which was handy. Qualifying was a difficult session I got 8 laps in then I rained so I missed the last 10 minutes of qualifying, I left it too late to put a good time in so I started 10th EVO on the grid which wasn't ideal, the session caught a few riders out and the grid was a little mixed. I knew I had to be aggressive on the first lap and push my way through and put in a good lap time in the sprint race. Race 1 I got a mega start and pushed my way through straight to 6th from 10th, I was in a group from 4th to 8th and we were all battling right through the race, me Kloots, Pett, Paulo, Philp and Collier were all in a battle and we were putting some good moves on each other to get to the front of our group. On the last lap Paulo passed me and I was trying hard to pass him back but he rode defensively so it was difficult, on the second to last corner before the chicane he ran wide and lost some speed so I had to make a pass or Pett behind me was going to anyway, so I made a move it was close and me and Paulo touched he went down and I went across the gravel and ended up 6th, Luckily Paulo was OK, I didn't mean for him to go down it was just a racing accident. Race 2 Eveyone was waiting to go out to the grid then the race was delayed and I was stuck down the bottom with no tyre warmers as no one knew what was going on, I saw they were I started 6th EVO and got a good start up to 5th, turns 2 and 3 were wet so the first few laps it was really tricky through that part and I didn't want to make a mistake, I finished the race 6th which I wasn't happy with as I was sure I could have done better but the conditions weren't ideal but that's racing! Massive thanks again to Mark Hanna for all his hard work and help, also thanks to Road and Racing, Pinky, Dad and Mum and Grandad. Also big thanks to Pipe Werx, Fuel 10K, Kushitani, Oxford Products, Pro Bolt, Purbrook Garage, Motor Parts Direct and Maxton suspension. Another shout out to Paul and Beverly for their support at Assen and also Ashley Bond and Andy Cooper for their support and help.
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Round 9 Oulton park, I love this track and was looking for two strong finishes before going to Assen. Practice started well and my pace was good. I qualified 5th EVO and the lap times were close, it looked like it was going to be a close battle all weekend!
Race 1 I got a good start but at turn 2 Irwin got pushed off track and his bike came back in front and pushed me and a few other EVO riders wide, I lost a place to Daley so was running in 6th after a few laps I passed him at Lodge and moved up to 5th EVO. The gap was about a second to Estment in front but I couldn't quite close the gap and 5th was where I finished, I was a bit frustrated as I have the pace to run with the front guys but got caught up in someone else's accident in the first lap, but it was good points for the championship. Race 2 I started 4th EVO and got another strong start and was right up behind Hipwell and Neill. On lap 4 Hornsey had a big highside which sent out the safety car for 2 laps, it was close behind the car as everyone was slowed down and everyone was trying not to run in the back of someone else! After the car went in we all got going and I past Daley for 4th place and got right behind Collier, Neill and Paulo. Estment caught up and join the party and we were all battling within a second of each other, into the last corner of the last lap it was close but the red flag came out at the last minute and the results went back a lap and I finished 4th EVO. I was happy as I got some good points but felt I had a chance of a podium on the last lap but hey ho. Wishing Andy Reid and Sam Hornsey a speedy recovery after there big crashes in that race. Massive thanks again to Mark Hanna for all his hard work and help, also thanks to Road and Racing, Pinky, Dad and Mum and Grandad. Also big thanks to Pipe Werx for the new trick pipe, Kushitani, Oxford products, Pro Bolt, Purbrook Garage, Motor Parts Direct and Richard from Maxton for all his help too. Roll on Assen... Cadwell was here and I was looking forward to racing here as last year I missed it due to having an operation, I was ready to go and was looking for some good solid points and a good weekend.
I qualified 6th Evo, which wasn't ideal but it was fairly close so I had a chance in the race. Saturday Race 1 I got strong start and moved up to 5th, I battled with Freddy Pett and Josh Daley but managed to gap them and start to catch Marshall Neill, I got right up behind Marshall but I found it tough to pass him so I had to settle for 5th place. I got a good lap time and bumped myself up to 4th Evo for Sunday's race. Sunday Race 2 My start was average and I got right back behind Marshall in 5th Perrin and Estment went down which then moved me up to 3rd place, I sat behind Marshall looking at where I could possibly make a move for second, but with 3 laps to go I tucked the front at Mansfield carrying a to much front brake, I was gutted as there was a good chance of a podium and I threw it away. I was pleased with the weekend as I had the chance of that podium but equally annoyed that I crashed. Roll on Oulton park. Massive thanks to Road and Race, Mark Hanna, Richard at Maxton, Dad, Pinky, Grandad and all my supporters. Also thanks to Oxford Products, Kushitani, Pro Bolt, Motor Parts Direct, Maxton, Fuel10K and my sponsors. |
AuthorSam Coventry Archives
November 2017
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