I came in Donington confident after a good couple of tests at Jerez and Donington. I wanted to have a strong weekend and start the season well!
Saturday FP1 was cold and a little damp so it was a steady start for everyone and we didn't change much with the bike I just got up to speed and back into Donington. FP2 I got up to speed and then notice I was struggling with braking, the bike was difficult to stop and I was struggling to make the apex, I finished the session 9th and we got to work on sorting this braking issue, we found a small problem with the callipers and pads so we changed them and I was ready for qualifying on Sunday! Sunday - Qualifying and Sprint race 10 laps Qualifying was at 11.40 sunday morning, I went out confident after we had sorting the brakes out, I got out and was pushing on but the lap time wasn't coming I came in and we put the new tyre in and I went faster but not enough, I still had an issue with the front end, so I qualified 11th not where I wanted to be. We made a massive change to the suspension for the race putting more weight on the rear and softening the front to help me get the bike into the corners. It worked and I got a great start and was up to 5th, we then had a red flag and a restart of 6 laps, it was going to be a dash to the flag! I got another great start and was battling for 4th with Bjorn Estment and Levi Day. During this race I notice out of the Esses, Melbourne loop, Copice and Mcleans I had a misfire, luckily I was able to continue and fight, I finished 5th EVO which was positive after the qualifying. Now we had to sort this misfire. Monday - Feature race 18 laps We changed a lot of things on the bike we thought could cause the misfire and I was ready for the feature race, I started 5th EVO on the grid after a good lap time in the sprint race. I got another strong start and was right up behind Danny Webb and Marshall Neill. I dropped off a bit by lap 3 and then the misfire had started again, I battled with Levi Day, Josh Day, Freddy Pett, Bjorn Estment, Guy Martin and Paul Curran for 3rd EVO, I managed to get to the front of that group again and tried to push on to create a gap, but every time I had this misfire and I would get passed again. It was a frustrating race as I knew I could have been on the podium. All in all a very frustrating weekend but I know it was no-ones fault and I'm glad it only round 1 and we have the rest of the year to prove we can be up there in this championship. Big thanks to Road and Race's Mark Hanna and Glyn 'Pinkey' Parker for all there hard work this weekend and also my Dad for his hard work, Ellie, Mum and Grandad and everyone who came to support me. Also thanks to Richard at Maxton, Oxford Products, Kushitani, Pro Bolt and The Pipe Werx.
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We pretty much kick off our testing for 2015 in Jerez after the disappointment of the weather in Almeria a few weeks earlier. I arrive in Jerez with a good feeling as the one day in Almeria we did have the new Road and Race Kawasaki was feeling mega. First day I track I spent getting back into the circuit as Jerez as I hadn't ridden there since 2011, we made a couple of small changes but it was a good day getting a feeling for the new Kawasaki. Day two we spent finding a nice base setting for Jerez and the season then by the end of the day I was pushing and the bike was feeling great! Day three We made a change with the new Maxton gas forks and that worked really well and its the setting we will start the BSB Donington official test with, by the end of day three I was setting some good times and everyone in the team was happy and we finished on a high. The new Road and Race Kawasaki was feeling brilliant and the bike is quite a bit different from 2014, I'm looking forward to this season and I feel I have a brilliant bike and team do challenge for the Supersport EVO title this year. I can't wait till round 1!
Big thanks to Mark and Alan from Road and Race Kawasaki, My Dad and Granddad, Kushitani UK, Oxford products, Feredo, Motor parts direct, Pipe Werx, Purbrook Garage and Pro Bolt
I came into Brands with hope of a good weekend as I wanted to finish the season strong. I podium was my aim. Friday practice 1 was wet so I rode round and built up my confidence in the wet, nothing more really to say about that session I finished 13th EVO but I didn't really push as it was only FP1. Practice 2 was dry and our only dry session throughout the weekend until the race on Sunday. we started with similar settings to Silverstone but with different gearing and the bike felt good, also we tried Ferodo brake pads and they worked well. I finished 7th EVO. Saturday qualifying and the weather was cloudy but the track was damp and drying, I started the qualifying on a dry front and inter rear and got the feeling of the track put in a good time and then I came in for a new dry rear and placed myself 3rd EVO on the grid and 17th overall, I was happy with that and felt as though I was getting more and more confident on the ZX6 in tricky conditions. I knew from 3rd on the grid I had a good chance of a podium. Buzzing for the race! Saturday sprint race (10 Laps) The conditions were cloudy but a wet track and everybody started on wets and the track was slowly drying. I got a good start and was right behind Day and Field but coming out of druids Paul Curran high-sided and his bike was in the middle of the track right in front of me unfortunately I had nowhere to go and hit his bike, it stopped me dead but lucky I stayed on and didn't hit Paul, I had a massive hole in my fairing and dropped back to 14th EVO and then worked my way back to 7th, I overtook 5 riders on the last lap! I was annoyed but knew it was no one's fault as the conditions were very tricky. my lap time had put me 6th EVO on the grid for Sunday. Sunday feature race (18 laps) finally it was sunny and dry! I got a good start and was 4th EVO on the first lap behind Rose and Field, I made a pass on Rose on lap 5 and then picked off the laps behind Field on lap 10 Hastings passed me and I sat behind him till 3 laps to go then I made a tough pass at Graham hill and he got me back on the lap after at paddock hill after that we were battling to the flag he passed me at hawthorns on the last lap but I got him back at Stirlings because I really wanted that podium! into Clearways I lost the front and rear of the bike but kept it pinned to the flag and finished 3rd! I was so happy that I got a podium on the last race of the season after such a tough year. Massive thanks to Mark Hanna for sticking by me all year, Road and Racing, Mum and dad, Ellie, Aaron, Paul and Bev, Alan and Davy's Gripp and everyone else who has supported me in 2014. Also a big thanks to my sponsors Oxford Products, HJC, The Pipe Werx, Ferodo Brakes, Maxton, Vroom Media, Futuremoto and Purbrook Garage. This year has been a big learning curve and I think I have done well considering my injury at Snetterton and having to miss Snetterton and Knockhill also suffering with bad arm pump from round 2 and then having my operation to sort it and missing Cadwell. But this season I've had 2 wins and 4 podiums and some good races. I glad to be staying with Mark Hanna and Road and Race for next season and looking forward to giving the EVO championship a good shot! After a mega weekend at Assen I was looking for another solid weekend. Friday was a difficult day and after FP2 I was 8th EVO, not where I wanted to be but I knew that we had some good changes to make for Saturday and also it was only my second ever race meeting at Silverstone so I was still learning about the 600 around the circuit. I was happy as I knew I still has a lot more in me for Saturday! Saturday qualifying was tough as it was delayed by 2 hours because of heavy rain and standing water on the circuit. Out for qualifying eventually and the track was soaking wet, I was 3rd EVO with 3 minutes to go but on my last flying lap I made a slight mistake into Vale and did't improve my time after being a second up on that lap, I was annoyed with myself for making the small mistake and I ended up 7th EVO on the grid and 23rd overall. Saturday race I got an average start and was caught up in a battle with a few other riders and it was a difficult race as it was drying but still a few damp areas so it was important to stay on line or risk crashing and a lot of riders came off in that race. After getting caught up, I felt I didn't push as hard as I could have and I let myself down in that race I am a lot better than that in iffy conditions and for some reason I didn't push at my best, I finished 8th EVO which was a let down and not what everyone deserved. Sunday race, after a long chat with Mark I needed to have a good race and push to make my way through from way back on the grid. Off the line I got an OK start and pushed from the word go, I made my way to the front of a big group of riders and had some good battles and got up to 4th EVO leading my group, Tim Hastings then past me and we battled all the way to flag! I past him on the last lap but just couldnt get the drive onto the last staright and he past me back down the straight. I finished 5th EVO which was a good result considering my grid position and the tough weekend I had! That race was one of the best I've had this season! Massive thanks to Road and Race, Mark Hanna, Ellie, Aaron, Mum and Dad, Paul and Bev, Alan, GT85, Oxford Products, HJC, Muc Off and The Pipe Werx. Looking forward to Brands the final round now and I though in the last race I have made a step forward with my braking and overtaking. I know I need a strong final round at Brands and I will be pushing my hardest to finish the year on a high and show everyone how good I am after a tough first year in British Supersport. Coming to Assen I was feeling confident after a good weekend at Donington apart from the races with a crash and a mechanical. I felt as though I could come away with two podiums and luckily I did.
Friday practice one went well, I went out just to familiarise myself with the track and posted a best time of a 1.44 which I was happy with for first practice. for practice two we made one change with the gearing and I went out and instantly the bike felt better as in faster put of the slower turns I finish practice 2 with a 1.43. Qualifying on the Saturday we left the bike as of Friday practice two and I qualified 5th EVO on a 1.42.4 and I was very happy with as the top 5 were all within 0.5 so I knew I could have a good battle in the race! Also it was nice to have a qualifying with no arm pump! happy days. Race 1 Saturday As I pulled out on the sighting lap on full dry tyres I thought CRAP! as sector 2 and most of 3 was soaking wet as it had been raining on and off for the last half an hour! I pulled up on the grid and the sun was shining and I thought I'm going to stick with dry's. Most riders were wet front and dry rear, full wets or intermediate rears. The race started and by the time I got to sector 2 I had dropped back the 33rd overall and I was thinking I've made a bad choice and I spent the first 4 laps riding sector 2 and 3 like I was going to the shops. Luckily by lap 5 a dry line was appearing in sector 2 and 1 and 3 were bone dry so I had to start pushing, as it dried I past a lot of guys on full wets and was pushing on and managed to get to 4th EVO and 18th overall when the race finished, I then moved to 3rd EVO as the winner was disqualified for non-control fuel. My best time was a 1.47 and that put me 7th on the grid overall for tomorrows race! I was buzzing and crapping myself at the same time! Race 2 Sunday Warm up went well and I finished 1st EVO and that put me in a good mind set for the race. I rolled up to 7th on the grid and thought wow I want to be here more often! As the lights went out it wasn't long till the red flag came out and the race had to be restarted after a turn 1 crash. On the grid again and the race was shortened to 12 laps. I got a good start and a few Supersport guys pasted me but I managed to stick on the back of them and get dragged along and I managed to maintain a 5 second gap to the next EVO's then James Rispoli past me and I pushed and sat on the back on him and moved the gap to the EVO's up to 7 seconds and set my best time of a 1:42.2. I finished the race first EVO and 13th overall. I was so happy to get my second win this season especially as this year had been so up and down and I feel like its all coming back together. Being back on the podium as a winner was amazing! This weekend had gone perfect from start to finish and we even had some luck in the first race! Massive thanks to Mark Hanna, Road and Race, Oxford Products, HJC, Muc off, GT85, The Pipe Werx, Maxton, Ellie the girlfriend, Mum and Dad for making it all possible, Chris and Michelle Lay and their friend Ian, Paul and Beverly and Alan Fry. PHOTO's to come! Oulton Park 8th/9th/10th August 2014 After a tough few months with a broken collarbone and tough weekends at Brands GP and Thruxton we were going into Oulton positive and looking to get back some good results and myself to build up my confidence again. Friday practice went well with lap times coming down and also I was feeling more comfortable on the bike and felt as though a had found some confidence. qualifying however was a struggle I started on a new tyre as I had been suffering with arm pump so I thought I'll start with a new one and get a time before the problem kicked in! I qualified 8th EVO which I wasn't happy with and during the session I just struggled with the arms. Race 1 Saturday: I got an OK start and got up to around 5th EVO and had a good fight with Corner and Hastings for 4th place, but on lap 3 I had to jump the chicane as Corner made a late move into Hizzys and I had nowhere to go! But that's racing I dropped back to 8th EVO and then finished 7th EVO. I was disappointed as I knew a had a chance of a top 5 but also that helped my confidence as well. Race 2 Sunday: I was feeling confident for this one and knew I had a chance for a podium or better as the rain came down. I got a mega start and was up to about 4th EVO behind Allingham and Olsen as I came out of cascades another rider smacked into my brake lever and the lever dropped down the bars and I couldn't reach it going into Island bend! I managed to avoid 2 riders but just clipped Allingham and he went down as well. I sped off into the gravel and smacked into the air fence, luckily I got away with only ligament damage in my knee and ankle and few big bruises. All in all it was a tough weekend but I felt as though I'd made some progress with confidence and I would have had a good result in race two. Big thanks to Mark Hanna, Road and Race, Paul and Bev, Mum and Dad, Aaron, Alan and Ellie for there support. Also thanks to Oxford Products, HJC, Vroom media, Maxton and Road and Racing. Race Report Oulton Park Round 2 3rd/4th/5th May 2014 Saturday Saturday started with FP1 and we didn't change the bike from the Oulton Park test a week before, so I just started getting back into the track and learning my way round on a 600! I was getting quicker but on lap 5 at Knickerbrook I ran a little bit wide and high sided off the bike. I smacked my foot into the ground and pull my wrist back so they were sore! But the bike wasn't too bad and we had it all back together for FP2, FP2 went well was getting quicker and the bike was feeling good, I ended up 7th EVO but I knew I'd get quicker as after my off it put me a session behind everyone, so I was looking forward to tomorrows qualifying and race. Sunday Qualifying was at 12.55 and for the first 15 mins I was getting going on an old tyre then came in for a new one with 15mins to go, I was on my flying lap and I struggled with arm pump and only managed to go .3 quicker, I was gutted after qualifying as I've never really struggled with arm pump before. I ended up 9th EVO and 24th overall, not were I wanted to be! Race 1 - Sprint Race I changed to my old leathers for the race and being so far back on the grid a good start was vital and I got one! I was up to 16th overall on the first lap and 3rd EVO which was perfect, I passed Ben Field and then was having a good battle with Grant Whitaker we were putting some good moves on each other and it was a great race I managed to make a pass at Lodge on the penultimate lap and keep the lead till the flag! I got my first EVO win and 10th overall! I was so happy and after a tough start at Oulton it all came good be the race and all the team worked hard for that win. Also my old leathers stop my arm pump! Monday Race 2 - Feature Race I started 20th on the grid and 4th EVO, I got another good start but I wasn't as lucky into turn 1 I got pushed out a bit wide but was 3rd EVO and on the tail of Cooper, Estment, Whitaker and Field. I had a battle with Cooper for 3 laps but finally past him and pulled a gap and then I could see Whitaker we had another good fight and into shell oils we touched and I damaged my fairing and clutch lever but stayed on! I past him and then I could see Field but he had quite a gap, then Olsen made a move on me and we had a battle, Field had a problem so I was in 2nd behind Olsen. the last lap came and I was looking to make a pass but made a little mistake at cascades and he pulled a little gap, I spend the rest of the lap playing catch up and I wasn't close enough at Lodge so I finished 2nd EVO and 14th overall. I was a bit annoyed but still a second place was points and completed a good weekend in the end! I am now 2nd in the EVO championship 23 points behind Olsen. Massive thanks to my Crew Chief Mark Hanna, Dad and Mum, Aaron Tiller, Paul Davies, Beverly Richardson, Granddad Dave and my girlfriend Ellie for all their help and picking me up after my off and bad qualifying! Also big thanks to Rich at Maxton for his help, Vroom Media, Unipart, Road and Race, Oxford Products, HJC and Purbrook Garage Services. Race Report Brands Hatch Round 1 18th/19th/20th/21st April 2014 Friday On the Friday I only had 1 50 minute session, I used the first 20 mins to do a 20 lap stint just to get back into Brands and see how the bike was on old tyres, after that we made a few minor changes and finished the session with 41 laps done, perfect! Saturday I had 2 30 minute session on Saturday and the first one I just went out on old tyres again and looking to improve my lap time from Friday, not all that exciting, but the next session I had a new rear tyre and went out and pushed for a lap time and I got it down to a 47.3 which I was mega happy with and I was fastest EVO in practice. Sunday I woke up on Sunday and it was raining, joy! I don't mind the wet but dry is better! Today we had qualifying and the first race. For qualifying it was wet and I went out and tried to improve my time each lap by getting used to riding a 600 in the wet and how the track was feeling, as it was my first time on the Kawasaki in the rain. Got my time down to a good 55.3 which put me 11th overall and 2nd fastest EVO, I was happy with that and was looking forward to a wet race! Race 1 I got an awesome start and was up to 8th into Paddock Hill, then moved up to 6th by Druids and then got past Hedger into 5th out of Graham Hill then DONK! I was off the bike into Surtees, I whacked the kerb as I slid into the grass/mud, OUCH that hurt, I couldn't stand so the medics rushed over and shoved my on the stretcher, but by then I felt fine so I got ambulance'd off to the medical centre. Luckily all I had was a bruise and I fine for tomorrow, I was annoyed about the silly crash as I felt I may have been in with a chance of a very good result. Monday YAY! It was sunny and I couldn't wait to get back out on the track and prove myself. I was starting 19th on the grid as I didn't set a time in race 1 but there was a 8 place maximum grid drop so I went from 11th to 19th. Race 2 On the grid I was quite nervous and excited for the race, I got an average start off the light and was 15th after the first lap and was making my way past a few riders then i came to a group of Hornsey, Cooper, Olsen, Estment and Mackenzie I battled my way through into 9th behind Estment but couldn't quite get past him, I stay behind him for about 4 laps then made a small mistake into Clearways and Hornsey got past then Mackenzie Got me into Paddock, I fought hard to get them back but was struggling with the front tyre so I finished 12th Overall and 2nd EVO. I was a bit annoyed I didn't get first EVO but at the same time I was well happy with 12th overall in my first full British Supersport Race! Also I got a very nice trophy too! Massive thanks to Road and Racing's Mark Hanna for a great bike and help all weekend, also thanks to Paul Davies and my Girlfriend Ellie for the pitboarding, Beverly Richardson, Mum, Dad, Aaron Tiller and Granddad Dave for all their help and Rich from Maxton. Also Thank you to Oxford Products, NEXX Helmets, Unipart, Vroom media, TCX, Furygan, Purbrook Garage Services and Maxton Suspension. Testing Report Almeria 25/26/27 March 2014 Day 1 The first day was spent just re-learning the track and learning how to ride it on a 600, I'd ridden here last in 2011 on my Honda Fireblade. We didn't make many changes to the bike and I just went and rode all day learning. I had been put in group B but had no one else to learn from so we decided on day 2 to ask to be moved up into group A with the Stock 1000's and Superbikes as I felt I needed to tag onto another rider so I can learn better lines and get dragged along. I was very happy with the first day as my times were good and I was happy with the bike, looking forward to day 2... Day 2 Focused and BSB were nice enough to let me move up into the Group A and straight away I was quicker chasing the 1000's, we made a few changes like playing with tyre pressures and the Maxton suspension. Day 2 was another brilliant day as my times dropped considerably and also Steve Plater was nice enough to take me around in the car at lunch time to help me in some areas. Overall a brilliant day. Day 3 The final day we spent trying different settings on the front of the bike and in our last session we put on a new set of Pirelli tyres and I posted my best lap time of the 3 days and I was happy about how the days had all gone and I'm now feeling even more confident for the first round at Brands Hatch! Big Thanks to Mark Hanna and Road and Race Performance also Paul Davies and Beverley Richardson, Dad, Maxton suspension, Oxford Products, Unipart, Muc Off, Purbrook Garage, Futuremoto, TCX and Furygan. |
AuthorSam Coventry Archives
November 2017
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