Oulton Park - Round 4 Back to a track i know! I really enjoyed this track last year despite a small technical problem meaning my rev counter was missreading so i was guessing where to shift by ear! my PB to beat was 2:04.851 Due to no racing taking place on Sundays this weeked comprised of Friday practise, Saturday racing a day off on sunday and racing again on the bank holiday monday. I chose not to have a camera on the bike this weekend as i really wanted to focus on my riding, there are lots of corners so in order to make up time you have to be a bit faster everywhere not just picking a single corner to work on. The Rookie 400s were back in the main class this time too which should mix things up a bit, time to try and not embarrass my self getting beaten by rookies! This round was the first time instead of practise, i was running two race classes, the zxr 400 is also eligable for the thunderbikes class which is open to all bikes but has a power to weight ratio limit. Given its age, the zxr weighs a ton for the amount of power it puts out! Needless to say the zxr 400s are rarely competitive in this class with Ducatis and minitwins (SV650s and the likes) making up the majority of bikes. The thunderbikes race was one race (about 15mins) after the Formula 400 race which was going to be a challenge! Qualifying - first time back on track since last year, it was a case of treating this session like a practise feeling my was around again, it was still damp under the trees at druids but dry everywhere else was dry, various parts of the track had been resurfaced so it was a case of exploring these areas. I quickly found out that quite a few of the visual markers i was using last year were gone and i was able to use full power now, so on two occasions i was glad there are slip road run off areas, one overshoot down cascades (not a slow bend by any means) and another into Hislops chicane. Once i remembered how to keep the bike on the track i qualified 26th with a 2:13.433 Thunderbikes Qualifying came up very quickly, and without the damp patch i was able to put in a 2:12.276 putting me 40th Race 1 - The Heavens opened.. thats all im saying, it was full wets for this race for sure, I havent until this point ever changed my suspension for wet settings but i got some advice and made some changes this time! I got a reasonable start but didnt try pushing too much as id never ridden this track in the wet, I was trying to feel for the changes in setup id made. I got in the pack and the spray was horriffic, i could barely see 20ft infront of me and i could just about make out the white lines at the sides of the track! I just followed for the first lap, then i started to try and progress, thats when the problems started! Braking was fine in a straight line, i wasnt daring to trail the brakes into the corner, once i tipped in, the pointed profile of my front wet tyre made the bike fall into the corner unexpectedly threatening to wipe the front out as i had to sharply correct it or risk clipping the inside curb... then getting on the power the bike was extremely twitchy trying to spin up the rear wheel at every opportunity threatening highsides. After a few laps of this i was terrified, i started to back off again and it dawned on me that maybe it was me causing the problems, was i being too stiff on the bars? I should trust the bike, the suspension and the tyres to sort out these issues, so i tried being loose on the bike into the next chicane and the rear wheel instantly broke loose and the bike went into full opposite lock slide, god knows how i didnt highside but safe to say it wasnt me causing the issues! I backed off the pace in self preservation and twiched, slid and slithered my way to the end of the race using puddles as braking markers by the end! Pleased that id avoided a DNF i came in 23rd with a *groan* 2:30.519 best lap.. I opted to miss the thunderbikes race! As very special mention goes to Jeremy Hill for his help and advice after this race, a top bloke and great asset to the BMCRC who always has time for us newbies wobbling round pretending to be like GP riders! Race 2 - the track was barely distinguishable from the lake in the middle! There was too much standing water on the track and the rain wasnt forcast to stop until the end of the day so racing was abandoned. I got an early jump on getting the bike ready for monday and prepped the bike, draining a fully bellypan full of water, cleaning brakes, and getting the chain cleaned and lubed. Sunday was a nice welcome day off, hanging out with great company and helping people with their bikes. My parents had moved the narrowboat nearby so a sunday roast was very welcome, with great company from Gary and Kim Jarmen, Roy and Dawn. Monday - Finally, it was sunny and dry, time to go fast! It finally occurred to me that if the bike isnt sliding about like it was in the wet then im simply not pushing hard enough in the dry, the bike will be far more forgiving in the dry so what was i worrying about? Time to pull my finger out! Race 1 - I got a good start and found myself coming out behind a couple of rookies who were battling away amongst themselves, unfortunately there wasnt really an opportunity to pass cleanly, a few hair raising moments happened such as one rookie ahead taking a slip road at the hislop chicane, blasting straight across back onto the track without checking to see who was coming (me!), and a close call as a rookie hit the brakes earlier than i expected causing a rear wheel in the air moment on the brakes trying to avoid him! Carl Johnstone (my rookie school instructor) was right behind me and took advantage of a mistake into shells but similarly got held up by the rookies. Final result of that race was 21st with a much improved lap of 2:02.006 well over 2s faster than my best from last year! I followed this up with a race in thunderbikes, it was my first outing so i was a bit apprehensive lining up against 650, 1000s and 749s with my little 400! I planned to use it as a further practise session this race wasnt important so there was no need to push, but instinct took over and before i knew it i was doing 2:02. laps again, with an SV650 behind me and trying to find my way past a ducati 749 ahead of me! I planned to pull in when the leaders approached as it wasnt my race so i didnt want to get in the way! I DNFd on the last lap but i had the tracktime i wanted! Race 2 - The last 400 race of the weekend, and id planned with Carl to make sure we got passed the rookies early on so they didnt hold us up again, i was told he would make a hole and just to follow him through, as it happened i got infront into turn 1 and stayed there for most of the race, then Carl made another move on me just before shells and stuck two fingers up at me, this made me laugh and it made me more determined to catch him and do the same back, i stuck on his back wheel but i couldnt make a move, finally when i did get a chance up the inside into turn 1, carl let of the brakes and came straight across infront of me, it wasnt to be but i gave the race 100% and was happy with my progress. Finally i was moving up the grid with my best result of 13th a fraction slower from all the battling 2:02.132 but what a difference to my confidence despite still being on second hand tyres i got at the end of 2013! I was determined to stay for the thunderbikes race as my laptimes suggested that i might actually finish in a reasonable position! So i did, i found myself in the same group as the previous race, an SV650, an R6 and a ducati, with Pete Thornton ahead leading us round i was trying to learn something from his lines and it must have worked becuase I put in a lap of 2:01.501 My new PB over 3s quicker than 2013! Next year i have to got below the 2min mark.. it just has to be done! I finished in 21st place which again, considering the caliber of bikes i was up against i was happy with!
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:06:34 +0000
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