Well what a weekend!! Simply the most fun I've had on a bike.....ever!
Firstly a great big thank you to Faith Fueled Racing for making me welcome and making the entire weekend a most memorable one.
On the Friday testday, I was just there to setup and get myself and the bike scrutineered. All went well with that and so I was able to enjoy watching the rest of the Bemsee riders enjoying the track. Wil from FFR was performing well on the minitwin, already under the 2 minute mark on his first visit to the track!
Firstly a great big thank you to Faith Fueled Racing for making me welcome and making the entire weekend a most memorable one.
On the Friday testday, I was just there to setup and get myself and the bike scrutineered. All went well with that and so I was able to enjoy watching the rest of the Bemsee riders enjoying the track. Wil from FFR was performing well on the minitwin, already under the 2 minute mark on his first visit to the track!
But soon enough it was time for me to jump on the race bike for the first time since October last year. Qualifying went well enough and I was lining up 5th on the grid for race 1.
However when it was time for our first race of the weekend, a decent shower had made choosing tyres that bit more interesting! I think most chose the dry tyres and it turned out to be the correct choice. Race 1 was my most succesful of the weekend! In the early laps whilst the track remained damp, I was able to use some local knowledge and perhaps previous experience of a damp Cadwell, to gain 3rd place on lap one.
After a brief scare from Ed Watson, I managed to hold onto 3rd for the remainder of the 7 lap race and claim a podium finish, which was completely unexpected and was yet another great highlight of the weekend.
However when it was time for our first race of the weekend, a decent shower had made choosing tyres that bit more interesting! I think most chose the dry tyres and it turned out to be the correct choice. Race 1 was my most succesful of the weekend! In the early laps whilst the track remained damp, I was able to use some local knowledge and perhaps previous experience of a damp Cadwell, to gain 3rd place on lap one.
After a brief scare from Ed Watson, I managed to hold onto 3rd for the remainder of the 7 lap race and claim a podium finish, which was completely unexpected and was yet another great highlight of the weekend.
Race 2 was a different story, in the dry, the remainder of the grid were gaining pace whilst I was still warming up after the long winter not riding. I started from 4th on the grid but consistently fell back to finally finish in 8th place. A little disappointing but I knew that a sprocket change was now needed after I had increased my pace enough to need more top end speed.
But soon after, we visited the bar to watch the trophy presentation and I collected the race 1 3rd place cup and red cap which are now residing next to the TV in the living room :) so another memory to cherish.
Sunday provided some close racing again in both races (Dry weather again) and although I came away with two 6th places, they were two completely different races.
Race 3 of the weekend started well again but I was stuck in 6th place for most of the race, however my pace was now much improved and I was able to dip into the 1m 48s lap times. This meant I was catching 5th placed Ed Watson for the last few laps. Unfortunately a false neutral heading into the mountain section caused me to lose vital time. Although I tried again to grab the 5th spot in the latter stages of the final lap, I had to be happy with 6th place and the enjoyment of the challenge.
The last race of the weekend saw me tiring badly! Laptimes suffered but I still enjoyed it a lot, mainly because Wil from FFR was now putting in crazy fast laps as he raced Dan Harris! So when they came past me it was great fun to watch their battle unfold! After some truly gutsy riding Wil bagged himself a 4th place finish! Incredible to think this was only his 2nd race weekend and first visit to Cadwell park.....ever!
Race 3 of the weekend started well again but I was stuck in 6th place for most of the race, however my pace was now much improved and I was able to dip into the 1m 48s lap times. This meant I was catching 5th placed Ed Watson for the last few laps. Unfortunately a false neutral heading into the mountain section caused me to lose vital time. Although I tried again to grab the 5th spot in the latter stages of the final lap, I had to be happy with 6th place and the enjoyment of the challenge.
The last race of the weekend saw me tiring badly! Laptimes suffered but I still enjoyed it a lot, mainly because Wil from FFR was now putting in crazy fast laps as he raced Dan Harris! So when they came past me it was great fun to watch their battle unfold! After some truly gutsy riding Wil bagged himself a 4th place finish! Incredible to think this was only his 2nd race weekend and first visit to Cadwell park.....ever!
So of course the whole FFR team were on a great high to finish the weekend and it was brilliant to be a witness to what that team are achieving with the help of God and His wonderful grace!
Right now the plan for me is to race again in August at Oulton park. But that is a long time away so still thinking what to try and do before then. Watch this space!
Right now the plan for me is to race again in August at Oulton park. But that is a long time away so still thinking what to try and do before then. Watch this space!
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