We had high hopes for the BEARs meeting but competition was going to be tough for the KTL 999 with Bruce Telford on his new RSV4 Aprilia and Steve Bridge on his KTM RC8.
The Commando had split her crankcase at this meeting a year ago so there was a bit of unfinished business there. The Commando and I had made it onto the T-shirts and posters so there was no pressure to perform really!
Practice Friday went well, both bikes dialling in quickly and doing good times if not feeling very fast. The 999 was just slower than our best times on the 675 last year so hopes were high for good results. Both the KTM and Aprilia were quite a bit faster in a straight line than the 999 and I struggled to stay in their tow.
First race was on the Commando and besides some pressure from Brendon Code on a motard it was a comfortable win.
Next up was the Best of Italy and I got a very average start and ended up in the middle of things at the first turn. There were people on all sorts of odd lines and I was keen to get away from them. Unfortunately, I misjudged Telford’s line and clipped his rear wheel sending me over the bars. The bike had brought down another rider and as I got up he was pinned under my bike. I
picked the bike up off him and he managed to re-start and set off again. The 999 was not so lucky with serious damage. I wasn’t feeling very good either as I wheeled her out of the way. I had a sore elbow and head but worst of all I had torn muscles in my groin - OUCH.
On arriving back at the pits the KTL crew set about repairs while I got out of my leathers. My elbow had split open and was bleeding quite badly. I limped to the first aid to get patched; Buck appeared at the door to let me know we were out in the next race on the Commando. The paramedics did a nice job to get me out for it but I had to promise to have it stitched that night.
I managed, to my surprise, to win the next 2 races on the Commando. Luckily riding was far more comfortable than walking.
I thanked the lovely nurse who stitched me up at Riccarton after the races on Saturday. There is a small piece of elbow missing but the stitches were a work of art.
On Sunday I could only walk a few steps at a time, much to the amusement of everyone at the race track. I was walking like I’d just had a hefty kick in the nuts. However, once I was on a bike it wasn’t too bad.
The Norton won all but the race with the modern bikes (the Conti Cup for anything with treaded tyres). We were running 3rd on the last lap but Jase the Ace on his 748 was too good and I had to settle for 4th.
The first bracket race on the Ducati was hard work - Bruce got away at the front and I was behind Steve’s KTM. I got round him at about half race distance but Bruce had gone and I had to really push hard to close the gap. To my surprise I caught him quickly and passed him around the outside going into the bomb hole. Once in front I pulled a comfortable gap to the finish.
The 2nd Bracket race went the same way but when I got past into the lead the bike dropped onto 1 cylinder and it proceeded to swap between a single cylinder and a twin until the end. But I managed to stay in 2nd place.
Massive thanks to the KTL guys for working so hard to put the 999 back together for me and SBR for letting me ride the awesome Commando.
Also many thanks to the BEAR’s club for a fantastic meeting again and the special prize of a bag of ice at prize giving for my aches.
The Commando had split her crankcase at this meeting a year ago so there was a bit of unfinished business there. The Commando and I had made it onto the T-shirts and posters so there was no pressure to perform really!
Practice Friday went well, both bikes dialling in quickly and doing good times if not feeling very fast. The 999 was just slower than our best times on the 675 last year so hopes were high for good results. Both the KTM and Aprilia were quite a bit faster in a straight line than the 999 and I struggled to stay in their tow.
First race was on the Commando and besides some pressure from Brendon Code on a motard it was a comfortable win.
Next up was the Best of Italy and I got a very average start and ended up in the middle of things at the first turn. There were people on all sorts of odd lines and I was keen to get away from them. Unfortunately, I misjudged Telford’s line and clipped his rear wheel sending me over the bars. The bike had brought down another rider and as I got up he was pinned under my bike. I
picked the bike up off him and he managed to re-start and set off again. The 999 was not so lucky with serious damage. I wasn’t feeling very good either as I wheeled her out of the way. I had a sore elbow and head but worst of all I had torn muscles in my groin - OUCH.On arriving back at the pits the KTL crew set about repairs while I got out of my leathers. My elbow had split open and was bleeding quite badly. I limped to the first aid to get patched; Buck appeared at the door to let me know we were out in the next race on the Commando. The paramedics did a nice job to get me out for it but I had to promise to have it stitched that night.
I managed, to my surprise, to win the next 2 races on the Commando. Luckily riding was far more comfortable than walking.
I thanked the lovely nurse who stitched me up at Riccarton after the races on Saturday. There is a small piece of elbow missing but the stitches were a work of art.On Sunday I could only walk a few steps at a time, much to the amusement of everyone at the race track. I was walking like I’d just had a hefty kick in the nuts. However, once I was on a bike it wasn’t too bad.
The Norton won all but the race with the modern bikes (the Conti Cup for anything with treaded tyres). We were running 3rd on the last lap but Jase the Ace on his 748 was too good and I had to settle for 4th.
The first bracket race on the Ducati was hard work - Bruce got away at the front and I was behind Steve’s KTM. I got round him at about half race distance but Bruce had gone and I had to really push hard to close the gap. To my surprise I caught him quickly and passed him around the outside going into the bomb hole. Once in front I pulled a comfortable gap to the finish.
The 2nd Bracket race went the same way but when I got past into the lead the bike dropped onto 1 cylinder and it proceeded to swap between a single cylinder and a twin until the end. But I managed to stay in 2nd place.
Massive thanks to the KTL guys for working so hard to put the 999 back together for me and SBR for letting me ride the awesome Commando.
Also many thanks to the BEAR’s club for a fantastic meeting again and the special prize of a bag of ice at prize giving for my aches.
0 comments:
Post a Comment