Thanks for looking out for me guys. I had a few chats with Kev, but never managed to meet anyone else, particularly Roy, where were you mate, I was looking out for you?
I qualified first, but got a bad start in race one and missed second gear and went back to third place by the first corner. Got back to second then 2 laps later took the lead again and thought that was it, then I got caught napping on the brakes and was overtaken easily and just coudn't catch up again as I got stuck behind a Hornet - they are generally faster on the straights and slower on the brakes and the corners, so if you get one stuck between you and the CB5 in front, then they can make a break that's hard to make up again. Anyway, got second, got the trophy, but that's the first time that guy has beaten me fair and square.
Second race I got a better start but still got taken into the first corner by the guy who won the first race, then I got him, he got me again and then my mate came past me to put me into third which really spurred me on, so I regained second, then a lap later took the lead and was looking good on the last lap, then I missed two gears on the fast start/stop straight and lost first place, got it back again on the brakes, but the back locked up badly and did it again at the next corner and it hadn't done that all day. It was so violent a lock up that I thought with the noise the engine made when I missed the gears that maybe I'd broken something and maybe I had oil on the tyre or something, tried again to brake hard and it did it again - I don't use the rear brake at all. So I decided that I'd had a great day in the sun racing bikes and thought I'd just bring it home in one piece, so I toured round the last half lap and came straight into the pits before the flag and got a dnf.
Never mind, it was good fun and that's what matters in the end - I really enjoyed it today. Back there again on 25/26 Sept as are a number of BSB superbike boys, so it should be a big crowd. Great circuit by the way.
Never did find out about the bike, I think in the panic of the missed gears on the start/stop straight that I never went up to 6th and so from there my gears were always one out, which seems mad, but it's the only explanation I can think of other than I was crap
Here's to next time
WeeJohnyB