| My Silverstone Review. (the longest review ever!)
Where do i start with this. Didn't do one for Brands but writing this for my own memory really, thought id stick it on here for anyone else to read. I not gonna lie tho, its long!
Dedicated to Grandad Russell, A mad motorsport fan tried in vein to get his 3 sons to race some kind of vehicle but they werent interested..... He will have been looking down and seen the first Russell win a motorsport event and loved it.
Would have loved to have done the test day, couple of problems at Brands Hatch which needed some track time to resolve but dont have the funds or time so figured id just get to silverstone and wing it. After an hour on Need for speed shift i figured the track is a triangle with a couple of bends at the end of each straight. Although couldnt keep the Pagani Zonda on the track and when id finished the car looked ready for the scrappers!
Set up next to Tim and Paul Pullen and hit the hay as i was shattered.
Come Sunday morning i was not impressed by the weather when i got out the van, but i dont mind the rain really just wanted glorious sun to race in. In first practice went out and tried to learn the track, Not that difficut but struggled with Maggots i think it was, different line every time not one seemed right. Came back in and was told i was 3rd. Cant be right that surely. Yep, on the timing sheet entitled 'Untimed Practice' there i was, 3rd.
The all knowing and very helpful Chris Pullen got hold of my bike while i was fannying about with the stand and seemed very amused at my slightly rock solid rear shock. Wondering how i was riding with it. Long story but it was Shanes shock all last year, Doms before that, borrowed it off shane for Silverstone. Adjusted that and went out for qualifying, the bike felt amazing and i had a riot, seeing how much of the track i could rub my knee on.
POLE position..... lol didnt get my hopes up, was 2nd at Brands but couldnt do anything with it, so thought lets just see what happens. Thought id bend Chris's ear about my stiff back wheel.... "its not straight Dean" he looked at me and said. Ah, So with his patented wheel alignment tool we set about straightening it.
Intermission (if your still reading, good effort... .take 5 minutes for a cuppa or toilet break)
Race 1
Nervous when we formed up for warm up but then every rider gets nervous, lights on, lights off and could see Matt Larretts front wheel to my right hand side as we headed for the first turn, i had to tuck in behind him and practically wave him off as he pulled away with a group of Class A bikes. Bugger, but still in 2nd. Skids came past me on the straight and i battled with him for a lap or 2 before going down the inside on the right hander before the start finish straight (sorry if i stood up up Kev). Another lap passed and no one came past, until Senna wizzed past me on the straight after maggots. The back of Kevs bike is beautiful, Kev gave me plenty of time to admire it and we danced for 4 laps or so.... The best racing of my life. Last lap flag and i was marginally in front when we came towards maggots again and bradders.... I looked across and saw a yellow flag!?! can i lap Bradders under a yellow? im not gaining a place, and as i deliberating, Kev rocketed past me. ********! Not wanting to settle for 3rd i set off after him. tried to go round the outside on the last left hander and up the inside for the final bend, Kev shut the door and i ended up bouncing over the kurb. a decidedly poor overtake, Sorry Kev. Crossed the line in 2nd place! 2nd! brilliant! Spoke to Kev and Trudi aftwards, no hard feelings just enjoyed an epic battle for 2nd place, although Kev thought we were battling for 5th.
Race 2
Spoke to Steve Klee before the race he said that Matt Larrett was loving the track and has done it hundreds of times, so after the race 1 result i wrote off any chance of claiming my maiden victory. 3 laps into the race and i had settled for 2nd, seeing Matt disappear just like in race 1. Then i saw Steve Hands pull away from me and close in on Matt. if they start battling will Matt slow a bit? He did, the gap closed down and with a lap to go i was riding pillion with Matt Larrett. Wih 1st place a bikes length away i got past him into the last bend i was in the lead...... This is weird! then saw Steve slow as he approached a back marker and thought noooooooo! Matts gonna do my on the straight, Drag to the line and i finished .5 seconds infront of Matt, My first win, and im sure Matt saw how much it ment as i shook my fist and nodded my head like a maniac. I remember reading on his facebook how awesome it was to get his first win! It is, i laughed all the way round the cool down lap. Kissed the bikes as she was magnificent all day and rewarded me for putting her back wheel on properly! Brilliant, what a feeling.
I can say it doesnt matter where i finish i have a good time, everyone wants to win, thats why we race but as much as the win ment i just love riding bikes (havent even been riding 3 years yet) i love the noise of a scrapping slider, but at 6'3" its arguabley easier for me than some. What makes racing with DD is the paddock spirit, the sharing of knowledge and experience and the camaraderie. Sunday 25th April 2010 will not be a day easily forgotten.
Thanks to my family, for coming to support me and Newland Conveyors (not convetors) for lending me the van. Big thanks to Chris Pullen for sharing his wealth of knowledge with a numpty like me and Paul Pullen for the entertainment. Thank you every rider out there in DD we all made it the fantastic weekend it was. Great riding Tim, more of the same at Mallory.
Shame you couldnt have watched it with us Grandad but i know you saw it!
Right think im done now..... See you all at Mallory with my lucky gay yellow helmet! | 
DRR007
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