| Finally - NickB\'s Brands report
Round 2 – Brands Hatch – 23 April 2006
Don’t want to write too much about the run-up to this one because I can’t wait to get to the juicy bits! But in brief... Saturday, blazing sunshine, t-shirt, window down, loverleeeee! Turn up in the paddock early Saturday evening and pitch up in the same spot as last year, new gazebo is soon assembled and what a mighty fine erection it is – if the wind picks up this weekend the garages in pit lane will blow down before my gazebo does!! No scrutineering this eve so will have to liven myself up in good time on Sunday.
Sunday.
Wake up to big black clouds, but no rain. I leather myself up and give the bike one final polish before pushing it to the scrutineering bay, now it’s just starting to rain. Nice one, if it stays a little rainy that should make Ian a backmarker (sorry Ian but it’s my best chance of beating you!). The scrute is a young guy, probably new because he’s checking absolutely everything, but the bike passes as fit to race so game on!
The forecast said the light rain should pass in a couple of hours. The light rain did pass, making way for proper rain just in time for qualifying. I don’t like racing in proper rain because I’m just not heavy enough weigh the bike down onto the track to get any decent traction. We go out for a soaking and I can’t believe what a plonker I’m being. I can’t get Paddock Hill Bend right, keep turning in too late and running wide, cant get any sort of exit from Druids Hairpin because of wheelspin, and let’s not talk about the sort of routes I was taking round Clearways/Clark! I was really annoyed with myself, I’m sure I’ll be back on the fourth row if I’m lucky, so rode back to my palace in a proper strop.
Without too much delay, Paul strolls in with the grid sheet. Apparently I didn’t have such a hard time of it as most others did and I’m qualified in 6th place. From the show I put in I’m struggling to believe I deserved to be that far up the grid, so I’m still in a nasty frame of mind and I think people are treading carefully around me. Looks like Geoff had turned up after all and dressed in Dom’s leathers cos the 23 bike was on pole!
Race 1
I’m still not happy. I almost line up on the back of the grid as punishment for my bad riding earlier, but decide it’s best to stroll through and find the 2nd row. The rain had virtually stopped, and on the sighting lap I was finding a lot more confidence in the track whilst also threatening myself with a good kicking if I rode anything like I did earlier. So by the time we’re lined up again on the grid I’m really up for it, the mind is totally focused and the strop I was in has turned to serious determination.
The start lights flash and I nail it. Anthony is in front and gets his back wheel sideways as it crosses the slippy wet white line, but I keep on the case and fly through to second place for turn 1, right behind Dom. I know Andy will come past me soon, and he does on the run to Druids, giving me at least a meter passing space – what’s up Nudge, you going all girlie on us?!! I’m determined to get as good a gap over Ant as possible while he’s struggling through the pack from his poor start, he’s proven to be unbelievably quick in the wet so I needed to take as much advantage as I could. I don’t look round for the entire lap, then half way round lap 2 I take a sneaky glance behind and see Kyle a few seconds back. The leaders are gapping me good n proper so all I can do is keep hold of 3rd for as long as I can. But I’m still trying to learn how much grip I’ve got, and still experimenting with lines into Clearways so it takes me a couple more laps to get up to speed.
I’m tempted to look behind again, but me old mukka R1 Paul is echoing in my head telling me looking back only serves as a distraction. So for the rest of the race I’ll keep my eyes on the prize and just ride the wheels of the little beast! I’m trying to count the laps but lost count after the second, I’m waiting for Kyle, and Ant, and Tony, to catch up and laugh at me as they go past – but we must be on lap 6 by now and I’ve not had any company. I’m thinking there MUST be someone sniffing my fumes so I keep on it and ride like I have a purpose. I’m still 3rd, I’ve not been this high up for more than 2 laps in past races, I’m almost getting a nosebleed!
The race goes on, I’ve only had to tell myself off for relaxing just the once, and still managed to refrain from looking behind. I’m thinking I’m on something like lap 9 (of 12) by now, but I come to the line and there’s the last lap board glaring at me. Oh my god, all them riders behind me are about launch a full-on assault on my 3rd place... why won’t this damn throttle open any wider? How much grip can I squeeze from these Diablo’s? I get a full-on slide coming round Paddock, but ignore it and the bike lines up nicely again down the hill. I leave my braking point for Druids until the same point I do in the dry, the front is trying to lock up but I need to turn, so I’m having to trail-brake on a wet track – I’m going down on my arse for sure... I somehow come out of Druids still sunny side up and blaze a trail down to Graham Hill Bend, leaving the brakes out of the equation and concentrating on a perfect line. The soaking wet, icy smooth white line, the grass, the ambulance ride are all approaching at machII, but one thing I’ve been teaching Sindy is never give up trying to get round a corner. So I lean it over a bit more and miss the edge of the track by an inch.
Perfect line through Surtees and there’s just the final curve separating me from my first podium... keep the power on as much as I dare round Clearways, the back wheel isn’t slipping at all but I’m scared to wind on any more. As the track opens out onto my final run for glory I know I’m about to be mugged in the last few meters... but I keep my head buried under the paint and take the chequered flag for 3rd place without a challenge and I’m so chuffed I’m jumping about on the bike so much I forget to slow for the turn – I made it round the turn then looked back to see how far in front I was... Jeez, there must’ve been a 5 second gap!!!
Race 2
Well now it’s raining properly again, I’m losing confidence because there’s standing water on the track and I’ve got an inverse weight problem! I know this won’t be as good a result as race 1 but I’m still up for it while taking to the grid for the start. I’m so busy thinking about what sort of grip there is with the heavier rain that I pay no attention to the start light! The bikes in front drop the clutch and instinct makes me follow suit, but I’ve got a naff start and barely in the top ten through turn 1.
Now I’ve got some work to do! I can see my arch nemesis Tim, with Glenn and Pete Yates not too far ahead. The three of them are having a bit of a bun fight so I’m on them pretty quick, I tail them over the line and on the second lap Glenn passes Tim and quickly show us all a clean pair of heels. Tim and Pete are scrapping for position for a half dozen laps, and I’m tight behind. They pass each other a couple of times before Tim get by again and puts a few convincing meters between them, but I’m not about to let the posh git get away so I put a move on Pete and set about catching his lordship. I’m back with him quickly but there’s only about 3 or 4 laps left... I must get past!
I follow Tim into Graham Hill Bend and almost run into him when he brakes frighteningly early! A quick shimmy to the right and there’s a chance to get round the outside, but as I’m alongside he winds the throttle on and starts drifting to the outside of the turn. The pass suddenly seems like a bad idea, so I have to back down and wait for another chance. Every corner for the last three laps he’s braking really early and slowing me up, but every time I try making the pass he winds on the throttle and finds grip through the bends that surely doesn’t exist! I’m feeling a bit of deja vu here from several races last year when I’d already learned that Tim is the hardest guy in the world to get past. I keep trying to get some good drive through and out of every turn, but it’s just not possible, the back wheel is breaking traction as Tim drives out as if the track’s dry! We take the chequered flag with Tim 6th and I’m 7th. A little disappointed considering race 1, but happy enough after remembering I can’t ride with standing water on the track!
Many friends made the effort to come and support in some nasty weather, so a few shouts go out to Paul/Hayley/Lara, Pete, Roy/Sandra, Eddie (did you see 4 bikes go past?), Bradders, big hug for Hayley, Sharon, my number 1 fan Sindy and everyone else who stopped by to take refuge and drink my coffee. And a special thanks to Derek for the most attention to detail I’ve ever seen in changing a set of wheel bearings – I’m glad you weren’t charging an hourly rate!
Here’s to Assen, can’t wait to get out there again!
NickB#34  |
27-Apr-2006, 18:24 
domski
Dementor
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