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| #1  24-Apr-2006, 20:24 | ||||
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| Domski\'s race report - Brands Hatch What a weekend!! My plan for Brands was to aim for two top 6 finishes. Cadwell had exceeded my expectations and aims, so I just wanted to continue my solid start to the season (Remember I had a broken arm and had no points at this stage last year). I had been checking the forecast about 10 times a day during the week building up to Brands, and I was praying for dry races. When we arrived on Saturday afternoon it was glorious sunshine, real t-shirt and short weather – Lovely!! However, on Sunday morning I awoke to drizzle and a wet circuit, so my heart sank. I was now thinking that top 10’s would be a good result and maybe I could finish in front of Ian Leah, as I think he hates the rain even more than me (and he was in front of me in the championship). QUALIFYING I followed Fil2 out of pit lane (after being prompted by TP – I was half asleep) and thought that if I could hang with Phil for a few laps I should do OK as he’s pretty good in the rain. I seemed to ‘click’ with the bike and track and to be honest I had to remind myself that the track was indeed wet a few times as I found myself riding as if it was dry!! I was still following Phil and in fact reeling him in after a couple laps. I got better drive than him out of Graham Hill Bend and passed him along the bottom straight. I got my head down and felt really comfortable, but expected Phil to come hammering past at some point – to my surprise he never did. The session seemed to be over in no time and I went back to the paddock feeling quite pleased with things. After all, I hate the wet!! About 10 mins later Ali came down and said “Well done”, I wasn’t sure what he was on about, but agreed anyway  I couldn’t believe it when he said I had qualified on Pole Position. I had to go and check it out with my own eyes!! Sure enough, he was spot on. I had actually qualified on Pole. WTF is that about?!?!?! I’m not fastest in the wet. I hate the wet. I’m supposed to be about 10th and feeling sorry for myself. Now everyone will expect me to be fast. “What am I gunna do now?” was a common theme running through my head. RACE 1 It was a bit odd forming up on the grid. I had Andy right next to me and I was sure he’d be the main man (thought that before the meeting actually). I fully expected him to clear off to be honest. I got my usual blinding start and had a clear lead into Paddock (so I’ve been told). I spent the first few laps waiting for Andy to come hammering past and clear off. I almost wondered if the race had been stopped as I hadn’t seen anyone for ages, but no red flags were being waved. Then I started to see riders at Paddock Hill Bend as I was exciting Druids. Andy did eventually come past, I think into Graham Hill (he passed me too many times to remember) and a lap later he was still right there in front of me. Several laps later, I took a look behind and couldn't see anyone else – what the hell is going on? It’s raining and I’m in second place, with the leader right in front of me and I’m feeling really comfortable and in control at this pace – bloody weird I can tell you!!! Andy was really good into Paddock Hill, Druids and Graham Hill Bend, and I was faster out of Graham Hill bend, into Surtees and down both straights (Chass’s bike is rapid!). So it was pretty even. I would pass Andy down the straights and he’d do me on the brakes. It was ace fun!! I hit a couple white lines, which really fired me across the track, and I lost 20 yards or so to Andy with a couple of laps to go. Coming out of Clearways and heading in to the last lap I had conceded the win to be fair. Andy and I were so even over a lap that I just didn’t want to chuck the bike up the road for the sake of 5 extra points. I should have kept my head down as Andy did his best to give me the victory as he ran VERY wide at Paddock and was probably just inches from heading into the gravel. Fair play to Andy though, he pulled it back and held the lead. I was right on him through Druids and hoped to out drag him down the back straight. He was too good though, and I wasn’t brave enough to stuff it under him into Surtees – I think it would have ended in a mess if I had. So it was really a case of following him to the line. What a friggin excellent race though. There must have been over 10 changes of the lead and it was a real clean and fair race. Thanks Andy, I was buzzing and delighted to finish 2nd (by 0.48 sec). RACE 2 It was a tad wetter for race two. There was standing water at the bottom of Paddock Hill and it was raining harder. I was feeling happier after race one and felt that I had the pace to not worry about being involved in a melee with 5 or 6 guys, which is exactly what happened to Andy!! I got another good start and led through Paddock. In contrast I think Andy got a shocker and found himself back in 4th or 5th. Over the line for the first time and I had a whole 0.2 second lead over Antony (nice one dude) and TP was right behind him in 3rd, with Andy in 4th and the Hawkman in 5th (not bad from 13th on the grid – I’m watching you Carlos!!) Antony had the audacity to show me a wheel (and half his fairing) but I was able to fend the pesky Essex rude boi off, just! He was still right there after 5 laps – what did you have for breakfast??? Fair play. It took Andy 6 laps to find his way through to 2nd and I’m guessing that he decided to pretty much just hang in behind me and bide his time?! Mind you, I had learnt my lesson from race one, and was covering the overtake at Paddock, Druids and Graham Hill pretty well I thought without it affecting my lap times. I was blatantly shutting off through Druids and Clearways though, as I knew nobody would be able to pass me and I had great drive out, so why bust myself eh?!! I actually led the first 10 laps, but they wouldn’t wave the chequered flag early!! Andy eventually did pass me into Druids, but as we came up to some backmarkers (Ian Leah and Dickie  WTF???) I managed to re-pass him into Paddock Hill. My bike was faster and I was confident I could out drag Andy to the line if I was close enough on the last lap. Andy did get back in front, but going in to Clearways for the last time he left a bit of a gap for me (I’m sure he didn’t, but it was there) so I dived in there and we went through Clearways side-by-side. I don’t think we actually touched, but it must have been as close as you can get without touching. I couldn’t get on the gas as early as I wanted as it would have pushed me wide and into Andy, and he couldn’t get the gas on as he was already right over and going the long way around. In the end I was a bit too eager and had a small slide – enough to give Andy a 1 bike lead on to the straight and he beat me by about 18 inches, or 0.03 secs!!Another fantastic race though, and I was even happy for Andy – How soft am I?!?! I’ve not battled for a race win for 7 years and it felt bloody brilliant, and it was wet too!! I still can’t get over it really. CONCLUSION Pole position, two 2nd places, joint fastest lap in race 2, I led 14 of the 24 laps and finished both races right on Andy’s tail. More importantly I got the rain monkey off my back and I know I can win races for sure. The rest of the season is looking great. Congrats to Andy for your clean sweep, you rode great fella. Hopefully I will get my turn at some point. Thanks Chass for supplying a brilliant bike – you’re my hero. It was perfect at Brands. Thanks also to Intrall Consultancy Ltd and Louigi Moto for your support, without you guys there is no way I’d have got these results. Can we go race yet?   |
| #2 24-Apr-2006, 20:47 | ||||
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| Nice one mate, it was follow my leader for those first six laps in race two and I thought about going past you a couple of times (as I have done before  ) but it was all a bit of a shock to be up the front and I'd never lead a race before!I won't be as forgiving next time though, so watch out  |
domski
we cant get andy to do a write up but he is like me a man of action not words.
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