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| #1  24-Aug-2009, 14:44 | ||||
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| Andys Castle Combe Race Report Andys Castle Combe Race Report The last time we did Castle Combe was on the class B bike a couple of years ago and it really suited me taking two wins. Due to the distance, time restraints and costs we decided to enter the support races to get me up-to-speed instead of a trackday which my bike was never gonna pass the noise tests for anyway. First practice session with the Allcomers & I nearly forgot my transponder but managed to get out for a few laps and scrub the new tyres. The bike felt pretty good, the circuit becoming more familiar on every lap. Then a couple more sessions out & I was up to speed putting the bike on Pole but the times weren’t that good compared to previous winners as shown by Harriet’s pace putting her class B bike on the front row. We decided not to do the Allcomers race due to not having time to re-fuel or cool the engine, we need a small gap?? Instead we did another support race to try a higher gear. We felt good on the higher gear and the bike wasn’t revving out on the straight but was slightly sluggish out of Quarry. Race 1 – Now with the new clutch sorted I could really give it some on the line, but we got held up so long I had to pull the clutch back in, which made me miss the start and head into the first corner around 8th!!! I quickly dived down the inside and chugged out trying to make up places. I could see that Tim had got his head down and headed off in front of new front runner Tom Parkes! Great pace there fella. I proceeded through quickly and got up to Tim and made a pass going into Quarry (a tip here is hold onto the power & brake very, very late heading for an early apex, works for me anyway) which gave me the inside, the only disadvantage was I was sluggish out of the turn and Tim came past on the exit (what a pair). We did this for a few laps but I knew I was quicker going into Tower as I’d followed a 250 through here at some amazing pace earlier. We had a right ding-dong, just like Cadwell and I was in front blocking Tim everywhere I could, I wasnt aware he was millimeters from me on the final chicaine but I managed to hold him back for the win, wahooo.. Race 2, we’d decided to gear the bike back down to get better drive out of the slower corners and it worked a treat as after my trademark (nowadays) poor start, I got away and got my head down for a decent lead picking off 1.23’s consistently. We won race 2, wow that’s made a big difference for the champs... Boy, was this track bumpy.... I was riding jockey style as the bike was leaping down the straight... We then had the mad dash back to Mansfield to get to Sal & Rob’s wedding where we managed to get there just in time for the speeches, excellent timing. Gordon came wheeling over asking, how did race 2 go!!! We got hushed, oops... Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Young and we had a great evening! Thanks goes to Neil at Cornerspeed for the demonstration in how to build a clutch properly... Trace for putting up with the endless treks everywhere and scaring you and Mum / Dad in the first race battle, once again no touches from us but very, very close racing... Thanks to Mum & Dad for bringing back the van / caravan and well done to Harriet for the double, pole & lap record in front of her family. Thanks, as always, to Cobby for the tips and advice. It really is sinking in fella. Well done too to Steve Hands on his first DD meet. Next races Pembrey & Cadwell, after our break away, see you then  Andy     Last edited by andys 900ss : 24-Aug-2009 at 17:03.  |
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