Gazza's guff!
Charlie mentioned in one of his reports that we're getting the hang of it and getting quicker. The problem is, so is everyone else! The lap times being posted by those who were a considerable amount of time behind me, are now right up my rooter. Admittedly, I was a bit off the pace following my space expedition at round three, which left me with the biggest bruise I've ever had, but I was still in the 1m 02s. There now seems to be a host of riders doing that and those in the 02s are now in the 01s! It just goes to show how racing really brings you on in a way track days can't. Being injured and lacking some confidence, I knew my teammate would be chomping at the bit to get one over me, and this he did. Neither of us have mass amounts of race craft. but Charlie looked like a seasoned professional trying to keep me behind him. I couldn't get past and didn't want to take us both out... Having really struggled in round five and coming back too soon, I decided to sit out the next round and let my ageing body heal. wandering around the paddock I spotted a mate, Garry Broughton, who races in the MiniTwins on an SV650. I was already thinking of retiring the CB as I'm simply too big and heavy to be competitive, and it was the visit to Garry that made my mind up as I'd jumped aboard to see how it fitted ergonomically, and it felt very spacious. So that was it: I immediately sold captain America and went hunting for an sv. The hunt was swift as a friend of mine had just purchased a road bike ready to convert, so he converted it and then I bought it off him, just in time for the season's finale. I couldn't wait to test my new steed at round six, where we would all be alongside 250cc GP bikes and supersport 400s such as NC30S and ZXR400S. on my first session on the sv I was 6th in class and 11th overall, and had already matched my CBS00'S best time. Race one saw my usual poor start. but I came back from behind to get 6th in class and 9th overall. Day two brought rain, which I like. In the wet race one, I finally made a cracking start and fired off the grid, but there was so much spray I didn't actually know where I was in the race so I just tried to settle into a rhythm and as the laps ticked off I was catching back-markers, so I was steady trying to pass them when WHOOSH, two bikes came from behind and overtook me going into the Bus Stop. Damn! Two places lost - and it later transpired that I was actually leading my class and 2nd overall before that! Gutted doesn't even come close, but still 4th overall and 2nd in class was an excellent result. The final race of the year came with a second row start so all the signs were good. Another good start saw me into Gerard's in 4th place with the leaders right there. I sat behind them for three or four laps, feeling good, and then disaster: the visor just totally steamed up! Let me tell you, trying to hold your visor open and tipping into Gerard's at 120mph, in the wet, was not funny and eventually I had to give in and slow down. That first win wasn't to be and I was devastated. In the end I came home in 5th overall and 4th in class. Racing really is a roller-coaster of emotions. I'd had everything from crashes, breakdowns, bad results, decent results and near wins all in six rounds, but you know what? I've done it, I became a racer. Now I can look back without the 'wish I'd had a go at racing'! What a box to tick!