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it's
a bit boring! |
The
season is moving on with out us and although I knew deep down I
would not be able to compete this year, I never predicted that
Alan would give up also.
My race bike is still in many pieces and the head is still with Phil
(hopefully coming back soon!) and Alan has actually sold his R6, much
to my disgust!
The best I can hope for this year is a bit of trackdaying on the R6
or maybe even the ZX6R if I can get enough bits together for it. In
the meantime I am down to an old BSA Bantam made in 1970 to play with.
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Wheels,
exhaust system and freshly painted bodywork with
no where to go. |
the
Snetterton round in March |
You
are never sure what you are going to get, racing at Snetterton
in March, and it certainly gave us a good variety of weather.
Friday test day was a mix of sun and showers but very windy, Saturday
it mostly poured with rain and Sunday was sunny but not exactly beach
weather.
On Friday we had unexpected guests in our garage, the British Super
Bike team run by Nick Morgan - MSS Kawasaki. They were testing their
2009 ZX10R with current world endurance champion Julian de Costa. We
also had British Super Stock rider and tip for the future, Jess Traller
with us for the weekend.
Alan's weekend did not go as well as expected, struggling to match
last years times and a small off on Saturday did not help much.
It is unsure when Curry Fishball racing will return to
the bemsee paddock, and a break is quite likely now, but hopefully
a few testdays can be fitted in soon. |
Alan eyes up the superbike 'bling' |
finally
out...... |
Some
jobs end up taking a lot longer than you anticipate, and this was
one of them. I had removed this engine a few times before and all
of the fuel and electronics do not worry me, but the simple act
of removing the final 2 bolts before the motor would drop proved
to be an extended task. Lots of cursing, a bruised hand and nose
(do not ask!) and a few hours later the race engine was out.
The head will now be removed and stripped, and then a trip to see
Phil Seton for a check up and bit of TLC, after which new valves
will be fitted.
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wet,
dry, cold and sunny at Brands. |
More
new suspension settings had been applied to Alans R6 for this weekend
in hope to finding the missing times. He ran in both the superstock
and sport classes which gave him plenty of track time along with
some decent length races on the Sunday (14 laps each). He tried
harder and harder but the times were not coming down on the Saturday,
with some average race results even after making some gearing changes.
Sunday morning was better and Alans times started to drop, matching
the end of last year. Had it not started to rain that afternoon,
then we feel a pb was on the cards - roll on Snetterton.
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to
good for a race bike? |
With
all the bodywork, including the fuel tank, back from the painters
work can now start on the mechanical side of the bike - mainly
the engine. Big thanks to Doddy at Leewards car
body repair for such a great and quick job.
Alans test at Brands Hatch had mixed results but was generally
positive with progress made on the new WP suspension setup and
Michelin tyres. The datalogging system is now fully functional
and is enabling us to see exactly what is happening and where.
It isn't long now until the first meeting of the season at Brands
Hatch Indy circuit.
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Still
no sponsor & slow progress on the winter refresh |
With
no major sponsor for the 2009 season, it seems we will not be able
to compete.
Work has progressed very slowly on refreshing the R6
to enable it become a very trick trackday bike, with the intention
being to at least do a few trackdays over the course of the coming
summer. The body work has been repaired and is now at the painters
and the rear subframe swapped for a straight one. The engine is still
to be done (when it warms up a bit!)
Alan will be testing on the 14th, 21st and 22nd of February before
the first round at Brands Hatch in March, but due to a shortage of
IT contracts currently, it is uncertain with he can
compete for the full season. |
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New
picture gallery from the 2008 season |
| For
all of the photographs, some professional, some not so,
follow this link or go to the gallery
home page. |
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Oulton
Park - exciting, damp and a visit to Chester hospital |
I
had never been to Oulton before, only to spectate, so when Alan
suggested an end of season trackday I was up for it. Unfortunately
we could only manage 6 dry laps all day but we had a good day,
with no pressure, finding our way around the Cheshire circuit.
It was a shame it ended with Alan highsiding his R6 at Druids and
having to go to Chester hospital with a broken collar bone. At
least it was the end of the season and he has all winter to recover!
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