the first weekend....

I had been to Brands Hatch many times before either watching Superbikes, Touring Cars and even Trucks or doing track-days on various road bikes and even a endurance race. At the end of 2006 I had also joined fellow racer Alistair Pirie to a couple of club events he was competing in, which had introduced me to the racing paddock.

The format for the weekend was the same as any other, a testing day on Friday followed by racing on Saturday and Sunday. I had decided to drive up Thursday evening so that I could be setup for the morning, although I was by myself until Saturday when Claire and Gazza would join me. I arrive at about 9-30pm that evening and although dry it was cold, windy and very dark! I found a spot in the already quite busy paddock and attempted erecting the gazebo by myself - nightmare. That night I decided to sleep in the gazebo on a camp bed because of the fear of it disappearing in the wind, and what a long night. I seemed to spend a great deal of time holding my accommodation down in the wind and rain.

Friday fortunately started out fine and bright and to be honest I was just pleased everything was still there. The first job of the day after some breakfast was to continue the unloading and setting up of my bedroom/pit garage and obtain a practice permit for the day by signing on.
I spent the day circulating and getting comfortable with my surroundings, not really knowing what lap times I was doing or be able to compare myself with anybody else but figured I knew my way around this place and could comfortably put in 59 second laps on track-days, so I would be there or thereabouts. The day ended with the scrutnieering bay opening early so that we could get all the necessary checks out of the way. I went through, no problems. A hot meal and a beer was very welcome that evening in the Kentagon, but I was aware it was going to be another cold night in hotel gazebo!

I awoke Saturday to a fine and dry but windy day. From having no assistance for the last couple of days, everybody turned up on Saturday notably Gazza to take some of the bike looking after off of me and Claire to support and help out, along with Adrian, Jenny, Jason, Steve and Kathryn.
First practice was the first time all of us rookie 600 riders had been out on circuit together at the same time and it seemed that everybody was being polite and courteous to each other (that will not last!).

Saturday race 1

I was 9th on the grid for the start of the first race and felt quite confident I could at least end up in the middle of the field from there, but what a dreadful start I had and I found myself going rapidly backwards. The 7 laps were soon completed and I ended up in a poor 26th place with a best lap time of 1.01.6 which was a lot slower than I was capable of. Every was great when I returned to the pits but I was very disappointed. The one positive was that the rider set up next to me, Paul King, had won the race and I was delighted for him even though I had only got to met him that day.
I was having difficulty getting out of the corners quick enough and was struggling down the straights, as I could keep up and overtake riders on the corners only to be blasted down the straights, but I wasn't sure whether it was gearing or engine performance at this stage.

Saturday race 2

For the second race of the day I had a grid position near the back due to the result of the first race. The start was not bad but with only 7 lap races you get very little time to make up places. I finished in 25th place with a still puzzingly slow lap-time of 1.0.5, a second faster but still off the pace. I had a good race with the same guy that I was racing in the first race who had beaten me. He unfortunately low-sided at Druids and had to stand the bike up to avoid him.

Sunday race 1

After a good meal Saturday night, a good sleep in the van this time and a decent breakfast I was looking forward to the days races. On analysing my performance from the previous day I realised I needed to be more aggressive from the start, as all my fastest laps were on the final lap. I also needed to figure out how to improve my lap times considerably. I was starting from the back end of the again but made a point of riding the warm up lap at a decent pace to get up to speed earlier. I had a better race, still finished lower than would like (25th) but my lap-time was down to 57.6 seconds, nearly 3 seconds faster than Saturday. I was still struggling for speed out of the corners and down the straights, so if I could find that problem, the times would decrease further.

Sunday race 2

This was the last race of my first race weekend, and after the last performance I had a little more confidence but I was still curious of what was causing the lack of speed. I held my position at the start of race 2 and was comfortable lapping with two other riders who were Sean Carter and Alan Lau. At the start of lap 5 at the exit of the formidable Paddock Hill Bend Sean lost control and slid into the gravel. Alan was close behind and followed him, narrowly avoiding Sean but coming into contact with his bike. I managed to avoid joining them but at the next corner red flags were being waved, signalling the race was being stopped. I finished 24th with a fastest lap of 58.6 seconds.
This weekend was definitely going to be put down to experience, what with the weather, trying to set up in the dark by myself and my lap time problems just to start with, but this is what road racing on circuits is all about. I have a few questions to ask and changes to make before the next race at Snetterton in a few weeks time including engine performance and gearing.