an interesting weekend.....

I had not raced for more than months due to financial restrictions but during this I had decided to let Phil Seton have the R6 for some full on tuning, with a view to racing in 2008.
We left the South Coast Thursday lunchtime with the plan to pick up the newly tuned race bike from Phil's Colchester workshop on the way, at least that was the theory anyway! Unfortunately when we arrived the bike still needed to go on the dyno to get the jetting correct and check the power output. This took longer than we all anticipated - she was still proving tricky to jet correctly but after some head scratching and Phil's persistence we achieved a good increase (20bhp up on standard and how I had started the season). We eventually arrived at the Norfolk circuit at 9-00pm, about 4 hours later than we had expected, and met up with Antonio and Alan who are both rookie 600 riders. We had to set ourselves up in the dark but unlike earlier in the season, at least I had help in the form of Gazza and also power for lighting.
Having had a lot of problems on my last visit to Snetterton I was looking forward to trying out the new engine down it's long fast straights, and it didn't disappoint.

Saturday race 1

I had to start quite a long way back on the grid because I had not been around for several meetings. My start was appalling (no change there and even rustier than normal!) but I did managed to tag onto the back of number 75 Alan. I had more power and better gearing than him down the straights and through some of the turns I definitely had more speed (he had never been here before either), which enabled us to have a great battle. I attempted a couple of passes but both times he firmly shut the door on me, but fair until me started the final lap where he made a mistake on the exit of the Esses and had to take to the grass. I easily got passed and cruised to a small victory. I finished 19th and managed a fastest lap of 1.20.1 - I still hadn't broken into the teens but was 4.5 seconds quicker than my last visit here.

Saturday race 2

Race 2 was a re-run of the first race of the day, with Alan and myself continuing our own personal battle. I managed to make two passes on him but Alan managed to retake the place both times. This time he beat me! I finished 19th with a fastest lap of 1.19.7, I had finally broken into the teens!


Sunday race 1

Unfortunately Alan had to go Saturday evening, so we would be unable to resume our race today. My start was not bad and I managed to stay within the pack. At about mid-distance I found myself in no-mans land but I always felt I could catch the next rider.
I started to push harder and then, as it turns out, too hard as I was exciting the Esses I applied too much power and the rear of the bike came around and I slid off. As I was sliding down the track, I watched as the bike clattered over the raised kerb stones, bits breaking off as it went, only to realise I was going in the same direction and over the kerbing I went - ouch! I was fine and in a lot better shape than the bike as it turned out. The two of us were given a nice trip back to the scrutineering bay in the back of a van with a typically helpful and cheery marshal.
The R6 was checked over by the chief scrutineer was we arrived and it appeared that all though there was a lot of damage to the brakes, bodywork, screen and tank, there was nothing we couldn't fix. We had all the spares we required so set out fixing it and managed it with 30 minutes to go before the next race.

Sunday race 2

After my previous mid-race excursion across the tarmac, I had to start dead last on the grid and with my now usual indifferent starts, that was where I was going to stay going into the first corner. I was a little cautious for the first couple of laps, particularly though the Esses, but I soon became comfortable again and I managed to catch and pass the group of riders in front of me to finish 15th, with a championship point and fastest lap of 1.20.5
This was my last race of the season and I had thoroughly enjoyed the weekend with the R6 having it's new engine and front suspension. It was just a shame I had to break it but never mind I had all winter to fix the bike and to decide what to do in 2008.