Saturday / Sunday, 10th - 11th April 2009
Round 2 &ndash National SS600s, Bishopscourt
More bad luck
I've never gone well at this track and this weekend turned out to be no different.
The day started off negatively with my bike failing scrutiny due to throttle sticking open. During the week the rocker cover was replaced because we found a crack in it and it was leaking oil. The throttle cables were nagging on something when she was put back together, which also made the throttle very heavy. We got it loosened up a bit and got through scrutiny.
Free practice was in drying conditions so everyone was taking it very easy hoping a dry line would form in time for qualifying. I just went around familiarising myself with the track as it's been over two and a half years since I visited.
Set off for qualifying in the first group of 600s and was pleased to see it was dry apart from a line of cement dust from the hairpin to the first chicane as oil was dropped in the previous session.
For the first few laps, I was slowing building up my speed trying to get use to the heavy throttle. On the third or fourth lap, I was catching a guy in front of me and as we came onto the home straight, a black flag was waved. The clerk of the course didn't bother putting a number out with the flag so I didn't know if it was for me, or the guy in front. In fear it was for me, leaking oil or something, I put my hand up and moved off the race line, coasting around the rest of the lap wasting five minutes of a ten minute qualifying session. As I got into the pit lane, Iain ran up to me telling me the black flag was for the person ahead and to get straight back out. Needless to say, I was fuming at the COC but went back out to try get a lap in before the session ended. One full lap before the chequered flag which got me on 29th position on the starting grid. Not a happy bunny at this stage.
Got a decent start in the first race on Friday. Overtook someone coming out of the first chicane on the back straight and found myself behind Paul Greaney and Robbie Lanigan. Happy days I thought. Tag along with these and they'd bring my laptimes down a bit. But that wasn't to happy as when I was in the right hander after the third chicane, someone pelted me from the side and I found myself sliding across the track into the grass.
Marshalls picked up the bike and I waited by the tyre wall for the race to finish. Got back to the paddock afterwards and was ready to deck the lad that hit me off.
Thankfully I was ok to carry on the rest of the weekend but my brand new RST leathers are scuffed badly on the right hand side, and one of my Arai RX-7 Corsair helmets is for the bin. I came away with a bruised elbow and shoulder. Neck and ribs were a bit sore too but thankfully nothing broken.
The 675 needed a new master cylinder, brake lines, crash bobbin and the rear-sets needed to be straightened. Iain got to work repairing what he could before it started getting dark.
Got up early Saturday morning and Iain & myself got back to work repairing the damaged 675. It took a lot longer than we anticipated and I ended up missing the warm up session which would of been very beneficial to me
Got the bike scrutineered again and we were ready for race two. Rubbish start away from the line. Picked off a couple of bikes over the course of the race and finished in 26th overall, 8th in the Supersport Cup.
Race three was after after lunch and it was a similar race to the last one. Was behind a couple of people who I was slightly quicker than, but couldn't seem to get passed until the last lap. Finishing that race in 26th overall, again 8th in the Supersport Cup.
Iain is going to see about changing the throttle housing to free up the throttle a bit more for Kirkistown so hopefully the bike is 100% for me there.
Cheers
AJ