Sunday, 25th October 2009
Celtic Match Races, Mondello Park
Finish on the top step
I was really looking forward to this race meeting following my recently found good form on the 675 at Anglesey and then at the Mondello Masters, and to top off my excitement, I was selected to be a part of the Irish team to race against Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man in the Celtic Match races. With the quality of top racers in this country, I'm honoured to have been asked to compete as part of this team and race for my country!
The weather forecast was to be bad for Saturday (which it was) and 'okay' for Sunday but that proved to be an incorrect prediction. We woke up on Sunday morning to fairly heavy drizzle and I went to sign on for the day. I wasn't able to get the bike through scrutiny straight away as I needed to change my race number and Ernie Coates wasn't up at the time. Unknown to me, the Celtic Match teams are designated numbers in slots for each country and I was given number 28 for the day. When Ernie got up, I got through scrutiny without any problems.
Back over to the garage and I started changing my tires to wets. It was getting close to our un-timed practice session and I couldn't find my front wheel anywhere. After asking Emo Hughes (my team mate) if he saw it, he told me it was on his bike as he needed to use it for a few laps on Saturday to rule out a suspension issue. Huge thanks to Dave for helping me change the wheels over and also for all his help throughout the day. Unfortunately I missed my un-timed practice session for the Celtic Matches.
I really needed to get out for a few laps to test out the quickshifter as Iain Duff (Team owner) and John O'Grady changed it a bit as it wasn't allowing me change gear between turn 1 and 2. I went out with the Superbikes for their un-timed practice only to find the quickshifter wasn't working at all. I pulled in and went over to John O'Grady to let him know. The Celtic Match solo's qualifying session was soon so we didn't have a chance to check the quickshifter properly.
I struggled to find much grip in the wet and found myself spinning up when changing gears without the quickshifter. I was very pleased to qualify 9th fastest overall. Ireland had 6 riders in the top 10. It didn't matter if we didn't win the race outright, it was more important to do well as a team so we were quietly confident for the race. I backed off the rear setup to soften the rear which went on to help me get more grip.
When we were called for the Supersport 600 qualifying, there was a dry line forming on the track. At this stage of the day, the 600 race wasn't a big concern for me, as I just wanted to do my best for Ireland in the Celtic Match races. I went out and put a few laps in and felt the rear starting to move around a bit so I decided to pull in to save my tires. I felt I could of gone harder in the 600 qualifying but it would have been at the expense of the tires and I decided against it. I was surprised to come back into the pits and find that I was 3rd fastest behind Emo on the other 675 and Emmett O'Grady on Paul Greeney's R6. First time I've ever gotten onto the front row in the 600s. Excellent!!
When we were called for the opening Celtic Match solo race, it had rained again so we left the wets on. Because Michael Sweeney got pole position, the Irish team were all on the outside. Each country had a rider on each row of the grid and it was the team managers decision who was on what row. Iain and Declan Swanton decided to put us in qualifying order. Sweeney leading row 1. I was leading the 5th row in 13th position. This race was red flagged 4 times before the organisers decided to postpone it a while. I hope anyone who came off (like Paul Byrne) recover fast.
Soon after we were called for the first Supersport 600 race. I got a good start away from the line and led the opening lap before Richie Ryan flew past me on the brakes going into turn 1. I was worried sick about crashing in this race and creating a problem for the Irish team so circulated as best I could whilst not pushing too hard. Ryan Kneen went by me but eventually fell off exiting turn 1. The end of the race came and I finished in 2nd position with a comfortable gap over 3rd place. This was my best finish on a 600 to date and I was delighted to get an Absol Racing Triumph one two for Iain. Congrats to Richie as he was flying in that race and deserved the win.
When we were called for the Celtic Match race, the track was drying again. On the first lap, the race was red flagged and we went back around to the start grid to wait. Swanton cleverly decided to put an intermediate rear tyre on whilst we waited. At the race restart, I got a good start and was away with the leading group. Nothing separated us all. Declan was starting the race with a cold tire and didn't get the best of starts, but after a lap or two, I heard him come up behind me out in the country. I glanced over my shoulder to confirm it was him and moved aside to let him pass. I knew he had gotten enough heat in the rear to push harder than we could with wets on and we were racing as a team, not as individuals. Declan managed to get up to 3rd place before the race was red flagged again and the race was declared a result. I was the 3rd Irish rider in the standings (8th overall) behind Declan and Sweeney, but because we had most of our riders in the top group, we got the most points and were leading as a nation.
The weather seemed to improve a slight bit and the track slowly started to dry up more, so I decided to put my Dunlops back on for the 2nd Supersport 600 race, I fueled up and was ready to go again. I took my place on the front row and got another great start away from the line. Kneen was first into turn 1, but he left his braking a bit too late, making him run a bit wide and I got into the lead. I put my head down and tried to be as smooth as I could as the track was still a bit greasy in places. The laps seemed to fly by and with about 3 laps to go,(when I was going down the straight) I saw my dad standing at pit wall with his arms wide apart saying I'd a big lead. With this in mind, I backed off a small bit and concentrated on getting by the back markers without making any mistakes. Come the chequred flag, I crossed the line first with a 7 second lead. This is my first ever competitive win so I was absolutely ecstatic. Richie Ryan finished in 2nd place giving Absol Racing another one two with the Triumph 675s. To top things off, I got the fastest lap of the race.
The other nations didn't want to wait around until the end of the day so our 2nd Celtic Match solo race was cancelled and we were declared the winners. I don't know exactly why the others called it a day, but I'd like to believe that they didn't think they'd have much of a chance against us in the dry at our home track.
It's been a really tough year for me with countless problems. My confidence was at an all time low with racing but Iain never put any pressure on me. He was always there to back me and egg me on to better myself. Things took a turn for the better at the Clubman round in August when I started finding my feet with the Dunlops. After that, Anglesey was a great weekend for me, then topped off by this weekend with the top 2 finishes. I'm delighted to have helped Ireland win the Celtic Matches and also to be a part of the first ever Absol Racing one two. Thank you to Iain for giving me a fantastic bike this season that is the Triumph 675. I honestly don't understand why more of them aren't being raced here.
At the moment, I've no ride for next season with Absol not going to be around, so if you know of anyone who might be interested in sponsoring me, please get them to get in contact with me through my website, a forum, email, facebook or by phone. I would love to be still out there next year building on my recent good form.
Thanks again to Absol Racing for everything, Poleon Motorcycles for the sponsorship and kind words of advice/motivation, my dad Jackson for his continued support throughout the years. Dave Casey, Myles Sheehy and Zane Flaiani for spannering for me throughout the year, to a few un-named/anonymous people for their very generous donations during the year for race entries and last but not least, all the photographers that have sent me pictures throughout the season and for letting me upload them to our race websites.
Thanks for reading,
Cheers,
AJ Hutchinson #169