Friday – Sunday, 10th – 12th August 2007
Round 6 &ndash Triumph Cup, Cadwell Park
New high
We arrived at Cadwell in the early hours of Friday morning, went straight to bed and set everything up in the morning in time for the Practice Day. This was my second time at Cadwell Park so it was a strange feeling for me knowing which way the track went! I didn't push myself throughout the practice day, just using the track time to practice different lines and familiarise myself more with the place.
In first qualifying last time we were here, I was placed 15th with a time of 1.44.727. But this time, I took over 3 seconds off my time to qualify 10th with a time of 1.41.654. Pleased with my improvement, I went into second qualifying. I was hoping to follow one of the leaders, but I found myself circulating on my own. Lap after lap went by and I took another 2 tenths of a second off my qualifying time. 1. 41.467. I was still a fair bit off the pace of the leaders, but at least I was going in the right direction with my times.
Originally in the program we were meant to be sharing our race with the Supersport 600 lads, but BEMSEE were able to run an extra race and separate the two of us! Thank you BEMSEE!!
I was feeling good before Superpole. My plan was the same as always, get away from the line cleanly, and try to get a tow from someone in front of me who's faster. But in typical fashion, that didn't quite go as planned.
Got away from the line fairly well taking a couple of places into turn one, but I wasn't able to keep the pace of the leaders so they pulled away. I could always hear someone behind me, but I didn't know who it was until he tried to outbrake me into the Hairpin. Richie Welsh is a SS400 Champion and this is a track he normally went well at. He then tried going up my inside into Coppice. For the entire race we were glued to each other. Some parts of the track I was stronger and others he was. It wasn't until I came over the mountain and landed awkwardly, putting me into a nasty tank slap, that Richie got by me. I tried my best to reel him back in, but I had to settle. New best laptime set on lap 2 with a time of 1.40.318 (new personal best for me) and I crossed the line in 5th place in the Michelin Young Guns.
Didn't get as good as start in Race 1 on Sunday, but I found myself behind Richie Welsh at the end of Park Straight. He started pulling away and by the start of the fourth lap he had a one second lead over me. I was able to put consistant times in and started clawing back the deficit. By lap eight, I was right behind him as we came into the Gooseneck and down into Mansfield. It was the only part of the track that I was noticeably quicker than Richie and it was then that I decided that's where I'll have to make the move on the last lap if I'm to get by him. He pulled a few tenths on me through Halls Bends and got great drive coming out of Barn Corner, but I start reeling him back in. Got through the Gooseneck and down the inside I went, but as soon as I went down a gear, the rear locked up and went sideways. I thought to myself that this mightn't have been the best idea! We touched at the bottom of the hill before Mansfield but thankfully we only went a bit wide. Finished the rest of the lap and crossed the line in 4th place in the Michelin Young Guns, beating my best laptime again with a time of 1.39.959. So far this season, this has been my best finish! I apologised to Richie in the holding area for the 'pass' and we had a good laugh about it. Cheers Richie for two great races!!
The heavens opened and the rain was coming down really heavily. There was a time when it looked as if it'd dry up again in time for our race, but just as the Supersport 600s were going out, it came down pretty hard again. Wet tyres for our second race.
I wasn't looking forward to Cadwell in the rain as once you get over the Mountain, Halls Bends, The Hairpin and Barn Corner has overhanging tree's so I knew it was going to be really slippy. I got a fairly poor start away from the line and basically 'pussy-footed' around for the first couple of laps. It wasn't until then that I settled into a nice pace and started pushing the boundaries a bit more. Went by Ricky Chadwick on the brakes going into the little hairpin just before the Mountain, then had a clear track ahead of me. With each lap going by, my times came down. On the 5th or 6th lap I could see a dot in the distance, so I put my head down to see if I could catch him. Turned out it was Michael Booth (Currently 2nd in the Championship) and I was catching him by over a second a lap. As I came up behind Mike entering the Hairpin, he looked around to see who it was, and just then, my rear broke loose nearly highsiding me. Made up the lost time just before Park Straight and out-braked Mike going into Park Corner. By this stage it was the last lap but I could see Jack Sim not too far in front. I kept my head down and started reeling Jack in, but soon realised, unless we had another lap, or Jack made a mistake, I wasn't going to catch him in time. Jack didn't make any mistakes and I crossed the line in 5th place again in the Michelin Young Guns.
I'm delighted with the overall results from the weekend as I've come away with my best finishes so far, and I completely destroyed my personal best lap time as well as finding my confidence in the wet around Cadwell. Huge thank you to Sheila, Malc, and my Dad, Jackson! They were all very supportive like always. There are times when I don't fully believe in myself, but they always do!
Next round is at Mallory Park, which I'm not really looking forward to as there's no practice day the day before like all the other rounds, so I have to learn the track for the first time in Qualifying. Because it's a Bank Holiday in the UK that weekend, our races aren't on the usual Saturday and Sunday, but on the Sunday and Monday.
Hope to see you there.
Cheers,
AJ