THRUXTON BSB HARLEY DAVIDSON CHALLENGE - ROUND 1 :: 30th May 2011
Hi guys – well what a weekend!!
I felt confident from the start really but was worried if my foot would hold up or not and I had not ridden any sort of bike properly since last September but I knew I just had to give it my best shot. I went out in the first free practice and just got my head down from the word go. I felt like I had a good base setting on the suspension thanks to Chris Taylor from K-Tech suspension and I was in touch for most of the session ending up in 5th place. It was so nice to be back riding round Thruxton as its one of my favourite tracks and I had to miss it last year. We made a good positive start to the weekend.
Qualifying I knew I had to try and get on the front row to be in with a shout of a good result. So I went all out to get a good time. Some changes were made to the bike to make it feel better for my riding style at the front end and the bike felt mega. I felt like I was pushing hard but was lying still in 5th place with 7 minutes to go and I came into the pits. Danny, my little brother, said your 1.5 seconds off and said not its time to pull to stops and really go for it. I only had time for one fast lap and I went all out to try and get that front row start. I ended up 3rd which I thought was pretty good.
After a good meal out and a nice chilling evening on Sunday night with Danny and my dad I was ready to go all out in the race. The weather was bad it was raining all day, I ended up 5th in warm up but was not pushing it at all. It was good to have Danny on the grid with me and I was feeling good. They seemed to hold us on the grid for ages and my visor started to steam up so I had really poor vision. I made a good start but could not see the turns very well so I dropped back to about 5th then by lap 3 my visor started to clear and I managed to get back up to 3rd with not too much trouble.
Jeremy McWilliams and Alex Goult were about 6 seconds ahead and I just thought if I keep it smooth and don’t make any mistakes I can do this and I did. I passed McWilliams with a lap and a half to go and just knew I had the pace to win it. I was putting in some really good lap times and catching Alex and I felt so good. I had so much grip and confidence. Last Lap!! I was on Alex’s tale and I knew if I passed him too early he would definitely have a go back at the last turns – a classic Thruxton move. So I knew the last turn I would have to just make a lunge. I got a good drive out of church and was in his slipstream we were both so late on the brakes I felt the front trying to tuck and Alex was leaning on me but the move stuck and I got a really good run through the chicane which I was surprised at because I ran it in deep – and I WON!!!!!!
Not only did I win I managed to get the lap record too! EXCELLENT RESULT!!!!! Extremely sore foot after but really pleased with my weekend.
Thank you so much for all your support in particular to:
James Reidhaven
Blade Harley Davidson - Oxford
Shark Crash Helmets
Gernea BootsMoto Direct
Little Brother Danny for everything
Steve Burgess
Stuart Tate of Tate Fencing“Squeeky Clean”
Mum and Dad.
These people have made it possible for me to be out there racing and I think the Harley Series is great it produces good close racing and the bikes are like no other to ride. I’m still pushing hard and still believe that I can make it. Sponsorship is hard to come by and I’m really struggling this year so any advice on how to get some funds in would be much appreciated, in the first instance I need to be able to cover my travel costs and accommodation.
Love you all and thanks again!!
