Cheers lads, thanks for the support.
I don`t know who was more happy at the F400 win, Dan or myself! Dan was jumping up and down at the paddock gate as I came in! We`ve got a true NSR fan there! Thanks Dan.
It was pretty much raining all the time from Saturday night and all through Sunday.
The first race, the Open 400 started pretty well this time, the bike was still playing up but launched quite well for some reason. I was on grid position No. 6, so I stayed up with the leaders. I had a good feeling that I could get a win this time, as I was in 3rd feeling comfortable. The race was stopped due to a crash. The restart went as all the others have, with me fighting my way backwards from the start! The bike was a 125 all the way round Gerrards again, dead last. Anyway, it kicked back in so I just went as hard as I could, finished 4th. Too much of a gap to make up on the leaders.
I was fed up & decided it was time to start pulling connectors apart looking for problems on the electrical side, convinced it now had nothing to do with the carbs. Eventually traced the problem to the ignition pick up for the front cylinder.
Next race was the F400, grid position No.19. Had a practice start on the warm-up lap which proved all was okay. I got the best start ever & tagged onto the back of the leaders. Managed to get to the front & pull a gap. Got a bit hairy on the last lap as I was lapping a novice who tried to race me. He tried to force me onto the grass at the lake esses, which I thought was a bit unsporting!
Anyway, I was over the moon! My Dad was there to see it too, which was a bit special.
The second Open 400 race had me on grid position No.4! I was expecting to fly into Gerrards near the front. Not quite! The bike bogged down due to getting too cold on the "warm" up lap! I went backwards to about mid-field. Got the hump & ragged it back to 2nd place, going for 1st when the leader over cooked it at Gerrards. So, I was leading with Dan snapping at my heels when the red flags came out at the hairpin. I really wanted that win too. They called the race, which meant the result was taken from a lap before the crash. I didn`t realise at the time, the bloke who crashed was the geezer I was hassling around Gerrards for 1st place. There was a mix-up & they awarded the win to this bloke as he was leading me across the line the lap before! He even went up & collected the trophy too! Mark Jordan pointed out the cock-up, so they changed the result, cheers Mark. So, I ended up winning the race! Albeit not the way I wanted to.
By the time of the last race, the second F400, all the late nights were catching up on me! I wasn`t really looking forward to it, cold, wet & tired, again! Went out anyway, grid position No.1 !!!!!!!!
Didn`t get that good a start, fluffed it up a bit. Was about 10th into Gerrards. I just rode round right on the outside of the track & came out in 2nd place, flew into the Edwinas chicane a "bit hot" underneath Paul Elleker & came out in the lead. Ross Searle was going well & pushing me for the lead. I "shut the door" on him at the chicane which dropped him back a bit, I could see him coming back though! I thought we had another lap to go when he got past at the hairpin, as they didn`t hold the flag out for Ross & myself the lap before. Anyway, he rode well & I had to give best to him on this occassion.
So all in all a very good weekend.
Got to get to bed earlier and get some exercise now though!
Now the bike`s sorted I can concentrate on going fast.
Can do better yet!
Got to try & get some good results in the dry now!
Cheers
Roy.