Hi all, it is that time again for another update on my racing adventures. I hope you enjoy the read as this round was possibly my best one yet. Two days packed with many highs and a few lows, this is my story. Round 4 of the Aprilia RRV450GP and Doodson Supertwins championships were held at the picturesque Oulton park in Cheshire known for its rapidly steep cambering and daring corners, a very technical circuit indeed. The sun was beaming strongly all the way through the weekend making for perfect racing conditions.
Friday testing got under way, and as Oulton Park is a short two day event Thundersport GB were only able to squeeze in three twenty minute sessions per championship, this doesn't leave much time to nail down the challenges of this circuit, but hey, it is the same for everyone. We got under way but not quite the way I had planned. Two laps into the first session my clutch cable popped out forcing me to pit, but thankfully Chris Tagg was at hand to sort it out for me and get me back on track for the final 5 minutes. With little luck in the second session I tipped off in the closing stages of the session due to oil that had been dropped and un noticed until three riders fell on it including me. The final session I managed to have a clean one, prior to heading into Qualifying sessions, which also definitely didn't go the way I had planned.
In the Doodson Supertwins I qualified in 9th place and in the RRV450GP I qualified 12th, in both instances some 3.5 seconds off the pace. I have shown that this year I can run with the best and even have a lap record to my name at Donington Park. Struggling to find the cause of my problem we made a few changes during Friday night, including a new clutch pack which Ian Newton kindly helped me to fit. With a new gear ratio also to test in the morning warm up sessions the following day. It was disappointing to find that we still lacked pace. It is not a nice feeling and confusing when you feel you are pushing as hard as I always do.
Race one, Doodson Supertwins approached and with still no answers to why I was struggling, we then made use of a calculator to fathom the gearing ratio’s and made a further change, which was heavily persuaded by Chris Moore my suspension expert. It sure didn't let me down, gaining a great start I bumped and barged through the grid into 6th place and sat behind Will Hodgson, who was setting a good pace and we closed in on 3rd and 4th positions. I then managed to make my moves and forced my way in to 3rd place and maintained it to the finish line, after a very hairy last lap with Will who did not wish to give up a potential podium position. To my surprise we had gone from three seconds adrift of pole position to being awarded the Supertwins Lap record in the race. A big sigh of relief for my dad and I, we had now found the pace that I always knew I could run.
Race one of the RRV450GP, I think is possibly the best I had ever ridden. A strong start and forceful first few laps saw me up in to third place and on the tail of the front two riders. Tom Oliver was leading and set a very good pace which enabled the Top three to break away from the following pack. I momentarily took second from Callan Cooper, who reacted straight away and passed me again, before putting the hammer down even more and upping the pace. I started to make mistakes midway through the race, but I told myself to calm down and get into a rhythm. I then passed Oliver on the penultimate lap and put in my best effort to hunt down Cooper. At the final corner of the final lap I passed Cooper around the outside to take the lead and I maintained it across the line. My first ever RRV450GP win and my favourite win that I have experienced. I was so happy with my performance, the way I managed my race and how I took the win. And not only that I also took the RRV450GP lap record on the final lap. Perfect!
The Second Doodson Supertwins race saw me again finish across the line in third place after an epic battle between, Will Hodgson, Joe Ravenscroft and myself. Great close racing!
Unfortunately my second RRV450GP race was taken to a premature halt on the first lap as I tipped off on the first lap due to losing my focus for a split second, which ended up in me making a silly mistake. This crash did not do me any favours as this race was worth double points, but I really can't grumble as it turned out to be one amazing weekend, and I didn’t lose any positions in the championship table.
After this race weekend I am still third place within the Aprilia RRV450GP championship and I am currently leading the Doodson Supertwins championship. I am really proud of myself, and what I have achieved so far this season. and I look to continue my progress as the season continues. I learnt a lot about myself this weekend as it was very much two days of character building. Chris, dad and I just calmly got on with the job of finding three seconds in perfect harmony! Dad, I know my racing comes before your own; thanks, and sorry for the lightning fast rear shock removal between warm up’s to alter the ride height, it did not work out, but you have to try, don’t you?
I hope you have enjoyed my race report and it has motivated you to want to get a feel for the passion we all have in the racing paddock by coming along to my next round held at Snetterton on the 22nd-24th of June.
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