posted on July 22, 2010 11:20
Successful changes to the triumph for McAleer
Following on from the improvements which Omagh's 18 year old Nicole McAleer made at Knockhill two weeks ago during the "shoot out" race, McAleer made further improvements this weekend at Snetterton, Norfolk.
Until Knockhill McAleer was struggling to regain her early season form, but in a turnaround this weekend after she had some more work done to help regain her early season confidence in the Triumph 600 Superstock machine, making the machine more comfortable to ride and giving McAleer the confidence to push the bike hard. She was soon on the pace at the fast ex airfield that is Snetterton race track. The teenager was never out of the top thirty during the free practice and qualifiying, eventually putting herself 29th on the grid for the main Metzeler National Superstock 600 race.
When the red lights went out she was held up off the line, but was soon on the pipe and was moving up through the field throughout the 15 laps and by the chequered linen she was delighted to have secured 20th place in a tough and enjoyable race. McAleer said after the race; "I really enjoyed the race, it was a good hard race." It later transpired that McAleer was actually in fact moved up to 19th place when fellow Irish rider, Nikki Coates was disqualified for "cylinder head modification".
McAleer also received the merit award for best rider in class.
McAleer is now hoping to follow up on her Snetterton success in three weeks time at Brands Hatch, the scene of her early success at the beginning of the 2010, she will be hoping to replicate the excellent qualifying she put in on the Brands Hatch "Indy" circuit on the full "International" circuit on the 8th August.
Snetterton
Well what interesting weekened for me and my team. Because there was only 49 entries they put us all out in one group, so it meant there was no shoot-out race and we had one chance to qualify and that was it.
First practice I was 27th doing pretty impressive times, and out of 49 I was happy enough sitting there to be honest. Next was the first qualifying and I finished 29th doing a time of 1.11.8. Our next qualifying was cancelled due to a hole in the track at Russels chicane so they kept the times from the first qualifying, so I was starting from 29th and then someone couldn't race, so I was moved up a row starting from 28th.
Start of the race came, and I didn't get a good start and ended up 32nd first couple of laps and I thought that was me, but I was determined and pushed on. I ended up finishing 19th doing a time of 1.11.2 and an ideal time of a 1.11.0, so i was really chuffed to get such a great result - to qualify first of all as I hadn't qualified since Brands round 1. After the weekend I got a phone call saying I had been awarded the merit rider of the day award from my race result, so I was awarded a free set of tyres.
Overall it was a great weekened for me and I couldn't have done it without the help of all my family, Andy Stone and Andy Williams for providing a great bike and set-up all weekened for me. I couldn't havedone it without their help, and to my sponsors who have put all their faith in me this year even when my results weren't great they kept me going and for that I am very grateful for. Lets look foward to Brands, and another weekend of good results as I will be qualifying.
Cheers, Nicole #69
nicolemcaleer.com