posted on July 31, 2010 22:31
24th & 25th July 2010 CROFT. North East.
I was extremely excited for Croft as it is an amazing track and we have only been down once before. We travelled down on the Friday as there wasn't any practices for us as there were cars on track so we couldn't get in the pits until 5. Which was perfect because we arrived around half 4.
We got a garage so unpacked and got everything ready for the Saturday morning as I would be going straight into a warm up. Once everything was set up I decided to go for a cycle round the track on my uni-cycle. I was determined to finish all three circuits I've been to. (Knockhill and East Fortune I have allready done). I got to Sunny out and my foot pedal fell off. I was gutted. So I decided to leave it for one night and try again on Saturday night.
Practice GP: It was semi-warm and dry and I forgot just how MEGA-fast Croft was. We tried a tooth shorter to help me get out of the corners. I decided on my second lap that I really didn't like the last hairpin. It was so awkward and grrr. :O We also decided to put a bit of tape on the radiator and put another bit of tape in reach so I could tear it off if my bike got too hot. Unfortunately it didn't plan out so good as the black tape we used got stuck to the radiator. So we had to try out another method.
Practice Aprilia: I gave my bike a good wee run. I enjoyed it as I was behind another 125 rider and got a good feel for the pace I would need. :)
Qualifying GP: Went alright as I was on row F (6th row). The gearing was good, but I was still disappointed as I knew I could go faster, and I was a couple of rows behind the leaders. :( I was looking forward to the races though. :D
Qualifying Aprilia: Was fun and I ended up 2nd on the grid, which I was chuffed with.
Race1 GP: I was mega excited, and was sitting on the grid ready to go and I was too busy watching the clocks in front of me I was left standing as the lights went off. I had a lot of catching up to do. So I tried really hard to be aggressive and it worked as I passed four on my first lap. I got stuck behind two big bikes that were annoying me just a wee bit. I eventually passed them and got a gap. It was suddenly getting roasty-toastie hot (as Stacey and I would say) hehe. It was a long eight laps and I was loving every lap even though I was roasting.
Race1 Aprilia: I got new tyres so I was really excited. I got a belter of a start and I knew it was going to be a long 6-lapper. I could almost feel the rider breathing on me we were so close. It came to the last lap and I was riding defensively until he managed to squeeze up my inside at the last turn. He ran a little wide and I managed to breath in just enough to out-drag him up to the finishing line. :D I was mega chuffed as that rider races up the front in the Superteens along with another racer I have beaten. :) On the downside my bike was running at 61°C which is just a little too high.
Race 2 GP: It was a little breezy but it was a good weee breeze. :) I got a MUCH better start since I was paying attention this time. Hehe. I was with Stuart [Wilson] for a bit until I missed a gear at the hairpin and dropped back. I had a good fight with Crichton [Campbell] and managed to beat him to the line. :) Fun fun fun.
Race 2 Aprilia: I got an ok start and wasn't able to pull in the small gap the rider made on me. So it wasn't such an exciting race but I still enjoyed it.
On Saturday night we were all busy at work stripping and re-building my GP bike and my Aprilia. After we had finished I got on my uni-cycle again and started making my way round the track - but it was really rainy and I couldn't concentrate as Stacey was walking behind me blethering. Ha. So as the racing doesn't start till half 12 at Croft on a Sunday, I decided to get up and do it in the morning.
Sunday I woke up and it was hot. So I got on my uni-cycle and made my way round the track. My legs started to hurt as I crossed the finishing line. I was so pleased with myself!
Race1 GP: I got an ok start but with about five laps to go the red flag went out. So it was going to be a five lap dash to the line. I got a worse start for the re-start but bike by bike I made my way to Crichton. I managed to pass him and on the last lap he came alongside me but then the red flag went out again. So that was the race finished.
Race1 Aprilia: I got a reasonably good start and led the race until the last lap when my opponent came up my inside at one corner. I was surprised as he never tried passing me anytime before. I was rather gutted but it was a good race.
Race 2 GP: My start was quite disappointing,but somehow I managed to follow Stuart and use the outside line and overtake quite a few bike on the second righthander. We were struggling to put a gap on the big bikes, as they are faster than us on the straights. I tried to stick behind Stuart but when he got stuck so did I. I enjoyed battling with the big bikes though.
Race2 Aprilia: It was my last race at Croft and I wanted to make it a good one. I got a good start and was leading for the whole race until on the last lap I felt that my shadow had disappeared and as I came over the start and finish line my dad and everyone were trying to tell me to slow down. I got confused until I turned and saw no bikes at all. So I presumed that the rider behind me had fallen off but I couldn't see him. I crossed the line1st. :)
I had a great weekend at Croft. :D A BIG thankyou to all who helped out. (Pam for my mushrooms) And a mega huge thankyou to the the marshals for making me Sunday's rider of the day.
teamtasker.co.uk