AMY O'MARA (AUS): Australian Formula Xtreme #04, Wakefield

Formula Xtreme Championship - Round 4 - Wakefield Park - NSW - Sept 2010

What a weekend full of ups and downs... The weather on Friday for practice day was left to be desired, freezing cold and pouring rain, before the heavens opened up I managed to squeeze one session in on the R1 and about four laps on the R6 so I wasn't really prepared for Saturday morning qualifying. Blessed with sunshine on Saturday made qualifying a whole lot more enjoyable than the last time I rode at the track so I was pumped.

Saturday. It was back to back races for me as the 1000cc class was directly after the 600s so it was going to be a rush in between to change bikes, take a deep breath and go back out there with my lady to battle with the boys. I qualified 11th in the 600s class which I was very happy with - top ten is always a place I aim to be - I then went straight out to qualify 9th in the Formula oz class. The first race of the 600s proved to have its downfall as I had a slight altercation when I tried to make an inside overtaking move on another rider, I didn't make the turn and I went down and accidently took him with me. My bike and I looked like we had been motor crossing after I picked her up off the ground - covered in mud. The throttle was stuck on so I couldn't finish the race so it was a race back to the pits to go straight out into the Formula Oz class. I managed to finish that race in 9th, first time around Wakefield Park on her so I was happy with my result. The 600 wasn't fixed in time for the second race so I had to sit it out and finally the third race came around and I was ready again - I had to start from the rear of the grid due to not finishing the previous race so I spent the race trying to catch up to everyone! The second and third race of the day went smoothly on the 1000 but I'm still finding my feet on her to get confident enough to use all her power!

Sunday. I was a little stiff from Saturdays crash which had me feeling less agile than usual, qualifying on the 600cc was a bit disappointing at 13th but the 1000 again was a good result in 9th. The first race for the 600 was entertaining for some bystanders on the wall. I think I gave everyone on pit wall a scare as I managed to ride through a massive tank slap - I had never endured this before but I was well aware that if you do encounter such an uncomfortable experience there is the chance it can dislodge your brake pads - so yes there I was flying into the first turn with no brakes!!! I quickly rolled off the throttle and had to pump them up again, this in turn let the field of riders race off into the distance. My result in  that race was terrible! By the last race we found out that the 600 had a lot of water leaking from her in the pits due to a mechanical issue and was unsafe to ride so she was done for the day. It was back on the 1000 for the last race for the weekend and she definitely left a smile on my face, I came 9th overall for the weekend in the Formula Oz Class. I actually ended up with a faster lap time on the new 1000 rather than my trusty R6 that I thought I was so comfortable on. Anyway... A short break then the last round for the series is on at my home track Eastern Creek 30-31st Oct  - yay!!!!!!! Love the Creek J

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