Off once more to yet another tight and twisty piece of tarmac in the middle of nowhere. Reminded me of 3 Sisters in that tight and twisty way. Except this time there was a bit of off roading. OK, just a straight bit of about 30feet (?) to cut a corner before the back straight, but it was some.

Race day started out with the pitter patter of tiny raindrops, but oddly enough, everywhere was still dry afterwards so I left the cut slick on the rear wheel. Group placings were made using the championship positions, so I just scraped into the D group with Joe Smith in the E group.

Practice.

E group went out first, and just as I had started the bike ready to head down to the pit area it started to rain. Hmm, typical. No time to change the tyre so off I went for a slow slither round the track. My first impressions from a walk around the night before were confirmed - very very tight!

Race 1 - D group.

After a quick tyre change to a full wet it was time for race 1. I was placed on the 3rd row from the back for the start, lights went green and I got a good start (wow) and was mid pack by the first corner. Didn't stay there long though and by turn 3 I was pretty near the back. I didn't seem to be losing too much on those in front though, so I kind of got comfy and tried to stay in touch.

The grass section wasn't as bad as I expected, probably becasue we didn't need to change direction while on it, but it was a little tricky getting back onto the tarmac thanks to all the muddy gloop that was getting dragged there.

No real 'moments' which obviously meant I wasn't trying hard enough. Quite a few people fell off ahead of me and were unable to catch up by the flag. So I finished about 7th from the back and stayed in the D group! Yay.

Race 2 - D group

Another grid position towards the back and another reasonable start allowed me to keep with the pack for the first few corners. By this race I was getting a little more confident with the bike and conditions and chased a little harder but couldn't make up much ground. Several people fell off, which was nice and I finished 5th from last and hung on to my D group position.

Race 3 - Group D

Back row start this time, gradually reverting to my normal position. :-) Another reasonable start saw me into the first turn on the inside and in amongst the pack, got a slight push out of the way on the next corner and lost the line and momentum so dropped back a little. Spent the rest of the race keeping station without making any impression on those in front.

Either everyone else had calmed down after lunch, or had adapted to the conditions, but I don't think many people fell off this time which meant I finished 3rd from last and in a relegation spot. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Compared to the morning races, the bike didn't seem as happy and was very jerky on part throttle so I was very wary of opening the throttle coming out of corners as I didn't know what I'd get - bogged down or the 'bars in my face.

Race 4 - Group E

Last race of the day and a front row start. Time to make my previously reasonable starts earn their keep. Sod's law, I didn't hit the start well and was a few places back into the first corner. I seemed to be the same as or better on the brakes in to corners than some others and kept position ok round the corners, but I think mainly due to the poor throttle response I lost ground coming out of the corners.

Anyway, spent most of the race about 4th or 5th from the back I think, just holding off a couple of riders who got close in the twistier bits. But, I stupidly decided I wouldn't be able to get round one corner, so instead of just leaning more and trying, I ran wide and onto the grass which allowed the bloke behind to pass. Got a bit more aggressive at this point and tried to catch up. I was able to make up ground into corners and round the corners, but he'd open a gap on the exits.

I wasn't able to close up enough to make a pass so stayed in that position (4th from back I think) until the flag. Oh well.

Summary

I really must get the engine sorted as I think that is what is costing me time. Well, that and being too tentative generally. I do feel that I don't deserve a D group place just yet as I am not really earning the points by racing for them. Just picking them up when others drop them. Yes, I know, "to finish first, first you have to finish" but given my placings in E group ...

Pictures are here.