WSB Round 2 @ Donington! Stocksport 600

I decided to enter the Thundersport GB Superstock/Stocksport 600 support race at Round 2 of the World Superbikes Championship at Donington park at the start of March. I thought if you have an opportunity and you don't take it, you're a fool, so i filled out the forms and got it all in the post.

The first round of the Thundersport season earlier in the month taught me an awful lot, amongst other things, the importance of qualifying, and a good start, both of which i kind of lacked at Mallory!

Thursday saw us all roll up to a very dusty TSGB paddock, just to the side of the main WSB paddock. Myself, Ryan Myler #99 and Sam Ludgate #101, all set up together near, throwing distance from Redgate, the first corner of the track.

Friday Practice & Qualifying
Friday was practice for all the riders there. From the Aprilia Superteens to the World superbikes. We had a 15 minute practice in the morning to get used to the track. I was fortunate enough to have spent the previous Saturday at the track learning it all again after almost 30 months away from the place.

It was a very sunny day, almost too hot to be in leathers! Lapping at a similar pace to the week before, on old tyres i was happy enough that i could push more once i had some new rubber in, so didn't risk much in the practice. We spent most of the day then waiting to qualify, and watching some of the others out on track.

Qualifying was 20 minutes, and i went out on a new soft rear tyre, steadily building my pace, with times dropping over the 14 laps i rode. I came in with a time 3 seconds quicker than my PB, in 15th position on the grid for the races. Out of 33, and with a healthy amount of National Superstock and British supersport riders in the field i was more than happy with this. Middle of Row 4.

Saturday Warm up & Race 1
It was as if we had flown to another country overnight. Still dry, but bitterly cold on Saturday morning. We were out at 9am for a 10 minute warm up. The track was dry, but extremely cold track temperature meant that my soft rear tyre came close to completely destroying itself i the 5 slow laps. I decided to swap the rear for a medium compound tyre.

We raced in the afternoon, and the track had warmed up slightly. The lights went out and i didn't get a bad start, although the first corner saw me be a bit too safe! I lost a few places as i was blocked in amongst the pack, but as the grid spread out through Craner curves i tried to get into some sort of rhythm. I'd never raced round Donington before and to be in that first lap with so many good riders was brilliant! Under Starky's bridge and through to Coppice was so busy with riders. I'm not sure if i hit an apex for a lap or two! On the first lap, i braked for Foggy esses, and as i blipped the throttle for the three down changes, nothing blipped. My brake lever pulled in way further than normal. I'd put new pads in and cleaned the calipers. I hadn't bled the brake which proved to be a mistake. With the back wheel locking and chattering i ran on slightly and totally messed up my line into the chicane, and with five or six riders passing me then, I had a difficult race ahead of me.

I lapped in the 1:41's which was on par with my qualifying time. I came in 18th place after the 8 laps. I guess every time i ride i want to finish higher than where i started. I didn't manage this in the first race so it was a definite aim for race 2.

In between races i bled the front brake to alleviate the issue i had with the brake pulling to the bar. The hand position when the brake pulled in made it hard for me to blip the throttle when i wanted. It only took a lap to get used to it, but it needed sorting.

Sunday, Race 2
Sunday was the day of the second and final race for the Thundersport 600s. We had the whole day before we were out, so with no warm up, i tried to get a good nights sleep. Sam Ludgate (#101), mate and mortal enemy, on a 675, made sure i couldn't get a lie in, smashing pans together at my ear in the morning!

I spent much of the day around the track, watching WSB and WSS races, just trying to see different overtaking points, what was working for them etc, and also just taking in my first WSB weekend I've been to.

Saturday night, I'd been chatting with Ryan Myler (#99) about the start and the first corner. With the confidence of racing that you seem to find in your head when sat safe in a caravan, we decided what we wanted to do the next day, and the conversation quickly deteriorated to things less sensible. 18 hours later, at 16:10 on Sunday, we were gridding up, straight after the WSB race 2.

I was once again in my 15th place on the grid. The lights came on, revs went up and found the bite point on the clutch. As the lights dropped, i fed the clutch and got the best start I'd ever got. I passed the whole of the row in front of me and entered the first corner in the top ten. A few of the people now behind me where able to lap faster than me, and i knew this, so i just settled into my race and tried to put together some good laps. Nicole McAleer passed me after a couple of laps and i tried to get a tow for as long as possible.

I had a good race with Curtis Rothwell on his Triumph. He passed me with two laps to go into the loop on the brakes, and i followed him, watching where i was stronger. I lost both wheels around Goddards at one point and only by luck put it on my knee and somehow got it back upright, only to do the exact same the very next corner. I've only ever done this once before where I've completely lost the grip at full lean and saved it, and then twice in two corners!

As the last lap flag flew, i weighed up a pass on the brakes into the first corner, but decided against it. I knew i was strong through Craner, so passed him on the outside on the left through craner after getting a good run through Hollywood. I put a good lap in and ended up taking a solid 15th place.

Top 15 was my goal and i was extremely happy with achieving it. Of course, I'm a racer, and until I'm winning i won't be satisfied, but I am realistic and know that it doesn't happen overnight, and without hard work. The weekend highlighted some weaknesses within my riding that want to work on, and i learned the bike even more. I left Donington happy with my progress and happy with my riding, with new goals and aims, and more ideas and motivation to help me for the next time i ride.

I'd like to thank everyone that helped over the weekend, without whom i wouldn't have been able to do it. My Parents, Paul Cooper, Ryan @ Moto-racespares.com, Pipewerxbikes.com, Rich Howes @ Signs Express Lincoln, Claire Domoney, Rachel Whitehead and John Burr. Thanks for everyones support. I'd also like to thanks Ryan and Sam, for another great weekend. When we're out there, we're racing each other and will do what it takes to beat each other, but off the track, we're always bouncing ideas off each other about set up, what we're doing out there etc. It's nice to race your mates and not forget why we're there!

Next stop, Thundersport round 2 @ Donington Park National circuit!

More soon, bongo #177