Thundersport GB Round 2 - Donington Park GP

Well the second round came up on us very quickly. Unfortunately having to miss the first round due to costs, the start of our season was always going to be at Thundersport GB's second round, at the famous Donington Park GP circuit.

In glorious sunshine we rolled up on Wednesday afternoon to setup and test the bike for the first time on UK soil on a No Limits track day on Thursday, with Friday being used as prep time before the race weekend.

Test day
Thursday was foggy, and while the day got under way on time, i pulled in after one sighting lap as you literally couldn't see the corner when you were slowing down for it. It was too dangerous to ride. By the time session two came, the sun was burning through the fog and setting the day up to be a scorcher!

In Spain, with high speed corners and the flowing nature of Almeria, i had got to grips with the Honda extremely well, but in the UK, with less mid corner speed, i was having trouble keeping the front wheel down. The exits were seeing some monumental wheelies through three gears sometimes. I spent the day working on my mid corner speed and throttle application on exits, together with body position and minimising excess weight transfer to combat the wheelies.

Along with that, i worked on my gearing and found time there, but had some issues with the rear tyre tearing. A problem that would later be resolved. By the end of the day, i was 0.44 seconds off my 600cc PB. I was confident that i was not pushing, and knew that i was riding the 1000cc machine like a 600cc still. Something that is so natural to me, and something i am continually working on.

Friday prepping
The day off saw the bike getting some work. Prepping it for technical inspection and the weekend ahead, this was also the first time the bike had been dressed in orange. I have to say, it is one of the best looking bikes I've ever seen!! Almost too nice to crash!! Massive thanks need to go out to some great sponsors who have put a lot of time and effort into making 'Pepé' look so great! Brian Bates & Mick McKillop at Bates Car and Commercial for the amazing paintwork, and Rich Howes at Signs Express Lincoln for all the graphics.























Saturday Qualifying & Race 1
Saturday was even worse than the previous two days for fog, and with a 12:30pm start because of this, meant the schedule was very tight. With a best time of 1:41.60 in testing, we were aware that this was nowhere near good enough if we wanted to be at the sharp end. First flying lap i looked down to the lap timer to see a 1:39.80, 1.5 seconds faster than I'd ever lapped Donington Park. I was already happy! I put a few more laps in improving my entry speeds and ended up with a 1:38.472, putting first in the Superstock 1000 class and 11th overall.

This was unexpected i guess. I had spent the previous 4 months wondering if moving to the 1000cc class was the right move, and previous few weeks thinking about the racing, not knowing if I'd be at the front, in the middle, or at the back. It was a great weight of my shoulders to know for sure that the bike was working well and i was able to lap competitively.

The race on Saturday was shortened to 7 laps and was run almost in the dark! Thundersport GB were up against it after the fog stopped play for 4 hours in the morning, and did a great job to get everyone out. The race was going to give me my first race start on the bike, and while it wasn't great, i got away with everyone and made it up the inside of a few guys into the first corner. I soon got into a rhythm and was back into the 38's. Following the smooth lines of James Folkard, who was there to test his Ducati 848 before mounting his Assault on the one make series, i built some consistency into the laps and eventually passed him. Ben Scranage was next in line, after previously passing me on the brakes into the Foggy Esses. I was quicker in a couple of spots, but at the time, didn't know he was in the Stock 1000 class, and knowing i was on the podium already, i half thought about a pass into the last corner, but the other half didn't want to cause (not my first, or even second) T bone. I looked at a pass, but messed it up and ran on at the very last corner of the race, securing his victory i was later to find out, but also putting me in second position in Stock 1000, and 11th overall.























Sunday Races 2 & 3
Lesson learned you could say. I now knew exactly who Ben Scranage was. He beat me fair and square, and was championship leader. I met him on the stairwell to the media suite after the race and had the usual post race chat! I also found out that while i was trying not to T bone him into the last corner, he was tipping in, praying not to be T boned, as his pit board had said +0 for the previous few laps, so he knew i was there!

Anyway, the races on Sunday were again in brilliant sunshine. I'd been bumped down one spot on the grid by James Folkard due to his faster lap time, but this put me on the inside line. I got away better this time and made some spots up straight away, then just got into a rhythm. Scranage passed me on the brakes into the Esses once more, but i kept close and a couple of laps later made a pass and managed to get a BMW in between us, then got my head down and made a gap. By the end of the race i brought it home in front, winning my first ever Thundersport race, in my second ever 1000cc race. To say i was happy was an understatement! A cool down lap of (average - I'm still learning!) wheelies and back to Park ferme and the podium. It was a special moment for me and one I'll never forget!

The final race was very similar, in that, i had a good start and made places, but on lap 1 through Hollywood, James Folkard passed me and was on a mission. Fair play to him on his under powered 848, he got his head down with the next group and headed off into the distance on his way to getting the lap record. By the end of the race, his record was only 0.3 quicker than my fastest lap in the race, but he was on it from the start and had a massive gap come the end of the race. I had Alex Heaton ahead of me, but an engine that expired put him out. Over the laps, Scranage passed me and for the first time ever i spoke in my helmet. For some reason, i shouted 'push push push' through Craner, after a momentary thought of 'just get it to the end'. I pushed, and ended up passing someone else before Scranage, putting myself back on the podium for a result of 3rd place, and a new PB of 1:36:775.



































Summary
This first round of 2012 for me, was the best weekend racing I've ever had. I confirmed a long time dream of getting back on a Honda chassis and riding quick again, after a difficult year on a Yamaha. Despite thinking I'd done the right thing, until this weekend, there was always that doubt, that what if, and this was the point where i knew I'd done the right thing. I exceeded every single expectation, from qualifying, to confidence on the bike, results, and lap times.

Since my first Thundersport round back in 2010, getting a podium in this club had been as far as I'd thought in terms of goals. That was the pinnacle. I have now done it and got three, including a win. It's funny inside the brain of a racer, never being satisfied with a result, yet being over the moon at the same time. It's difficult to explain. Coming second and Third, i was delighted, but i was also angry i didn't win! I guess if i wasn't angry with those, i may as well give up. I want to win! Immediately, my goals changed. I have new goals and aims to keep me improving.


None of this would have been possible without the support of a lot of people. From the obvious, my Parents, I've got everything to thank them for, not least, letting me still live at home so i can fund my racing! My Auntie Ali and the rest of my family. Paul cooper, Claire Myler, Stacy Joyner, and Rachael Whitehead kept me and the bike fed, watered, prepared, calm, ready, and eager. Then Ryan Myler, Ryan Peters and Sam Ludgate for their support and help as brilliant mates and fellow racers.

Brian & Mick @ www.batescarcommercialburnley.co.uk, thanks once again for the head turning bike, and Rich @ Signs Express Lincoln for the awesome graphics that finish it off.

Ryan @ www.moto-racespares.com, Tony @ www.Shorrocks.co.uk, Gennaro @ www.metaltechracing.com, and Ian @ www.pipewerx.com have kept the bike running and sounding sweet, and kept me kitted out in great gear.

There are too many people to thank really! So many people have helped me get there. It's a great start to the year, now sitting second in the championship and wishing i could have afforded to make it to the first round at Brands Hatch, as who knows how the standings would have looked if i raced there. I have a great team around me and we will all do our best to continue how we have started.

As always, racing is extremely expensive. I want to push for this championship, which means good rubber. If you would like to help out in any way to give us every chance of being right at the sharp end at the end of the season, please get in touch. Maybe you would like to help with the costs of tyres or entry fees, fuel for the bike or maybe travel costs to the races, everything helps, and with tickets and hospitality, advertising space on the bike and/or leathers, together with promotion and exposure online, on Motors TV and I-player, there are many options in which we could work together.

Many thanks to Phil Gale for the Photography.

Mallory next!

bongo