Jen Crosby's Racing Blog

Monday May 15, 2006

Brands Race Report (my best weekend yet!!)

Flippin' heck, what a weekend!!!

Arrived at the circuit Thursday evening, where Rob had managed to save us a garage – nice one, you're a star! I unpacked the van and settled down for a chilled evening. Next morning the sun is shining and the forecast promises a hot one, and hot it was! In general practice was going ok – I managed to break my PB lap again, getting low 58 second laps consistently. By lunchtime I was feeling fairly comfortable, but not really getting any quicker, so I spent some time working hard on my lines into Paddock and Graham Hill bends, after some advice from various people. I did one more session after lunch, and then decided to call it a day, conscious that I didn't want to tire myself out too much. I got the bike scrutineered, and then had a nice chilled out evening, with an early night, ready to race the next day.

So Saturday morning...the 15 minute practice had gone ok. I'd been riding pretty steadily (read: slowly) trying to scrub some new tyres in, and after 2 or 3 laps Lisa passed me which encouraged me to tag on to her and give chase. We had a great little battle, overtaking a few times and it got my race head properly on my shoulders.

And suddenly I'm heading out for my race. I'm 7^th on the grid, despite being only 8^th in the championship, as one of the riders ahead of me can't make this round. Even stranger is that the places on the row in front of me are empty due to some unexpected problems for their occupants. So I've got clear track ahead of me... The flag guy points his flag at the lights indicating for us to watch them for the start. They come on...and for some reason I go! Too early!!! A major jumpstart – I knew I'd done it, but it was too late to do anything about it so I throttled off a little, allowing Gary, the guy in pole to get to the first corner before me. After that I figured there was nothing else for it but to try and put in the best laps I could to try and lessen the impact of the inevitable 10 second penalty I was going to get for that! I got round the first lap or so in 2^nd, before being overtaken at Druids by Rob Pragnell. He'd gone round the outside and cut my nose off a bit so I'd had to brake mid corner which was a little scary both for me and for Greg Pearson who was right behind me!! I held onto him for a few more laps, trying to be smooth and consistent everywhere but halfway through the race Greg came flying past on the brakes at my obvious weak spot – Druids again. I tucked in behind and none of the 3 ahead were getting away, but I couldn't get myself close enough to make any passes. I crossed the line in 4^th which I was massively pleased about, but with that jumpstart I knew I'd probably go backwards once the penalty had been applied.

Once I pulled back into the pits I was told there'd been a huge gap between us front 4 and the guys behind – probably enough for me to hold 4^th even with the 10 seconds added! And sure enough when I saw the results sheet, that was the case. I'd managed a 12 second gap between me and 5^th! Even better was after all those 58s in practice, I'd managed a 56.559 best lap!  I couldn't believe it!!

So, next race would be a front row start – something I'd not had since the random grid at the start of the season. The only slight downside (if there could be one!) is that it's on the inside, not ideal for Paddock Hill. This time I waited for the lights to go out before taking off  and made an ok start. The first corner wasn't too hairy and I crossed the line for the first time in 3^rd place. Managed to hold it there for a while, but yet again got out braked out at Druids by Rob Pragnell. My old demon of getting tired in the afternoon races returned, and I could feel my laps getting slower. I kept braking earlier and earlier!! I was hoping I'd managed to gap the guys behind me again, enough to allow me to get away with my slower laps, and it would seem I did as I crossed the line in 4^th again – although looking at the results they were catching me very quickly, so I'm lucky the race finished when it did!

Wow – two 4^th places – how chuffed was I? My best finish prior to that was a 4^th, but it was in the wet and kinda strange conditions. This time I'd done it on a dry track, fair and square. I couldn't believe it really, I've always believed Brands to be a tough track to get good results on due to there often being local specialists, so I was shocked to have got such good results. And I was so pleased with my lap times!

That evening Loz, Nige, Greg, John and I popped out to get some more petrol for the bike, and stopped at a very nice chippy to get some food. John and I went up to the bar for some socialising before turning in at around 10.45.

So, I knew Sunday morning's race would be my best chance of a pot – I always seem to be quicker in the morning, so I had my race head well and truly on. I went out in the 3 lap practice to get my eye in a little and practice Druids and Clearways where I knew I had problems. The race was upon me in a flash, and I sat on the front row of the grid contemplating my start... We all shot off the line – a pretty good start from the whole front row and I managed to get myself into 2^nd as we got to the bottom of the hill. I'd ridden past Greg in the first corner, and I knew full well he'd be looking to take advantage of my weak spot at Druids. Annoyingly I didn't think quick enough, and left a whole world of room up the inside for him to take, and true to form he did just that. Not only that but Rob Pragnell got me round the outside again!! I was absolutely determined not to let them get away this time – I knew I could stick with them and pass, so I got on the power hard and early out of Druids and threw myself into the corner at Graham Hill. It worked – I got excellent drive out of the bend and hurtled past Greg on the exit – one down! Rob was just ahead, but I'd got such good drive out of the left that I knew I could get past him into Surtees. I dived up the inside of him, and made it stick. I was in 2^nd! As soon as I'd passed them both I thought – great! - now they'll have each other to battle with, and hopefully I'll be able to get away. I could see Gary, the race leader up ahead, but there was quite a bit of a gap, so rather than fixating on trying to catch him, I thought it would be better to just try and put in really consistent laps, making no mistakes, so I didn't get passed again. So that's what I did...apparently behind me there was quite a battle, and Greg had at some point lined me up into Graham Hill, but unfortunately overcooked it on the brakes and went wide, losing a few places  I was actually catching Gary up ahead of me, but there wasn't enough laps left, but I couldn't believe it when I crossed the line in 2^nd place!!! Words can't describe – honestly. I was punching the air and crying in my lid – what a race!! What a buzz!! All my crowd were cheering for me as I came back round on the cool down lap and I could barely breathe as I got my bike back into the garage. It was totally unbelievable.

Well the only way to top that would be to go for a win in the next race, but I knew it would be a much tougher race. For one, afternoons are never my strong point when it comes to racing. Second, I knew that Greg and Rob weren't going to let me get away easily at all. Third, Toby was back in the race. He'd had a crash on Saturday morning, and couldn't get back out for the afternoon race, so had started from the back Sunday morning and worked his way up the pack. I knew as long as he made a good start for the second race he'd be right on my tail – I knew his laptimes would be good. Out on the grid and the lights go out – I got a bit mugged off the start and ended up with three riders ahead of me straight away. Shouting at myself in my lid I tried to focus on hanging onto the back which I did for a good few laps. Then I got passed yet again into Druids (I really have to sort that out ). After that it all went a bit backwards...I got passed by Bob Turner first, then in the last but one lap Toby came flying past. I tried desperately to get past again, and was right on his tail the whole lap, but he got the better of me and crossed the line in front. Top ride from both Bob and Toby though! I was really, really pleased for Toby too, after such a rubbish weekend prior to that race, he really deserved to do well.

Lap times, well I managed to knock even more time off, narrowly missing getting into the 55s, with a best lap of the weekend of 56.027 in the final lap of the final race chasing Toby. So close!

So with me on a massive high after a superb weekend, we got all packed to go as we had to leave early to get Greg to the airport for a flight. Just as we were about to leave Greville came and told me I'd been called to race admin... I was a little worried as usually that means you're in trouble – and I hadn't heard the tannoy announcement so I didn't know what was going on. We drove down to the office and I was hugely surprised when I was awarded Rookie of the Day!! I get £100 to spend with Alan Russell (who sells all kinds of nice things for my bike, so I'll be treating her to something special!). What a way to top it all off!! 

As it happened out whole garage had a good weekend. Greville ran some incedible races – absolute edge-of-seat stuff, and after a hard fought final race finally brought in a win in the the last race of the day. Rob got his first points finishing a fantastic 14^th, and also smashed his PB lap getting into the 54s. Conrad also did the same, having some great tussles in the Clubman 600 and bagging his first ever 52 second lap! I should also mention Kat, who crashed at Paddock Hill in the first race and has hurt her foot pretty badly – but she was absolutely flying before that and should be very proud of herself with those laptimes! Also a big well done to Deb Cartwright with 2 pots for the Clubman shootout for top 400 runner.

I'm sure there's load of other people I've forgotton to mention, it's gets tricky when there's so many people you know in the paddock!! I owe a massive thanks to everyone for all the support, cheering, and help I got all weekend, you're all amazing. Especially big thanks to Conrad, Rob, Greville, Loz, Nige, John; Tim Jones for some excellent advice, and of course Greg for everything, I couldn't do it without you guys!!

I can't believe it's so long until the next race – not until mid July! I'm definitely looking for more pots though, it feels great to have finally done it, and I want more!

( May 15 2006, 08:38:12 AM GMT+00:00 )

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