Freak's Oulton Park DD race report

[Freak]

Well Oulton Park was upon us again, our local track literally within walking distance and one I know very well, but only having one round so far this year and feeling decidedly slow there I wanted the OP round to be in July/August when I would hopefully be back upto speed but it's the same for everyone I guess.

We were booked on a trackday on Friday to hopefully bridge that gap somewhat, plus allow me to concentrate on a few corners where I knew I was slow, I had also refitted my lap timer so I could see if the times would improve and also run them consistently. The day however proved to be difficult with an intermittent electrical gremlin on my bike which caused it to cut out randomly, lots of red flags (stoppages due to crashers on track) and in the afternoon a lengthy downpour, my best time was a whopping 11 seconds slower than my race times from last year.... I was struggling and didn't know how to address the problems.

Saturday however soon arrived and the sun was out... yippee!! I arrived back at the circuit to be greeted by Bob and Viv and the bikes were looking good, Claire was also doing SoT whilst I had also entered the SV class to get more track time and also more races and that ever important race start.

Luckily for me and as it turned out most of the DD field (as they had entered the SV class also) the qualifying for SV's was directly before the DD qualifying, this had two positives for me being more track time and being surrounded by similar bikes so able to hopefully stick with them and find the time I was losing, but probably more important was warming my tyres ready for the DD qualifying. SV qualifying went great, really good, the times had dropped (again on the lap timer) and I was running within a second of last years times instantly... I was back in the zone finally. DD qualifying came but I was feeling a bit pooped if I'm being honest and I'd strained my groin on a right hander somewhere, but DD qualifying began and I pulled the pin for me at least, made some passes instantly to get some clear track and try and follow the faster boys, most memorable was the pass at druids on Rattler, I felt it was a bit hard for qualifying but I had druids nailed and I had to pass to keep my pace going (I did apologise to Tim later and no hard feelings). I'd ended up 6th (same as last year) but quicker than last year I was over the moon.

Confidence was high(er) and our first DD race soon arrived, my groin was really giving me some grief by now but there wasn't anything I could do to ease the pain I kept telling myself it was six laps that's all six laps. It was also nice to actually be able to see a clear track apart from the row in front for a change, the lights went out and I'd got a better start than usual and entered the first corner probably about 10th and managed to pass one or two on the exit down to cascades where I tried to go wide and around the outside of the someone, but like Mallory I ended up on the kerbs and on the grass... d'oh so I lost a place or two instantly, the next lap or two were a blur but I remember diving up the inside of Rattler at the hairpin and pushing hard to catch the leaders, I could see Andy Shep and Tim (Otei) dicing and swapping paint in front of me, this continued for the race distance both Andy and Tim were 50 yards or so in front and I would gain on them into the hairpin but then they would pull those gained yards back over the rest of the lap, I was praying for the last lap flag as I was so tired and my groin was killing me eventually it was waved and I made sure I was inch perfect over the last lap still not knowing if someone was right up my chuff, I exited lodge and Andy was on the floor but OK so I gained a place and eventually finished 7th, I was happy, relieved, and more importantly I'd managed to go 3 seconds quicker than last year, and finally felt I was racing again.

Upon getting back to the garage it soon became apparent the brakes were cooked so Bob set about inspecting them and the pads were on their last legs, luckily I had some spares... well MartinH's spares so threw those in (thanks Martin) but these were a completely different pad and also not bedded in with my discs, it was decided I would out in the first SV race to bed them in and also have another practice race start. The plan was to do 2-3 laps and come in.

The SV race soon came and the lights dropped and I had a great start but the clutch was slipping so gained then instantly lost lots of places... Grrrr! The brakes were really juddering and making an awful noise, I was worried and the bike felt really unstable on the brakes so stepped back mentally to just concentrate on bedding the pads not racing, I did a lap like this then the mysterious electrical gremlins from Friday re-appeared and I limped back to the pits, the brakes stunk and Bob again inspected the brakes whilst I tinkered with the loom not really knowing what to look for, Bob rerouted part of the loom and also found a suspect dodgy connector but we were all unsure if it was the fix or not. I didn't intend to go out in the 2nd SV race as I would be too tired but it was directly before our second DD race so I had to make sure the bike was running fine and the brakes were sorted for the race that mattered, also it occured to me that I'd have warm tyres ready for the DD race so mentally (placebo affect) I was prepared.

The 2nd SV race was better, better start the clutch didn't slip and the electrical gremlin didn't re-surface, the brakes felt better too, so after 3 laps I came in and a quick splash of fuel from Bob and a quick guzzle of water from Viv I was back in the holding area ready for the main event.

DD Race 2 - the warm up lap was glorious, decked out knee down really confident and really up for it once back on the grid, the lights went out and one or two passed me on the drag to old hall but I tipped across a few at old hall also to block their progress, I recall going round the outside of Nick at old hall which lined me up for the inside at cascades and I was past and away, I chased a few others down and after a lap or two the front four had gone and I was on the back of Tim (Otei) I'd sussed I must of been 6th (my highest ever placing) and I could see 5th place 10 yards in front of me, I made some feable attempts at passing Tim early on but he covers his lines really well, I don't know if it was intentional knowing someone was behind or he rides that was naturally we haven't shared much track together so it was all new for both of us. Again I knew I was quick and could go quicker at druids and I was on his back wheel all the way around and tried to slipstream up the inside into lodge on one lap and the next on the outside, I'd also made a few attempts and cascades which eventually paid dividends, as soon as I went through I pulled the pin I knew Tim wasn't going to let this go easily, so I rode like I stole it and again hoped for the last lap flag, but I had 2-3 laps before the agony was over, I could see the lead four but there was no way I was going to catch them so 5th was the best I could hope for and those last laps really dragged, I looked over my shoulder several times and I could see him a few seconds back, I started to make a few mistakes due to fatigue but I crossed the line to take my highest race finish of 5th place!

It was a great feeling to come from Friday's times and problems to Saturday's results, my best results so far in DD, a special thanks to everyone involved in FLAG racing for making this happen, Bob, Viv, Claire, our sponsors, MartinH for the brakes, to all the friends who came to see and support us this weekend too.

The night was rounded off with the usual gathering back at ours for a few beers and BBQ and banter, I'm knackered today and I didn't have to drive far!

See you at Assen

[Imola Duke]

Well done freak on your 5th place
I didn't get to watch the class A race's
hopefully they will be spaced out a little at pembrey.

[mad48]

Nice race report fella and good result!