#57 The Dukes Carribbean Race Review Oulton "Be warned...it's long!!" ;)

**Earkle** · 27 Apr 08, 11:49 PM

OK... this is the first one... so be gentle with me!!

Well...my season actually started at mallory, but my bike was riddled with problems! so on the day i missed the quals as the bike wouldn't start!!,eventually got it sorted, Started the first race and had to retire with electrical probs after half the warm up lap!, only to get it all sorted again for the second race, and end up racing on 1 cylinder! so i was lapped twice! Totally gutted, hence i put a hell of alot of pressure on myself on the run up to Oulton for 2 reasons.
1)I had to prove something to myself namely, 2) Wanted to make my Lady proud! and show that i hadn't wasted money!
FRIDAY
So the plan was to arrive on friday for so sneaky testing as i was also a Oulton virgin!.... This didnt happen, after seein i few bikes drivin off i thought time to ask for a spot... approached FE , to which i asked if there were any spots available. he paused, looked me up and down, and said,"...erm...nah!" and then kind of laughed under his breath as he walked away!( wot the hell!!) so after catchin up with a few peeps i met at mallory, i got the bike out, and wot happened next was just typical! she didn't start! I couldnt believe it! so skids again!! became my saviour, and after 3minutes he'd sorted it! legend!!! then after putting the complete fairing on her, your not gonna believe this...back wheel was rubbin the belly pan!! so i missed scruitineering!! dammit! It was then i decided to get into my garage, and finalised everythin i could, just to make sure everything was ok for the days events ahead.
Matt-28 offered to take me around the track pedal stylie(ha) which was extremely helpful aswell as the tips from Otei earlier, so i then went round in the dark using a head torch. which was honestly good too!
SATURDAY
My personal "DDay"...The Bike went straight through in the mornin even though the scrutineer nearly dropped my bike!(lol), I also signed on for the SV's for extra practice, and then it was my first qualifing session, and I enjoyed every second of it!...until i realised i couldn't get it into third gear shifting down! i actually had to lean over the bike and pull it into gear while approaching Shells Bend at one point! and then the bike at times didn't want to pull away! so, after SV's qually, i went back into the garage to set the gear shifter again!! missing the begginning of our session! but at least the bike felt a bit better and the gears now worked

, and i must say...THIS TRACK IS AWSOME!!.. Donny move over son!. Ended up in 16th place which for me was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders!
Race1 Desmo
The bike started playin up again on the warm up lap but i decided to persevere to see what happens next...red light on....and we're off! the guy just infront of me wheelie's off the spot completely surprizing him and the others with me! but i got a good start. i then went to the outside at old hall thinking that would be safer(novice mistake!!) and out of the corner of my eye, some1 flies up the inside of three of us, and i think to myself 'god he's quick',for him to stand the bike up by braking mid corner!!! taking one of us out totally, and myself and another rider almost eating grass aswell!! (racing incident!! i know i know!!) I was so annoyed! anyway the bike started getting worse so i decided for mine and others safety i'd better pull in and see wot was up,
App. it's a common fault, the fuel line was kinked!! oh well, so then on to the first SV's race, Started ok and WOW! the bike sprung into life! it's amazing wot a little gaffa tape can do repairing the airbox too!(thanks franco!) she just pulled and pulled! and i began to love the track more and more and more! I quallified in 34 and finished in 21st cool! loved it really really did!
Race2 desmo
So...this was it, crunch time, i'm on the grid to start the warm up lap, and 'PING' my visor unclips off at one side!!! F*&^%$£@!$%&*&^^%%^&**&&K!!!! after someone!! put it back on for me it was catch up time! so yet again i'm at the start....red light on...off i go, to be honest thats all i really remember about the race?! i just wanted to get to the front as quickly as possible! all i remember is getting through a couple of people and eventually getting the better of another rider but then there was a massive gap to the other two infront of me!
I wanted to catch them so bad! everytime i passed the pits i had to give a wave! i was so happy it all worked out, I was like a kid in a sweet shop! after the race i pulled into the pits and it wasn't until a spanner man from the next garage told me my result i knew where i finished!! "9th!!' AND after finding out i'd also taken almost 13 seconds off my lap time to 2.12! i still honestly am totally shocked and very very happy!

After party!! It was great to meet some more peeps and put names to faces, the sausages were really lovely!

Thanks goes to Kev((Skids), john(freak!), Matt(-28), Franco(fast), Tim(otei) And finally all the ultimate finish squad for their continued support, also to angel and the visor man from new era!

So all in all...Oulton rocks! and it will always be a memory i'll never want to forget!

The Duke

**Steve GD** · 28 Apr 08, 05:28 AM

Great race report, Earl, and congratulations on your first race!
Might be a good idea to put your race number in your profile, so people can link forum name , racer and bike.

**Freak** · 28 Apr 08, 05:52 AM

Earl, after all your problems you still managed to be totally upbeat and full of beans everytime I saw you, and in the 2nd race I was in stitches everytime you came down the start/finish straight waving your fist and bobbing your head.... you were racing!!!

I'd have you down as rider of the meeting as you are the true spirit of DD fella

**harriebird** · 28 Apr 08, 07:30 AM

i think rider of the round is going to be a toughie this time!

**harriebird** · 28 Apr 08, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve GD

Great race report, Earl, and congratulations on your first race!
Might be a good idea to put your race number in your profile, so people can link forum name , racer and bike.

i've put earl's race number in the title as he's quite new to the board so evyerone will know who he is (although he's so loud and bubbly we can't really miss him!)

**zimbo** · 28 Apr 08, 07:45 AM

yes, but his bike's colour scheme is a bit quiet so he's easy to miss . . . . . (NOT!!!)

Nice to meet you Earl and glad you're enjoying yourself!!!!! Good result too. See you at the next one.

**mad48** · 28 Apr 08, 12:29 PM

Nice race report Duke , really got a sense of what you've gone through. Chuffed it all worked out in the end, it is amazing how you yourself can write a day off yet everyone else mucks in and gets you racing. good luck for the rest of the season fella

**graeme** · 28 Apr 08, 10:35 PM

was good to meet you earl.

would like to think we could have some close races in the meets coming up but you were so smooth at oulton i think you will just clear off and i'll be watching you from a distance.

well done for saturday and see you at pembrey.

g

**Ollie** · 29 Apr 08, 06:09 PM

Nice Write up earl.

Oh just to settle this it was not me that flew up your inside in to the first corner in the first race, I qualified 9th and had a great start, by the sounds of it the person that did fly past actually made me sit up in to the corner too and it flowed from there, Believe me i got alot of abuse for it, but as Ian Cobby Said this Aint knitting its racing,

I have also been taught now that anything on my outside is not my problem, i only worry about the inside and infront

Going round the outside is possible but carrries its dangers like the person on inside running wide etc or falling off and taking you out too....

Not a dig just wanted to clear it up as i was getting fed up on saturday of being called a liability.........

......my first ever race and time on track.

**Earkle** · 29 Apr 08, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ollie

Nice Write up earl.

Believe me i got alot of abuse for it, but as Ian Cobby Said this Aint knitting its racing ......my first ever race and time on track.

Like i said boss, racing incident no-one's fault! it was my first time also! and i still don't get why Ian(who lets face it, is bloody quick) isn't in sound of thunder/overall more of a challenge for his abilities!!??!! Obviously he must feel comfortable as do i! but if i was as quick as him! well... posibilities are endless!

P.s. Thanks for all your comments! and i might just do another for pembrey?!? who knows! watch this space! ha!

**ducbird** · 29 Apr 08, 07:14 PM

great write up Earl

and nice to meet you and katie...(les should be contacting her soon)
you are full of beans and how i missed you on that circuit i dont no
must have been in the wrong place

leave some sausages for the rest of us next time eh..

see you at Pembrey

**trouty** · 29 Apr 08, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The-Duke

i still don't get why Ian(who lets face it, is bloody quick) isn't in sound of thunder/overall more of a challenge for his abilities!!??!!

i guess when you've been there and done that (ex BSB/WEC etc) sometimes its nice to sit back and enjoy a more pleasant environment. This discussion was done to death on DSC... i personally think he's a great addition to the series and is dragging the rest of the field along with him

**Imola Duke** · 29 Apr 08, 10:26 PM

I was behind the said incident................. At least i made it to work on monday... !!!!!
Enjoy.... i am

Roll on prembrey
Ollie...... good to hear you are being coached by cobby..... good luck with the test day.... nice one,, wish i
could get a x pro rider to coach me.....

**Earkle** · 29 Apr 08, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imola Duke

Ollie...... good to hear you are being coached by cobby..... good luck with the test day.... nice one,

Coached!!! hang on! right place at right time or wot lol!, and trouty totally agree with ya fella! i don't mind catching up with him, learning from him, i'll gladly soak it all up like a huge sponge

i was just thinkin about my reasons for doin this thats all, with me(life in general), if there's no challenge, there's no point!, ya know wot i mean. and hopefully no offence taken!

**Imola Duke** · 29 Apr 08, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The-Duke

Coached!!! hang on! right place at right time or wot lol!, and trouty totally agree with ya fella! i don't mind catching up with him, learning from him, i'll gladly soak it all up like a huge sponge

i was just thinkin about my reasons for doin this thats all, with me(life in general), if there's no challenge, there's no point!, ya know wot i mean. and hopefully no offence taken!

The Duke.. It's the taken part that counts

BTW... i got took out on the first turn.....

whoops moment!!!
Roll on pembrey