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Rilusi Motorcycles WA State Road Racing Championships Round 3
Team Six Racing - Race Reports

Rider:
Richard Watson
License:
C Grade
Number:
130
Machine:
Suzuki GSXR 1000 K6
Team:
Team Six Racing
Sponsors:

Categories:
Clubman 1000, B Grade
Results:
Clubman 1000
Race 1: 6th
Race 2: 5th

B Grade
Race 1: 22nd

Race PB:
sec
Weather:
Sunny/cloudy/drizzling
Low Down:
Got to the track nice and early and ready for a hopefully dry day. First practice was on a damp track and I wobbled my way round on slicks for 1 timed lap and came in. By second practice the track was dry and I went out to feel the bike and myself out, having not ridden on the track since my crash in Round 2. Bike felt good and I felt ok, but knew I wasn't on the pace.

First race was B grade and having not raced it before all I knew was that it would be fast. Starting from grid position 29 I got a good start, but remember very little of the race except that flying into the middle of a pack of bikes going into turn 1 at speed was a little daunting. I was running different tyres from what I had before and the bike wasn't liking them. I settled down to a safe pace and finished 22nd.

First Clubman 1000 race I was starting from grid position 14 and had made some adjustments to the bike. I got a good start and settled down to a nice sensible pace, but was not feeling confident in the tyres. Finished 6th and was happy with the result.

The second Clubman 1000 race was run on a damp but drying track. I had opted for wet tyres, but had never ridden on them before so treated it as a learning process. On the dummy grid, which was rather empty I noticed only 5 of us were on wets. I got a good start from position 5 and was heading into turn 1 in first position. Being unfamiliar with the wet tyres I slowed going in allowing bike #100 to go round me. I took off after him, but realised I was not confident to do that pace. Managed to hold 2nd position for a couple of laps before being passed by 2 other bikes. Knowing there was only one other wet shod bike behind me I endeavoured to hold him off, but was passed a lap later. With no other bikes close behind me I slowed and conserved the tyres so as to use them on a wet practice day to learn more about them. Finished 5th and was happy to have moved back to the front of Clubman 1000.

Roll on round 4...

Rider:
Dan “Pepper” Hayes
License:
C Grade
Number:
164
Machine:
Suzuki GSXR 600 K7
Team:
Team Six Racing
Sponsors:
Aseeda Engineers & Designers, Motorcycle Panel and Paint, Pro-Flo Motorcycle Improvements, McCulloch Suzuki
Categories:
Superstock, B Grade
Results:
Superstock
Race 1: 3rd
Race 2: Scratched
Race 3: 6th

B Grade
Race 1: 21st
Race PB:
63.516 sec (Best Ever Race PB 62.6230 sec)
Weather:
Cold track, Cloudy, sunny, drizzle, then sunny,……….
Low Down:
Well after having my race bike stolen from my home the week before race weekend, I thought I wasn’t going to have anything to race. Luckily the police caught the mother f**king scum and I got it back in one piece the Wednesday prior to race weekend. Still no sign of my tv, laptop and dvd player, although I doubt they would be that quick round Barbagallo anyway!

First race was B Grade. I found myself sat on the grid next to team mate Richard Watson on his GSXR 1000. Like Rich, I hadn’t raced this before so had to start near the back in 30th place. Given I can’t remember too much of it I reckon it must have been full on. Settled down in to a rhythm and wondered when this 6 lap race would be over. Managed to crawl up to 21st spot finishing just ahead of Rich (22nd). Felt like I had been riding hard, but the lap times were a bit disappointing. This seemed to be the flavour of the day for me.

Superstock Race 1. Had a good start and was running in 10th overall including the Supersport guys. There was a big crash at the end of the start finish straight which I avoided. Gavin Cunningham was one of the riders caught up in that one I think and I saw Ray Anset take to the run-off strip to avoid the collision. Seb Montagu got issued a 15 sec penalty for a huge jump start (should have kept going mate) which left me in 3rd spot for Race 1.

Race 2 was declared wet. I was staring in 9th on row 3. Not having any “wets” and given my nervousness in the wet, I didn’t fancy flying into turn one being pushed by the guys on wets, I decided to scratch not only for my safety but more for my fellow racers. On hindsight I wish now I had done the sighting lap first, then decided, and even just trundled round in the race and came last as there were only 13 superstock riders racing. The points would have been welcome, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. However, me and my bike were still in one piece for Race 3.

I was looking forward to Race 3 as I was starting on row 6 next to Supersport team mate Jason (Elf) Cawthorne on my left and Superstock Seb Montagu on my right. Both very quick riders and I was hoping to get pulled along with them. When we lined up on the grid and were under starters orders I dropped my visor down and made the mistake of breathing! By the time the lights went out I could hardly see anything other than Jason and Seb taking off on the outside and inside of the track respectively. I caught the guys in the row in front and went between two of them. Got to turn one and couldn’t see a bloody thing. Backed off and held my breath going round the outside of someone in turn one, then had to back off again and open my visor to clear it. I was so annoyed about my start. I knew I had blown it. Spent the rest of the race trying to make places and reopening my visor down the start finish straight after it closed every time I went in to the braking area for turn 7. I ended up finishing 6th in Superstock and 13th overall.

Looking forward to seeing some of the TT riders in November, I love the TT. Thanks to everyone for putting on another great race day. I noticed the new format for scrutineering and timing transponders etc. Thought it worked well. Best wishes to everyone that crashed this round. It’s something we all as fellow racers hate to see. I hope everyone gets well soon.

Just like to say thanks to all my sponsors for their support (see top for who they are) and to my team mates of Team Six Racing. They’re a great bunch.

See you next round.

Rider:
Justin Herold
License:
C Grade
Number:
210
Machine:
2007 Yamaha R6 Superstock spec
Team:
Team Six Racing
Sponsors:

Categories:
Clubman 600, Superstock,
Results:
Clubman 600
Race 1: 12th
Race 2: 13th

Superstock/Supersport (all raced together)
Race 1: scratched
Race 2: scratched
Race 3: scratched

Race PB:
65.00sec
Weather:
Variable……..all over the place
Low Down:
Today was the first race day out on my new R6. With 20 less kilo’s and 20 more horsepower over the old Honda, I had big expectations and was not disappointed.
First practice was run on a wet track, although not raining, the track wasn’t drying in a hurry, I did about 7 laps, all around the 79 sec mark on Supercorsa’s, but feeling good on the bike.
Second practice saw a dry line around the track, and times drop accordingly. I got around for 6 laps all in the 68’s, again feeling more comfortable on the new bike
CLUBMAN 600 RACE 1.
Starting from 19th on the grid, I got a flyer as a gap opened up to the outside of turn 1. Tipping in I could change my line onto the inside and found myself in 9th going round the lefthander for the first lap. I lost a couple of places, and started a good stoush with #105 SV of Colin Rose. With the new bike I could easily pass down the chutes, and try to hold out, and protect my line in the braking zones and corners. With a yellow flag at turn 1, and being passed under yellow flag, things settled down a little, I made back the position I lost under the flag, lapped there for the rest of the race, and a strong 12th place finish. Coming in to the pits I was very happy, and excited to be on a new bike.
After Race 1 and feeling nearly exhausted, I decided to scratch from Superstock for the day, and save myself for the next Club600 race..

CLUBMAN 600 RACE 2.
Starting from 12th, the number 238 machine jump started next to me, but not letting it put me off, I got off to a flyer again, and exited turn 1 in 10th or thereabouts. We were red flagged on lap 2 at skyline and sent through the dummy grid for a full restart. Again a good start and good racing for a few laps in 11th place, #193 went past into the basin, a lap later #161 went past around the outside of turn 1 while I was defending the inside line.
Lapping in 12th for a couple more laps, until Team 6 Racing team mate #199 Keith Hopwood went past into turn 7 leaving me 13th for race 2.

With consistent laps in the 65’s most of the day, Im very pleased with my first outing on the new bike. Times are right back where I left off on the old Honda
Cant wait for round 4 to come, hopefully better track conditions will see me crack into the 64’s or less even…
See you all there for the 10th of August..

Rider:
Jason Cawthorne
License:
B Grade
Number:
190
Machine:
Yamaha R6 2006
Team:
Team Six Racing
Sponsors:
Coote Industrial, Comleck Electrical, Motorcycle Panel and Paint, Milkd
Categories:
Supersport, B Grade
Results:
B Grade
Race 1: 4th

Supersport
Race 1: 5th
Race 2: Scratched
Race 3: 4th
Race PB:
1:00.2520 sec (Best Ever Race PB 0:59.9480 sec)
Weather:
Cold track, Cloudy, sunny, drizzle, then sunny,……….
Low Down:
B Grade race-
Start Position- 4th
Finish Position- 4th
Finish Position- 1st 600cc bike
I really enjoy racing against the 1000cc bikes, it shows people that its not just the power of the bike. After following Leroy for a couple of laps he managed to pass Shane and I followed not long after. I had my sights set on passing Leroy to make 3rd position, but the power of Leroy’s R1 just leaves my little 600 down the straights. Very happy with 4th position.

Supersport Race 1
Start Position- 4th
Finish Position- 5th
Josh Trigwell got the hole shot with me just behind him. I got past him into turn 7 (I think) and lead the race for about 2 laps. Adam Senior passed me on the left hander. All went a little down hill from this point, Josh, Stret and Tommy all passed me in the next 5 laps.

Supersport Race 2
Scratched
After the race being declared a wet race, I went ahead to put my spare rims, with wet tyres on. Unfortunately I just ran out of time. Its hard when you don’t have 2 bikes or a pit technician to help you out.

Supersport Race 3
Start Position- 22nd
Finish Position- 4th
I knew that starting at the back of the grid was going to be hard, so I had to put in extra effort if I was going to regain any points.
After we lined up on the grid and looking forward all I could see was a sea of bikes. I was visualising the take off and the way I was going to have to go- around the outside.
With the red light going out, I screwed the throttle on hard and off I went. There was a gap in front of me that I took, then headed to the outside of the track, where I knew not many bikes would be. Around turn one, all I could see where bikes bottle necking at the entrance, I took a wide line around the outside and managed to take quite a few. The next couple of corners there where little gaps opening up everywhere, so again I took them.
By the end of the first lap I had moved from 22nd to 8th position. Lap two I managed to pass Jarrod and saw Tommy pulling over just before the basin.
Lap three I passed Ray Anset and Jason Walker.
Lap four Stret Cull got passed me and I just couldn’t get him back.
Lap 5, 6 and 7- was spent trying to catch Chris Gilmore. Maybe if I had another couple of laps I could have got him. Overall I finished 5th but for the supersport side it was 4th.

At the end of round 2 I was 3rd in Supersport points, not sure where I am now after missing out on a race.

Thanks to the club, flaggies, officials and volunteers.
Thanks to my sponsors.

Roll on round 4

Race Times:
www.natsoft.com.au