Team Six Racing - Race Reports

[DTM]

Rilusi Motorcycles WA State Road Racing Championships Round 2
Team Six Racing - Race Reports

Rider: Justin Herold
License: C Grade
Number: 210
Machine: '02 CBR600 F4i
Sponsors: Mosslake Drilling
Categories:Clubman 600
Results:
Clubman 600
Race 1: 12th
Race 2: 20th
Race PB: 65.4 sec
Low Down:
My day started with a minor setback at scrutineering, and the need to flush the cooling system. Once sorted, bike was passed and time to prepare for practice...
After being placed in the red group for practice I roll down to the dummy grid when called to be informed I should have been given a yellow sticker.....I’m getting a little bothered now, and feel like something doesn’t want me racing today...
Practice 1....
I roll onto the dummy grid first(I like some clear track for practice) only to have 2 competitors on 2 strokes jump the queue(bit of etiquette guys)...follow out the 2 smoky ning nings, and take a couple of laps to go past and settle into mid 66's before the chequered flag ends our session...
I feel ok, and seems like the gremlins are gone for the day..
Practice 2...
Roll down to the dummy grid early again, and slip onto the track leading the pack....get mostly clear track for the 10 minutes, and set a new PB 65.4sec.....gremlins and bad feelings fully gone now.....

Race 1...Grid position 15
after the fall at skyline on the warm up lap, we are delayed for a good 10 minutes...nerves are slowly setting in, and all I want to do is get off the bike for a minute, but scared my shaky legs wont hold me up...We do another warm up lap and grid up.....the lights drop, and I get a flyer exiting turn 1 in 8th position....racing hard as a few bikes slip by, I'm trying to hold my braking off later and later into turn 1 and 7...Chasing #105 (Colin Rose SV650), I cant seem to draw level with him and am content to lap where I am, and not risk a big braking move from behind.....Final position 12th, and good laps in the 65's

Race 2....grid position 12th
I completely fluff my start(must make sure I'm in 1st gear next time) and get swamped off the line down into 20th place....I lap around in the 66's in 20th until #237 went past into turn7 as I found a false neutral and had a good look at the sand before pulling her up and round the corner...running 1 lap in 21st until #223 Honda 125 slipped past in the basin... I show him a wheel along the straights a couple of times and just try and match corner speed until I'm sure I have enough room to get passed and round turn 1, which came on lap 8 leaving me in 21st across the line, but being elevated to 20th due to a jumped start from #211....upon checking times, I've set another PB of 65 sec flat.....

Thoughts.....
I was pretty pleased with setting new PB, and cutting around 0.7 seconds off previous best...
After a few setbacks early in the day, and getting past the feelings of dread, I'm very pleased with my progress after 3 race meetings....I'm looking forward to the prospect of a new racebike before next round...
Congrats to all Team Six racers for there achievements this weekend, and welcome back Dalip.
Cheers
#210 Justin Herold



Rider: Dan Hayes
License: D Grade
Number: 164
Machine: Suzuki GSXR 600 K7
Sponsors: Aseeda Engineers & Designers, Motorcycle Panel and Paint, Pro-Flo Motorcycle Improvements
Categories: Clubman 600, Superstock, D Grade / Novice Shootout
Results:
Clubman 600
Race 1: Started 25th, Finished 2nd
Race 2: Started 1st, Finished 1st

Superstock/Supersport (all raced together)
Race 1: Started 30th overall, Finished 12th overall and 4th in Superstock
Race 2: Started 12th overall, Finished 11th overall and 4th in Superstock
Race 3: Started 11th overall, Finished 14th overall and 7th in Superstock

D grade Novice (not capacity limited)
Race 1: Started 5th, Finished 2nd
Race PB: 62.6230 sec
Low Down:
Turned up to the track nice and earlier feeling pretty nervous as this was my first State round having only competed in the previous opening club round where I had finished 8th, 7th, and 7th in the D Grade / Novice race.

Having not raced Round 1 I knew I would be starting at the back of the grid so I had my work cut out.

I had a fresh pair of Bridgestone 003’s on which I had not ridden before. Scrubbed them in on the first practice. Didn’t break any records. The second practice I was much more relaxed and my lap timer said I had done a 62.79. My previous PB was 63.36. The official times confirmed this with a 62.88. I couldn’t believe it. This really gave me a boost going into my first race, which was Clubman 600.

The grid positions were the last ones to go up for this race. I found out that I wouldn’t be starting right at the back. Instead I was on Row 7 in 25th spot. There was a crash on the sighting lap and we were left sitting around on the dummy grid getting hot and letting the nerves build again. I couldn’t believe it.

The track was finally cleared. We had another sighting lap and then lined up for the start. I knew I needed a good start, so I decided to wheelie off the line, miss second gear, popped it into 2nd, pulled another wheelie,….. and then ahhhhh TURN 1!! Yeah great start!

Luckily my head was in the right gear and I got down to business. By the end of lap 1 I was up to 10th, lap 2 up to 6th, and then after lap 3 I was in 4th. I could see 2nd and 3rd in the distance but they were entering turn one as I exited turn 7. But I just went for it as I knew 3rd place was Sean and we had had a bit of banter in the run up to the race which really made me chase. I couldn’t believe it when I actually started closing the gap. I started thinking I can get them! On lap 6 I joined in the battle for 2nd and made my move into the basin on Sean and then past Paul down the back straight. Paul then late braked into turn 7 and he went in first. However I maintained corner speed and passed back on the start/finish straight.
Laps 7 and 8 I managed to pull away and maintained 2nd place. By this time Tim (1st) had already dominated. I couldn’t believe the result. I was so pumped and excited. I got back to the pit and my friends and team mates were clapping and congratulating me. I took my gloves off and they said stick your hands outs. Christ they were shaking!!!

Race 2 of the Clubman saw me lead the race from start to finish. Unfortunately Tim (winner of race 1) had crashed out in Supersport, which left me with no one to play with. However I wasn’t complainingJ.

Supersport/Superstock was a whole new ball game and I really felt the difference with the A and B grade riders there. The experience difference was very apparent and a few riders were putting on the hard moves. All the Supersport/Superstock races seemed to be dogged with crashes and I nearly got mixed up in a huge crash on the start/finish straight which saw me running on the grass next to pit wall to avoid all the wreckage. The racing in this category was very competitive and is going to be a great place to learn racecraft. I had some great results in the first 2 races. Again I started near the back, this time row 8 in 30th, and managed an overall 12th place finish and 4th in Superstock. Race 2 I maintained the 4th place of race 1, but by the 3rd race I was fatigued and finished 7th in Superstock as I also knew I had the D Grade / Novice shootout race straight after.

So after dashing round the cool down lap, I shot into scrutineering and then straight back out for the D Grade / Novice race. For this race I was starting in 6th place. I had Row 2 to myself. Row one was full. The lights went out and by the exit of turn 1 I was into 2nd place. 1st place bike was a 1000cc and already had 10 bike lengths on me. I knew I would have to work hard. Unfortunately this was my 6th race of the day and I had already just raced 7 laps in Supersport/Superstock and I was completely knackered and finding it difficult to be consistent. So I decided to be safe and just stick with 2nd place to which I did.

I was extremely pleased with my results of the day and also picked up further awards for first D Grader in both Clubman 600 and Superstock. Thanks to my sponsors (Aseeda Engineers & Designers, Motorcycle Panel and Paint, Pro-Flo Motorcycle Improvements) and team mates of Team Six Racing, and everyone that has helped me and gave me advice. It’s all helped. Looking forward to Round 3,… BRING IT ON!!!

PS Thanks Tex for the cheeky commentary, made me laugh sitting on the dummy grid waiting for the start of race 2 of Clubman 600.



Rider: Richard Watson
License: C Grade
Number: 130
Machine: Suzuki GSXR1000 K6
Sponsors: Wanted
Categories: B Grade, Clubman 1000
Results:
DNF (Or DNS – Did Not Start )
Race PB: 62.3610 sec
Low Down:
Having only started racing this season I was unsure what to expect, but knew from doing Racecraft and Trakdayz that I at least knew how to get around the track at a reasonable pace. The advice and assistance I have been given from other racers and support crew has been a godsend. Its a friendly atmosphere and alot of fun.

Having won both D Grade/ Novices races in Round 1 I was re-graded to C grade.

Round 2 I was in second practice and was feeling good and did a few consecutive PB's before crashing out in Turn 1.

Both the bike and I came off lightly and will be back again for Round 3.

[Pkunk]

top stuff guys

[Rob]

Good write up - Great read

[Col]

Originally Posted by DTM

Rider: Dan “Pepper” Hayes
PS Thanks Tex for the cheeky commentary, made me laugh sitting on the dummy grid waiting for the start of race 2 of Clubman 600.

It wasnt all Tex's hard work!

[DTM]

Originally Posted by Col

It wasnt all Tex's hard work!

Haha Col, thought I could see you sat up there laughing too...... Nice work. Your both a class act,...... funny boys

[smeghead]

Well, the rewards are coming thick & fast for Team 6. MCRCWA (http://www.mcrcwa.com.au) just posted up a regrading list ... BlackIce gonna be unbearable now.

[BlackICE]

Originally Posted by smeghead

Well, the rewards are coming thick & fast for Team 6. MCRCWA (http://www.mcrcwa.com.au) just posted up a regrading list ... BlackIce gonna be unbearable now.

OI what do you mean i would never 'B' unBearaBle would I....