September 13, 2011 | Posted by admin

midshires podium

Well it had been a long break since I last rode and today would be used as a test for a new gearbox set up especially as Richard would be filling in for Karl who was on holiday.

It was a nice return to the Chetton field where we last road about 4yrs ago. It was a good size track and nice bends, with a few large dips in the field.

We went out for a couple of practices but on return to the bits the gearbox had a problem, so to be sure we swapped it back for the 1 I’ve been using all year. Safe to say it failed the test! So 8 crews would race that included 4 of the top 5 from last year.

Heat 1 we gated ok but struggled in the pits corner with grip, and took 3rd. Some good and major track work was carried out before Heat 2, this was a better start and we went on to take a good 2nd ahead of Simon Beard. In heat 3 there was a bit of a cock-up, as 5 teams went out in the first heat leaving just us in the other heat – as 2 crews had pulled. I’d have gone in the other race had I known sooner. So we went round for 4 laps on our own but I tried a few different lines in preparation for the final so it wasn’t a total waste!

Track work was carried out and although the track had cut up in areas the club did a really good job of making it ridable again. We had 3rd choice gate for the final and found a good line off the middle. However the tape went up a bit quick and we were only 4th away. We pushed on hard and in the top corner especially we could gain on Harvey/Hogg ahead and on the 3rd lap we got past up the inside as we went past the yellow/black flag.
It was good to get on the podium behind Dunn/Smith and Radley/Young but gearbox gremlins we need to be ironed out before next weeks British Final!

2 different views of the final, a poor start from us but managed to collect the 3rd spot.