Cadwell Round 4

Another poor meeting from me.

Not sure whats going on. Maybe a bit run down or something, but need to get shit sorted out or my championship challenge is going to slip away. Full report is up here.







Lap times were ok if i can only string 8 of them together without making mistakes! Was consistenlty in the 39's most of race 3.

Sorry to hear about the slump, hope it picks up for the next meet.

good report gordon,

Good laptimes dude!

Sorry to hear you are not enjoying it quite as much as normal.
I'm sure once you get over your cold it will all seem a lot better.

Your laptimes are stunning Gordon. Must admit I felt the same at Donny at Monday, big knock in confidence and still suffering with a cold. I may not have your talent but I can identify how you feel entirely.

I was ready to give it up entirely after Monday but forget about it and move on, onwards and upwards..

Cheers boys.

Frustrated at myself at the times. In that last race I kinda felt that i'd found the secret to Cadwell. Its such a technical track that to do those super-duper top 3 times there has to be a secret. To go from a 1.43 to a 1.40 takes a bit of work and real tidy lines and being accurate. But its like twice as hard to get to a 38.

For those guys up the front doing 35's there has to be a secret, like a different line through a section or something. It's just too big a gap to be making up on the brakes or early gas. I found a bit of time in 2-3 main sections but by god its hard work getting a quick lap there. Feel with a new rear on and a clear head consistant low 38's would be do-able , maybe even nipping a high 37 with the wind behind me. Just shows how special a lap the lap record of Mr Wood was back in the SDR battle days. A 1.35.7 on an SDR is mental. Honestly got no idea how to make a bike lap that quick!

What to do though eh??

Just not enjoying riding the bike just now and its showing in the results big time. Kinda struggling a bit coz I don't know how to get my mojo back. Its a slippery slope to be on. Think I need to be getting on some trackdays and having a play and riding for fun again.

have a trackday or two mate , when there is no pressure and all fun .

p.s. how do you like the dunlops ? and what compound are you on ?

I think thats a plan Si.

I'm on soft front and rears are either med or med/hard. I cant notice any difference between the rears. Apart from the meds are a bit more sensitive and will tear if everything isnt spot on.

The dunlops seem to be able to look totally fooked and still work alright though. They dont drop off that cliff like a 10 lap old metzeler or that.

dilligaf

There is a bit more side grip, but you'll just ride to it. The 212's only come in a 190 rear so might rub on a 525 chain though. Its only 4mm higher at the bottom of the tyre so doesn't change the geo massivley.

I didnt notice that much difference in overall grip. Comparing dunlops to metzelers.. The dunlops feel like there's about 40psi in them but with grip. They dont bend and squash like the metz. The metz will bend and distort under the bike and you have to ride them into that squidgey bendy squashy moving about zone to get them working. It feels like the bike is always on the slide but its not, its just the tyre moving.

The dunlops are alot harder and dont move like that so you have to change the suspension a bit to let the bike work coz the tyre isnt. They slide just as progressively though and you can still have the rear a inch or so out of line all the way out the exit with out it wanting to snap. I dont think absolute edge grip is anything amazing. In fact thats where i lose all my time, when you get back to gas right on the edge of the tyre. The big twin upsets the tyre a bit and it hampers the exit drive and roll on. Thats why the bike works so well at doninton and places like that. The dunlops give the best grip just up off the edge on the main drive part of the tyre, so long fast 4th gear sweepers when its just up on this part and driving hard is where the dunnies and the SD shine.

Prob 20 laps of cadwell and they've lost their best grip, but they drop down a little bit and just stay there giving like 80% grip till they're almost bald and hanging in bits. Metz will drop off ofter one race then gradually get worse and will be shite before theyre worn out. An almost bald dunlop would kill a 30 lap old metzlers

Just my 2p on it all. Dunno what the pros say.

Too many guys have put too much into it for me to pull the plug now.

Oulton is only a two day meeting. Few mates are coming to help out. And i'll have my new shock and suspension support. Few weeks of chilling and go into it with no expectations and see how that changes things.

That Stalker is such a wag