Snetterton - MON 5/10/09 - FE

I'll be doing some wheel changing; as I try to get a day out of 2 sets of fairly shagged tyres!

On a brighter side I did meet top bloke Ducati Pete, who kindly brought me a crackin' M&S chocolate moose. [/quote]

So you didnt go out on track and yet still scoffed his desert of champions

They had probably heard about you from Cadwell the licence was just an excuse to prevent you flinging yourself at the track. Thus causing the mobilisation of the Norfolk Air Ambulance (Bernard Matthews biggest Turkey)

Great to meet Motoronin, and gutted that you couldn't ride mate. I later asked John from pro cam if he'd check his photo licence, it was expired by 2 years!

Anyway, a quick report.

Not been on a bike for 6 or 7 weeks. I turned up with brand new Brembo pads fitted yesterday, and the rear tyre I'd used at Lydenn Hill with Luke. That rear was well, well worn and had already been turned to extend life.

Mainly out of being lazy, I decided to start with it and get a few sessions from it.

I can usually bed a new set of pads in during 3 sighting laps with no trouble. I got it wrong this time and the short first session wasn't that good.
Back in the garage, pads out and yes, as I thought I'd glazed them.

A quick rub on a piece of fine glass paper and I was ready for session 2.

I was still a bit carefull with the brakes, and was riding well within myself. I think this was the one Dan timed at 1min 24. The same time I used to go 'round on a bog stock 250! So not that great.

The rest of the morning sessions were spent slowly pushing a little more, now knowing that brakes were good, but mindfull of the rear tyre. I did have a few little slides out of Russell's chicane.

Lunch was a scrummy milkshake (smooth chocolate from myprotien.com )
a banana and .......... M&S chocolate moose. YUMMY

Out from the car came the famous green rear wheel, with a nicely scrubbed racetech K2 tyre on.

I had love in my tummy, and grippy rubber on, so I looked forward to 1440hrs with glee.

I left pit lane with the intention of doing a nice easy out lap. Even though the warmers had been on for a hour I like to check the changes (new rear) didn't have a nasty suprise waiting.

Between turns 1 and 2, who should come screaming past on one of his fireblades but Harry Monk. He went through 2 knee down and then gunned it down the revitt straight to the max.

Well plan a went out the window and I set off after him, he having already a decent lead due to catching me touring and the sheer power of those blades.

I chased him and chased him. With some satisfaction, I found I was reeling him in. Not by a great deal, but after a few laps I was very close into Russells chicane, and into turn 2.

During my pursuit I twice got held up briefly by slower riders. Harry caught them just right and in places where the extra speed of the blade carried him past.

I was pleased that I manage to close again both times.
During this, we both noted odd spots of rain, and both decided it was too little to make a difference.

Harry pulled in, and I did another lap and joined him.

Back in the garages, Harry told me he had been doing 1min 20 laps. I was fairly please as I felt this put my times just under that mark. For sure I had been pushing much harder than the morning.

Sadly it started to rain after that. Not enough to make wets worth while, but enough to make the track really slippery on supercorsas.

I didn't want to bugger up my wets or tiptoe 'round, so I called it a day.