Winters Over. Race Season Time Again!!

One week until the Thundersport Gb season begins again.

Kicking off at Brands Hatch. Who knows what this year will bring!

Terrible test day at Oulton on tue for me. Carbon wheels destroy a Superduke. After ending 2012 with a sorted chassis, that took all year to acheive, the bike is unrideable now. 4th gear 90mph wheelies out of cascades look cool but aint helping the times. Had to hold it on the back brake on every exit to keep it from wheelying. Going to have to run it long again, then re-find all the fork height and preload ranges again. A 190 rear is calling on the horizon and it may be the only route if i cant get it working. Just have to head to Round 1 taking a big punt on where it needs to be and hope it works out.

Full test day write up here.......

go get them dude

If I was around next weekend I would have popped down but in the Cotswolds for 3 days so will miss it. Good luck m8.

Good luck mate. .. and now that you've got a bit more hp it should help keep them on the straights a bit more.

With less unsprung weight both your compression and rebound settings will need to be upped as the inertia from the extra weight is no longer there.

You'll get it quickly. .. looking forward to seeing your results

Thanks fellas. You know my attitude for this year. I'll do all I can to win, and enjoy the weekends. But i aint killing myself again. Hopefully I'll make a run for the title and do the full season but it's gonna be one round at a time. Do rd1. Come home and see what the bike needs. Check funds. Check time off. If all works out enter rd2. No more putting pressure on myself. Really messed me up last year. Bike racing has to come 3rd behind family and work. Without them there is a no racing.

Reece is on a much higher spec triumph this year. He was onnit at the Oulton test. These big names who are entered will be tough to run with. Adams is coming from a podium at Brands at bsb level in the 848 Challenge! I've never even been to Brands! Revery has a few championships under his belt and 12years racing. Rather than getting intimidated I'm really excited to get out with them. Try and tag on and learn from them.

MrZ. Bike is really quick man. I'd not ridden it for 5months and the spec has really changed alot. But it exits and picks up of the throttle like nothing I've ever experienced. Think alot of that is down the the weight loss and wheels. But the help the stacks have given combined with all the part throttle map work has made a big difference. If only I can get it to keep both wheels on the ground at the same time! Aside for the geo woes it's like it needs softened off all round. The light wheels aren't working the suspension hard enough. Seems to be easier on tyres though. They're running really clean.

Racing on both Saturday and Sunday?

Any pit help, spares, etc required?

Maybe get a few of us in the Kent chapter together there.

I've got one spare pass for Saturday.

Might have one for Sunday too but i've already given Cerec first refusal. Not sure if he can make it though.

Can scrounge around the paddock and maybe get another one if needed. They're being really tight on passes this year though. .

Not trying to blag a free pass - can full pit pass tickets, with access with 'possible donor parts bike', be bought?

Is your head to hand timing a bit off from the off season? Perhaps you're getting on the throttle a bit late and trying to make up for where you know you should be, thus dumping a handful on.
Or you've been wringing that trials bike too much and now you just want to wheelie everywhere?
Rusty body positioning and not getting head over enough?
You gained too much weight in the off season causing the shock to collapse when your body weight transfers to the rear?

Too much bike for you?

Chin on the tank. 3rd to 4th and it lifts and stays up. Have to tap the brake or roll off to get it down.

End of the front straight, top end of 5th on the Gps data and it lifts the front over a rise at 129mph.

Remember it only weighs 158.4kg. But your right in a few ways. Coz it was so cold, apex speeds are down so the bike was driving from harder throttle from a lower speed. When I can't keep it flat through the gears on the straight, that's a problem though. I've changed it now to make it more stable so it will be alot better at rd1.

sounds like you have created a monster, a wee bit of head scratching and scrumpled up notes coming, hope you get it sorted soon, I reckon I could calm it down a tad with my slim 16 stone pushing down on it

Good luck mate, I know it'll be sweet.
1 degree is a bit shit for the first day out!
You're probably doing it all ready but at a track here that has a massive rise I find standing (butt off the seat 1 or 2 inches, and moving forward (head over the bars an hitting my screen) has let me keep the throttle on most times.

At mr No.47.... Have you checked you're inbox?
I need to give you some Rizoma bars!!!

Nowt there.......

Whats with the greyhound? You're not that Rossi tragic Wosi on MCN are you? Nah I doubt you have the spare time.

Steve. Let me know what day your coming. If I i e got a pass it's yours. No point in paying if I've got a spare one sitting here. Got no idea how they Brands paddock is laid out. I'm hoping to get in the main part behind the garages but i expect I'll end up in the other bit through the tunnel.

G

pm your mobile and let me know your approx. race times for both days - can be there early Saturday to confirm access and what and when you may/may not need from me - presumably you're down on Friday?

S

Anyone else here pitching up?

Im going to try make it sunday

Best of luck with this year. Go get 'em!

Cheers matey.

Forecast rain Friday Saturday then 1deg and sleet Sunday. I can see the meeting being abandoned tbh. Not ideal consideringiI'vegot almost at 1000 mile round trip.

Or if they do run it it'll be a good laugh watching the tv coverage. It'll be like last man standing! 15min laps with both feet down for the win!

Yer ive been watching the weather, cant beleive weve had a run of such nice weather the past few days and now they are forcasting sleet/snow for this fookin weekend.

Fingers crossed you dont drive all the way down there for nothing dude

G

Just got back to Kent - weather's shite - did you make it down?

S

Brands blog - qualified third fastest - rostrum calling........

Amazing. Well done Gordon. Who won. How is our man?

1. Adam 2. Rothwell 3. Wright - not happy............

He totally wouldn't be if he was pipped by Rothwell on the last lap! The rivalry there.....

Friendly rivalry though - they're pitched up side by side - are you coming over tomorrow?

Was planning to but.....

Had a very drunken Wednesday and fell down the space between my train and the platform. "Mind the gap!" NOT.

Leg is fooked and I cannot ride. All my own fault but there's no way I can get there. What a plonker!

Second on a shagged wet - brilliant!

Wets in the first race - most on inters, 'cept Gordon, in the second.

amazing results......well done mate ....class

Second race - 1. Rothwell 2. Wright 3. Adam.

Rothwell is the main rival and part of a racing double family - lot of support, experience, etc - Gordon on his tod.......gotta hand it to him though, he was on it today - tyres were the problem and,if I'd known, would have perhaps bought some instead of a pit board.............

Suggest we could/should do our bit, raise some funds and get some of us to the races - would be good to see a SD winning the series.

Come on guys. Help our star. I'm in

I'm in ..............

Next round in 3 weeks time I think. Donington. He can't miss that round.

3rd and a 2nd on a track he has never been to

I think he would of won had he not messed the bike up with those wheels!

Not got a great Internet connection here.

Thanks for the support. Really helps. I'm 470miles from home on a track i've never seen before on a bike that's took a big punt on setup.

About 1.5 sec off the fastest lap. Streetfighter times are very quick this year. My times would put me top 5 in the Sportsman Elite 600 class and top 15 in GP1 Superbike class. I'll have to re check the sheets but last time I looked I was only 2 seconds off Jenny Tinmouths best lap.

Not had the carbon wheels on yet. My wets are on std rims. Not sure if I should swap the tyres over and run the carbons tomorrow.

Track is ok. Nice and flowing but still trying different lines and gears so can go faster still. Learning alot, it's spinning the wheel all the way round the last corner. (I think Steve liked it!) but seems controllable and progressive. Really destroying tyres though. My rear wet is almost down the to smooth. Bike is setup ok. Changed some things and found time. Feels like a decent base. Not great, but in the ball park to start with. Most importantly is it's not snapping anymore and spins up under control. Seems like the bike has to move to get a good time round here. Only been out the seat once so far.

Got pipped over the line by the current champ after holding second all race. Beat me by 2 hundreds of a second!
Got 2nd in race two but tyre was fit for the bin before we even started. Very hard race, but learned alot about throttle control.

Just have to see what tomorrow brings. Really looking forward to finally getting my grid girl on the front row on tv!

Best lap in wet /damp /cold so far is 55.7. Supposed to be 3-4deg and sleet tomorrow.

Nice dude. Good luck tomorrow

Winters Over. Race Season Time Again!!

Well not here..


Anyways good luck Viking:)

Awesome results Viking ..... How do those times compare to the original battle series ?

Someone set up a PayPal account and we can all throw in the odd tenner etc for race entries

OK, use the donate button on Vikings website.

tremendous result Gordon

You can't really compare against the battle bikes it was 4years ago, weather different, temps different etc. It would be just a rough comparison.

Just checked the time sheets. Every best lap by every class.

In GP1 Superbike class with 35 bikes my time would put me 12 alongside ex bsb rider Phil Crowe. Current bsb rider and fastest woman rider round the Tt, Jenny Tinmouth, did a 56.8 so I'm actually 0.8sec quicker than her.

It snowed this morning and it's 4deg. Snow isn't lying and it's just wet now but bitter cold.

Tyre after yesterday's race. It was spinning a little bit.

as said: amazing results Gordon!
That rear looks a tad worn btw

Outstanding Viking.

Great times - I also like to see you're getting your moneys worth out of those tyres!

That looks like serious cold tear, not that strange with those temperatures.

Great result by the way!

What happened in race 2 today? Anybody know?

What happened in race 1?

FB? Were you there today?

Just heard from Gordon - 3rd and 4th today, primarily down to shagged tyres - tyres, entries and van diesel support needed.

No word on today then? Must have been horrible riding in those conditions.

C

See my last post above.

S

Well done matie!!

You reports made the conditions sound a lot better than other peoples.

Other people who raced are saying about the frost, the snow, the bitter cold... the terrible conditions....

From you, the reports are ... "meh, it was OK ..."

Good work

Don't forget lads.... Some of us don't have/use facebook.

Too old for Facebook

Full report here....

Great read Gordon, really well done. Would love to make it to one of your races later in the year.

The best bit is you're psychology has changed to being proud of the massive steps and the success instead of the constant self criticism.

Ok guys, our man is 3rd in the series, he's had podiums, done 12 races. In the 10 he's finished never been lower than 4th
Looks like a pretty good performance for a pretty well self funded racer flying the flag for our favourite bike

He won't ask but he needs a bit of help. Anybody in a position to chip in a few quid for fuel, oils etc

It would be a crying shame if Viking can't do all the races cos of a cash shortfall for simple stuff. Where else are we going to see a Superduke mixing it with run of the mill stuff on national TV

Anybody fancy chipping in go to his site and PayPal him the price of a tank of fuel.
http://www.wrightracing11.com/p/blog-page_9.html