Snetterton Race Report

June 21st, 22nd, 23rd

This was a weekend shaping up to be special. Young Joe Pattie had his new ZXR400 in team colours and was coming out for the first time to play since his early season testing in Ledenon with myself and Tony Norman. Mark was also going to be there for the Friday practise only also in new team colours but still dabbling with his carb settings. As usual I was back to my old ways as per my old ZXR400...wheel em out at weekends and leave them alone in the garage all week until needed. I have a hectic work, family, private and Go Star life and spending hours in the garage during the week is no longer an option I can afford.

I dropped my bike off at Joe's on the Wednesday due to me working late on Thursday and hence trying to avoid running late with having to drive through traffic. The road R1 was dropped off to get straightened with bike align and by the time I had dropped the racer at Joe's and got home to bed it was 2:00am Thursday morning. Thursday was another rush rush and I rode the wife's TZR250 to Joe's and we finally packed in his van and was off. There was a few delays due to road works and we arrived at Snetterton around 2:00am Friday morning. It seems that the whole weeks was full of 2:00am going to bed time and not enough rest. These days I'm really glad to go racing on a weekend as it's the best time to get any rest away from the phone, email and and and........

Young Mr Joe Patti or should I say CJ to those that know told me not to bring an camping kit as we could sleep in the back of the van. From experience I knew I better bring my tent as CJ is renowned.... The smell of spelt diesel in the back at a sniff was enough to tell me that an hour spent sleeping hear would result in DEATH by misadventure. I smiled as I thought I wish Tony Norman was hear. Anyway I slept in the tent and CJ slept in the front of the van which was partitioned from the back and diesel smell. Mark was already there by the time we came but must have been sleeping hours ago.

Morning came and it was hands on all deck. CJ check your tyres and generally wiping the new future star into shape as this young man has the grit to go far once he settles down. This was his first time on a four stroke and first time at Snetterton and the young man went well. Everyone was going well until Mark pushed a bit to much on the brakes going into the right hander at the end of the start finish straight and went down. All that new body work and paint job down the drain. He was OK as I saw him being brought the van as I was going out on my sessions. Things went well for me even though I missed the first two sessions and only changed my gearing from Brands to Snetterton on the 3rd session. I consistently got into the 1.16secs and it felt OK. At the end of the Day Joe ( CJ ) got down to 1.30sec which is not bad first time out for a rookie. Now there are rookies and there are rookies but Joe is a true one who has not spent the last 3 years doing track days to a T, in fact he does not even have a road licence and only started riding bikes at the end of last year. After the crash Mark went home to start the repair work as he was only doing the practise day.

Next day and it was time to race....myself and Joe passed scrutineer and we settled down and had or practise sessions. I felt good and also turned the rear tyre round for the N't time to save cash. As I was a late entry I started at the back 38th but really clawed my way through lap after lap to finish a reasonable 22nd. This is the first club race I have competed in, in about 2.5 years and things have changed. Your starting position for each race is dependant on your finish in the race before. 2nd race saw me start 22 and ended up 18th getting better all the time. Over night I again turned around the rear and also the front this time. The front has now seen a lot of action as I used it way back since Lydden.

Next day I was ready and determined to break into the 1.15's as I was only fractions away. The race went good and it was probably my strongest and I felt the best. I was starting to get as one with the bike and my positioning and feel for the bike was flowing. I would catch up people on the brakes and through some corners but was hopelessly out gun down the straights...at least I could clearly see that I was there apart from power. I felt confident and know now that I can match other times out there given equal da da da. I finished that race in 15th more than half way up from where I started, I'm getting there. However the final race was a disaster of monumental proportions. For a start, I turned the rear round yet again, left the tyre warmers on for far too long and over cooked the tyres. I did my fastest lap on the first lap...a 1.16sec and then the following lap had a massive high side moment going into the right hander at end of start finish straight. The back came out no less than about 6 feet with knee on the floor but my ability to save shit has still not deserted me. I held it ran over the inside of the track as the slide pointed the bike away from the intended line. This all happened at about 100+mph at least and I was momentarily flicked out of the seat with great violence. I held it got my head back down and soldered on. each corner after that and the bike moved as I was going in and moved throughout the corner if I tried to out down power. I went backwards from then on and dropped a second each lap until I was doing 1.20secs. Every man and his dog came by and a man was saying inside pull in but the spirit said NO...fight it, feel the movement, enjoy it. The race was done my tyres was shot and it was a good proving weekend. New tyres fitted a good night sleep and a fresh pair of spark plugs and the 1.14 sec beckon without any tuning work on the engine at all. I can see clearly and next time it' 1.15sec no less and then some push for high 1.14sec. It's within site and I can FEEL it. Pound for pound there is nobody more confident and determined than me as confidence is about belief and the determination to do better each time. Equally there is nobody more tight fisted on the spend than me which nearly resulted in a massive repair bill. Where are those remoulds, I'll have one of those please SIR.

Joe at the same time did some impressive riding and knocked enormous times off his laps to end the weekend with a best of 1.26 secs. What a man and what a good Go Star Racing weekend and thanks to Mazza other Go Star Racer who came down on Sunday to support us.