Acorns at Sandbach 06.07.08
With a very lengthy time off the bike 6 weeks to be more precise and a two week relaxing holiday in the heat of the Caribbean my fitness or lack of it really showed last week at Hobs hole. So when I arrived at the new venue the Acorns’ club had managed to find I was really looking forward to the weekends racing.

The track was in prime condition with a sandy style base and a few jumps thrown in to mix it up a little, I also noticed there were a lot of fast sections giving us chance to really open up the bikes.

I decided a good way to improve my fitness would be to double enter into the MX1 class as well to give myself some extra bike time.
 
Practice: I really enjoyed practice but most of the jump’s were stepped and would play a big part in the races, it was a little slippery and loose but I knew this would change during the day.

Race 1 MX1: I picked out number 27 which isn’t what I needed as I would need all the help I could get to compete with the 450’s out of the gate and around the sweeping left hand first corner. I got a good jump out the gate but the power of the bigger bikes and my gate position on the

outside was against me and I lost a lot of spaces in the first corner. I managed to pass a few riders but it was really hard to make up any time, I had a good race with Nath Palmer for 3 laps until I lost my balance in the slow off cambered right hander just before the finish and lost about 3 places. Finished 17/18th
 
Race 1: With only a 3 race rest I wasn’t as fresh as I would like to of been but I was hoping the advantage of already racing in the MX1 Experts would help. I picked number 31 for my gate position and decided to go on the inside and try and get a good jump. As the gate dropped I didn’t get the drive I needed and got a really bad start, I was trying some different lines and settled into a nice rhythm. Finished 9th
 
Race 2 MX1: I was really concentrated on trying to get a good start which I did and entered the first corner in about 12th but again got force wide and lost a hand full of position, I was behind Warwick Upton and  just couldn’t manage to get around him I tried going wide, squaring off the corners but just couldn’t make the pass on the few times I got level with him I couldn’t get the drive he would have with the 450. 3 laps in I heard a loud blowing noise I thought it was coming from Warwick’s bike but as I exited the corner I realised it was coming from my bike, I knew it was either the header or the silencer I looked down and the header was still there so I felt back and the left sided silencer was missing.

I took a slow ride around to see if I could find it but I couldn’t. 

When I got back to the van Rich Tudor helped me to change my exhaust to the standard one but as we were burning our fingers the heavens opened up and the monsoon like rain lasting a good 10minutes which left the track in a mess.

There were poodles up to a foot deep in places and where the ground was hard and off camber it was like a river. I decided to put the bike away and call it a day.
I was glad I double entered and got some bike time and even though I was coming in knackered I was recovering quicker after every ride. With another free weekend I’ve promised my nephew I’ll take him out on him new KTM 50 so my next report will be from Burton @ Stenson 20th July
Burntwood at Branston 27.04.08
Branston is a great natural terrain track which I love but I never get good results there. The track looked very dry on Saturday, but with rain forecasted during the night and for Sunday the track should be in good shape.

Practice: I lead the Experts out for practice, there were some sloppy parts on the track and also it was very slippery before the first uphill.

I was struggling with the front brake as I had put new pads in and they hadn’t bedded in yet. I really enjoyed practice as I have done the last few weeks.

I knew racing would be difficult as it was an Unlimited Class and the bigger bikes would have a massive advantage up the hills and along the straight up top.
Race 1: I prepped my gate and was feeling confident as the Branston Start is on a camber it seems very squashed on the start line. As the 15 second board turned I could see a small piece of dirt bouncing around on the inside of my goggles. I tried not to look at it as the gate dropped I most have lost my concentration from the dirt because I hadn’t selected a gear. I decided to clear my goggles and give chase. I started catching the pack and making some passes I felt really comfortable and smooth but fast. The race seemed short but I think it was more a case of me being on a charge. Finished 15th.

Race 2: I was determined to get a good start this time around, as the gate dropped I got too much grip and wheelied another S**t start. Being mid pack up the big hill is not the place to be with the dust, it was a case of pin it and hope for the best. The track was starting to get a little rough. Finished 14th.
Race 3: I really wanted to get a good start and tag onto the leading group, this wasn’t to happen with another rubbish start I just tried to keep my head down and keep out of trouble on the first lap. I was having a good battle with a 450 rider, but as we came down the drop offs I went wide and the other rider took the tight line but as we approached the blind jump after the corner the yellow flag was out. I slowed down but the other rider didn’t. I’m not sure if he was looking to see where I was or didn’t see the flag.

He took off and landed on a bike which was in the middle of the track getting thrown off the bike and across the track and just missing me. I stopped immediately to see if he was alright but he was clearly dazed and in pain. The race was red flagged.

The restart was the same story as the others with a rubbish start. I put on a charge but struggled to pass the 450’s as they gapped me up the hills. With two laps to go the rain started to fall and with the Branston track being hard packed the rain made it a ice rink, and made it very difficult to stay on the bike. Finished 14th.

Not the results I was after but this is always the case at Branston. I love the tack but never do any good there. Burntwood worked tirelessly throughout the day and it was a shame they didn’t get the rain that was forecasted Saturday which resulted in a lot of dust.

I have a week off from racing so my next report will be from Cannock at Abbots Bromley 11th May.