EmTek Racing News - 2004

25/09/2004 - DIRK - First Race in Oz

Hi All

First race in Australia on Sunday went like this!

Cole did not race – too young!!!!

Things were always going to be interesting for me because they changed the track (meaning I had never seen half the track before) and we had 8 minutes of practice before the first race. On top of that, I had slicks for the first time (with no tyre warmers) that obviously completely changes the dynamics of the bike (higher profile etc), new back shock fitted the night before (WP), radically new gearing (back sprocket changed from a 39 to a 43 because the idiots at Kawasaki had sent me the wrong sprocket – should have been 41 – I was now 1 tooth down in the front and 4 up on the rear – wheeelllie time!) and not sure if we had sorted out the brake fade problem (which we had not). So, new track, essentially new bike and 8 mins practice.

Previous lap record for my class was around 58.8 seconds, qualified 4^th with a 59.6 – 0.4 off pole. Top “A” grade riders in the class above were doing 56’s in the races.

1^st race (out of 5) 4 of us were below the old lap record, my time around 58.6 – finished 4^th. I was losing a lot of ground on the others because of a lap or two to warm up the slicks, and still trying to learn the track.

2^nd race, got new lap record in the second last lap with only rider in the race under 58 secs, with a 57.9 lap then last lap, last corner, took 3^rd place on the brakes, came out on a dirty part of the track and – you guessed it - flung the damn thing coming out of the corner - within 200m of the start finish line. Nice easy low side. Only thing hurt was my pride!

My mate Pete is a professional cameraman and was filming the race (he filmed all 5 races) so I will send you the video clip once he has it transferred onto DVD for me.

Bike not too bad (back brake lever, exhaust, handle bar, bent front brake) so 3rd race started 14^th and finished 6^th – clearly off the pace with my mind not quite sure why I had flung it – best lap time in the 59’s.

4^th race, got a good start, got swamped into the first 2 corners (cold tyres), finished 4^th, behind the new lap record holder with a best time of 57.6 something (0.04 seconds off the new lap record). Second fastest time for the day.

5^th race, about the same – finished 4^th, half a wheel behind third, lots of 58’s.

All in all lots of fun. Next time will have the front end re-done, sort out the brakes, get the gearing right and TYRE WARMERS - should be interesting.

Cheers

Dirk

This page was last updated on 06-06-2008.