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| Brands British Supersport Blog |
Well its better late than never!.
Trying to find myself five minutes seems to be a non existant thing these days with running the business, racing and also the general housework and cooking that a woman has to do now and again!. Its all good fun though and I wouldnt swop it for the world.
Prior to and during the Brands GP British Supersport weekend I wrote a small blog for the www.therevcounter.com community to give people the insight into what its like to race at British level and how I got on. Id now like to share this with you.
27.07.2009:
Ive finally got to my goal of packing up the smokes, loosing half a stone, getting fitter and getting to my goal laptime round Brands GP..so ive taken my brain out and put my entry in for the british supersport at brands gp in two weeks time..
Oh and yes im very scared but stupidly excited at the same time..im expecting to be on TV about lap 14-15 when Steve Plater comes hacking past..!!
So if anyone is going down to watch..come down and say hello..
My team mates sponsor has a proper coffee machine he has donated for the weekend so as much coffee as you can drink will be on hand.
Just pondering now who will be brave enough to don the speedo's and hold my brolly.
Last year qualification cut of was a high 1.37 so id expect if someone does a mid 1.28 on a qualifier that it will be a low 1.37. I was doing 1.34's at the weekend with the MRO so aslong as all goes ok im planning to be into the 1.33's. So well within although doing that consistantly for 18 laps is another story!
Ive been working with Simon who is studying for a masters in keeping racers heads straight, so far he has worked wonders with me. Ive gone from a modest 1.39 round Brands GP in one weekend, a huge improvement. Id like to say a huge thanks as his help has given me the confidence to push on!.
oh and I do expect to get lapped, plenty do at that level. I wont be ashamed to get lapped either.
03.08.2009
Spent 8 hours yesterday preparing the bike and truck. Valve clearances, throttle bodies, cleaned the wheels of all the old wheel weight tape - my white set took an hour to do..brake cleaner isnt good for finger nails when your picking off glue LOL. All my wheels need rotation marks and my name stickers putting on so the Pirelli tyre guys know which way to fit the tyres and who owns them.
Totally soaked myself washing the truck by hand.!. Looks very smart now.
The butterflies are flying round my stomach now..just praying I dont suddenly forget how to ride when I see Mr Plater is really on the same grid as me.
Have also just sorted my fuel order, have gone for the normal control fuel as I cant afford the SBK fuel which would come in at nearly £300 for the weekend.!.
There is so much paperwork to read through, control tyre regs, safety car rules, when my new rider briefing is, where I have to be and when, im struggling to retain all this with the nerves. Think im best to print off 5 schedules, write onto them and then stick them everywhere!.
04.08.2009
Food shopping in prep for the weekend, well ive worked hard to up my water intake this week to help myself over the weekend. Have had alot of advice from people regarding nutrition this week which will possibly end up with me raiding the fridge Friday evening for munchies and being dissapointed!!. Steve will also possibly winge at the lack of sticky gooey cakes!. Mind you i have a small stash for afters!!.
im not sure whether my gurgling stomach is something ive eaten or nerves..not used to feeling like this so trying to get some deep breathing excersises in with some postive mental attitude laps in my head.
07.08.2009
Have managed to log in via my phone, has taken ages!! Sat here tucked up in bed in the paddock watching a DVD.
Today went well. Was a delayed start due to fog and even when our first session got started it was red flagged for ten mins or so as the visability reduced. I initially chose wets but really wanted to be out on the drys as had new discs to bed in. Also we have a restriction on how many tyres we can use. Its a large amount but didn't want to waste some stickers (you have a set number of stickers allocated which must be put onto each tye you use) on the wets which I'd use only for a few laps. Waiting paid off and a dryish line appeared so went out for a few laps. Went well and I actually like those conditions. Most were on wets or inters.
Second session I was quite nervous as I knew everyone would be pushing. This took its toll a little as rode quite tense and got tired quick with my concentration wandering. I got sucked into a few corners when steve plater came past (soooosmooth is he!!) But it helped although scared the wotsits out of me as it sucked me into clearways as was too busy watching him I didn't realise I hadn't braked as much as normal! This turned a slowish lap into one of my quickest!! I then came in to put a new rear on but leaving the old front on. Sadly I only got one flying lap in and time was up.
I missed getting a tow for a whole lap which I really wanted on the new rear so will try for that tommorow.
Had a track talk with chris northover as my speed trap mph at graham hill was 10mph down on most people so am loosing there big time..I'd say poss half a second. So have to really look at my turn point and gas point there. Got to make a few bike changes as still think the bike is steering a little from the rear making it unload quick from the front and run wide.
Enjoying it big time though to be out with those guys is awesome!
Off to sleep and dream laps now and be more focused and less self doubting tommorow!
08.08.2009
Thankyou for the support it means lots more than you think and its spuring me on.
Today was a good day. The changes we made to the bike worked really well. I knew to make the most of it during first qual as this afternoons track temp would be high which can mean a little less feel or grip. I managed to get behind ian hutchinson after he came past on the back straight.
He literally pulled me around the back section to the point where I was very close to being off a few times including running the kerb as a berm exiting stirlings. I then saw this dropped me to a 1.34 flat so I knew I could do it. Max Hunt then came past and feeling good I set to follow for a whole lap. His bike mullered mine down the back straight but it was enough to drop me into 1.33's. I then knew I had to do them on my own.
I came in and luckily had use of a garage for the session to have a drink and cool off. Then went out and did 3 consistant 1.33s all pretty identical feeling very comfy. Chuffed!!!
Second qual I was pretty tired physically and mentally. I knew I had a span of about five laps. I was dripping in sweat even before I got out. I managed one quick one and improved to a 1.33.6 which felt steady and very controlled.
Most were out on SC0 rears whereas I'd stuck with the SC1 as I hadn't yet used the soft.
Am pretty shattered now. Its awesome being out there and even signed a few autographs how cool is that!!! Will treasure this forever!
Goal tomorow is go with the flow. 18 laps riding totally flat out will be hard. I have bruises all up both arms from riding so far and I can see why these guys have to be so fit.
I'm going to see what happens and if I'm getting beyond ability to ride safely after 12 laps or so I may pull in. I have achieved more than I ever thought and know now I can do this racing lark! Its a total dream come true..Hopefully though it will go like a flash.
Monday is going to be big sleep day!
If your comming along will be parked opposite the toilet/scroot block in the paddock big yellow awning opposite jx fuelcards kawasaki team.
Sleep time now
10/08/2009
Sorry. Yesterday was mega busy catching up on work missed over the weekend, so back to reality with a huge bump!. Then I lost my internet connection at home last night.
Wow...im totally shot away by all the support you guys have given me and am so proud to be involved with this forum. TBH it has really helped me over the weekend knowing that people are routing for you.
Thank you so much for the pictures, they are awesome..and the little video made me chuckle..bike sounds good!!.
I actually surprised myself by not being too nervous for the race. I guess the amount of things that were going on keep my mind off it. I took warm up easy as it was going to be very hot for the race so was concious of keeping myself fresh. As soon as warm up was done Steve went up with me to get the new tyres and I made use of the excellent Shoei race service. I then went back and had an hours sleep, more of a doze really visualising my start and a few laps.
I had to keep drinking plenty of water but couldnt eat much so stuck to bananas and bovril on toast!.
I cut down my water about 50mins prior to going up for the race as i was afraid of being desperate for a pee on the grid!..being female it wouldnt be so easy to take a quick dash to the loo!.
We got the bike up into the garages prior to the start so I could sit by a fan and hit the water and toilet just before going to the grid. One thing that is excellent about racing at this level is everything is timed to perfection so you know exactly where and when things are happening.
The pitlane opens 15mins prior to race start and then you have a 5 min window until pitlane closes. You can actually do a couple of out laps to the grid but most only need one.
My friends fiance Tony was brolly girl (yes Adam you WILL do it for the next one!). I think he was totally gobsmacked by it all but did a superb job. Mike Edwards helped Steve with the tyre warmers while I just stood and took in the atmosphere. We were then given the 1 min board so everyone left. On the start there is a clock just by the lights that counts down the seconds to when the flag man leaves the grid. I found this quite handy..dont put it into gear too early or forget!!.
Warm up lap was usual for a warm up lap. I ensured i got both tyres fully scrubbed and warmed. Now for the start. We had been told at the briefing that the start liked to keep the lights on for a fair while..and that she did!. Im pretty good on my reaction times but managed this time to give far too much clutch and throttle resulting in a big wheelie. I mean i cant wheelie to save my life apart from when I dont want to!! LOL. I just keep it pinned though as I thought there would be no messing with these guys..although they didnt go off as quick as I thought and found myself diving around a couple at Paddock and into Druids..cool!. I nearly hit someone in the middle of Druids and then drove hard down into Graham Hill where everyone bunched up again loosing me revs pulling out of the turn. I found myself in a too high a gear drag race with Jenny and another rider..and then Marty Nutt flung himself in the air, luckily the bike skidded off to the right..chaos!!.
I then got my head down although being aware that pushing too hard too soon would mean lap ten onwards would be double tough. I was also running a full fuel load as the bike was using .75 of a litre a lap so had on about 10kg extra of fuel over what I normally carry. This made the bike quite heavy on the side of the tyre and I was getting alot of chatter from the front at full lean. Max Hunt then slid off and so did Chris Northover, there was dust everywhere and it seemed like waved yellows everywhere. The laps went very quickly, just trying to stay relaxed and consistant, I could hear a Triumph behind me, David Jones who then come past into Hawthorns, his bike is making about 138bhp..12bhp more than mine..and possibly 15kg less..thats one quick bike!.
Then the safety car flags came out. Ok..so what do I do now!. I have never ridden under a safety car before so backed off my pace..much to the frustration of Steve who was waving at me over the pit wall..I wasnt sure whether to push or back off..not wanting to risk being b*llocked for anything i eased my pace back up but the group in front had gone. Bum!. I should have caught up, I know that now and its something I wont let happen again. Anyways i just kept plugging on and when the last lap flag came out I was smiling in my lid. I hadnt been lapped either!!.
The slow down lap was awesome taking in everyone watching, I so want more of this!!. Really wanted to do a burn out but im out this weekend so was thinking mechanical sympathy.
The good bit was the MD of Suzuki shook my hand and with a big smile on his face congratulated me..that made my day totally.
I didnt stop smiling for hours and still havent to be honest.
Ive learnt so much and sitting here now im working out where i can make improvements. The biggest thing I have to do now is work on fitness. Its so mentally and physically demanding out there my mind has to be fitter along with my body to be totally on the ball to push when i want to.
Im definatly going to be doing some more BSS next season. Plans are already on the way for this. Money will be key so am going to work very hard to try and raise some funds over the winter. Its mainly the tyre bill for the weekend thats the killer as you cant skimp on these. The bike will also need lightening as much as possible under the rules and also gain a few more ponies. Trouble is that then starts meaning silly short refresh schedules something I cant afford to go down even though im lucky enough to get race support on the parts from Suzuki. Valves are £80 each and there are 16 of them!!.
Im going to see what 600 they bring out for next season to see if i stick with my current bike or move to a later model.
Im racing at Snetterton this Saturday in the Hottrax Endurance, hoping for good weather as it will be a nice little breather after Brands. Am out in the Junior 600 Tag with another girlie Claire on her GSXR600. Then aim at Cadwell the weekend after for the MRO which im really looking forward to.
Thanks again to everyone who came down and saw me and sent me text messages I will definatly be letting you know when the next one is and promise to find the time to add more race reports from now on!!.
If anyone fancies comming and getting involved at the meetings just ask..drop me a PM. Its a good weekend and if you like camping, BBQ's and some beer its a good social too.
Sarah x
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| Race Date: 03/10/2009 |
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