The Dozer (r1)

I’ve had this older R1 for over a year now which I’ve used 3 times on track, it’s an ex R1 cup bike and the intentions were to maybe use the bike during a race weekend when I’m racing in the CB’s, iirc it’s only an extra £80 for a second class.

Anyway, I’m doing the Endurance race a week on Sunday at Knockhill during the rewind festival, 100 laps between 2 riders, you can share a bike but I decided “what the heck” and went with the R1. My mate will be on his F600 R6 and he races number 24, so I’ve stuck on 24 for the race.

So it’s all ready to go now, lock wired, brake lever guard fitted, everything else was up to scratch except I’ll have to fit a rain light, I’ve got one sitting there ready to go on.

I’m out on track tomorrow evening to get some time on it as I haven’t ridden the bike since September.

The reason the bikes nicknamed the “Dozer” is I rode over a guy on the exit of the hairpin and everyone started calling it that and it’s stuck, thankfully he was ok after spending a night in hospital.

 

Ah bollocks

 

Haven’t really checked the bike. We stopped off at Forth Valley hospital on the way back but there was a 6hr waiting time, and with the young one with us we decided to head home. Going to do a few hours at work this morning then head back through.

I don’t think my shoulder is broke but it’s in agony, I’m struggling to move it certain ways, would rather get an X-ray and be told it’s either ok or this is what’s at fault.

Feel like such a daft arse, just to daft with that throttle, too late to moan about it now.

 

Well after all the Shenanigans I’m good to go for Sunday. Sourced the bits that were needed and my mate came up and got the bike ready whilst I cracked on with my work, snowed under the now and had to devote my time to work.

Back to the hospital, we went home as I wasn’t waiting the 6 hours, Ruby was with us, my 4 year old daughter and at 21:00hrs I didn’t think she’d last so my intentions were see what the shoulder was like in the morning then gonnack through.

So Tuesday morning and it was no better, so I went to work with the plan of heading through at lunchtime but as each hour went on it got way better. I’m still in pain but I can move it pretty much as you’d expect, I took the road bike out for a quick spin to see how the shoulder was and it seems fine.

So game on for Sunday

 

Before I became one with the road

 

Well that’s the Endurance race over and done with. To say I’m sitting here exhausted and sore would be an understatement, I’m glad I made the race, I’m glad I didn’t let Pedro down but I’m regretting it. The shoulder is so sore, I’m so stiff, stiff all over.

Anyway, a brief race report. Arrived Saturday and set up, that was a chore as always, doing stuff like that seems to hurt my shoulder the most but a few were helping which made it that little bit easier. Got the bikes through technical inspection then relax, we’ll it should have been but I realised I had left my bag at home with my clothes, base layers and transponder. So Pedro went and got his car and we met the sister in-law in Crieff. After that we could relax.

The schedule on Sunday was 15 minute practise for rider 1, then rider 2, then 15 min qualifying for rider 1 and then rider 2. Combined times for qualifying results then for the Endurance race it would be a Le Mans start and then 100 laps. Minimum 3 pit stops and each rider can’t complete more than 30 laps at a time. Also, each pit stop has to last at least 3 minutes starting from the point where the rider coming in crosses the pit entry line as you come in.

The track was damp but drying, Pedro went out and put in a 57s something lap, I went out and managed a 59 something, tbh I was struggling, the off on Monday was playing on my mind especially at the hairpin. To be fair, I wasn’t too bad everywhere else but at the hairpin I was noticeably slower and my exit speed was so slow, very slow getting on the power.

Then the rain came, wets on! When Pedro went out it was starting to dry and he managed a 60s lap, when he came in he said it was 50/50, I had wets on and wasn’t going to change. I’ve never ridden a big bike on track in the wet, only the CB500, so was a bit worried but knew I’d just be cautious and it would be fine. Lining up to head out there were a mixture of tyre choices, wet front dry rear, dry front and rear and some on full wets like me. On the out lap it pissed down. Full wets were the correct choice.

I was shite though, I could only manage a 1:04.4 and with our combined Q time we qualified 21st out of 26.

For the start of the Endurance race everyone went out on wets, but it was drying, I put the dry wheels on as I knew it would be dry by the time my stint came round. Our plan was to do 25 laps each, it wouldn’t be a full 100 laps anyway as the leaders would be so far ahead, sharing the track with the likes of Rory Skinner, Sam Munro and the likes we knew they’d be ridiculously fast. Disaster from the word go, as Pedro set off for his warm up laps before the Le Mans style start he realised he hadn’t checked his pressures, and the bike felt terrible. So he came in which meant pit lane start, so dead last from the word go.

Away they went and it got red flagged after 6 laps, in he came, I got ready to go out but this wouldn’t be classed as one of the 3 pit stops but that didn’t matter, 94 laps to go and we were going to have 2 warm up laps then a grid start. I’ve never launched the big bike, great! Row 6 far right, bike wouldn’t idle so had to hold the throttle and away we went, I got swamped and was dead last, I didn’t care, after I settled in I got the head down and cracked on, I was starting to feel good but couldn’t get the hairpin like I used to, just taking it far too easy. My braking marker etc was the same but I was just to cautious with my turn in and mid corner and exit. So slow to get on the gas. I did 27 laps then came in, I think we were in 12th position at this point.

Away Pedro went and he fired in roughly 25 laps banging in 56s laps, I was doing 58s laps consistently so it was decent considering, when Pedro came in we were in 6th position.

My plan was to try for 20 ish laps allowing Pedro to finish it off, away I went and was banging in 58’s all day long, it’s as if I was programmed to do so, my lap timer would give me my predictive time which was always decent but then after the hairpin it would go much higher. Not to worry, kept it upright which is the main thing. I managed roughly 20-22 laps then came in and Pedro headed out and finished it.

We finished in 13th out of 26 teams, I think there were 23 teams that finished so not a bad result considering. Pedro has managed a 55.3s during his last stint but consistently banging in 56s.

Overall I’m pleased, glad I did it, would have liked to have went faster but considering what’s happened I think that was asking a bit much.

 

Some pics from the Endurance race, was a pleasure to share the track with some rapid guys, Sam Munro, Rory Skinner, Willie Monie, Bruce Burnie and many others. I shat myself when Sam Munro came by into Mcintyre’s, unbelievable pace. Something to work towards lol!