Back On A Duc At The British

Just about to load the V2 into the van. Get another rip on the Ducati this weekend. Be interesting to see how the new surface feels at Donny. Come and say hello if you are in the paddock, I'll be doing the same as Oulton. #22 in the Superstock 1000 and #50 in the Supersport, hopefully a little less moist.

Images Ian Hopgood

 

Ha, love when folk say that. I crashed a few years ago at Knickerbrook in the wet and one of the picker uppers that day is often at the same spot. He always tells me to not visit him when he's in the same place. I was nearly off a few times there in the wet this year and the first thing I thought when I was still in the seat was he'd be happy. Not sure if this is a sign though........... 22 minutes ago, post #22 lol. Pop in for a coffee by all means.

 

Ha, mixed bag. I am waiting for images to surface but needless to say I properly killed the Suzuki. In a big way, doubt I will be riding in SSTK1000 again. Good weekend on the V2 though. Made my target lap times even if I did suffer from tyre issues in the feature race. Got lapped so good TV coverage when Booth-amos went by on the grass Got a feeling I am on for a permanent class change but watch this space. If any images show up of the motor going pop I will be sure to post them, thankfully I managed to stay on so no injuries or wreckage.

 

1:18

 

I knew he was coming, saw the blue light board on the entrance to Coppice. Put my foot out and held my line expecting him to pass on the inside. Had a little chuckle in my lid when I see him on the paint as I knew he was going to run out of room at the end of it. Always wild getting lapped at that level and I knew it was inevitable after I realised my tyre had gone on about lap 10. If I'd have maintained 1:35/6 laps I might have got away with it.

 

Yep, Conrod made a bid for freedom out the front of the motor. Got the little end in my cabinet already as it was in the belly pan. Thankfully it was in a straight line and if I'm honest I didn't really know what had occurred until I stopped, 5th gear and well over 140 sharpens the mind that's for sure. I heard an odd noise, saw the oil light flicker so pulled the clutch in. Tried to get off line as best I could without going onto the grass as I would've never stopped it otherwise at that speed. My lucky day I guess and although the clean up caused a slight delay I was thankful no-one else went down on my oil.

 

Figured I'd drop a little post here before I leave the comfort of my desk. I don't do such things from a mobile device. Headed to Snetterton early doors to ride the V2 again in the British Supersport. Come and say hello in the True Heroes awning if you are there. Just the one class from now on, as the stocker met its maker. #50 Image Paul Hunt as I was leaving the awning at Donington.

 

A few words and a little video for interest. Good run at Snetterton. Steadily faster all weekend. For context my fastest lap time on the Superstock bike with at least 45 more horses is a 1:55.8. My goal for this year on the V2 was a 1:56. Realistic I felt so I went for it. Free practice sessions were about set up and learning the track on this particular bike. Without the straight line speed and power of the bigger bike it was inevitably about brakes and corner speed. FP1/2 saw me sitting around the 25th/26th position mark and steady 1:58 laps. More to come. Given my pace and position I was confident of getting into Q2 so I left pit lane for Q1 in full on time attack mode. Out lap saw me nearly crash at the final corner due to a weird cut out of the bike but I kept pushing. By lap 5 of the 15 minute session I was into the 1:57s and finished the session going over a second quicker than in free practice. I was into Q2 by finishing the session in 9th position. We did however have an issue. When I pulled up to re-fuel in pit lane I noticed water coming out of the bike. I took my helmet and gloves off as I figured that was it as the bike had overheated. It turned out to be a tiny pin-hole in a smaller hose near the jubilee clip from motor on the right hand side. Fair play to the crew, they pulled it off the engine. Steam everywhere like a kettle, cut the damaged end off and re-connected it. Top up of water and away I went. Only lost 4 minutes of the session and went out and went faster to finish 26th overall. The sprint race was interesting, 10 laps in hot humid conditions. Start was manic and I nearly hit an R6 up the ass into turn one so lost a few places. Got settled and plugged away chasing lap times. Didn't go any quicker and if I'm honest I managed my pace because the bike was running hot the whole race. They run warm anyway but it just didn't seem to cool at all on the straights which concerned me, probably atmospherics but I rode accordingly. I could see the gap on my board was big enough to not worry too much and I was never going to catch the group in front so looked after the bike as best I could. I had a shock as I crossed the line on the last lap though, .1 of a second to the bike behind. Perhaps eased off too much? Needless to say I pulled the pin a bit on lap 10 so as not to lose a place. Fastest lap of the race for me and unbeknownst to me it was my team mate who had caught me. He knew I had put in a fast lap at the end though so didn't push too hard in the end. I finished 21st.

For Sunday I made a few changes. I had struggled with the front skipping through Palmer and Corum on Saturday so I firmed up the front end and went for the SC1 front tyre over the SC2 to try and solve it. It worked a treat and I had a really good feature race. 14 laps of hard graft but the racing was spot on. Initially a good scrap with Ryan Garside until Ben Currie came through from the back after an issue on lap one. I tagged on the back for a few corners which meant I got by my team mate at Wilson after Ben sat him up. Next was one of the GP2 bikes which moved me into a position to chase down Harry Leigh. I took me a few laps to get up to him and I passed him on the brakes into turn one after slip streaming him on the start straight. It's not often I get that panic feeling but that move got me worried. I genuinely didn't think I was stopping. Compromised my entry slightly which meant he came back at me into turn two but he ran wide and I just rode underneath him. That was it, 1:56.595 and P21 again. Really happy with the bike as no issues with heat and handling. Looking forward to Brands Hatch this coming weekend where I hope to build on progress so far.

Here's a little video walk around of the bike just now when I finished cleaning it. Good scrub for the radiators and it's ready for next meeting. Any questions fire away but the bike is a stock motor apart from a super finished gearbox. The dash, ecu and loom are Solo and required for Supersport. The Termi exhaust has to be fitted, or Akra if you prefer. The bike is pretty much up to spec apart from radiators. Hopefully they are coming soon but they are not cheap. The only other gains are through weight saving overall so it has a lightweight ally tank and I take a shit before I go out on track. Ohlins all round for suspension as I have used before on the 959.

 

Copy and pasting my twitterings rather than writing war and peace;

Good weekend on the @heroesracing @lagunabikes Supersport V2. Few issues in FP1/2 but all sorted by the crew. Had a cracking Q1 and Q2. Not far off my superstock lap times. Sprint race wet, P26 to P15. First ever National points, 3 rather than 1 due to being 12th in SS because of Cup and GP2 riders in front of me. Really enjoyable race despite conditions.

Sunday, warm up all well. P15 on grid for 1st time ever. Decent start, passed by @DaveyTodd74 @TomTunstall lap 3/4 made the mistake trying to go with them. Didn't end well. Off at Paddock Hill. Kit did its job, a small graze on elbow. @LS2HELMETSUK @knoxarmour cleaned up well


Boots and leathers will need a bit of TLC. Think my @factoryagencies Forma boot got caught under the bike briefly and there is a tiny hole in the arm of my suit. Will still be usable though. Got off lightly for a Paddock Hill crash I feel.


Not sure whether I will be riding the V2 again as it's due to be ridden by the rightful jockey this weekend at Castle Combe to see if he is fit to come back. It will be fixed for him I promise. Will see what this weekend brings and keep this thread updated.

 

Thank you, yeah shame about the crash but I was pushing all weekend so it was due. Charley rode well too on the other V2. Scott was out for the first time ever in the Superstock class on the Suzuki so he's had his baptism of fire. Pretty wild in both those classes due to the depth of the field. Onwards to Castle Combe this weekend and Thruxton in a few weeks time.

 

It's race week again. All change too as the original rider of the Supersport bike is back for Thruxton. I am getting one final ride at National Level this weekend then I am moving away to concentrate on helping the lads in the club paddock and do some MTB with our kids. Our boy is ready to start competing a bit more so I am going to do it with him and enter some Enduros and Mini down-hill stuff. I turn a certain age on Sunday too so I think I will be in the Super-Vet class

I have a few reasons for finishing but it feels right to end it here and to get my final run out at Thruxton is special. If you are in the paddock at the weekend come and say hello. I am running my traditional #22 in the Superstock class. #fullgas