whats everyone doing in may?

[Deano]

I have 2 meetings to go too but I really need to get too snetterton or just have another blast round brands whats everyone planning.

I know there is a cadwell trackday but im there on the start of the month for 3 days so dont really wanna travel all the way back up from london as its looooooooooong way for me.
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Dean Stone #777
EMRA 2012 final standings, Formula 600s 3rd, Superstock 600s 3rd.
www.triplesevenracing.co.uk: www.ljmotorcyclerepairs.co.uk www.gettaylored.co.uk BN RaceScience, Now officially run out of money to carry on racing

[G]

Could be up for a play if it's a weekend/bank holiday date.
No specific plans of yet.

Also, the link in your sig to 'drews web site is broken, need to add a 'URL' tag or move the comma.

[Bishbash]

Only play time I have booked so far is 3rd May at Silverstones new track, should be fun. Kinda want to do Brands as well, but got to save some green to do it.

Oh Deano, how did your race go at Brands the other weekend?
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My current bikes are - YZF-R1 & GS 500 E

Trackday videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/bishbash13

[Deano]

well I dont mind a brands/snetterton day on the weekend as there seem to be a few available. got a new nitron shock coming so be interesting to see if I can improve on 54.1 on stock stuff.

Just fed up of doing Trackdays on my own or peeps who are not riding as they look miserable all day.

Bish I didnt do too well: 16th/30 in novice after lots of problems, wrong tyre choice and no practice.

then big race with 20 riders from bsb under 50 second laps, fastest being 47s I just couldnt compete and was at the back. so didnt push for another space wasnt worth risking for seeming as I was sitting at 32nd out of 38 riders.

the full report is on my website: www.triplesevenracing.co.uk this is what I said from the day:

Wow, what an eventful day today was, a massive eye opener for me as to what I need to do to become the racer I want to be.

Andrew, Anthony and me set off around 3pm on Saturday and headed off to Brands to race on the sunday. Due to circumstances a 2 day event just wasn’t possible.

We got to Brands with plenty of time, setup the gazebo in the rain and after a few beers we went to bed for 11:30pm. I slept the night away until 6:45 and couldn’t get back to sleep for some reason.

Scrutineering went ok, but after the last round i had to fit a new set of fairings and during the noise testing i noticed smoke coming from the front lower fairing. After closer inspection i noticed that the down pipes were touching the fairing. Whoops.

A mad panic ensued but we managed to find some heatshield on the circuit, great, apart from the fact it wouldn’t stick. After another panic we found some araldite which stuck it down no problem.

Then, yet more panic, i changed the OIL at home but for some reason it was running low. We grabbed some 10w40 to top up the engine but by this time the 10 minute practice session had already been called.

We quickly got the engine topped up and lockwired then shot off on the bike to the grid on full wets as the track was very damp.

I completed 2 laps were I noticed a red light on the dash, the temp had shot up to 130 degrees, SERIOUS issue here! I quickly pulled into the pit. Turned the engine off and pushed the bike to the gazebo which was the longest walk ever. The rad was pretty much empty, something i managed to miss with all the prep I had been doing for the last 2 weeks.

Once I got back to the van we got the radiator topped up with water and changed the rear wheel ready for the first race, Open Newcomers which was not long after practice.

I got going pretty much straight away with no time for tyre warmers, set off out and missed the warm up lap so had to start from the back from with stone cold tyres. Not good!

Open Newcomers:
The lights went out and we set off. I grabbed a few places but with so many bikes rushing into Paddock Hill it was very crowded, i didn’t feel comfortable being any closer than i was to the other guys so i stayed were i was.

Due to the cold tyres, as soon as i started laying on the gas i nearly dropped it, nearly highsiding on the exit of the first corner. This slowed me down a bit and i had to build my speed gradually. The whole of Surtees through to the exit of Clearways was damp and greasy and the bike had a lot movement from the dry racetec rear i was running. I don’t know if it’s because of the new tarmac but certain parts of the track were really greasy. I had problems working out how damp the track actually was in places because of the new tarmac.

I kept asking myself why i changed from wets to the dry tyre. The next couple of laps went well, i took a a couple of riders and was making nice progress after getting warmed up.

Then i found myself stuck behind a rider who was taking some sweeping across the track everytime i was making a move to pass him, going into Druids on the inside and outside i was nearly taken out everytime.

After nearly three laps i took one more places and was gaining fast on 3 riders in front of me but the race was finished.

I reckon 2 or 3 more laps and i would have taken another 3 places, as it was only an 8 lap race this wasn’t to be. It didn’t help that i started from the back and missed the warm up.

I came home 16th out of 25 riders with my best time being 57.81, the fastest of the race being a 55.47.

Somewhat annoying but a lesson learned for next time.

Pheonix Open (Timed Qualifying):
Everything was smooth this time, everything triple checked and ready. I decided to stick with a dry rear and wet front as the track was drying out.

I went out on the track and started putting in some laps trying not to push too much but, instead trying to get to grips with the track and hopefully find a better pace.

I was setting my own laps but was a fair way down the pack with roughly the first 18 riders there from BSB. They were setting 48’s and 49’s so i was a fair way off the pace. Still, it’s all experience.

I managed around 12 laps and decided to come in as the track was now bone dry and didnt really want to go too much faster on the front wet. I was starting a new job the next day and wanted to go home in one piece.

I qualifed 36th out of 38 riders with a 54.67 lap, the fastest I’ve seen recorded for myself. I’m still running a stock rear shock with resprung front forks so could be quicker with better suspension, when the budget allows this is the first thing on my list.

Phoenix Open (Race):
Got to the grid early this time, lined up on row 9 out of 10. The Lights went out and I managed to get a half decent start. I managed to keep some riders behind me but the crop of riders on this grid were super fast.

I managed to stick with a faster group of riders for nearly 5 laps but they eventually left me.
I didn’t feel comfortable with much more corner speed than I was carrying as i was getting alot of movement from the rear, which was making the bike wobble on the entry to Paddock and Druids.

I was also having clearance issues due to the standard rearsets on the same 2 corners, whilst it doesnt affect my speed too much, grinding your pegs on the tarmac is not soo good for many reasons.

I ended up riding my own race with about 10 of the bsb riders passing me, i was nearly taken out as 3 of the front runners passed me into Druids, pushing me wide.

18 Of the riders in front of me were clocking under 50 second laps, the fasted lap of the race was a 47.75 which was set by Allen Venter from MAP Centurion, a rider competing in the British Supersport series this season.

I can walk away pleased, although the result in this race could have been better, the experience of watching the BSB boys is worth more than the actual result.

I came home 32 out of 38 riders with my fastest lap being a 54.1, the lowest i’ve recorded. I’m pretty sure i can crack into the 52’s with a nice new rear shock and jack up plates on my footrests. Both are on the shopping list!

A big thanks goes out to GetTaylored.co.uk and Connect Contracts for helping me this meeting and helping in everyway they could, i’d also like to thank Fifteen Black Photography for taking photos of the day.

With money being tight at the moment i don’t know when i’m next out, hopefully i might make the next EMRA meeting.

You can check out the gallery here.

Thanks,
Dean
____________________
Dean Stone #777
EMRA 2012 final standings, Formula 600s 3rd, Superstock 600s 3rd.
www.triplesevenracing.co.uk: www.ljmotorcyclerepairs.co.uk www.gettaylored.co.uk BN RaceScience, Now officially run out of money to carry on racing

[G]

Afraid I can't guarantee great competition - only done two trackdays last year, one inters one fast. Will go straight to fast group, but going to be a bit rusty.
Best I did Brands Indy was 53.8 on an SV with sorted suspension, but that was when I was riding ok (I managed a 55.1 with 35 rear wheel horse power on the dyno which I was very pleased with the previous day - or at least when I found out that's all the power I had). Unfortunately I'm far from that level now .

[Bishbash]

Wow, sounds like you had it tough out there, you need a pit bitch to help you out dude

But a PB and riding with BSB boys has got to be an achievement on it's own.

I wish I could crack 54 second laps, but I am not that quick.
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My current bikes are - YZF-R1 & GS 500 E

Trackday videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/bishbash13

[Deano]

not looking for competition G, Im getting enough of that on race days. Just good company and people to bounce off about riding and going faster.

I'm sure I can get into the 53s but not gonna stick my neck out for one place.

riding with the BSB boys is proabably the biggest eye opener, ever. My lines are good, im failing mostly on the corner entry too corners at brands.

there was a couple of places I'm not crap at which is good hindsight.

I have a couple of pit peeps but we are all learning together and the problems were down to me being too complacent thinking everything was sorted, i overlooked alot.

I'm sure you'll get to 54s soon enough bish just dont pressure yourself it comes easier as I found when you are your most relaxed.

As im always told by BN Race Science, Good laptimes are a product of good riding technique and baby steps is the way forward.

I havent heard of one rider of just going out there with no experience and being a legend of a rider setting amazing laptimes. You get Mx racers coming to the scene doing well but there mx experience helps more than you think.
____________________
Dean Stone #777
EMRA 2012 final standings, Formula 600s 3rd, Superstock 600s 3rd.
www.triplesevenracing.co.uk: www.ljmotorcyclerepairs.co.uk www.gettaylored.co.uk BN RaceScience, Now officially run out of money to carry on racing

[G]

I've seen people go fairly quickly from the off (not 54s, but not too far off), but most of those have also crashed pretty quickly too - baby steps gives you a much better 'feel' for what the bike's doing.

I know in the past one of my big issues is corner entry speeds/quick turn in. I know what to do, but forcing myself to do it is another matter.
I've got to the point I've been happy with my late braking, but not managed to keep that consistently.

I generally wouldn't expect to stay near a decent race pace on a trackday - I try not to push so near to the limit on a trackday.