EMRA Round 2 Report

[Deano]

Hi Everyone,
After the success of the last round I managed to land a bit of sponsorship to help me with this round. So was looking set to be well prepared as the bike was left at the LJ Motorcycles Shop, so all I had to do was pick the bike up on the saturday.

After going to pick up the bike saturday morning I was told off by les that we rounded off the caliper off bolts on one of the forks legs, must of been my mate Tony as I remember asking him a few times to make sure everything was tight and bless him he was only helping and isnt a bike person so probably didn't realise.

After a frantic dash to find some caliper bolts we couldnt drill out the bolts after buying the best diamond HSS drill bits we could find in twickenham. So fuck it we had to go to the meet with one caliper stuck to the fork leg :s and when I started packing my kit at home I realised I couldn't find my license. So great I'm turning up to a meeting where my bike might not pass scrutineering and I might not be allowed on track because of my license as I got a massive bollocking from the officials last time when I done this.

But all my worrys were settled after not having any poblems with the bike and eventually finding my license in my leathers on sunday morning so panic over.

It had been raining on Saturday night and we woke up to a cold and sodden track so wets were the only option if I intended to stay on my bike.

Qualifying:
I went out for the first SS600 session and was pleased to find knowone passing me and doing a 1m3s lap to place me 8th on the grid but 4th 600, Nice start!
30 minutes later and the track still very damp I went a whole 2 seconds faster after chasing my mate Dave but when pushing the front I found it starting to tuck when turning for the chicances so couldn't increase my pace and qualified 3rd which I was really happy about (2nd ever front row qually). After the session I quickly applied a quarter of a turn of more compression which seemed to work wonders for the rest of the day.

SS600 Race 1:
2nd Row start and drying patches are just starting to appear on track. I stuck with the wets and went out on the grid to find only the main man himself John Ingram was brave enough to race on dry tyres.
the race started and I got a good start with the leading group, after 1 lap in I found John Ingram was starting to loose the front 4 riders and I was being seriously held up so made a quick pass into shaws, once passed I really started laying the hammer down and got to devils elbow and abviously gave it way too much throttle as I felt the biggest slide I've ever had followed by a huge highside which through me in the air but I still had one hand on the bars and pulled my legs back down to the bike but the race horse wasn't having none of it and highsided again and this time I didnt stay on. I sat up after 5 cartwheels to find the bike doing the same in the gravel.......Shiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!!!!

At this point I though it was the end of my day, we luckily got enough time to work on the bike, Tony, my dad and my mate chaz got the bike back together again to at least a rideable state with a banana shaped left rearset, we put the dry tyres on just literally with a 5 minutes to spare before race 2 so perfect timing.

F600 Race 2
This race I was lined up against a really good friend of mine David Manley and he is excellent at his starts which I tried copy but holding a bike at biting point whilst waiting for the lights to go out made me twitch and I rolled forward and stopped and went again, doh! I got a good start and slotted into 2nd place and after 3 laps I braked way too early for edwinas and Ollie linsdell and pete weston went past.
The track was still really damp and greasy and damp off the line and you could feel the tyres slipping on the exit of gerrards which really wasn’t making me feel comfortable and I was hesitating.
I tried to chase but for some reason the morning crash really knocked my confidence and I kept getting my gears wrong hitting neutral on the next lap coming out of edwinas loosing another place and another at gerrards, this wasn't going well I tried to sort my gear changes out and brought it over the line in 6th place but due to the jump start I got a 5 second penalty relegating me to 7th. My mate Dave won his first ever race and he was ecstatic and I was soo happy for him but for some reason the linesmens gave Dave a 5 second penalty relegating him to 2nd place which everyone was spitting bullets about and Ollie Linsdell was bumped up to the race winner. I can't stress how gutted I felt for Dave because I knew 100% that he did not jump the start and after 30 minutes in Race Control I couldn't persuade them otherwise.

SS600 Race 3
I had to start from the back of the grid on this one as I didn't finish the 1st race. I made a good start and by the 2nd corner I was in the top 10 and started slow making my way up to the top5, I dont know why but I nearly got took out about 3 times in this race with Jonathan Icke who Im fighting for the championshp with locking his rear wheel and shooting up the inside of me at shaws and on the next lap another move on the inside of shaws trying to barge me out the way but I wasnt taking it lying down so just kept my line and we were rubbing fairings all the way through the corner. Jon did get past followed by another mate of mine Joe newbould and crossed the line in 7th making me the 5th 600.

F600 Race 4
Starting from the 2nd row on the grid, the start was delayed for broken down sidecar on track so after 5 minutes of waiting it started to rain again on the warm up lap but only lasted for 1 lap.
I made another good start and was in 2nd place by the end of gerrards, 1st place over shot at edwinas and ran over the grass, I quickly went pass and was now leading the race.
I tried to quickly get into a rythm and set a pace and after 8 laps I knew my pace wasnt fast enough to keep the lead and was passed on the entry to edwinas. I chased and found I was going have to make a do or die move to get past but made an error on the last lap by shutting off the throttle way too early on the entry to gerrards loosing over a 1.5 seconds of time so was happy enough to settle for 2nd after how beaten up I felt from the morning. It was a mojor triumph for me getting a podium in the dry after the crash as I wasn't convinced I could get back up to speed.

So that was it, im definately not leading the classes now but its alot of weight off my shoulders now and next time out I will be trying to win https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5319/7068687295_543f778ef8.jpg
2nd place by deanobiker, on Flickr
so heres some pics from the day:
https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsfoliogb.phanfare.com%2F5534232&h=rAQG75_tGAQF9oMHMjw4nIdrL_f3EeaMM0NGXQl2GNx_JSA&enc=AZNZ_AA6KpYOIQrIBLGBdyte7vZLtwjPIRjWgXFwQ9Pv0sgMqKMlRNbPPqkexC7b7jJOsZPjU58ZvbIXs_NmO-Sy

Just wanna give a massive thanks to Carbon-Networks, LJ Motorcycles,Steve Lawrence, my dad, tony and the marshalls for picking my bike out the dirt in the 1st race.
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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

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Good read fella.
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My Flickr

[Deano]

Cheers mate! had to do a quick edit to tidy up spelling etc.
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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

[gray84]

I can see my mate behind you in a couple of your pics. #165.

Good work.
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Road bike - 2002 YAMAHA R6(SOLD) 2008 YAMAHA R1(SOLD) 2007 APRILIA SXV 550(SOLD) 2007 SUZUKI GSXR 600
Dirt bike - 1989 HONDA CR80sw(SOLD) 1996 YAMAHA YZ125(SOLD) 2006 yamaha yz250(SOLD)

[Deano]

Nice Gray84 how did Shaun's weekend go for him?
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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

[gray84]

I haven't spoke to him this week. I know he stayed on the bike so that's a bonus. I'm due to pop over and see him on Friday.
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Road bike - 2002 YAMAHA R6(SOLD) 2008 YAMAHA R1(SOLD) 2007 APRILIA SXV 550(SOLD) 2007 SUZUKI GSXR 600
Dirt bike - 1989 HONDA CR80sw(SOLD) 1996 YAMAHA YZ125(SOLD) 2006 yamaha yz250(SOLD)

[whitedevil]

Well done deano
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[SnowyTupwood]

Blimey Deano, that was a bit of a mission! Fair play for getting on the podium after cartwheeling, I've never been one of those riders who can get straight back on it after binning, it takes me a while to get back up to speed.

Great report and a cracking looking bike m8, good results there in what sounds like very difficult conditions.

Although i always lockwire the front caliper I don't actually think it is mandatory under the ACU rules. I think its just one of those things the scruits like to see.

Crack on m8, sounds like you're going well this season
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RD350LC/YPVS Race Bike and enough bits to start another one! - RD350YPVS Race Bike - TZR250 Race Bike - ZX9R - ZZR1400 project - DRZ400SM - RD400 - TS100 - TY250 - More info @ www.waveracing.co.uk or www.ypmrc.co.uk

[Deano]

Thanks guys,
It was hard work and my confidence was shattered but I knew I was being a pussy so had to snap out of it which was hard and I hate leading races as you have no reference as to what is going on and how hard you need to push to stay where you are.
____________________
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