Round 4 - Pembrey

01/02 May

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Friday

Unfortunately combining Pembrey’s remote location with some dodgy Sat-Nav settings (avoiding toll roads does not make for a quick route into Wales) meant that I arrived rather later than expected on Friday and had to settle for having just 1 practise session, however on the plus side by this time the track was dry after a wet morning and taking the scenic route meant I arrived at the toll booths at the same time as my mechanic for the weekend also known as Dad.

The glamorous lifestyle of a club racer (note sun shining on the righteous).

Croeso I Gymru

Sunday

Thought for the Day – STAND MY GROUND AT HATCHETS

Race 3 – Being slightly disappointed in my race 2 result from Saturday my aim for the first Sunday race was to get back into the top 5 rookies. Something I was certain I could achieve simply by being less of a wimp at Hatchets Hairpin. (RACER EXCUSE NO.3) Hatchets is a very tight hairpin and with a grid of 34 I had previously thought that the best tactic was just to be careful and make it round, I now know that the best tactic is to force yourself into the inside line and don't move over for anyone. This technique proved successful and after managing to just keep Ross McLurg at bay on the last lap I finished in 19^th and as 5^th rookie.

Race 4 – although I got a reasonable start this race was plagued (RACER EXCUSE NO.4) by rear wheel slides especially at Dibeni where I had been caught out in race 2. Given this and the fact that it was the final race of the weekend I settled for a safe if not blistering pace finishing in 25^th and as 6^th rookie.

Special Thanks to:

Steve Jones (Dad) for making the long trek to be there on Friday and Saturday.

The strangers who helped me get my bike in the van after my ramp broke.

That’s right Welcome to Wales and after having paid Ten bloody pound and 90p to get in I should think I am chuffing welcome………by the way I tried and there’s no discounts even if your surname is Jones.

Wales, famous for; dragons, leeks, male voice choirs, coal mines, rugby and all manner of other stereotypes. What they don’t tell you about Wales though is that it is home to a little race track that, whilst it is situated in the middle of nowhere, is absolutely fantastic!

Pembrey is the home of welsh motorsport and after having a nightmare at Snetterton and having to miss the OultonPark round I was very excited to be here and nervously looking forward to my first round racing with the main MRO class.

Saturday

Thought for the Day – DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE MRO BOYS (and Girl)

Qualifying - Saturday as always started with a short qualifying session which for me, (RACER EXCUSE NO.1) having only had one practise session, was reasonable successful. I qualified as 5th rookie but as we were racing with the MRO Minitwin riders in this round I would be starting from 25th on the grid (out of 34).

Race 1 - A terrible start to my first race was worsened by me being a big wimp when entering Hatchets Hairpin. However, after a nervous first lap I fought my way back to finish where i'd started as 5th rookie, but better than I started as 22nd placed rider.

Race 2 – This time I got a much better start and all was going well until (RACER EXCUSE NO. 2) a big slide at Dibeni forced me to sit the bike upright and take a grass excursion losing several places in the process. Thoroughly p*ssed off with myself I rejoined the track and after quickly passing some of the back markers I set to chasing a group of 3 bikes far ahead of me. Finally on the last bend of the last lap I had closed the gap and managed to get the inside line to pass Gabrielle Burne, whilst I got really good drive out of the last bend it wasn’t quite enough to get past Ross Barnes and Andrew Scott and we ended up finishing within 0.073 seconds of each other. After riding my socks off I managed to claw back to finish 21^st and as 8^th rookie.

Length = 1.456 miles

Best Lap = 1:07.832

RESULTS

Race 1 = 5th (22nd)

Race 2 = 8th (21st)

Race 3 = 5th (19th)

Race 4 = 6th (25th)

Mixing it up with the MRO Minitwin riders

A good track and sunshine......life is good!