Freak
Is it still summer?
After last years DNF and hearing how the Dutch go mad in the grandstands at the end of the race I had to not only compete but had to finish and finish well this year, with a low entry I was gunning for top 10 possibly top 5 and an outside chance of a podium (in class).
Assen isn’t something to be taken lightly, it’s the biggest event on our race calendar and the one that requires the most planning, so much so that we (Claire and myself had been planning the return to the cathederal for several months).
***STRIKE 1***
All packed and ready to go the first (of many) set backs appears – The Frenchies were about to strike and blockade the ports, Claire made a few quick phone calls and we had booked another ferry from Hull to Rotterdam which also added megabucks to the cost of this round.
Thursday
The overnight ferry brought us to Rotterdam and the ensuing drive to Assen soon passed where we were greeted by Chass and Alec and the banter began, all set up in an hour or so and the Magners was flowing. The sun was shining and it was time for Alec and me to do our yearly tour around the exterior of the circuit – happy days. More and more familiar faces arrived and the drink was flowing freely ready for Friday.
Friday
***STRIKE 2***
Three afternoon 20 minute trackday sessions awaited us, I had even planned tyres and gearing management before we even set off, the plan was simple 1st session scrub tyres, new brake pads and test gearing, 2nd and 3rd sessions fit spare wheels (with old tyres to preserve new tyres for qualifying and race) and adjust gearing as necessary. So 1st session comes around, I’m being careful scrubbing tyres and after a few laps up the pace I approach the last left hander (where “Tiger” Toni Elias broke his femur in 2007) flat out in top (possible on a DD bike) and tip in, I spot a yellow flag on the outside of the turn so roll off slightly expecting someone to either have run on at the turn or gone straight on on the next straight into the chicane on to the start finish straight. I spot dust at the later and proceed to apply the brakes, at that moment I spot the next marshal’s post waving yellows and yellow and red flags – BANG I’m down without any warning and sliding very quickly towards the gravel. Turns out Dave’s oil cooler lines had come off and I was victim to the oil, I leap to my feet and bravely or stupidly I run onto the track to warn the approaching riders. Eventually back in the pits my shoulders killing me it’s not a small knock and I realise the dream is over Assen bit me again.
Andy Challis, Claire and Chass worked like hero’s fixing the bike for the next session whilst I rested my shoulder, I was all ready to just pack up if I’m honest, but with alot of earache from Claire I go out on the next session and although in pain enjoyed it, the last session lasted 2 laps due to Assens strict noise restrictions so the day was pretty much wasted.
Team boss Bob rolled up and the steaks were sizzling nicely so not all bad!
Saturday
***STRIKE 3***
More sun, fantastic! But my arm was killing me, I couldn’t (and still can’t) raise it without using my left arm, the answer – pain killers, we had 2 qualifying sessions both after lunch so more time to rest my shoulder until then, as I didn’t get chance to play with tyres and gearing Bob set about working on the bike like a man possessed. The plan suddenly changed to run one gearing selection in Q1 and another in Q2 and compare times. Q1 went well I was 3 seconds down on last years race time (but everyone was about 3 seconds down) and had qualified 8th so would get a brolly dolly, I knew I could go faster a lot faster but 2nd row I was happy.
Q2 came and a gearing change thanks to Bob again but the session was spent dicing with Ali Bisson rather than trying to get a quick clear lap, as we flew up the back straight wheel to wheel we came up on another rider (Vespa) very very quickly indeed Ali dove to his left and I decided to go right as Ali went by Vespa he moved right and I hit his back wheel in top gear flat out, it was a feet off the pegs heart in mouth moment luckily we both stayed on and that’s how the session ended, a second slower than Q1.
I made sure I apologised to Vespa and that he was OK. But unfortunately a few people got quicker in Q2 so I was now bumped to 11th on the grid (combined).
That evening I bumped into Mike Edwards and he invited me and Claire along with Franco for a track walk and some tips, the knowledge was incredible and Mike really gave me a few pointers to use come the race, what a thoroughly nice chap I must say.
Sunday
***STRIKE 4***
Grey and overcast, I was hoping it would clear but the rain started just as Mike’s (supermono) race started, it got progressively heavier and this would be my first wet race in DD, no one had knowledge of Assen in the wet and we had no practice on Sunday either so it was as fair as it could be given the conditions, but I really didn't want to be out there if I'm honest.
We line up and the rain is beating down there’s standing water everywhere, the warm up lap confirms that Assen is like an ice rink I couldn’t find any grip, the plans had gone out of the window now, I simply had to finish to see the grandstand reaction, I decided in an instant to play it very cautiously and wait for the crashes to happen, the lights went out and I made no attempt to mix it up in the first turn expecting carnage but no one went down, Andy Challis fell early on but was OK fortunately... lots came past me and vice versa, eventually battling with Nick this dragged us up onto the back of Claire on lap 3, Nick passed her on the straight I slotted in behind as the gap was just too small given the conditions, I braked and changed down the clutch lever went soft and I’d got a false neutral, pulled the lever again (back to normal) and made a 2nd attempt for a gear but again no drive, and again… Claire had vanished into the spray and I rolled round trying to find a gear until I rolled off the track at the next marshals post… game over, no points, no finish two years on the bounce… GUTTED.
I was like a bear with a sore head, from the potential lucky podium place to a DNF and an injury to boot, Claire packed most of our stuff up while I stayed out of people’s way trying to come to terms with everything we had put into this weekend to come away again without seeing the crowds that everyone had gone on about for the last two years.
***STRIKE 5***
We left the circuit at 4pm and by 6pm the van had broken down, recovery came along and towed us to a empty industrial estate to the local Mercedes dealer so the van could be sorted the following day, the recovery guy told us that we were in a pretty dodgy area so needless to say I slept with one eye open.
Monday
***STRIKE 6***
Van fixed by 1pm, tired and now laughing at how bad our luck was we were off back home, we’d already missed our ferry so “luckily” got on the 6pm ferry and eventually back home in the wee small hours this morning.
Tuesday
I’m shattered, got a bike to fix and a shoulder to heal. I was supposed to be racing this weekend but that’s out of the window now, I’d rather rest my shoulder than aggravate it further at the moment.
There’s luck and there’s bad luck, I think I had the lions share this weekend, hopefully I can find the time to sort the bike for the next trackday.
Fingers crossed for Pembrey now then.....
Finally it all seems pretty negative and to be honest I'm struggling to find anything positive to say about last weekend, but the DD paddock is fantastic and a HUGE thanks to everyone that helped get me back out there, Andy, Claire, Bob, Chass, Alec, the two Ali's, Dave and Pete the list goes on...
Assen isn’t something to be taken lightly, it’s the biggest event on our race calendar and the one that requires the most planning, so much so that we (Claire and myself had been planning the return to the cathederal for several months).
***STRIKE 1***
All packed and ready to go the first (of many) set backs appears – The Frenchies were about to strike and blockade the ports, Claire made a few quick phone calls and we had booked another ferry from Hull to Rotterdam which also added megabucks to the cost of this round.
Thursday
The overnight ferry brought us to Rotterdam and the ensuing drive to Assen soon passed where we were greeted by Chass and Alec and the banter began, all set up in an hour or so and the Magners was flowing. The sun was shining and it was time for Alec and me to do our yearly tour around the exterior of the circuit – happy days. More and more familiar faces arrived and the drink was flowing freely ready for Friday.
Friday
***STRIKE 2***
Three afternoon 20 minute trackday sessions awaited us, I had even planned tyres and gearing management before we even set off, the plan was simple 1st session scrub tyres, new brake pads and test gearing, 2nd and 3rd sessions fit spare wheels (with old tyres to preserve new tyres for qualifying and race) and adjust gearing as necessary. So 1st session comes around, I’m being careful scrubbing tyres and after a few laps up the pace I approach the last left hander (where “Tiger” Toni Elias broke his femur in 2007) flat out in top (possible on a DD bike) and tip in, I spot a yellow flag on the outside of the turn so roll off slightly expecting someone to either have run on at the turn or gone straight on on the next straight into the chicane on to the start finish straight. I spot dust at the later and proceed to apply the brakes, at that moment I spot the next marshal’s post waving yellows and yellow and red flags – BANG I’m down without any warning and sliding very quickly towards the gravel. Turns out Dave’s oil cooler lines had come off and I was victim to the oil, I leap to my feet and bravely or stupidly I run onto the track to warn the approaching riders. Eventually back in the pits my shoulders killing me it’s not a small knock and I realise the dream is over Assen bit me again.
Andy Challis, Claire and Chass worked like hero’s fixing the bike for the next session whilst I rested my shoulder, I was all ready to just pack up if I’m honest, but with alot of earache from Claire I go out on the next session and although in pain enjoyed it, the last session lasted 2 laps due to Assens strict noise restrictions so the day was pretty much wasted.
Team boss Bob rolled up and the steaks were sizzling nicely so not all bad!
Saturday
***STRIKE 3***
More sun, fantastic! But my arm was killing me, I couldn’t (and still can’t) raise it without using my left arm, the answer – pain killers, we had 2 qualifying sessions both after lunch so more time to rest my shoulder until then, as I didn’t get chance to play with tyres and gearing Bob set about working on the bike like a man possessed. The plan suddenly changed to run one gearing selection in Q1 and another in Q2 and compare times. Q1 went well I was 3 seconds down on last years race time (but everyone was about 3 seconds down) and had qualified 8th so would get a brolly dolly, I knew I could go faster a lot faster but 2nd row I was happy.
Q2 came and a gearing change thanks to Bob again but the session was spent dicing with Ali Bisson rather than trying to get a quick clear lap, as we flew up the back straight wheel to wheel we came up on another rider (Vespa) very very quickly indeed Ali dove to his left and I decided to go right as Ali went by Vespa he moved right and I hit his back wheel in top gear flat out, it was a feet off the pegs heart in mouth moment luckily we both stayed on and that’s how the session ended, a second slower than Q1.
I made sure I apologised to Vespa and that he was OK. But unfortunately a few people got quicker in Q2 so I was now bumped to 11th on the grid (combined).
That evening I bumped into Mike Edwards and he invited me and Claire along with Franco for a track walk and some tips, the knowledge was incredible and Mike really gave me a few pointers to use come the race, what a thoroughly nice chap I must say.
Sunday
***STRIKE 4***
Grey and overcast, I was hoping it would clear but the rain started just as Mike’s (supermono) race started, it got progressively heavier and this would be my first wet race in DD, no one had knowledge of Assen in the wet and we had no practice on Sunday either so it was as fair as it could be given the conditions, but I really didn't want to be out there if I'm honest.
We line up and the rain is beating down there’s standing water everywhere, the warm up lap confirms that Assen is like an ice rink I couldn’t find any grip, the plans had gone out of the window now, I simply had to finish to see the grandstand reaction, I decided in an instant to play it very cautiously and wait for the crashes to happen, the lights went out and I made no attempt to mix it up in the first turn expecting carnage but no one went down, Andy Challis fell early on but was OK fortunately... lots came past me and vice versa, eventually battling with Nick this dragged us up onto the back of Claire on lap 3, Nick passed her on the straight I slotted in behind as the gap was just too small given the conditions, I braked and changed down the clutch lever went soft and I’d got a false neutral, pulled the lever again (back to normal) and made a 2nd attempt for a gear but again no drive, and again… Claire had vanished into the spray and I rolled round trying to find a gear until I rolled off the track at the next marshals post… game over, no points, no finish two years on the bounce… GUTTED.
I was like a bear with a sore head, from the potential lucky podium place to a DNF and an injury to boot, Claire packed most of our stuff up while I stayed out of people’s way trying to come to terms with everything we had put into this weekend to come away again without seeing the crowds that everyone had gone on about for the last two years.
***STRIKE 5***
We left the circuit at 4pm and by 6pm the van had broken down, recovery came along and towed us to a empty industrial estate to the local Mercedes dealer so the van could be sorted the following day, the recovery guy told us that we were in a pretty dodgy area so needless to say I slept with one eye open.
Monday
***STRIKE 6***
Van fixed by 1pm, tired and now laughing at how bad our luck was we were off back home, we’d already missed our ferry so “luckily” got on the 6pm ferry and eventually back home in the wee small hours this morning.
Tuesday
I’m shattered, got a bike to fix and a shoulder to heal. I was supposed to be racing this weekend but that’s out of the window now, I’d rather rest my shoulder than aggravate it further at the moment.
There’s luck and there’s bad luck, I think I had the lions share this weekend, hopefully I can find the time to sort the bike for the next trackday.
Fingers crossed for Pembrey now then.....
Finally it all seems pretty negative and to be honest I'm struggling to find anything positive to say about last weekend, but the DD paddock is fantastic and a HUGE thanks to everyone that helped get me back out there, Andy, Claire, Bob, Chass, Alec, the two Ali's, Dave and Pete the list goes on...
Great to hear you just kept going. As said before maybe third time lucky.