I was very excited at this round as it was the start of a new season…
We had made some changes to the bike e.g. A better engine than last year as my engine last season was just standard so I could get the hang of my bike, and we also felt there was no need last year as well. I saw big improvements to my riding, laptimes and positions.
Dad and I were hoping to be in the top ten for qualifying, and I did, I was so happy as last year we wouldnt have dreamt of this happening.
I qualified in 7th position on the second row, as we lined up on the grid ready for the first race of the season, I was a bit nervous but also confident too, I got a brilliant start and found my self in 2nd position when going into the second turn at druids bend, I held this position for few more turns but I just could not keep up with the pace and eventually lost touch with the leading group, I was still very happy as I was still in 6th position but another rider was catching me down, and by the last lap he was right behind me, we were coming into Graham Hill bend when he finally passed me, I was not too happy about this and wasn’t going to give up so I pushed too hard when goin round a long right hander called seers and unfortunately lost the front end and crashed. I was furious with myself as I would have rather have taken the points from that position.
In the second race things were not going very well either, I was quite nervous and a fair way back as well. Things didn’t get any better as the race went on as suddenly when I was going down the straight away my fairing broke off! A bit got caught in my gear lever and so it felt like I wasn’t changing down any gears, this messed me up and I totaly panicked and lost concentration as I was going into paddock hill at about 70mph, I totally missed my braking point as well, so I then jammed on both brakes and the bike began to fish tail from side to side because I had jammed the brakes on, mainly the rear for some weird reason and also because I was in the wrong gear! I was meant to be in 4th gear when really I think I was in 1st or 2nd gear!
I thought I was going to make it and some how just managed to hold on for dear life, but that wasn’t meant to be, the fish tailing got more and more violent and I ended up completly out of control, in the end I ended up being catapulted over the handle bars and then I found myself sliding down the road sideways, and as things couldnt get any worse someone then came and ran my legs over! And somehow he ended up being catapulted over the handle bars.
In some mad way I think I came out very lucky not to have wonky broken legs! But I know I can say they were very sore the next day and badly cut and bruised, I could hardly walk let alone ride my death wish of a bike round the track again! (I did though)
The next day the swelling to my legs had gone down a bit and I decided to ride.
The first race I felt more secure as a suspension mechanic at the track had kindly made some adjustments to my suspension. He said to Dad and I, “I dont know how you managed to ride around that track with this suspension set up this bad, let alone qualify in the top ten on it”!
In the first race on Sunday things went a lot better and I finally finshed my first race and finished a delightful 10th position. The second race I got another fantastic start and was in second place going into druids for the first time when unfortunately I crashed out again, this time I lost the front, the same way as when I crashed in the first race! (I came out unscathed but still very sore after my two previous crashes)
Tags: racing, Jess+Trayler, 125cc, bmcrc, mro
