Monday 30 August 2010

Oulton Park Round 11

Following the disappointment of Cadwell, Phil was hoping to make a better display at Outlon Park for Round 9 of the Championship. A few ideas had been suggested to improve ‘the feel’ of the Suzuki and he’d also had the forks serviced.

With the long and difficult nature of the Cheshire Circuit – and that fact that Phil only usually rides here once a year! – he used the test day on Friday to get accustomed to the track.

Oulton is only a one day meeting and so there would only be two races to contend. Saturday was a bit of a gamble regarding tyres as overnight the weather had taken a turn for the worse and heavy rain had drenched the circuit. Practice was a pleasant – if wet! – change and Phil went out on wets for only the second time this year. Without pushing too hard he was ninth overall on the timing sheets, though they count for little as the grid is decided for the first race on Championship positions.

By the time Race 1 was being called the weather was drying rapidly and Phil chose a slick rear and intermediate front (although in hindsight he could have used a full slick set up). Getting a fantastic start he very nearly got the holeshot into Old Hall and lifting slightly, settled into third place. Pushed back a few places as they charged down towards Cascades, Phil was soon battling for position though it was soon apparent that some of the other riders had not made the correct tyre choice. All seemed to be going well until the final two laps when Phil was pushed back a couple of places and was then mugged on the final lap to finish 12th (though this was actually 10th as two Thunderbikes were in front of him in the results).

By the time the riders assembled for Race 2, the weather had improved considerably with sunshine showing through the clouds. Not the best start made Phil’s work a little harder and although he felt quicker, the timing sheets showed a different story. Battling just outside the top 10 he became embroiled in a four-way dice for the final points. Lining up a rival on the final lap his race was very nearly over when the rival suddenly slowed as they flicked through Foulston’s Chicane and Phil had to all but stop to avoid him. Unfortunately, the rider behind Phil didn’t and slammed into the back of him, knocking his foot off the peg, damaging the seat unit and leaving rubber all down the side of the bike. Quickly trying to recover he managed to get going and was unlucky to finish 15th (13th in class). Back in the paddock, Phil saw how lucky he was as the rider behind has smashed his front wheel in the impact!

As with the previous meeting, Phil took the positives and whilst not the best results he had had scored points, keeping him sixth in the Championship.

Cadwell Park Rounds 9&10

Yes, I appreciate its some time after the meeting but better late than never as they say! Its not a ‘full report’ as such but will hopefully give you an insight into the weekend.

As per usual we used the Friday Test Day to refresh ourselves with the rolling Lincolnshire circuit. A few minor tweaks and all was set for the weekends racing…..

The two races on Saturday were – by my own standards – very average! Although I got going OK, I just couldn’t get into my usual groove and struggled to recreate the lap times I knew I was capable of and that I was running last year. To add insult to injury, in race 2, I was passed again (if you read the Anglesey report you will understand) under yellow flags as we ran up the hill towards Charlie’s One and nothing was done about it.

The Club again decided to run three races on the Sunday as they had time in hand. The first race was a copy of the previous races and although I made up a few positions off the start I started to go backwards, finishing a frustrating 8th place.

I fitted new tyres for the second race and although slightly more cautious on the new rubber, I had learnt from Snetterton that I could push them harder than I thought. That said, I got mugged in the first two laps and was getting passed by a couple of riders that I should have been beating! So, on lap two I began to claw back some of the places, putting moves into Park, Mansfield and into the Hairpin. Not quite as fast as last years quick times but a definite improvement over my times this weekend. Just running out of laps I finished 7th.

The final race was just another frustration. My times dropped off again and I didn’t recreate the result from race two and crossed the line a disappointing 12th. On a positive note though, I was upright, in one piece and sixth in the Championship.

Tuesday 17 August 2010

Anglesey - Rain or Shine?

This weekend, 21-22 August 2010 the team heads back to North Wales, to a what can only be descibed as a changeable weather track, Anglesey for the weekend's racing on the Coastal circuit.

We hope that some of you will be able to come and support us.
Cheers

Lou & Jagger

Thursday 5 August 2010

FANTASY RIDERS: ROUND 18




The league table after round eighteen of the Jagger Racing Fantasy Riders 2010 League can be seen above (click image to enlarge). Darren (1281 points) still leads the title race with Stuart on 1182 points in second place, just ahead of Graham (1173 points).

The World Superbike paddock came to Silverstone to race on the new Grand Prix circuit layout for the first time, in a meeting dominated by home talent. Cal Crutchlow set a blistering pace in qualifying, lapping within a second of MotoGP championship leader Jorge Lorenzo's pole time from earlier in the summer. Crutchlow then capitalised on his pole position by going on to win both races, his maiden victories in WSB. It was an all-British podium in race one as Johnny Rea and Leon Haslam took second and third respectively. Race two was even better for the home riders, as they filled the top five spots. Crutchlow again lead Johnny Rea over the line, with Leon Camier taking third ahead of Haslam and James Toseland. Series leader Max Biaggi had a poor weekend by his standards, relying on team orders to finish in fifth ahead of his faster-lapping team-mate Leon Camier in race one, before taking sixth in race two. Biaggi now leads Haslam by 60 points in the title race, with three rounds to go.

Round 19 of the Jagger Racing Fantasy Riders League takes place next weekend as British Superbikes takes place at Brands Hatch. See the Fantasy Riders website for further updates.