A positive weather forecast filled me with hope of some incredible racing at Anglesey race circuit this weekend. With the really long drive (including some sightseeing) behind me and a good night’s sleep under my belt, I was more than excited to get back out on this brilliant track.
Stock qualifying
As always, just trying to find my way around the track again. A few laps feeling good. And then Gary got in front and I was trying too hard to get back past him. Out braked myself a few times, almost leaving the track. I’m starting to get with it and feel the track again now though.
Supers qualifying
Definitely getting back in the swing of this track. Enjoying a little battle with Damon and trying to learn from what he’s doing. Mr Bristow and John-The-Greek both came off early with issues.
Stock race one
A middle grid position on the 3rd row set me up well. A good start launched me into the first corner alongside the front runners. Just trying to tag onto them and learn from them. Gary was just in front for a few corners then I got past him on the straight. Now Simon Palmer and Brook Northey were in front, I was pushing as much as I dared, but just could not close the gap. I did however know, that Shane and Gary would be right on my tail. Pushing and pushing, all while trying to stay calm. On the straight, I glance back to see a bigger gap than I expected. Change of tactics, let’s just bring it home. The gap can close behind me just as long as it doesn’t completely close before the end of the race. Constantly expecting Gary or Shane to get past me, but I managed to cross the line before them. Taking the 3rd place in Production.
Supers race one
A really, really fun race, constantly chasing Gary and Shane. Sometimes trading places, always really really close. All three of us almost collided into each other multiple times, but my god, what a brilliant race. The sun absolutely blasting down on us, some incredibly scenic and somewhat distracting views, and plenty of very, very close racing. It makes it almost okay, that I just lost to Gary and Shane.
Stock race two
That was easily the most insane race I’ve ever had. Almost the entirety of the Production Class was neck and neck for the entire race. A blinding start from me put me up just behind Nikita, I managed to keep on her tail for half a lap but then she got away, shame. However, she was replaced with seemingly EVERYONE else. Myself, Gary, Shane, Brookie, Steve, Simon. It was mental, and it really felt like it could have been anyone’s. All of us pushing, all of us taking every chance we could, constantly trading places. What a RUSH! A few laps of just pure intense racing, but I was tiring. I just wished I could hold the initial speed but with the intense battling, I could feel my pace dropping. That, paired with me wimping out when we were entering a tight corner seven abreast was making me lose places. I found myself at the back of our tight battle when the last lap was shown. It seemed everyone wanted the last lap to count and everyone pushed harder than we had the entire race.
Crashing out
Down the back straight, around the tight right then around the left Hairpin, Brookie grounded out and was off, then Gary did the exact same. I had to really pull my bike out of the way to avoid running them over. I tried to keep on pace and use the situation to my advantage but couldn’t quite do enough to make a difference to the standings. Nikita, then Steve, Shane, John, then me in 5th.
Evening work
The gears on my scooter started to feel a little stiff, so I took the opportunity in the evening to swap out the inner cables. George lent me a hand while we had a chat about our racing aspirations, George’s possibly including less Vespa and a bit more Lambretta. Thanks for the help George!
Three lap practice
Because Adie Horrocks was only racing Sunday we all got a free 3-lap practice. Dave Bristow went out to try and diagnose a problem he’d been having and I was determined to stay on his tail. I went out and tried to get to full race pace immediately. I think, because there was no proper start, no one was at 100% race pace. But I did manage to keep Dave in sight, however, that was probably because he was still having issues with his bike.
Supers race 2 – postponed to Sunday
Treating the sighting lap as a bonus start practice, I absolutely nailed it, putting myself right near Steve. I followed him to see what lines he was taking. Very interesting. Another good start for this race pushed me into a good position, just on the tail of John Woods, I managed to get past him. Then Gary appeared, just managed to sneak past me, the game was on. It really is a privilege to have someone so close in terms of skill level to battle, it makes every race exciting. Battling and battling, me just on Gary’s tail, just waiting for an opportunity. Then it showed, I pulled around the last corner neck and neck, allowing me to get past him through my favourite, flat-out, left-hander. I felt like a hero! That was until I missed a gear a few corners from the finish flag which allowed Gary to get past, and me not enough time to do anything about it.
Stock race three
A good start really sets up a good race. I nailed the start and was 3rd overall for a few sweet corners, until the straight when a few of the much faster bikes screamed past me. I could slightly close the gap back by outbraking, but then they would massively increase the gap again. Steve Wright was just ahead, I was trying to close the gap just creeping up through the lefts and down the straights but he’d increase the gap as I’d crawl around the rights. I had a quick glance behind to see Gary right up my arse. Fuck, I had no idea he was there. I cannot let him pass. Just trying to keep him off, while still keeping Steve in my sights. I hear Gary right on me while we go around the corner into the downhill, I get to the bottom and around to the start/finish, glance behind and Gary is no longer there, a low-side down the hill had ended his race. Never the way I want to win a battle. A big gap in front and behind, for the last lap, to bring in a 3rd place in Production.
Supers race three
An off by John-the-Greek on the first lap, held me back and put me lower in the standings than I’d have liked to have been. Shane ahead, then myself, Jon and Gavin all fighting for the lead. Shane then low-sided on the first right, putting the battle just between the three of us. Seemingly anyone’s game, none of us pulling our punches. A few times Gavin got past in a corner and a few times I returned the favour.
Last stock race
Nikita!!! I’m so gutted because Nikita came off on that race, ruining her complete clean sweep. A low side on the flat-out right before the long back straight. An absolutely brutal off, a red flag and a restarted race, with just four laps this time. Right, this is a chance to get a better position. A good launch put me beside Steve, could I get past him? I was trying and trying, but the gap between us just grew. Let’s just try and keep the pace and go home with a 2nd. Fuck, that’s Jon, he’s right on me. Neck and neck down the straight, me trying my best to out-brake him on the corner, but him occasionally just creeping past. I managed to get him back on the first flat out and keep the lead, he was so close on my tail, just one mistake and he’ll have me. Going around the top hairpin, I’m slow there coz it kinda scares me. I know Jon is right on me, he takes the wide line to get down the corkscrew before me, but I just didn’t brake. I got into the corner just before and that stopped him from having the time to get past me before the finish. 1st to Steve Wright, 2nd me, 3rd Jon Holt.
Last supers race
Just a really fun race. I’m not as worried about results in these Super races, so I tend to have more fun. Another long battle with Mr Holt. We both know where I’m not so fast around this track now, so instead I just tried to block when I wasn’t going fast. That seemed to work as the gap between us grew and grew. A few times I’d glance back and see the gap between us growing. My focus changed to just enjoying the track, and seeing if I can improve my lap times. A 1:37.47 in the first session to a 1:35.88 on that last race. Doesn’t sound a lot, but on a racetrack every tenth of a second counts.
Couldn’t ask for much more
Anglesey was a bloody brilliant weekend of racing, from the long drive with some exploration to get there, to me cooking the team my signature “Random chicken and stuff in a wrap” and of course some incredibly close racing with some incredibly cool people. I walked away with a few podium finishes, but more importantly a massive, massive smile and my love for racing reignited after the slight depression that was the last, very, very wet, meeting at Darley Moor. Only two meetings left this year, let’s hope we get blessed with the sun again for those too.
Words and paddock shots: Ben Readings #65
Race images: Kevin Gunstone
