For the first time ever, a BSSO event and a BSEC event clashed. This meant a decision had to be made by the Hornet Racing team, whether we wanted to go and do the endurance at Teesside or if we wanted to go to Cadwell.
To me, a straightforward choice. Not only did I want to do the BSSO event to defend my current championship position, but I don’t ever think I’ll pass up the opportunity to go to Cadwell. Probably my favourite track and the weather forecast was looking promising, so I was very excited.
Stock Qualifying
It’s good to be back at Cadwell. I’d changed a few bits on the scooter since the last race, so I planned to just go out, flat out and prove to myself that those new bits are fine. That plan seemed to work until Steve Hamilton got past me and made me jump, throwing my rhythm off. Gary and Gav then also got past me, so my aim was to get them back. I got back past Gav and almost caught Gary. Managing a 3rd position within the production class and 7th place on the grid.
Super Qualifying
A quick brake pad change made me start a bit slower than normal to bed in the new pads. Often forgetting that the brake wasn’t ready yet, out braking myself and getting a bit closer to the grass than I’d have liked. After I found confidence in the brake, I was on it, and it was brilliant fun.
Nikita Donaghue shows the lads howe it should be done…
First Stock Race
A brilliant start put me straight into first place in Production. An incredible feeling that unfortunately only lasted a few corners until Nikita got past. But this time, instead of her getting in front and then just fucking off, I stuck to her. Lap after lap and I was still on her. Possibly due to Brookie getting in her way, but also because I’m definitely getting the flow of Cadwell. Nikita managed to get ahead of Brookie and now I had to find a similar opportunity, however, I was concentrating so much on Brookie that I didn’t realise that Hammy was right on me, he found an opportunity to squirt past and I just could not reach him again. A 3rd place finish, but a real eye-opener to what I might be able to do.
First Supers Race
Not a massively eventful race, another decent start put me up in a pretty good position. A few corners and then the people ahead of me used their extra power on the straight and got away from me. I felt like I was on my own so began to try out different lines on bits I felt weak. A quick glance behind and I noticed Gary on my tail. Right let’s shake him off, I pushed hard but stayed relaxed, opening the gap between us and not letting him finish in front of me. A fairly uneventful race, and a 5th place in Group 6 for me.
#90 Andy Walker leads #73 Gavin Gray
Second Stock Race
The race started and I was very close to Nikita, almost trading paint up through the first few corners. She soon disappeared and was replaced by Shane. He was absolutely on it, I was really having to work to keep up with him. A few laps and some very close racing but I hadn’t changed positions. Steve then took a strange line through The Mountain, driving Shane off the track and onto the grass. Not really how I wanted to get past Shane, but I now had bigger fish to fry. Steve was battling with Brookie right ahead of me, giving me time and space to creep up to them. Steve managed to get past Brookie, and I was right on them, I couldn’t find the line past Brookie during the corner and Steve opened a gap. I’m still working hard, trying to keep things smooth and considered, then the bloody Geordie, Hammy gets past me. Not again!! A few times I was on him close enough to take, but probably just not brave enough to take the scarce opportunities given. Nikita, Steve, Hammy, and a 4th place finish for me.
Second Supers
I am getting pretty decent at race starts now, especially here at Cadwell where I am really comfortable going flat out through the first few corners. With this being a Supers race, all the bigger more powerful bikes eventually got past me on the straights. But a big battle between myself and Shane was the highlight of the race. I’m not sure if it’s a weight advantage or some mischievous engine building, but Shane just seems to pull away from me on the straights, so no matter how hard I tried through the corners and with outbraking, but Shane just made a gap and it kept on growing when on the straights. He took the win in our battle taking 6th place in group 6 and I took 7th, with quite a gap between us.
Brookie, followed by Nikita and Ben
Third Stock
Another brilliant start puts me just ahead of Nikita for just a few moments. I’m just trying my best to find that initial momentum and then keep it. And I think this might be one of the first races that I’d done that. I was working hard to keep Nikita in sight, with Brookie battling her and keeping her working hard too. Right, I’m in second place here, let’s just hold it. Just pushing hard, trying to use the correct lines, trying to pull the speed through the corners – all the while I knew that Hammy would be on my tail. I glanced back a few times when I could to see Hammy trying to close the gap. I continued to push on, my hands and forearms aching so much, but I couldn’t let this go. I glanced back again and couldn’t see Hammy, did he have an off? Or has he just backed off? Not my problem for now, I’ll just keep the pace up and bring it home. I cross the line just behind Nikita and Brookie gaining me a 2nd place finish in the Production Class.
Third Supers Race
Not the most exciting race. I went down onto the grid and realised the throttle wasn’t working properly. The throttle stop didn’t stop, allowing the throttle to spin all the way around. That made me realise how much I actually use that throttle stop. Going into a corner then trying to find the power again was difficult as the throttle wasn’t where I expected it to be. Then, as the race went on I could feel that that throttle wasn’t opening fully. The gap in front, with the battle of Gary and Jon, grew and grew. I was tempted to pull off and get a DNF, but thought I’d just take a slower ride around and just work on my lines and body positioning. I was absolutely dead last, until the rain started. First I saw George on the side of the track, then I saw Gavin, then I came around Barn corner to see both Gary and Jon on the ground. Guess I’m not coming dead last in this race then.
#28 Steve Wright on a wet afternoon in Lincolnshire
Last Stock
The heavens opened, and everyone got their wet tyres on, but I couldn’t put my wet on my rear hub. I’d stolen the rear hub off my road bike and it didn’t have long studs for the tubeless that my wets are on. A wet only on the front will be fine, right? Nope, like riding on ice is an understatement. Dave was leading the race until he lost his front end at the end of the straight. We all got around the Gooseneck and then I massively out-braked myself going down the Mansfield hill, using the paved overrun I could rejoin the race losing a few places. Right, let’s just take this easy and get it across the line. Jon Holt just ahead of me, I tried to push, as I’d have liked the win over him, but I just didn’t do enough to get past him. I finished 4th and made the decision to not go out again.
Final Supers Race
My decision to not go out again was overruled by the offer of a wet tyre on a tubed rim by the wonderful Mr Tatton. FINE! I’ll go out in the rain again, but don’t expect me to go fast. So that’s basically what I did, I went out, went fairly slowly around the corners, still flat out on the straights. You can’t fall off going in a straight line can you? Right, Adie?? Shane had an off and Damon had a mechanical issue. I, however, finished the race and brought home some valuable championship points.
Summing it up
My fourth time at Cadwell and it was as incredible as the first time, except this time I was a bit quicker. I think my biggest area of improvement has been with my race starts. Getting a good start immediately pushes you up the pointy end of the race, changing the focus from gaining places to holding places. My best result of the weekend was 2nd place in the Production Class, and against some much bigger fish than myself too.
Some incredibly quick dry racing and some much, much slower and much, much wetter racing towards the end too. Very, very excited to conclude the year’s racing at Lydden, where I might even have a go on something a bit different to what I’m used to. I hope to see you all there!
Words and paddock shots: Ben Readings #65
Images: Kevin Gunstone
The final showdown
This weekend, October 19th-20th the BSSO will be at Lydden Hill in Kent for the season finale. Go and cheer them on if you’re not at the Llandudno National Rally.
