Weekend Review, Cadwell Park.
Cadwell park is a wonderful circuit but it has its own micro climate which usually includes a big cloud that sits right over it and every now and then drops a load of water. Someone, somewhere had seconded said cloud to an alternative purpose this weekend and we had wall to wall sunshine. The first time I have ever been here and it hasn't rained. To be fair though this is only the third time I have been here in 6 years.
Qualifying was, as usual, my first time out on the bike since our last race four weeks ago. I should of walked the circuit before as I was looking for previous markers that either weren't there or I just couldn't see. I stayed out for the full 15 mins and managed my fastest lap on the final lap. My PB from April was a 1:48.490, I qualified with a time of 1:48.001, placing me in 12th on the grid of 31.
Race 1 started with a near perfect start, I managed to hang onto the front guys for a few laps before their higher top speeds and the long straights meant I lost touch. I had by this point dropped those behind and found myself circulating on my own just working on my gears and time. I set a new PB of 1:47.534 and finished in 12th. My time placed me in 13th for race 2.
Race 2 was the race that didn't look like it would be run on Saturday due to lost time from stoppages. I got a great start and was in 10th through the entire race. I dropped off the front runners after a few laps but due to a disqualification I was promoted up to 9th after the race. My PB was now 1:46.107 and I was placed in 10th for the start of the third race.
Race 3 started OK but my clutch was beginning to tell me it wasn't happy with race starts any more. Due to some shenanigans on the start I went though the first corner in 7th place only dropping to 8th by the end of lap 1. Cadwell was a much more familiar place now having located my turn in points, braking markers and identifying correct gears for corners. I finished the race in 10th again with a new PB of 1:45.648. My grid position for race 4 was 10th.
Race 4. The grid was a little thin as it was one from the last race of the day and a few people had given it a miss to pack up. My clutch was unhappy again off the start, I think I need to replace it, and I got a false neutral as I selected second which lost me a place I had made up off the start. I lost a couple more places and ended the race in 12th with another new PB of 1:45.627.
A thoroughly entertaining weekend of racing with glorious weather. Every race saw a new PB and the bike finished every race without incident. I've finally got my reliable SV back. Next stop is Pembrey, Wales next month for the final round of 2018.
Championship points :82
Vince
Thunderbike Sport
Qualifying Time: 1:48.001
Race 1 Fastest Time: 1:47.534
Race 2 Fastest Time: 1:46.107
Race 3 Fastest Time: 1:45.648
Race 4 Fastest Time: 1:45.627
Fastest Thunderbike Sport time this weekend:1:39.752
