VMCC Round 1
VMCC Winter Series - Round 1 Taupo
Round 1 of the Vic Club’s 6-round Winter Series was held at Taupo on the full A1GP circuit. Unlike the rounds at Manfield there were no test days on the Friday and it had been a couple of months since I was last at Taupo. We arrived early to find a very damp track. Combined with very slippery track repairs to 11 of the 14 corners it was going to be an interesting day. I had entered both the Formula 1 (1000cc) and Formula 2 (600cc) classes for the day.
Qualifying:
With the track still very cold and damp the call was made for wet tyres. On the dummy grid most people were on wets although there were a few ‘die-hards’ on slicks.
I took the F1 qualifying session cautiously testing my new wets for grip across the many track repairs. I followed someone for a couple of laps before overtaking to put in a flying lap. All too soon the chequered flag came out for session end. I qualified 20th for F1.
F2 qualifying was taken a bit more aggressively. The track was still wet but the Metzeler wets were working well with no hesitation driving out of corners. This time I hung back to give myself some clear track and put in some much faster laps. I qualified 6th for F2.
F1 Race 1:
The track was still wet so the Wet tyres stayed on. Forming up on the grid I was a little surprised to find a bike in my space. After some shuffling with the help of the Marshalls we were set. The red flag left the track and I focussed on the start tower for the green flag. After a couple of seconds hesitation I realised we were starting on the lights .. doh!. This is becoming more common practice even at a club level. Knowing how important getting the start and first corner right, I’ve been putting in some practice.
The lights go out and I get a reasonable start and do not get ‘bullied’ out in the first corner. Everyone is riding cautiously but knowing how much I can push the tyres in the wet allowed me to make up a few places. I find myself in some clear space and rode the last 2 laps by myself to finish 16th.
F2 Race 1:
Its now after noon and a dry line is forming. I stay on the wets but quite few are now on Slicks. Starting from the second row hopefully will make the first corner less busy… or so I hope. I nail the start staying with the front row to the first corner. An inside line opens up which I snatch out from under Aria Lawrence who made a stunning start from the outside. I quickly latch onto Craig Frethy who is also on wets. Following him closely I’m surprised at how much his rear tyre is sliding and squirming, yet I’m not experiencing any movement at all at the same pace. I get past him on turn 9 taking the riskier line over the still wet and slippery track repairs. I keep him behind me until he outbrakes me at the end of the back straight. Unbeknownst to me Aria is following quite closely and on the sweeper to the back straight she performs a stunning move passing both myself and Craig up the inside. We chase hard down the back straight only to see a Red flag to end the race. The red flag takes us back to the placings of the previous lap which puts me in 6th. Yeeha ! a top ten finish.
F1 Race 2:
This race is well into the afternoon and the track is drying rapidly. I swap to the Racetecs and get the warmers on for a few minutes. This time everyone is a bit more organised and I find my slot quickly. The lights go out and I get stunning start rocketing past two rows of bikes… I started on row 5. I settle into a good rhythm and find myself racing alone chasing some bikes a few corners ahead. As I gain on them I suddenly find myself being passed by the LG team on both sides. This unsettles me a bit and two more bikes get past ! Once they clear off I give chase to Aria who is ahead. She is still on wet tyres and is struggling to get drive out of the corners. On the last lap I pick turn 9 again to hold a tighter line and slingshot past. As I know Aria will try to come back, I defend by holding a tighter line into the sweeper… a move that did not go unnoticed by Aria. I blast down the back straight braking much later than usual and cross the line in15th, 0.7 seconds ahead of Aria.
F2 Race 2:
With tyres up to temperature we form up on the grid. I get a good start but lose out to Aria on the first corner. I managed to get past her later and end up in a battle with someone on a Ducati 749 and David Cook on his SV650. I spent the next few laps battling with these two with many overtakes and re-takes. David on his SV was being outgunned down the back straight but to my surprise I was able to easily get past the 749 as well. David made a good pass on turn 9 while I battled with the Ducati for another half a lap before finally getting a gap. David was the next bike with the length of the back straight advantage and I spent the next couple of laps giving chase. I closed the gap to less than a second at the line finishing in 7th.
A good weekend with two top 10 finishes in the F2 class which puts me 5th for the Championship after one round.
I would like to thanks my sponsors who have made this weekend possible.
Metzeler tyres have been awesome providing unparalleled feedback and confidence.
Maxima Oils for all your lubrication needs in Engine oil, chain wax and coolants
Botany Honda: See Danny and his team for all your motorcycling accessories and making the above sponsorship possible
TripleZee Cycles: John for providing support and encouragement and his skill in dyno tuning the bike to get the best possible performance. See him for all your Dyno tuning and Electrical needs and FactoryPro parts
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