Hey… It’s race day! Up bright and early with the sun, although it was extremely cold. I would like to say I went for a jog around the track but the bike needed a check over and a fresh set of slicks. All present and correct so time to sign on and get the practice pass…
Session 1 went well and I soon started getting dialled in with the new suspension set up.
Next up The Phoenix Open qualifying; All went well and nice to qualify with some quick guys out there, not to mention BSB guys in the mix.
Next the qualifying race for The Switchgear Systems Powerbikes; The first proper race of the year. Heads down bums in the air and waiting for the red lights to come on and go out.. Funny how the concentration silences the roar of the grid as the lights come on. The rest is a blur of apex to apex and the flag waves all too soon. Race one done. A nice steady race and sold qualifying leading to the afternoon and a full grid for the Phoenix Open race 1, placing a solid 22nd. Last race of the day is the Switchgear Systems Powerbikes and a step in the right direction with 20th place. A good day to start the season with… Time to chill.
Sunday and the rain had proper bucketed down overnight. The temperature had dropped right down and slicks were out of the question. Wets back in. The practice session found fallers everywhere with the tyres just not getting any heat in, plus there were more oil slicks around the track than a fleet of stricken oil tankers! Steady away it was and we finished the session in one piece ready for the days Racing.
Phoenix Open race 2. It was still treacherous out there and on the warm up lap there were some fallers so out came the red flags and the race was postponed. Back on the grid and off, steady away, tip toeing trying not to fall off as even more slide off track. Chequered flag and a perfect 4 points with an 11th.
Next SS Powerbikes qualifying. Still slippy out there but qualified 9th for the main race. With the rain briefly back, keeping the track cold and slippery, we line up for Powerbikes race 3, lights out and we're off. Nice and Smoothly does it to finish 10th and 5 more points.
Last Open race of the day next and still no improvement of track conditions. Wets on, lights out and away we go to bag a 9th and 6 more points for the license.
A great result and time to pack up and head home, happy with a good start to the season.
Thanks to everyone who helped and supported over the weekend and massive appreciation to our sponsors; APP Lifting Services, Biker Gearbox of Matlock and BGR Motorsport. Great to have you onboard.
To sum up the weekend; “The wetter the better for me” ;)
Hold on now, our feet barely touched the ground this week. No sooner home for a couple of days work and the van is once again full ready for Snetterton and the Endurance series, Round 1 this weekend. We’ll be testing with open pit lane tomorrow (Thursday) and ACU testing on Friday. The main event is on Saturday with a 3 hour race for Team Misfits / ARB Racing with Martin Watts as the second rider onboard his Triumph 675. We’ll be keeping it smooth and running 30 minute sessions each for the 3 hours. Time to get dialled in and knock off some solid laps. See you there!
Andy Booth - ARB Racing - Hamster #3 - Brands Hatch 2015 - ©Guy Rhodes Photography
Photo credit to Guy Rhodes Photography. Many thanks. You can reach Guy on his facebook profile