NG Road Racing
Pre-Injection

Pembrey 17th September (Saturday)

The championship is practically sewn up with Adam Jeffrey on his Yamaha R1 after I’ve been a victim of two DNF’s over the season due to being knocked off. To recover from the lost 50 points is very difficult but I wasn’t going to give up the championship without a fight.
If Adam took two wins, on which is basically his home track (on which I’ve never beaten him) then he wins the Pre-Injection class even before the final race of the season at Thruxton in October. So Game on!

Race 2; Round 11 Qualifier race; 8 laps

It was a very wet morning but the track was drying up. Typical, too wet for Slicks, Too Dry for Wets.
I opted for a Wet front and a treaded Metzeler Race Tec rear, not prefect but I had little choice. Adam came up with the perfect option a pair of Intermediates.
Started race from 7th, Adam 4th but due to the last time I was here, and got knocked off at the first Hair pin (Hatchets), I wasn’t that confident so as I went into Hatchets I was soon knocked back to around 11th by the time I exited. Once safely through I got my head down and had a great race working my way through the pack, meanwhile Adam was gone after his great start. I found I couldn’t push the pace to much as riding on a front wet in the drying conditions is like riding on marbles. Michael Hobbs (No 4) was also in PI class and by lap 4 I had managed to get past but Michael put up a good fight and dogged my ass all the way to the finish.
I finished in a respectable 6th in race and Adam was in an amazing 2nd

Race 12 Round 11; Championship Race; 8 laps

The weather wasn’t playing fair, one minute it was raining the next sunny and drying up the track. We had a massive problem working out what tyres to fit, then with a nod from Mark (Boss) I fitted a Slick front to match a Metz Race Tec rear. Then just as I turned up to the starting area the heavens opened up. I quickly shot out of the area and headed back to the pits, if I went out on the slick front it would have been like riding on glass. Pit performed a Formula 1 type wheel change to the front and fitted a Wet. By the time I had got back to the holding area the guys were on there warm up lap and I was told to head to the back of the grid. When I got there I thought it might be safer to head for my 6th spot and take the hit on what ever they would give me for this infringement.
So with the wet track I really needed a wet rear tyre but having no time to change I was on practically a slick for the conditions, so great care was going to be needed if I wasn’t to end up on my ass. Adam had decided on Inter tyres again not perfect but a far better choice than my non gripping rear.
Still not happy about the first bend I was soon pushed back to around 10th. The whole race was one of a balancing act, I could keep a good corner speed but I could only lightly open the throttle on the exit as the rear was spinning up and offering no drive so I was waiting for the back to come around.
After 2 laps I could see Adam in front not looking that confident so by lap 3, I passed him, I was on a mission and kept my head down. I must have spurred on Adam as he soon caught me back up and was following me until the last lap when he out braked me into Hatchets. I tagged onto the back waiting for a chance to take the position back but without any drive it was starting to be really dodgy. By the time we got to Woodlands we hit a back marker and Adam took no prisoners and cut under him right on the apex. I then accelerated and managed to pass him into Honda Curve on the inside but was unable to drive hard out of the corner so by the exit Daniel Baker on his R6 got the better of me before the line.
I had finished 9th in race and Adam 7th. The other guys on the Pre-Injection class had gone out on full slicks and had bravely kept their bikes sunny side up which meant I had lapped them.
Let me tell you about my team mate ‘Mura’. Just before the race he was sat on his dry bike (having both a Wet and a Dry set up FJ) but as I pulled away he held back a few minutes and then jumped onto the Wet FJ and arrived at the starting grid with the heavens opening up on a FJ with a set of Wet tyres fitted, I think he nearly fell off his bike laughing. With his great choice of tyres he managed a great 3rd in our PI class.
The officials had deducted me 10 seconds for ‘Incorrect starting position’ but I was still in a safe 2nd in class while Adam had kept his 100% record intact with a 1st.

Pembrey 18th September (Sunday)

Race 2; Round 12 Qualifier race; 6 laps

The day was looking a full wet day which may sound bad but there is nothing worse than a changing track. As the time arrived for the race it was again drying fast. Both I and the R1 guys of Michael Hobbs and Simon Smith were flapping around trying to make a tyre choice. Then with only minutes to go I opted for Wets front and rear as I didn’t want the same problem as yesterday.
When I turned up for the start the rain came… Least I had the right tyres on but looking across to Adam so did he. Plan was to make a ‘Stoner’ start and forget about my Hairpin worries. When the flag went down I got the start I wanted and was 3rd but as I headed for the exit, all of a sudden Adam appeared out the corner of my eye. I glanced across and had to pull the bike away from him as I was sure he was going onto the grass, for a few moments I thought it was my fault and as I backed off I raised my hand, Adam didn’t need a second chance and got in front. At this point I was heading straight while the track turned right, I grabbed the brakes only for the front to lock for a split second and even before I had made the corner a few of the Street Stock guys had took advantage of the mess and nipped in front. Shit that was close!
Adam was now gone so I kept my head down but on lap 4 Michael Hobbs on his R1 got past me, I regrouped and on the next lap got back in front of him.
On the final lap on the exit of Splitfires Adam had his hand up and was coasting, his chain adjuster had snapped and allowed his chain to jump off the sprockets. ( I have been joking all year that Adam has been having God on his side and that I’ve just changed religion to Buddhism and was waiting for Karma to take effect).
This meant I crossed the line in 4th in race and Adam was now at the back of the grid for the race for points.

 Race 12 Round 12; Championship Race; 10 laps

The track was wet, I had the Wet tyres on and I was in the mood to take advantage of Adams bad luck and my 4th starting position.
Had a good start and was trying to keep up with the leading guy Dean Richards on a R6 in the Street stock class but he soon got away so I aimed for Mark Skinner No 34 on his Gixer 1000 K5. Then on the final laps Mark must have had some problems as I passed him like one of the backmarkers we seemed to be catching. I looked behind and didn’t see anyone but like in races of old I just kept my head down and pretended the back markers were the leading guys. On the last lap I came up behind Mura on his FJ so I gave a respectful wave as I passed.
I crossed the line, 2nd in Race and 1st in Class, some 9 seconds ahead of Adam. This is the first time that I’ve managed to beat Adam on his favourite circuit so it was a great achievement for me. Also it’s worth pointing out that I finished in front of every 1300cc Street Stock who closest guy was some 6 seconds behind.

Now Adam thought that the Fat Lady might be Singing at the end of this meet but now he has to wait until the last race at Thruxton to hear her voice to retain his Pre-Injection championship (Unless the Gods pay me back and dish him out a DNF)