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AltoVyrus - 7th Round - Cadwell Park - August 08
Pre Race
In the heart of Lincolnshire England’s finest and possibly most technical circuit sits surrounded by trees. Its steep climbs and thrilling downhill corners present some of motorcycle racing’s most interesting challenges. The track is almost unchanged in layout since the 1950's and at 2.173 miles (3.5km) it has plenty to learn. The “mountain” famous all over the world is one of the only places left in racing where cars and bikes (if going fast enough) leave the track and become airborne.
To be competitive at Cadwell you need not only enough power but also a great handling chassis. Flat and fast corners lead to tremendous braking and bumpy changes in direction, 90deg hairpins lead under trees onto straights and super fast uphill blind left hand corners. No one skill or performance advantage can make the difference, it needs to be the package. So if we tell you we won the first race by 9 seconds you will understand how well everything is starting to work both bike and rider.
Saturday 2nd August 2008
Race 1: No mistakes and Phil lined up on the grid in 3rd position (championship position). This is the first race since we fitted new cams from our new sponsor Vee 2 of Australia, the whole engine (where suitable) is now fully coated with Oerlikon Balzers super slippy coatings (even the gearbox). The result a more powerful package.
Red Lights go out and Phil dives for the front. With the track still being a little damp in places he just hooked up and cleared off. What can we say but every lap he went a second faster than anyone in the chasing pack and we controlled him on the pit board !
Brilliant ride by Phil and safe. I could write about the pitched battles further down the pack, but why? Lets savour a unique moment of everything coming together at a fantastic circuit.
Result 1st position.
Race 2: Lined up on pole and with the track now fully dry, Phil had bikes behind all hopeful to reduce his first race success. Many had altered their gearing and setup ready for round 2.
Simon Peyto the current series leader hurt himself on the Friday practice and so his team fielded the Superstock (GSXR1000) national champion rider Lee Hodge to try to reduce our chances (and Garry Budgen) of scoring big points and so gaining too much in the championship. In the first 3 laps Lee and Phil swapped the lead every lap. Phil lead for the next 5 laps but the Suzuki of Hodge was always right up his exhaust pipe. Both left large dark lines going into and out of the corners. Both made small mistakes and caught the bike before a crash. The level of skill demonstrated had to be seen. The lap record for Thunderbikes was broken and then broken again. We knew either could take the chequered flag or end up in the gravel trap. As we waited for them to come over the line, it was Hodge who just took it from Phil.
The crowd applauded and cheered 2 great riders. Phil admitted a small mistake had cost him the place but no matter still a great ride and Sunday would bring 2 more races.
Result 2nd.
Sunday 3rd August 2008.
Dry weather, with a small amount of sun poking through, Phil is relaxed and goes out in the morning warm up for a test of the mods we think may give and edge over the competition.. We decide to go with the settings. This is still a learning season so we must try different things.
Race 1: 2 on the grid and Phil fly’s up the hill and out of sight in the nd pack. When they emerge he is 2nd on the road. Lee hodge is running quickly but so it Garry Budgen on his Honda CBR600. Phil fights for the lead and then on lap 2 suddenly looks to be struggling for grip. Hodge pulls a gap on Phil and then Budgen catches him. Phil is going backwards. The bike sounds fine coming past but it is obvious from Phils body language he is struggling a little. Budgen and the CBR get past and Phil struggles to hang onto him. Lap 6 and there is a gap from 3rd to second and second to first. Phil is obviously in trouble and is staying on for the points. Someone crashes and the race is stopped on lap 7.
When he comes in its obvious the wheel is seriously out of balance. Somehow the tyre has shifted on the rim and not only been out of balance but the wheel weight has added to the misery. A good result considering and we get the tyre re balanced and checked out.
Result 3rd.
Race 2: With everything working and balanced and Phil in remarkably calm spirits he is takes his position 3rd on the grid.
Once again we wait as the noise of the engines rises and then peaks and whoosh away they go. Rev limiters, short shifting, heads down. As the leaders comeback into sight we are in 3rd position but Phil looks comfortable and is clearly being held up. He comes over the line and moves into 2nd as he disappears up the hill. Unfortunately that’s the last part he played in the race. The fuel solenoid decided enough and stopped working. We can see nothing wrong and a tap once the bike returned made the bike run. A little frustrating for all concerned. We will investigate and improve like always.
Result DNF.
Although the last race was a disappointment we have so much to take from this meeting. The bike IS faster. The handling IS better. The problem with the warping pads HAS been cured (thanks EBC the new improved pads are brilliant). Don’t forget this is a new project and we are still improving. Already at the front we can only get quicker.
Next meeting is Oulton Park in Cheshire. We should run a fair speed and Phil will be riding hard....count on it.
