A solid Snetterton

I turned up late on Friday test day and managed to get the last session of the day for a shake down. It was worth it to get a feel for the circuit again. The fact I'd gone along on my own was playing on my mind as there was nobody to get me home if I smashed myself up and the two crashes at the last visit here were still fresh in my mind. So I elected to hold back a little, which is kind of going against the grain. One advantage to being on my own was an added amount of space in the van and the awning and just myself to think about made it all a lot easier, that's not to say I begrudge my good mate the other half of all the space. It was kind of strange him not being there.

Anyone for a swim?

The weather was playing havoc with everyone's minds, one minute it was ok then howling with wind and rain. But we were relatively lucky with just the last race of the weekend being wet, or rather half wet. One end of the track demanding slicks, the other, full wets.

Race 1 and my championship position of 8th dictated my grid slot. As we took the start for the warm up lap, two front row slots were empty. Phil Read on the Vyrus and Gyles on the Guzzi were missing having got late to the grid. They would start from the back, giving more room and a better chance of a result. A bit of a wheelie hamper my start a little but with the missing riders, I found myself 3rd going into the first turn and out along the fast revetts straight only to have Dan Wright on his red CBR600 and then Mike Baxter on the nice red Ducati come past and then clear off. A couple of laps later Mike lost the front in Sears corner. At 60+, Mike is a hard racer and took the crash in his stride and was sorted for the next race.

A familiar picture for most of the weekend.

I settled into a nice pace until Gyles came past and then Phil Read although I wasn't going to make it easy for him and repassed along the start straight, but inevitably, he got me straight back. That's the way it stayed. 6th place and some good points. A good start to the weekend.
Peyto took the win from Gary Budgen then Dan the Gyles and then Mr. read JR.

Race 2. Simon Peyto on his SV, leading the championship on pole with the two CBR Hondas of Dan and "the Budge" second and third, then Gyles fourth filled the front row. Then Phil Read outside of me. Looking at my on bike camera at this lot still make my stomach churn.
4th into turn one but it wasn't long before I found myself 6th again, looking at the same guys. Then Phil fell in the same place mike did in race 1, so 5th for me.
I again settled my pace until Mike blocked passed me in the russles chicane to the point we both almost stopped, or so it seemed.


As we blasted along the home straight I dug deeper determined to get my 5th place back.


Surprisingly, I out dragged him along the back straight and then seriously got my head down to get to flag before him. 5th and more good points.
Gyles took the win. Fantastic!

Then Gyles and good friend Big Chris celebrated. I was ready for a decent nights sleep at 10.30, as Chris decided to remove me from my chair and carry me towards the bar, picking up Phil Read along the way. A late night was had by all but it was a good one. My face ached from the laughter as I settled at about 1 am. Bloody northerners corrupting me.

Sunday race 1 and a 5th place grid slot. Another wheelie at the start but still 4th into turn 1. The inevitable again, Dan came past along Revetts. It took a couple more laps for Phil to get past and when he did, I returned the favour, then he got me again and as we headed out along the straight, I missed a gear allowing him to get away, I still managed to pull along side but phil is so much better on the brakes, there was no chance. From there I settled, and came home a lonely 6th. Still happy with that. Top 6 is where I want to be. So far, so good!
Gyles took another win! Good man.

Race 2. A drying track but still too wet for slicks meant everyone was on wets.
A good start and 4th yet again and then along Revetts as I out dragged Piers Hutchins, Gyles out dragged me. Slip stream city!


Dry track, wet tyres.

Lap 2 and Phil came by but as we approached the first turn Gyles and Simon Peyto tangled and both went off. 3rd. Just as I could smell a podium and Dan gets by. This man would continue to deny me a podium in the coming races!
As the guys ahead disappeared into the distance, I kept an eye on maintaining the gap to Piers behind me.I settled for the 4th and reasoned my self with conserving my expensive wets by riding in the wet patches and being as smooth as possible on the dry stuff. Having softened up all the suspension helped and as we all pulled off others tyres were a mess of molten rubber.
The Budge took the win from Read then Wright. This shakes up the championship but Peyto is still looking uncatchable.

Check out www.thunderbikeuk.com for the full points table.


A bit of a formal report I know, but that's really how the weekend went. No big dramas, no massively exciting long battles. Just concentrated on riding safe and not turning up the gas to get things boiling, more of a simmer. It was a valuable weekend and not one to be testing new limits. neither was it perfect. On looking at my camera, I found I was changing down one too many gears at the end of the start straight and subsequently heading into sears, I was in a different gear too, all weekend. I still don't know how I managed to be doing this and it probably explains why I went no faster than I had at Snetterton before.I know I was riding better but not faster. If that makes any sense? One for the note book!


Cadwell next and as I write this, I've already been there! Now that was a complete contrast, In fact the best and one of the most interesting weekends I have had so far.
I will try to get on with writing about it as soon as I can but with Oulton Park in less than 10 days, and having to work away from home in between, it's going to be difficult. I am looking forward to writing about it and I have some fantastic pictures to show you......