It's been so long, my brain is going to get taxed now, trying to remember what the hell happened.
The second day at Snetterton was almost as good as the first. We woke to another sunny day, and with the sprocket sorted, and disaster averted, all was looking well.
I was feeling good and really up for trying for a better result and going a bit quicker today.
The usual sick feeling coupled with rising adrenalin was present as we lined up for the start of race 1. I remember feeling a little out of step at the start and it soon showed as I got a pretty crap start with the bike bogging down off the line and Adam and Ian going past on lap 1.The first corner was mayhem. I was blocked a couple of times through the double apex turn and really felt quite unsettled for the rest of the lap.
On lap 2 at the end of revvets straight, as I hit the brakes, I found myself in a false neutral and heading straight on and onto the grass. Four guys got past. It took what seemed like the rest of the race to get some kind of rythmn back, enough to set off after the guys infront. I just couldn't seem to make any ground on them. I was running 16th at this point with no hope of points except Tim Churchill, who was suffering from a lack of slipper clutch, made a mistake at sears corner and gifted me 15th and a single point.
It was a pretty dismal race really. My lap times reflected this with a best time of 1:20.44 although on the up side, this was still as quick as I was going the last time we visited the circuit.
I headed back to the paddock determined to gather myself for a better result for the last race of the weekend.
The pack heading into turn one on lap 1.Getting off the line in race 2 was a great deal better as the old FZ was back to her usual self with a belting start from 15th on the grid. The first corner was good this time, and I saw off a couple of serious challenges from whom I'm not certain and I can only describe them as a blur of colour.I'm not sure but I think I was in 9th place on lap one but It wasn't long before the two Ducatis of Ian leah and Mike Baxter came past. The next lap and it was Gyles turn to get by me and from there on It was back to the norm, a good view of Gyles and Ian fighting like mad with each other and swapping places.All I could do try to hang on as close as possible, I could get close but not get past. I decided to spectate and concentrate on keeping Adam behind. Gyles and Ian had gapped me by a couple of seconds by the latter part of the race and Adam was all over me like a rash. We were all on it hard. I had a couple of big moments through the latter apex of the first turn with the back letting go more than I would have liked. Things were on the limit for sure!
I was having the time of my life out there and so were the other guys. Adam was having fun I guess, trying everything to get past and finally, on the last lap at the last turn out on to the home straight, he got along side and then infront. I don't know how, but I managed to out drag him to the line and finished in another 11th and less than a tenth of a second ahead of Adam. What an awesome race! I was absolutely buzzing. I felt like I had never ridden so hard and the lap times supported the feeling... 1:18.992 just inside the 18's and I was chuffed as nuts!
Once I had got back to the paddock and before I could lift my helmet, I could feel the adrenalin from Gyles, myself, Phil and all the guys around just spilling out over the floor. It really was a fantastic feeling.
I was already pumped for the next round at brands Hatch in just two weeks and the way I was feeling, I thought the adrenalin rush would last until we got to the circuit.
I was impressed with Gyles and the Guzzler, he really was on it and just seemed to be getting faster and faster every time he got on the bike, but as a self confession from him to not looking forward to or knowing well enough, the next track, I was secretly hoping to get him next time out........
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