EVENT: Round 2 Suzuki Tri Series
Manfield, 17th December 2012
Qualified 3rd
Race 1
1st
Race 2
5th
Round 2 Overall: 3rd
3rd overall in the points for the series
COMMENTS:
We headed down
to Fielding on Thursday night prepared for a really wet weekend however we were
pleasantly surprised that the rain stayed away for majority of race day.
We had a
practice day on the Friday that went quite well and we managed to get a good
setup for racing on Saturday.
Race day
started with a cool and damp track which we were to qualify on. The track being
in this condition made riding quite tricky, we also had a new bike setup to
compensate for the damp track so I had to build up to speed during the session.
I managed to qualify 3rd on the grid for the two races for the day.
Race one
started off with the whole field on slicks for a dry track. But as we started
our warm up lap it started to lightly rain on some parts of the track. We
started the race and had done about three laps before a rider came down
entering the start straight which brought the race to a stop. We were to have a full restart. The rain
poured down so we changed to wets. As we were bout to enter the track the rain
stopped and the track started to dry quickly, I was on wets and so were the
rest of the riders.
Trying out the
launch control for the first time made my starts a little slow which made my
races harder as I had to pass more riders to get up to the front. From the race
start I was put back to about mid field but by lap four I was up to second with
Ray Clee in front of me and Andrew Stroud behind. By this time there was a dry
line 95% around the track, so this is the time in the race where I decided to
hold off the pace a little and save my tyres as I knew that at the speed that
Ray was going his tyres would not last. Mid race Stroud had dropped off and I
still had Ray up ahead. I saw 5 laps to go on my pit board and I knew I had to
charge for the win. Lap by lap I pulled him in and on the last lap made the
pass and held on to win!!
Race two the
track was a lot dryer but still quite cool, again I got a poor start but worked
my way up through the field to fifth place. Sloan (BMW) and Craig (Suzuki) were
ahead of me and I was not able to hold the corner speed I would have liked for
the gearing setup that I had therefore I
was going slower around the corners and not able to get very good drive out of
the slower corners so I could never get quite close enough to make a pass. I finished fifth in race two which was good
but feel that a couple of changes and a better start I could have had a better
placing.
I finished
third overall for the day and am in third for the series behind Ray Clee and Andrew Stroud.
A good weekend
overall had by me and the team. Much learnt, big steps forward for nationals
and have a good bike setup for Wanganui.
Thanks for all
your support and I hope you are able to make it along to some race meetings
this season.
Thanks
Nick Cole
