Darley Moor Reports.

06/10/02 Stars of Darley. Final Round Darley Moor Championship. Practice was very cold and the track still had damp patches on it. Not the best conditions to learn a new circuit. Race 1 - Lightwieght 250GP/Formula 400 Qualifier. After morning practice I was glad to draw 23rd on the grid as was still not 100% sure about the track. As the lights changed I got a good start and fogot that I was not sure of the track and just got stuck in. On the second lap I was amazed to find that I was actually being held up by 250GP machines through the corners and chicanes.I was getting passed quite a few rider and just settling into a rythum when the chequed flag was unrolled and that was that. 10th though in my first race at Darley and from 23rd on the grid,I was slighty happy. Race 2 - Formula 400 Qualifier. This time I drew 4th on the grid and got a great start, up to second as we approached the first turn, but the bike then jumped out of 3rd gear and I lost drive for a second and dropped to 7th. Got my thoughs back together and my head down for the next couple of laps and got up to 5th. Them myold chum Tim Kermode,(I'm sure he's following me!!)came passed on the back straight and as we went through the chicaine I was right with him and seemed to be travelling a lot quicker into the kink before the hairpin, I was and hit my clutch lever on his exhaust pipe and trapped me finger, that hurts at about 80mph you know! Still got him into the hairpin though but on the straight I missed 3rd gear in the box again and he got back passed and I finished 6th. Race 3 - Lightwieght Final. Started from 10th on the grid and got a god start. On the second lap a 250 rider fellof right in front of me in the first chicane and lost a bit of time. I had got myself in a bit of a scrap with two 250 bike and lost the front group, I manged to get passed the two bike I was scrapping with, one with a bit of a dodgy move over the grass in the chicane, but a pass is a pass! On the second to last lap two more 250 bikes came passed on the straight to which Formula 400 bikes have no answer, the on the last couple of turn Andrew Whitehead caught me napping and got pased, being on the same bike as me and having raced there before I did not get chance to get back at him and finished 11th overall. Not very impressed with myself but it was just a fun weekend afterall. Race 4 - Formula 400 Final. Starting from the second row the start was very messy with more than one rider being a bit to keen. I got away in about 6th I think and had a good couple of laps but the bike is getting a bit tired and keeps jumping out of gear. On the last couple of laps I got involved in one of the best scrapps I have had with Tim and changed position at nearly every corner for the last couple of laps, but in the end Tim got the better of our little battle and I ended up finishing 7th. For a first visit to a circuit and with the little bike niggles I was having I was mainly happy with my day, but I may be back next season to Darley as I know there is a lit more in the locker for this track.