Tonfanau Race Reports.

25/05/03 Crewe and South Cheshire Round 2. Cheshire and North Wales Round 4. F400 Race 1. Front row start this time, got a OK start and managed to get the lead at the Hairpin, and keep it to the flag. Gary Gittens was right with me all the way but did not manage to get close enough to make a move. F400 Race 2. Second row start this time, got a good start and was again able to get the lead on the first lap. The race before us was the sidecars and they had a oil slick at the last corner and the Hairpin, these are my best two corners and I really surfed due to this, both Gary and Tim Kermode got passsed at the last corner. I then had a battle with Gary for the next few laps and when I did get passed Tim had just got to far ahead and second it was. F400 Race 3. Front row start again, this time Matin Powell also joined the fight and fight it was. This was a mad race and I really did enjoy it but would like to have got a better result, as it was I was 4th but just 0.9second behind Gary who got his first win. Second overall on the day and second in the Cheshire Championship race. 16/04/03 Crewe and South Cheshire Round 1. Cheshire and North Wales Round 2. F400 Race 1. Was feeling good about this wekend until I pulled up on the grid to see Martin Powell, on the same bike as me and I also know that it is the same spec as mine. Martin is the outright lap record holder at this track and has been and is a multiple champion around here. He got a better start than me and I decided to try and follow him, to my amazment he was actually holding me up at some points on the track, so decided to make a move into the last turn, and it came of and I held it till the flag. First win of the 2003 season,chuffed? You bet. F400 Race 2. As the flag dropped I went for a gap that was quickly filled by a rider moving straight into my front brake, net result - me taking to the grass at about 50mph and rejoining in last place. I had to really work hard this time and managed to get back up to 5th at the flag but must admit I lost my control a bit and if had kept it smooth could have done better but still managed a finish and points in the Cheshire Championship. F400 Race 3. Bit like the first race really, Martin Powell got a better start and I had to chase him down a lot harder this time, it was the last lap before I put a move on him but could not get it to stick this time and Martin got me back again. He had the lead throught the hairpin and was about to settle for second when coming out of the hairpin my bike just hooked up a lot better than Martins and I got along side going into the final bend, but Martin had the inside racing line. I held of the brake for a split second latter than usual and dropped my nose into the turn first and held it till the flag. Around the outside on the last lap, does it get any better!!! 26th August 2002. Crewe and South Chershire Club Rd 4. Cheshire and North Wales Round 5. I had heard stories about this track before I arrived, but when I got to the track (when, it's bloody miles from anywhere) they all became true. Now I'm not knockin the place, it's great, but there is sheep shit everywhere and I meen every where. The paddock is a feild (full of sheep Poo) and the track has a liberal coating to. Not great for side ways tyre grip!. Very bumpy to, if you have a hard set up on your bike, think about changing it. Race 1 - Super Sport 400. All races today are draw by ballot for the grid possitions. I pulled out 16. Not to bad I thought row 4/5. Oh no row six here and I have never seen a tighter grid. So 16th out of 16 and back of the grid. Just what I need first time here. I fluffed the start but got good drive after that and got to the hairpin in about 10th and exited the hairpin 8th. I could see that Tim Kermode was leading and as he was my main threat for the Cheshire Championship had to get up to the front quick. By the end of lap 2 I was up to third and had a bit of work to do to catch Tim and Ashley Holt. But by the end of Lap 3 I was right with them. The next few laps I just sat behind the trying to get a good pas but the pace was very hot and was not sure if I could. I tried a pass on Ashley on Lap 8 at the Hairpin but he cut a tighter line and repassed me. On the next lap he had a defencive line into the hairpin but ran a little wide and I had him on the drive to the next corner and on the way out of the same corner got massive drive and passed Tim too. He fought back into the last corner but I made the apex first and rode like buggery for the last lap and held on for the win. First race at the circuit, starting from last on the grid and won the race. I can be happy with that I think! Race 2 - Super Sport 400. 9th on the grid for this one, slap bang in the middle of the pack. Again this is not ideal as the grid is so tight it's scary. Got a better start but could not find enough space to get to the front. Made the first corner about 6th. Next couple of laps were spent getting through to the front and then lead the feild throughto the flag, back marker made life a little interesting but fell in my favior to be honest. Ashley had a low speed tumble so was left me and Tim to "put on a display for the local" - not my words. So first again and fastest lap of the race to boot. Race 3 - Super Sport 400. 7th start again but with Tim, Ashley and the top three in the Club Championship in front of me. Got a god start and entered the hairpin in 5th and exited in second, nice one. Sat behind Tim for 2 laps the he had a little bobble coming into and out of the last corner and I outdragged him up the straight and into the Hairpin, not may time I've been able to say I outdragged a FZR400 this year. I held onto the lead again till the flag, but Tim was right with me all the way and very close at the finish. Again the win, three in a day and fastest lap again. Less than a second off the lap recond . That keeps me at the top of the Cheshire and North Wales Champioship with one round to go.