The Biker Place

Silverstone MRO 24/25th May

Rowan managed to qualify the little MK 10th out of a grid of 20, but kept coming in complaining that the bike wouldn’t pull properly, with the weather being hot and dry the little bike was just getting too much fuel, it was actually a continuation of the problems we had at Snetterton, I had a look and changed the jetting a little and Row went out for his first race.

An appalling start saw Row down to 16th place early on, then towards the end of the race he managed to pull up to 12th, he re-appeared in the pit shaking his head “it wouldn’t clear for the first three laps Dad, and the clutch is slightly slipping in the first three gears” so I pull the plug out and sure enough the bike is still running rich, the next couple of hours are spent changing the jetting, running the bike, changing it again until I end up with the weakest settings we have ever run the bike at, because of all this I don’t get chance to check the clutch, so just a quick adjustment is done as they call Rowan’s group up, then we can’t start the bike!!, after 5 sweaty minutes I realize that in the Rush I had forgotten to switch the fuel back on !! we get it started and Row gets to the collecting area just as they close the gates, Row has to start from the back of the grid.

Row is fired up and gets a much better start, by the end of the race he has managed to get to 11th place and set the fastest lap for the Mk80’s at 1.22 “bikes running brill now Dad, just a little clutch slip at the start then it was fine, it was sliding around on those Dunlops though”

Sunday

Its raining, in biblical proportions!! all that bloody work I have done on the jetting is out of the window, so I just richen it up slightly to account for the humidity, we also change over to the softer Sava tyres to try to generate some grip in the wet conditions.

Race1

Row takes his correct place on the grid and gets a reasonable start, they blast past us with Row in 8th after the first lap, then I see the yellow flags waving down at the first corner, we wait and the pack comes through for the second time - no Row - I leave the pit wall and make my way down to the first corner, Row is standing over the other side of the track, I wave to him and he gives me the thumbs up at least he is O.K

After the race they deliver Row back to the scruteneering bay “front went away Dad, nothing I could do , I held it on my knee but it wouldn’t come back, I could have caught that front lot as well” we take a look at the bike

The casualty count is one handlebar, one front brake lever, one rear brake lever, one footrest hanger, various crash bobbins have also disappeared (they they seem to have done their job as the bodywork has survived with just a few scrapes “that clutch was slipping bad Dad”

Right ! I have a frantic 2hrs stripping cleaning and replacing parts and then fitting another clutch, I just about get it all done when they call the second race.

Row is a bit slow off of the line and immediately drops to 14th, he pretty much stays there all race despite trying to pass 13th a couple of times, at least he finishes in one piece

When he re-appears in the garage he is not happy “what did you do to the clutch?” I tell him ” well I couldn’t change down!!” sure enough the replacement clutch had bedded in during the race, it is now dragging and stopping down shifts!

So our worst weekend of the year so far, although looking at the results we would have been pleased with them when we started, it funny how you expectations shift.

During the following week I strip the bike completely and rebuild with many new parts including a brand new clutch and clutch cable, I also have to change the top and as it is now over time limit, the fairing, seat etc gets repaired and re-sprayed all ready for NG at Cadwell park.

NG Road Racing - Cadwell Park

So after the fun and games at Silverstone, I spend load of hours in the garage preparing the bike for the important NG round at cadwell, important because Rowan is leading this championship by 16 points, we need to secure some good places to keep the championship rolling, with this in mind I get dispensation to practice on Friday with MSV, Rowan is granted a day off of school and I take a days holiday.

What a duff run Cadwell is once you leave the A1M, its a right pain on those little roads strewn with roundabouts and speed camera’s, anyway after 5 1/2 hrs we get to the circuit and get bedded down.

Last time here the fastest lap by a Metrakit was 1:52 by Jason, so we have an idea of what to aim for, Rows best was a low 1:53

Friday - practice

With a re-built engine to run in Row knows to take it easy during the morning, we also keep the Sava tyres on saving our race rubber for the afternoon, Row gets three sessions in running in, we change gearing a couple of times and row gradually gets more aggressive with the engine, as the dinner break ends we can feel spots of rain, so we spend the afternoon refining the wet weather set up, its a bit of a a pain because we haven’t had chance for a dry run to get the jetting sorted. Row is riding well though so the day is a success.

Saturday, its still raining … Row goes out and pootles around in practice, no problems he says that the bike is running really well.

Race 1 - qualifier

Row take his place on pole (for the F125’s), they belt off of the line, Row leading the F125’s, after 5 laps Row runs out the winner by a small margin from his cousin Sam, job done and Row is chuffed!!

The rain is due to stop during the afternoon, so I am constantly checking the state of the track, it gets to two races before Row is due out and the rain stop’s the temperature goes up, I make a decision to go to dry tyres for the championship race, its a bit of a gamble, so Row is made well aware that it might be sketchy for the first laps.

Race 2 - championship round

Watching the bikes go down to the start line and its a right old mix of tyres although the majority seem to have stayed on wets.

Row takes his place on pole - Go- Row is side by side with Sam into the first corner , they come past Sam then Row hard on his heels, the laps reel off, Row manages to get past a couple of times but Sam (on wets) manages to hold on and win by 3 tenths of a second!!

Both boys are made up with the race, they re-live it for us back in the paddock!! its fun watching them have a laugh about their dice for the lead!

Row has managed to limit his point loss by getting the fastest F125 lap, so Sam has just gained 1 point on him. The next F125 is some 13 seconds behind them!!

Sunday, and its sunny and hot which is nice, but we haven’t had any dry time on the newly run in engine, so jetting is gonna be a guess, I just drop the needle one place and then get Row out for a few laps of practice , he comes back saying that the bike is flying! I check the spark plug and peer into the cylinder head - looks good. Row also says that the gearing is now too short so the next size down of rear sprocket is fitted.

Qualifying race

Sam has pole for this, they line up - go!

Once again its Sam and Row out front and once again despite Row showing a wheel here and there he just doesn’t have the speed to make a pass stick, as the race goes on they get mixed up with some 400’s, Row gets baulked and loses the tow to Sam, Sam runs out the winner by 2 seconds from Row.

Lap times show that Sam managed a 1:51:95 and Row a 1:52:25 (his fastest ever around here)

During our little de-brief Row says that the gearing is still too short, so out comes the rear wheel and in goes the next smallest sprocket, I have a chat with Row to ensure he’s confident he can use it, he is.

Race 2 - Championship race

They line up (I am a nervous wreck!) GO- they belt off out of view Row around the outside of everyone ! I wait the nervous minute until they re-appear, Row comes through he has a lead! Sam is caught up with some 400’s and Tom Williams, lap two and Row comes through with some 400’s and a couple of GP125’s, he has extended his lead over Sam and Tom, lap 3 and Row now is in clear air and has a huge gap back to Sam and Tom, I am chewing fingernails!, Row keeps belting past gradually extending his lead, I see him take a good look around to make sure he’s clear then he just rides it to win! by 12 seconds!!

Row lapped in the 1:52 all race and his fastest lap was a 1:51:3 the fastest ever around this track by a Metrakit and the fastest F125 lap all weekend!

We are over the moon, Row is still saying that he needs a longer gear ! he reckons he could have got into the 1:50’s, he’s really damaged his knee sliders!!

What a weekend Row has extended his championship lead to 22 points (from 16) and the club also award him newcomer of the meeting award, the second time he has won this accolade!

So with the van loaded up with trophies and winners caps we head back home….

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