E2E Racing News

A tough weekend for Lee R. @ Rockingham as Lee P. sits out with broken collar bone.

Lee R's Report:

I've not raced at Rockingham before and only ridden on the circuit once before a couple of months ago on a trackday.

I'd had a big crash on my mountain bike the week before and broke the thumb on my throttle hand, so I knew I was going to have a tuff time of it.

Friday practice started off well and by lunch time I'd got down to a 1.30.8 lap time, which I was quiet happy with. In the afternoon we failed to improve on the time, the tyres had gone off so I parked the bike up and waited for qualifying the next day.

In qualifying we managed to get pole by 3/4 of a second and matched my practice time with a 1.30.799.

First race started OK, I got my traditional bad start, but by lap 6 I had took the lead, only to lose the front through one of the quick left handers. I got away with just a grazed elbow, but trashed my leathers and did a bit of damage to the bike - the main thing being my quickshifter and rear sets.

We only just got the bike ready for the 2nd race and I struggled a bit but had a good fight with Richard Blunt and Rob Wilson - I finished 2nd to Richard.

Over night we decided to try and wire up a push button quickshifter using the remains of the Dynojet wiring and a spare starter switch, we got it ready and I tested it in warm up - it wasn't as good as having the proper strain-gauge on the gear lever, but better than nothing at all.

In the first race on Sunday I had a great fight Craig Jeff for 3rd place and I set the fastest lap time but finished a close 4th place.

In the final race I had another great scrap with Rob Wilson but couldn't quiet make a pass stick on him and finished 2nd by 0.3 of a second, a little frustraited as I felt if I could have got a clear lap I might have been able to make a break, but good close racing all in all.

Not as bad a weekend as it could have been. although not impressed with crashing again - that's two crashes in 2 meetings - before that I hadn't crashed in over 2 years!
This time though it turns out the front tyre was well past its best, shame because it really knocked my confidence over the weekend.

Off to Anglesey next, not one of my favourite circuits, but then after that we have Cadwell Park which I love!

Thanks again for Dad & Stu for working hard to fix the bike - I'll try not to break it again - Promise!