Brands Hatch 9th & 10th april
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Brands Hatch 9th & 10th april
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Last updated 27th November 2005
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SATURDAY Another year, another season.... All the planning and scheming, still did not prevent any last second panic. Most of us have been working on our new projects since last December and we still run out of time. We are going to have to start the season during August next year. Anyway, on a balmy weekend [ the weather was perfect] at what must be one of the top tracks here in the UK, Brands, our Superstock season began. The racing format this season, is spot on something we have pushed for, for sometime. Practice, Qualifying, and then race from your earnt position during the rest of the meeting. no more lottery starts, with novices /slower riders ending up anywhere, and better/experienced riders having to fight from the rear hacking their way through, a recipe for disaster. I'll get of my soap box. After everyone found their way round during open practice, sorting gearing, suspension, where to go, it was time to prepare for qualifying.... 2 open sessions with approx 14 laps to put the quick one in per rider, most of us, if not all, are of an age [over 21] 14 laps is a bloody long way. RACE ONE
Ray Johnston(GSXR1216) got a fantastic start up the inside into Paddock Bend, in pusuit of superstockers Neil Robinson ( RC30,) Malc Bate ( FZ 923) Gary Skellett ( GSXR 1100) who were away at the front. Jes (RC30) meanwhile was having a tense battle with a gaggle of twins who thought they were on a shopping trip to Bluewater! Kieron (GSXR) was busy giving the evil eye to some blasted Apprillia's. Neil took the win, Gary 2nd, Malc 3rd, Ray 4th, Jes 5th and Kieron 6th.
RACE 2 After a close 1st race the heat was on for a repeat performance, the lights went off and Neil (RC30) got his customary quick start, followed closely by Gary (GSXR) and Malcolm (923FZ). Ray on his monster 1216cc GSXR with Jes in hot pursuit with Kieron on his 750 slabside, holding off a brace of Aprillia's and a brace of Ducati's. Now begins the story of who turned out to be the absolute star of the meeting! Dean Silvester, winner of the Junior MGP 2004 was riding the Harris FZ of old campaigner, Steve Spencer, starting from the pit lane with Kieron, having never sat astride the machine before carved his way through the Thunder grid lap by lap, technically still running the FZ 948cc engine in, after having a disastrous Saturday morning. Back to the front........Neil sporting new brakes on his RC was leading a freight train of seven bikes, holding his own lap after lap until fatigue due to lack of sleep and beer took hold. The wall. As the last lap loomed Malcolm and Gary got stronger, fighting each other while sizing up Neil! Coming into Surtees the left right before Clearways, Malcolm came alongside Neil piping Neil by 5 one hundredths across the line. Followed by Gary one second later, Dean fourth nipping Ray by under a second, watched closely by Jes, Kieron, leading two Aprillia's over the line to take seventh. Dean got fastest lap of 53.66 @ 82.26mph. A good first day, now TO THE BAR.............
SUNDAY The sun has got his hat on and off we go again...... RACE 3 Neil got off to a blistering start once again, but all the boy's were within eyeshot of the leader into Druids, the race started to sort itself out by the bottom of Graham Hill bend after all the paint swapping had been dealt with! Into the left of Surtees, Malcolm's cold left rear side tyre decided to let go while he was up with the front boys not wanting to let Neil go away so early in the race, when BAM high side city! Monster crash....Malcolm's trusty FZ must have been easily eight foot in the air, cart wheeling . Everyone got through safely with Malc eventually stopping and just strolled off. Boy....he bounces well! Leaving Gary, Jes and Ray saying to themselves "that's another one out". Meanwhile from the back row Dean Silvester was quietly but relentlessly charging, 10th by the end of the first lap, picking off Dukes, Aprillias and TL's in one's and two's, as each lap went by working his way into second place overall by lap 10. Dean came in first for the Superstocks with Neil in second, who's fitness had improved enormously after a night of beer was riding out of his socks, back to his old race form. Third in was Gary who was putting in his solid performance yet again, fourth in was Jes nursing his RC across the line, fifth was Ray still dialing in his monster Suzi with Kieron coming in with what turned out to be his fastest lap of the weekend. fastest race lap was Dean with 52.32 @ 84.37 mph.
RACE FOUR Another great start by the Superstock boy's with Dean Silvester pulling a massive wheelie from the back row, Neil was on a mission to get as much fresh air between him and the rest. Gary was squeezing everything out of his GSXR to keep in eyeshot of Neil, equally Ray and Kieron were not giving an inch to the thunder bikes that were swarming like a flock of B52's, coming up from behind, like a stealth bomber was quiet and unassuming Dean.........by the second lap was up into 7th and the chase had begun in earnest. At the front Neil had managed to pull away from Gary who in turn had some fresh air and twins between him, Ray and Kieron who had now all been passed by Dean. Lap five saw Dean catch and pass Neil on the outside at Druids (that's what being young and fit does for you!) Dean came in 2nd overall and 1st for the Stocker's, Neil 2nd, Gary 3rd Ray 4th and Kieron 5th. Fastest overall race lap went once again to Dean Silvester of 52.21 @ 84.55 mph.
Great start to the season, thank you to everyone that came along either to race or just to watch, see you at Mallory on the 2nd May.
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUNDS 1-4
Neil Robinson RC30 85 Gary Skellett GSXR 68 Dean Silvester 948FZ 63 Ray Johnston GSXR1216 48 Malcolm Bate 923FZ 41 Kieron Hayes GSXR 40 Jes Haywood RC30 34
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