[Andrew Meddings]

YESTERDAY MAT & MYSELF LEFT AT 4.30 AM HEADING FOR WAKEFIELD PARK RACEWAY GOULBOURNE.WE ARE BOOKED IN FOR A TRACK RIDE DAY. WE PUT A NEW ROAD TYRE ON THE FRONT OF THE WR450 TRAIL BIKE & A SECOND HAND REAR. WE ARRIVED AT 7AM ( ABOUT 2 HRS EARLY ) WE WERE VERY KEEN. RIDER BREIFING WAS AT 9. BECAUSE WE WERE SHARING THE BIKE WE HAD TO RIDE IN DIFFERENT GROUPS. MAT WOULD BE IN C GROUP & I WOULD RIDE THE D GROUP AS I HAVNT RIDEN ON A ROAD TRACK BEFORE.

WE STRAPPED MAT TO THE BIKE HE WAS PUMPED. HE TOOK OFF DOWN PIT LANE WITH A WHEEL STAND. AT TURN 3 HE DROPPED THE BIKE WHAT A BUMMER. HE WAS OK BUT BROKE THE CLUTCH POST & ONE OF THE GEAR CHANGE BUTTONS. WE WENT THROUGH THE PITS ON THE BLUDGE & A BLOKE HAD A SPARE POST & I WAS ABLE TO FIX THE SWITCH SO WE WERE READY AGAIN.

I WAS OUT NEXT ON THE TRACK THE FRONT TYRE FELT LIKE IT WAS DIPPID IN OIL SO I RODE AROUND THE TRACK LIKE MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD. THE FIRST 2 SESIONS WE WERE THE SLOWEST ON TRACK ( BUT UPRIGHT ) . THE TYRE JUST STARTED FEELING GOOD IN THE THIRD SESION. I WAS GETTING ON THE BIKE AFTER MAT SO THE TYRE WAS WARM. I STARTED PICKING UP THE PACE OVERTAKING MOST OF THE GROUP. THE BIKES TOP SPEED OF 165KMS IS RESPECTABLE FOR A DIRT BIKE BUT THE BIGGER BIKES BLEW US AWAY DOWN THE STRAIGHT BUT I WAS ABLE TO OUT BRAKE MOST OF THEM INTO THE CORNER.

IN THE LAST SESION THE BIKE WAS FEELING GREAT I WENT OUT IN THE C GROUP & WAS CARVING THEM UP. I WAS TRYING TO PASS A RIDER FOR A LAP & A HALF WHEN I TRIED TO PASS ON THE OUTSIDE OF A HAIRPIN BEND, I GAVE IT A BIT MUCH GAS & THE REAR KICKED OUT IT GAVE ME A BIT OF A SCARE . THE NEXT LAP I TOOK HIM UNDER BRAKES IN A TIGHT CORNER. THEY TELL ME A PHOTO EXHISTS OF THE SMILE ON MY FACE THROUGH MY VISOR BUT I WAS STOKED. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE PITS I LEARNED I HAD CUT 6 SECONDS OFF MY LAP TIME FROM PREVIOUS SESSION.

MAT HAD A GOOD RUN HIS LAST GO BUT WAS STILL FEELING A BIT NERVIOUS AFTER HIS FALL. I HAD A GREAT DAY & LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN

[rjames]

Sounds like you guys had a great time!!!
Keep it up.

Rick

[bdmpastx]

Awesome! I can't wait to get back on the road course again. I'll be doing it soon I feel though.