Thundersport GB 500 Brands Hatch 29-31 March.

With Croft behind me my mind turns to this weekend at Brands Hatch. It'll be a wee bid different from Croft, no doubts there. I've benefited by doing Croft for sure and I'm in a better place than I would have been had I just went straight in I think.
I'm looking forward to it. I'll travel Thursday as I've the full day Friday test booked. I've a new set of forks to try and new tyres to scrub in too.
Four TSGB 500 Senior races to get stuck in to and also the bonus of the GB Racing Military Championship race.

 

I hope to be down one of the days

 

Are you not racing then??

 

No racing for me, I might do a couple of rounds in the summer

 

Thoroughly enjoyable weekend at Brands despite not qualifying for the main races. It became apparent very quickly whilst out in qualifying that the game has definitely 'moved on' for sure. Still as fast at the front but mid pack is even more competitive.
Being 2.5 seconds off my times from my last visit (2017) saw me 43rd from 47.
So 'cup' races with the novices for me. 8th on the grid.
The first race was enjoyable enough. Dicing in a group of five for most part. I ended up 9th.
The second race was better. Same group of us pretty much but I managed 7th. Straight after that was the military championship race. Starting 28th on the grid, I finished 24th.
Megalaps saw me up a place on the grid for Sunday.
The first race caught me cold. I fluffed the start but did my best, ending up 11th.
Second race was much more enjoyable. Really felt like I was 'racing' again, passing and being passed. I finished 6th.
Great to be back out racing in the TSGB paddock again. Already I'm looking forward to Snetterton. I'm off today to see @Sideshow Pob to chat about getting the 675 ready for Snett. Whilst I don't mind the CB in the military races at small or twisty circuits, getting mullered on the two straights at Snett isn't really my bag.



Over the weekend I found a second down to mid 58's.
Here come the excuses

1. The motor is tired. 46bhp is 5-7 down on a good motor.
2. I'm a heavy bastard. The result of 1+2 is I was pretty much the slowest through the speed trap. So take that into account, my results are not too bad
3. I'm not race sharp. A way off but more races will see that return.
4. I lacked aggression and 2nd guessed gaps instead of just cutting in there.

All these can be addressed as the season progresses.







Originally, the plan was to head to East Fortune 13-14 April. That's gone already as I bid to get sorted for Snetterton. Looks like EF is on hold until the NEMCRC meet in May.

 

Great to see you’re “back” into your racing and cracking write up sharing the experience.

Can only imagine the journey it’s taken to get back into it (I can only go from my experience of crashing on the road and “coming back”) - you’ll be up at the pointy end again I’m sure

 

Well, it has been some road but I'm there. There's plenty work still to be done though. Even if I don't make it back to where I was, the key is to enjoy it and I'd like to think as long as I'm enjoying it, keep doing it. If the enjoyment fades or stops. I'll take a step back (to trackdays). It's a lot of time/effort/cash to not enjoy yourself You'll always find me in the paddock though, in one way, shape or form

 

That ^^^ is the important bit imho mate. Everything else can come with time.

Besides, keeping it shiny side up, whilst steadily improving your pace & poise even if you did perhaps (with 20/20 hindsite ) perhaps play "overly safe" has to be far more rewarding than it may have been.?