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Oulton Park and ready for the roads!!

Sunday, 10 May 2009

Hi all,

Well its been a busy couple of weeks since my last post. Oulton Park was a weekend of real mixed feelings. On one hand we had the best weekend we have ever had and on the other we know we were so close to it being so much better!

It was a good weekend for Karl. I really have to credit him on his approach this season. We spoke about the coming weekend and what we needed to achieve and then systematically worked through all of the issues we were having. He managed to be fastest in all sessions and even did a strong race run so we knew we were heading in the right direction leading into qualifying. Stuart was doing the same and both guys were strong during the sessions.

It always seems that when things are going smoothly then something happens to put the pressure on! After we tested a tyre in the first qualifying session we sat the final part out so that we were ready to push for Q2 and Q3. Q2 started and having gained an initial time Karl missed a downchange going into the Shell hairpin, despite trying to get it stopped in time he hit the grass and went down. Concerned was an understatement as if he couldnt get the bike going again he would have been stuck at the furthest away point on the circuit and wouldnt have got back for Q3. Fortunately, despite some damage, plenty of mud and seriously wet feet from the biggest puddle at Oulton Park, he got back and after a quick change of gloves posted another decent time on his other bike. He had mainly ran his No2 bike up to this point and although they are identical a rider will always tend to one bike. It was a blessing in disguise because as he rode the number one bike he felt it was better than the one he had led every session in so far!

We used the No1 bike for Q3 and immediately posted a quick time but then pitted as he felt there was a problem. we had already fixed the number 2 bike and Karl changed to it, i have to say he was a bit too wound up to post another good time and was just trying a bit too hard despite my best efforts to calm him down! It still gave us 3rd on the grid with Stuart getting 2nd and Camier hitting pole with a few seconds to go. It was the same four guys on the front row as Brands.

After checking through the data we couldnt find any issue with the bike, Karl had felt it was holding back a bit on corner entry. It looked to be down to the fact that Karl was pushing so hard he wasnt blipping the gas on corner entry gearchanges which was making the engine braking more apparent, Karl was gutted when he found out he had aborted the lap when he was 0.34 seconds up on his P3 time!

Wet morming warm up wasnt unexpected and we took the opportunity to test as he hadnt ridden the bike in the wet at all. I just backed it down on suspension the same as i would have for james last year and gave him a different option for engine feel and hit the track. Karl came back P1 and really happy with the set up for a wet race.

Both races ended up dry and its probably the best that I have seen Karl ride. he had been focussed all weekend and was ready to put it into practice. It would have been good to get the win but we have to be happy with a pair of second places. The main thing was that I feel there was only Leon, Karl and Stuart that could run at that pace, unfortunately Stuart didnt get the chance to do it in the second race, he would have definately been on the podium.

As a team now we have a much higher level of expectation and want for results, its not just thinking we could be in with a chance of winning its knowing that we can win races. it just makes everyone drive so much harder towards it. Hopefully we can bring that first win at Donington, we will definately be trying!

I'm off to the NW200 on Tuesday so we will be chasing the first win of the season there with Guy. Any spare time has been spent getting his side up to speed and with any luck i will be able to fill you in on my next blog!

See ya soon,

Mick

Posted by Mick Shanley