AUGUST 2nd/3rd 2003 - MARTINSTOWN

SOUL : He was in really good spirits about the racing, but perhaps more so as he really enjoys the 2 day events. With a good weather forecast ahead it all added to what was supposed to be a really good weekend. Hhmm!

He was a little phased with some sections of the track, yet had the right idea with other sections. He did have a few psychological problems to overcome with a couple of tight downhill corners which cost him time each lap, but other than that it was a familiar story. In both Race 1 & 2 It was a game of catch up. He'd take a few into the corners only to be blasted past on the straights. I could see he kept looking at me then at his hand which clearly had the throttle wide open - what could he do? Trying to keep up he then goads himself into to silly mistakes and crashes. So unimpressed with himself, he refused to talk to me for ten or more minutes after his races. I tried to convince him that he wasn't doing a bad job out there. I could see where he was falling down (literally), but I tried to reassure him not to worry as we could use the first day to iron out the problems, then go for it on day two.

Well that had been the plan, and even though the track had been reworked, it was still rough as hell in places. He was still battling with his confidence to go down a particular hill quickly and brake really late, more for the benefit with the braking to get a better corner speed for the exit. He suffered the most with another section, with a slightly quick but bumpy down hill section where he ideally needed to keep it tight round through bend and roll off to go wide into the next semi tight corner and then feed the power to go hard up a monster hill for the auto's. Again, another section where he seriously lacked power. Unfortunately, he could never really get that line to work because he was trail-braking far too deep, but mainly because that line down the hill was too bumpy for him to keep the speed. It was a nightmare hill, that I found myself pushing him up; as he shakes his head at me because his throttle was again wide open going nowhere.

I refused to do it on day 2 in the hope he might work harder at his line and throttle position through the corner. Well, it did mostly work, but on the whole I think he was so fed up with the lack of power and his misfortunes he kind of gave up the fight. On his last race of the weekend he really did try, especially with that last uphill corner. On the very last lap with the flag insight just at the top of the hill, he had his quickest and best entry into that corner of the weekend, his speed was perfect, the bike was really banked over, perfect body position fed the power hard and was getting a great drive with the back end stepping out just a little, only to hit a bump sending his back end right out and chucking him off. Unbelievable!!, and ironic as he was getting it so right.

His sixth place overall, was a poor reflection of how hard he tried and pushed - at times too much costing time and places, but we are still right behind him and have much respect for his efforts on a now slightly off the pace bike.

You go Soul!!

OLD NEWS

JAN/FEB
 MARCH 2nd 2003 - MARTINSTOWN
MARCH 16th 2003-WINTERBOURNE STICKLAND
MARCH 30th 2003-MILBOURNE ST. ANDREW 
APRIL 13th 2003 - FOXHOLES BISHOPSTONE
 APRIL 27th 2003 - MARTINSTOWN
 MAY 13th 2003 - TRIGON
 MAY 25/26th 2003 - BERE REGIS
JUNE 8th 2003 - HENSTRIDGE
JULY 6th 2003 - MATCHAMS
JULY 20th 2003 - BERE REGIS
AUGUST 2nd/3rd 2003 - MARTINSTOWN
AUGUST 17th 2003 - HENSTRIDGE
AUGUST 31st 2003 - MATCHAMS
SEPTEMBER 14th 2003 F'HOLES BISHOPSTONE
SEPTEMBER 28th 2003 - LANGTON LONG
OCTOBER 10th 2003 - CANCELLED

SEASON REVIEW

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