SEPTEMBER 28th 2003 - LANGTON LONG

SOUL : It was very much a case of 'here we go again'. Soul was again really up for the fight, whilst still being relaxed and confident. As soon as we got there he disappeared to go and acquaint himself with the track. He moaned that there weren't any jumps, but he thought that it looked like and nice track and that he could do well there. Again he put his practice to good use and found his race pace quickly.

Race 1 however, didn't really go to plan. He got a good start and really managed to push through the first corner into the lead group, passing some of the 65's on the way. In about turn 5 or 6 he got clipped and was knocked off but quickly remounted for the chase. He came round on lap 2 running in 4th still looking strong until his engine died just before the start of lap 3. I tried so hard to get the bike restarted that I put the kick-start through the bottom of my boot, but the race was pretty much lost. I managed to get the bike at least ticking over, and pushed him up the hill so that he could still cross the line to pick up any points possible. Obviously it meant he was placed last, but points are points. Even if it did nearly finish me off running after him, trying with the bike, then the big push. I'd not been very well the past week, so it was no wonder I was nearly throwing up and passing out. I couldn't stop shaking, but I somehow managed to strip his bike down, although Soul did help me put the carb back together. We went through most things, and even changed the fuel and put another plug in; the second of the day. We never actually came up with a reason for the mysterious problem, but the two likely may have been when I used the last of the petrol can to fill his bike up, and perhaps it may have become too oily. Or perhaps the new handle bars are still causing an earthing problems with the stop switch. Who knows, but the important thing was that we got it going ready for Race 2.

His start was pretty good and he picked his line well through turn 1 and narrowly avoided a couple of fallers in turn 2. He later said to me about that, " … and when he crashed in front of me I just missed him but that put me out onto a line that I really didn't want to be on". Well that must have really fired him up because he charged through the next two corners to take the lead and cleared off. It was fantastic to watch again. He really pushed as hard and as fast as he could, and his new Dunlops seemed to be working brilliantly, digging-in right where he needed them too. He was easily the quickest through the corners, but was really losing time on the fast straight followed by the uphill section. On Lap 3 someone caught him on the uphill and then tried to take the lead but fell off in the process, so Soul just cleared off again. On the following lap at the same corner he himself was not so fortunate when he hit a bump and high sided, bashing his shoulder in a bit. He jumped back on and forgot about the pain, still in the lead but with the gap now closing. But again he could edge out that gap through the corners, but it wasn't long before Karl Noble did a brilliant job on catching Soul on the fast section and blitzing him on the uphill. Soul did a great job of keeping up with Karl on the last lap, but there was just not enough power to get back passed him.

It's a shame about his first race, because he's really trying so hard now to cling onto whatever championship points he can, and it was a little annoying that Race 3 had to be cancelled for safety reasons with concerns about the lack of visibility because of the dust. He was really pumped by then and was really pleased with his performance, especially over the last few rounds.

He does surprise me and make us all really proud. I've barely moaned at him this year, because he knows what he's got to do, and it's all come from his heart and mind with the determination to go out there and do the best he can with the bike and skills he has. He's the one that gets frustrated with me when it doesn't go right, and he's the one that has the bangs and bruises to show how hard he's trying. But he's also the one that loves what he does so much that he just keeps on coming back for more.

Respect to you my little man!

See you in 2 weeks time for the final round.

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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