White Dalton Solicitors Blog

A huge downpour an hour before qualifying really shook things up and,
seemingly, played into my hands. On the 750 Streetfighter I qualified 7th on
the GP1 grid, which is fantastic. The conditions minimised the power
disadvantage so I felt my way around, kept building the pace and stayed
smooth. My best lap of 55.6s is just 0.4s behind that of reigning champion
Phil Crowe in 4th.
The track is almost dry now so my race at 3pm is likely to be dry. It’s
going to be fun either way.

Sixth in the Superstock class is ok, 18th overall relfects the level and
number of GP1 entrants. My qualifying session was troubled by a faulty tyre
warmer that meant I went out with a cold rear tyre. Then, after only a
handful of reasonable laps, the gear linkage broke and I had to pull in. I
think I can go faster in the races so I’m looking forward to some battles as
I try to move up. The ZX-10R is working better with every change I make too.
The long, 16-lap Superpole race is in an hour. Wish me luck.
Jamie

It feels great to be back at Brands, the place I consider my home circuit. After last year’s bad luck I really want to do well this weekend.
Usual apologies for the lateness of this blog and the absence of a proper preview. It was another week of ridiculous hours at work and everything else had to wait.
Today we had practice sessions in the morning and first qualifying in the afternoon. It went very well and I’ll start each race from pole position.
Time for bed now.
Wilko

This weekend will be remembered as one where little went to plan. We’ve just had thunder, lightning, hail and now rain. I had to miss the test and first qualifying because I was working until 2am finishing a magazine deadline on Friday, the end of a 90hr week, then in this morning’s second qualifying I was on dry tyres like everyone else and then it rained. Those who posted a time yesterday on wet tyres were ok, but I had to wobble round to set a time. The result – 32nd place, the back of the eighth row.
I’ll have to approach the rest of the weekend differently. Winning or getting on the podium is next to impossible, so I’ll make up as many places as possible, try to score some useful points, and have fun.

When good plans backfire…
Few things are more important than racing, but my wife is one of them so there was no way I was going to miss her birthday on Friday to travel to Snetterton. Arriving later on Saturday after a long drive meant missing practice and first qualifying. That was ok, since qualifying was split for this round, with a session on Saturday afternoon and one Sunday morning. The forecast said rain for Saturday, and dry thereafter.
As it happened, Saturday was beautiful and today is miserable. While everyone else set their times in the dry, I had to pop a few brave pills and try to get as far up the grid as possible in the wet.
So, I’m 13th on the grid of 19, on the fourth row. Not ideal, but not ruinous either. My quick bike and the long straights will take me past the less powerful class B bikes in short order, and then I’ll have to chase the leaders.
If it’s dry then I’ll need to find good pace quickly to have a chance, but it’s far from impossible. If it stays wet, then I could even be better off – I was fastest in the wet session by two seconds.
The first race is at 2pm. Wish me luck and I’ll let you know how it goes soon after.
Wilko