White Dalton Solicitors Blog

There are 35 bikes in GP1 this weekend as riders from other series and the
British championship squeeze in some extra racing before the end of the
season. It makes a hard class even tougher.
The session was wet, with more heavy rain falling part way through. It was
also littered with crashes. I pushed fairly hard but didn’t take any risks,
so I’m 11th in superstock and 21st overall.
The stability that I said yesterday is so important at Oulton Park is sorely
missing and I just can’t open the throttle enough in several key places. I
have a couple of ideas of what I can try in morning warm-up to improve it.
Well done to my friend Sam Cox, who is flying on his Aprilia RRV450 and
qualified third in his class. Sam is one to watch. Not only is he talented,
he’s a really likeable kid with a great attitude, a sponsor’s dream.

It was hard work but a lot of fun racing the streetfighter against the
1000s. I knew I’d slip back a bit from my grid position in the dry but I got
a good start and pushed hard. I finished 10th, which I’m pleased with,
having been passed in a straight line by two 1000s on the last lap. The bike
that mugged me on the line was a £15k, 200bhp ZX-10R, so no shame in that
for me and probably a big relief for him.
The lap times weren’t as quick as I’d hoped but there are plenty of factors
working against me this weekend, not least the viral infection that I’ve
been stuck with for two weeks. I’ve got some ideas to improve the set-up
tomorrow but whatever happens it’ll be fun.

Good news and bad news.
Bad news first. My bike dropped a valve during practice and my weekend was
over before it had begun. I’d hoped that the poor running was an electrical
fault but when I found pieces of metal – valve collet, it turned out – in
the airbox, I knew I wasn’t that lucky.
I can’t grumble too much as this is my first mechanical problem in nearly
four seasons of racing. Nevertheless, this could be rather expensive to fix.
Much more unlucky still, when the bike failed my dad was on his way to watch
me. From Canada. 8000 miles and a ten-hour overnight flight. I’m waiting to
meet him in Swansea right now, at which point we’ll retrace most of his very
long coach journey through flash floods and terrible traffic.
The good news? There’s a lovely rainbow over Swansea at the moment…

With a huge thunderstorm looming, we were racing the weather as much as each
other. Ten minutes after we finished it rained so hard that the paddock
flooded instantly and everyone ran for cover.
The race was hard but fun. I gave it everything and went a bit quicker but
was 6th in class this time and 9th overall again. I had a few big slides so
I know I was pushing hard.
Time for the long drive home now. Thanks for reading and supporting me!

At last, it’s time to go racing again! Missing Cadwell and Mallory back to
back made a huge gap in my season but it’s back to business now and I’ll be
fresh and hungry after the break. The RSRmotosport ZX-10R is ready to go and
I can’t wait to ride it again. The world has felt pedestrian without it.
Snetterton has had a huge makeover since we were there last year. The track
has been extended with a really interesting technical section after the
first corner that’s increased the lap by around 80%. It’s now a much more
varied challenge without losing its two very high-speed straights and
corners. The British Superbike action last weekend was great and I’m sure
ThundersportGB can produce more of the same.
At an educated guess I’d say the new layout should suit me and the ZX-10R. I
like fast sections of track and the Kawasaki has a scintilating top end.
Once I’ve learned the track I’ll be using the practice day to work on the
settings some more.
Another redeveloped track has been causing some havoc in the calendar,
unfortunately. In their haste to book events following their escape from
fiscal disaster, Donington Park managed to double-book both of the remaining
ThundersportGB events there this year. Both have been cancelled with
replacements due to be announced soon.
Finally, sorry for not posting pics from the cycle racing as promised but no
one got any of me. My vanity was deeply offended. There were some good
results though – 6th (of 30) in a brutal criterium in Bath, 5th (of 50) in a
four-man team 24hr race around the old Goodwood circuit with 508 miles
ridden, and a win in my first 10-mile time trial. The next challenge is the
Etape du Tour on Monday 11 July, a full stage of the Tour de France before
the pros get there. It’s relatively short at 65 miles but there are three
big mountains to climb. At least my fitness will be tip top for Snetterton.