Racing Reports

Isle Of Man TT 2008

G,day everybody

Sorry it has been a while since my last update but my site was down during the TT and there was not much spare time for me to get it sorted !

To leave the Isle Of Man with two TT wins and a second in the senior is something that will take just a little while longer to sink in as it is by far my greatest achievement in racing.

From the day I arrived at the Isle Of Man this year the team took all pressure off me with no talk of results and just a plan to set up the three bikes and give me some time to learn my way around the course before race week.

In the final practice night I was well in the grove of the course and looking forward to the six lap Superbike TT the following morning.

Going into the race I knew a podium was possible but at the TT your main aim is to just finish the 405km long event as it is so hard on the bike.

At the end of six laps and two very fast pit stops by my crew I took my first TT win and it was more than I could have imagined.

After a rest day it was head down for the four lap superstock TT but with damp patches and heavy fog it wouldn’t be easy as I knew that would play into the hands of the riders that had more experience around the course.

But after the first lap I was leading by three seconds and with another perfect pit stop my GSXR1000 superstocker didn’t miss a beat as I took win number two by over fifteen seconds !

Straight out on the GSXR600 for the four lap supersport TT but due to a lack of practice time with poor weather I had not spent enough time on the bike to get a suitable race set up.

My result was ninth place and after two wins this was not where I wanted to be but that’s racing!

Supersport race two and I wanted to improve on my ninth place in race one but it was not to be as on lap three while in seventh position my little GSXR600 stopped with a broken cam chain on the mountain section so it was into the Mountain box marshal station for a cup of tea.

Friday was the final race of the TT with the six lap senior event open to the fastest qualifying riders from the event so far.

From the start it was a close race as John, Martin,Ainstey and myself were only seconds apart but then the TT course began to take its toll when Martin dropped out followed by Ainstey who was leading at the time.

So it was down to myself and John to settle the battle for the top step and I was ready to rumble!

As I was about to get the last lap board having  broken John and opened the gap to almost eight seconds when my foot slipped off the left footrest?

On closer inspection I could see that I had an oil leak but as the engine was still running strong  I continued on my final lap at a slower pace with the fear that I could get oil on my rear tire.

Half way around the course the leak was getting worse but the engine was still fine and I had almost two minutes over third placed Ian Hutchinson and did not want to stop with less than fifteen miles to ride.

With just a few miles to the flag the engine began to vibrate and I was holding my breath but the trusty GSXR1000 carried me across the line to take second place and the overall win for the 2008 TT event and the Joey Dunlop trophy that goes with it!

Overall a mega TT and thanks to each and every person that has helped me achieve my proudest motorcycle racing moment if not the greatest moment of my life!!

BSB Round one Brands Hatch GP circuit april 4/5/6

My first race of the 2008 BSB championship and my first time at the Brands Hatch circuit ad to that my first ride on the new 2008 model GSXR1000 Super Stock bike and I was looking at a big weekend of learning!

Arriving at the circuit and it was the first time any of the team had seen the new Relentless pit bay set up and talk about mega! Each year the BSB paddock takes a step up in presentation and this year is no different with all the top super bike teams looking as impressive as any current moto gp set up.

After my first lap of the circuit on the bicycle I could see this was my type of racetrack with some fast turns and plenty of up and down hill sections...

Friday 4th

Friday morning and my first run out on the new bike to learn my way around with 30min of untimed  practice.

The new bike felt great as I  began to build up to speed quickly and end the session in 11th position and considering this would have to be one of the more technical circuits in the UK to learn I was happy to be well up in the 42 bike field.

For my class I have one timed qualifying session friday and one saturday so with the sun shining and the weather forecast ahead doubtful I wanted to make the most of my first timed session friday afternoon.

Working away at learning the circuit and some small set up changes to the bike I was pleased to record the 9th fastest time considering there was one second covering ten bikes and I had ridden the circuit for less than an hour since first seeing the place!

Saturday 5th 

After raining in the morning it was drying out for my second and final timed session saturday afternoon and I was confident of improving my time.

The session was going well as I put in more laps to learn the track and improve my set up so with just minutes left I fitted a new rear tire and went out to set my final time.

As per usual so does every other rider in the field and trying to get a clear lap without being slowed by traffic around the 3.7km circuit is a mission.

Although I never got a perfect lap I was more than happy to improve my time and set the 8th fastest time to secure a second row start for sundays 16lap race.

Sunday 6th

I could not believe my eyes when I looked out my motel window to see the snow flakes falling sunday morning! All the same we headed out to the circuit positive that the weather may clear to let us race but no such luck as the weather continued to worsen and for the first time a BSB round was cancelled due to snow!

To say I was gutted would be an understatement as all was going so well but next week we are off to the Thruxton circuit for round two so hopefully the weather will be kind and I can put some points on the board!   

Sat 22nd Easter Races @ Bishopscourt

Back to Bishopscourt again and it was not much warmer than St Patrick's day a week ago but at least the circuit was dry.

Due to the poor weather conditions in England my BSB team mate Michael Laverty  had skipped the BSB test at Snetterton and would ride his Superbike at the easter races so it was a busy weekend in the Relentless suzuki garage.

The team was fielding six bikes with four riders !

Ian Lowry riding supersport , Michael Laverty superbike and Bruce Anstey and myself doubling up on the supersport and superbikes to gain time on these machines before the Northwest 200 road race.

First up was supersport timed practice and after a minor set up problem leaving me with only minutes to set a time I was happy to end up 8th on the grid.

Next up Superbike timed practice and I put my head down to set pole just ahead of my team mate Laverty.

Supersport race one

After an ordinary get away from the line as my starts on the new 600 are a work in progress! I began working my way through the field to dice with me team mate from last year Keith Amor to take second place behind Ian Lowry who had cleared out to take the win.

Supersport race two

Another poor start left me fighting through traffic as I began making ground on the leading group ahead.But luck was not on my side and the race was red flagged due to a crash and at that stage I had only made it to fifth place so that put an end to my hope of five podiums from five starts!

Superbike race one

I am getting the starts nailed on the new superbike and was away with the leaders into turn one. Michael was setting some fast laps and began to pull away as I fell into a race long duel with Marshal Neil who races a Suzuki in the British superstck championship.We swapped second place several times and out braking each other both took a shortcut across the grass instead of going through the chicane down the back straight twice! In the end I settled for third as there was no need to take more risks than needed and each race was being used to try new settings on the superbike.

Superbike race two

This time I was closer to Michael and had hoped to be able to race with him but once again Marshal was on a late braking mission and we began to slow each other up so it was a safe third again. I was happy as each time out the set up changes we were making had been improvements.

Enkalon Trophy

The Enkalon is the feature race of the day open to the fastest forty lap setters of the day regardless of what class so most of the grid was either super or supersport bikes.

After winning this event last year I was not in a hurry to hand it over but I knew Michael would be hard to beat. After the first lap I was tucked in behind Michael in second place and feeling comfortable as I went on to set my personal best lap times around the Bishopscourt circuit.With only a few laps to go I was close enough to try a pass but Michael made no mistakes and I did not want to try anything to desperate as I said these races were also a test session for us so it was a strong second place for me!

Mon 24th Easter Races    @ Kirkistown

So it was down to Kirkistown for easter monday and with a huge crowd and the sun out it looked as if it would be a brilliant day.

I would have to say that the Kirkistown circuit is my favorite in Ireland and I wanted to improve on my results on saturday.

Supersport timed practice and I set the third fastest time but due to the second group of supersport bikes suffering a brief shower during there session the grid was merged and I was put back to fifth on the grid.

Superbike timed practice and once again I set pole position with a 56.361 lap ahead of my team mate Michael with a 56.518 So things looked good for the race !

Superbike Race one was my first race for the day and I was close behind Michael in second place when the red flags came out and the race was stopped due to a fall.

After the restart I was in second into turn one but passing Michael into the top turn under brakes took the lead and then the red flags came out again and the race was postponed till later in the day.

Supersport race one and another ordinary start had me working my way through the field up to third place on lap three of ten as the red flags came out again to stop the race!!

Although the sun was out at times the cold conditions and strong wind was causing many riders to fall and the race meeting was cancelled on safety reasons.

I guess the organizers have to stop the event when people keep falling but I was gutted as the lap times were near lap record pace and both my bikes were working so well.

So that was the aster races done and dusted for 2008 .

Overall I was happy as my bikes improved so much over the weekend with our set up changes and I am confident we would have had some strong results on monday if we had got to complete our events.

But those results will just have to wit for another day...

Cheers

Cam

Sat 15th St Patrick's Day Races @ Bishopscourt Circuit

My First race with the Relentless Suzuki team was at the St Patrick's Day races held at the Bishopscourt circuit.

Held in wet and cold conditions it was far from ideal but still valuable for me to get as much time on the new machines as possible to gain a base set up for the busy race schedule this season.

It was a hectic day riding in both the Superbike and Supersport classes.

First out on the superbike and it was 15th fastest for me at the end of the short timed session.

Turning this around to take pole position in the Supersport class on my first ever time on the 600cc machine was a positive debut and hopefully a sign of things to come!

Using the days 10 lap races more as track time to try set up changes with the bikes than focusing on results I was happy to take 4th place in a wet Supersport race.

After taking a 5th in the first Superbike race and continuing to improve the chassis set up I was happy to take 3rd place in the "Race of the Day" behind my team mate Bruce Anstey  and Ryan Farquhar.

To top the day off in the final Superbike race it all started to fall into place and I took my first win by over six seconds !

I must say my team mate Bruce had sat the last race out happy with his three wins from three starts but now I am getting the bikes set up more for my liking bring on next weekends Easter races at Bishopscourt and Kirkistown!!

Cheers

Cam#86