Andreas Racing Association 14th March 2010

Thats the first race of the year kicked off yesterday, and a busy day it was up Jurby! Conditions were dry and bright, but cold and blustery!

We had the bike loaded on the trailer and the car packed and ready to go by 8am, and made it to the airfield shortly after.

My first qualifying session got under way by about 11.30am, after the usual sign on, set up of our awning unload the car, crack the generator up and several hot cups of tea later!

During the second lap, one of the front runners Johny Hegginbottom went down at the final chicane destroying his bike and taking a general beating, this caused a red flag. It was a early warning that track temperature (cold) was causing issues.
The session was eventually re-started after being held for some time on the start line, great cold tyres then!
As I began to get some heat into the tyres shorlty after the re-start, about lap 3 the red flags came out again, another cold tyre incident. This time the rider didnt get up and was ambulanced off to hospital.
We eventually got restarted once more, with all the interuptions it was difficult to find my rhythm and I struggled to get a good lap time in, ending with a time of 1.24.9.
I was due back out for my second qualifying session shortly after, with enough time to get the tyre warmers on and take in some fluids (hot tea)!
The second session went without interuption, I managed to put another 7 laps in shaving nearly 2 seconds off my best time in the first session, with a 1.23.07. However was really struggling with the high winds that had picked up, in particular down the back straight, having to lean off the side of the bike all the way down the length of the straight to keep her in a straight line, arm pump began to set in!

It was clear that I was going to struggle to improve on the day, with the earlier red flag’s and the high winds I decided to keep it safe and collect my signiture at the end of the day with bike and rider in one piece.

So the next four races went without any serious drama’s, I had some good dices with a couple of the lads on track, one rider leaving his knee slider mark down one side of my fairing after a bit of a close pass on one corner. All in all a good day and a successfull return to the track.

It was good to see plenty of friendly faces up at Jurby, with lots of encouragement and support from many, togs, competitors and spectators alike, We even had a chat with Nicky Crowe. I was a little envious of Oatsey spectating from the comfort of his mobile home tho..

So it was great to return with the bike looking as good as it did when we set off that morning, and after a long winter lay off Im happy with the end result, its another signiture on my licence!

Thanks to all who have offered there support, I couldnt do it on my own!

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