The Yellow Peril and the Raptor

[Lateshift]

:D

Sounds a bit like something from Jurassic Park as it goes :D

But not to throw too much in the way of Harrie's maiden voyage, Perilous was at Snetterton this weekend for the 3rd round of the SBK400 championship and also his first race on the Raptor, which i think is going to be nicknamed "Pogo" before much longer (however thats another story :D )

Anyway bearing in mind that the SBK400 is 4 races over the weekend as is the Dyna Pro Minitwins, he was out for a total of 8 races in this strange April heat we got :)

The results arent mine to share, however the times for the SBK400 have been astonishing and some excellent racing took place, twists, turns and plenty of weird and wonderful things happening on the grid too, the biggest thumbs up though goes for being able to run at race pace on a 400 and then go and jump on a twin (again with very little practice on this type of bike and in a field of riders that are almost unfamiliar) is no mean feat, to be doing it on and off for 8 races and still bring in respectable times takes some doing :)

Anyway, it was a fantastic weekend, i am truly ball bagged for want of a better expression and the weather topped it all off :)

Roll on Cadwell at the end of the month :) :)

[becky]

Nice one, sounds like a tough and exhausting day! :grin2
was the raptor still having suspension problems?

[DoodleBug]

Should make for an intersting read when Mr Polden does his race report!

Well done, now go to sleep :)

[Lateshift]

Nice one, sounds like a tough and exhausting day! :grin2
was the raptor still having suspension problems?


You need suspension in the first place to have problems Becky, this bike doesnt appear to have any :D , i think thats where its going wrong, despite that though he actually got within 2 seconds of his 400 times :D

The damping on the rear shock was more like an ejector seat :D the damping on the front was err err non existant :D

[Perilous]

When your wife takes the key out and hides it and your sponsor refuses to allow you to ride it anymore it's pretty safe to say the bike was not err user friendly.:grin2

Mind Mick did actually have to point out it actually had an ignition key when I couldn't start it Sunday so hiding it may not have been neccesary.:grin2

[Perilous]

Well it was a tough weekend. 400s at the front are seriously rapid this year.

Josh Wainwright set a new lap record for us in the last 400 race 1.15.340 which to put in perspective on a 92 ZXR 400 is less than 2 1/2 sec off the fastest sparkly new modern 675 Triumph lap in a national televised race .

5th, 2nd, 3rd and 5th.

In the second race Saturday we were having to race off line because of side car oil dumped on Richies, Sears and the Esses but the times hardly dropped we (or me anyway) just used the concrete on the outside of Sears instead.:grin2
My sponsor was taking photos at Richies and apparently watching my front end slide further each lap until on the last one before I modified to anothr line he thought I'd actually lost it altogether.:grin2

The last race Saturday was just mental with three of us scrapping for fourth the whole race and swapping places every lap. (sometimes off the track:grin2 ) Still running low 1.17s lap after lap when three bikes are tripping over each other, defending, trying inside moves three a breast at the Esses right hander etc was just bloody mental.:eek: :grin2

I've never had a Snetterton race that much fun ever including when I've won there. I had to sit up until one last night until I'd stopped buzzing.:jumping2

I can't quite get clear and get up to the pace of multiple championship winner, Melano trophy winner etc etc etc Rik Ballerini at the front but to be frank I didn't expect to. (Yet) Apart from anything else I can't afford a rear tyre every race, quickshifters and onboard data loggers:rolleyes: but ultimately Rik is just one of the most talented club racers around.

What's more important to me is that even in mid scrap I'm still running faster than I've ever been after a year when I though I'd lost it.

My pit crew of Lenny, Mick and Jules are bloody awesome and we're rapidly becoming one of the best organised small teams in the paddock:) and I doubt I'd be running the pace I am without them.

The teams good, all the pressure's on the rider to get his wrinkly body up to this year's front pace.

My usual epic will appear in due course when I get asn evening or two I'm not working.

Cadwell next. Must try not to snap the bike in half this year.:grin2

[Perilous]

Oh yeah and my spanner man, team manager:grin2 and general nag also informs me that I've now moved up to third in the championship. :)

Just call me Mr boringly consitant.:grin2

[harriebird]

nice one perilous sounds like a brilliant weekend :clap

[Perilous]

Not that we had much oil to contend with or anything.

http://www.asianmoto.com/galleries/index.asp?topic=20070414_gb_bmcrc_400cc&pic=421 (http://www.asianmoto.com/galleries/index.asp?topic=20070414_gb_bmcrc_400cc&pic=421)

http://www.asianmoto.com/galleries/index.asp?topic=20070414_gb_bmcrc_400cc&pic=345 (http://www.asianmoto.com/galleries/index.asp?topic=20070414_gb_bmcrc_400cc&pic=345)

[harriebird]

:eek: blimey!

[Lateshift]

What was scary about that was the fact that it started from half way up the start finish straight and continued on or about the racing line all the way round through the Esses :D

talk about being forced to take a line round a track :D

[harriebird]

i've seen less oil in Halfords :grin2

[Perilous]

It's when the 15 year old new lap record holder (on his first time at Snetteton apparently) rides all the way round Richie on the oil with out so much as a twitch (have it on film) so you think "If he can do it so can I" then as soon as you touch it you immediately find yourself pointing the wrong way:grin2 that you realise which of us have natural talent (plus no sense of danger) and which of us just do it on stubborn determination.:grin2

[troutslayer]

It's when the 15 year old new lap record holder (on his first time at Snetteton apparently)


now THATS impressive!

bloody naturally talented oiks... should he be doing his mocks or summat??

[The Guvnor]

Sounds like a great weekend mate. And results to boot !!!:clap When I grow up I wanna be just like you:grin2

[Perilous]

When I grow up I wanna be just like you:grin2

What old and wrinkly.:grin2

[Perilous]

now THATS impressive!

bloody naturally talented oiks... should he be doing his mocks or summat??

Yes my attempt at a rule change only allowing you to be eliigable for SB 400 if you're fat and over 40 isn't going very well.:grin2


We were saying (400 riders) that we might club together and buy him a 600 so he moves on.:grin2

[Perilous]

moved

[Perilous]

There's another Snetterton report here, written by our sponsor.

http://www.asianmoto.com/news/story1518.asp