5 - 6 July 2003 中國珠海摩托車賽第3場 趣味花邊

Friday was a day full of changes, first the fork oil, then the ride height and suspension etc. I made so many changes by Friday lunchtime it did not feel like the same bike. Times dropped to a consistent 1.50 seconds after I had got a better feeling With the bike.

Saturday free practice, we just went back over what we had adjusted from Friday, a few more minor alterations and we were all set for 1st qualifying Session. After talking to Lito I changed the foot peg to a lower position, this was to gain some more leg room on the bike, and should allow me move easier from side to side.
1st qualifying started and Andy Coombes was right behind me in the pit lane and I guessed he was looking for a tow (someone to follow). I went straight out into the session and pushed from the off, as there was no need to warm up. As I entered T11 the bike felt like it was out of fuel and just as I opened the throttle on the exit the bike suddenly cut out.  I coasted off to the side of the track to investigate but there was not much I could do, so it's a slow ride in the van with the bike back to the pits.
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On returning to the pits I set about trying to find the problem, I was convinced it was fuel related due to the way the engine stopped. After removing the fuel tank and then the pump I found the pressure Regulator has worked loose AH HA.  Fitted it all back together and we were all set for the 2nd qualifying session. Andy came up to me after the session and said thanks for scaring him, as he was right behind me when my bike cut out and nearly hit me !!!!

2nd qualifying session got under way and I was keen to put a few good laps in, but It was easy having to get used to the new foot rest position for the first time. Best time of 1.52, which was slower than Friday, but not last, and it's a reasonable time..
Sunday First race

I started off quite well and set about trying to keep with the leaders etc. I braked a bit early for T7 and Rene #21 came past me on the inside.  I stayed behind him for 2 laps and then managed to get back past him, I could see Ah Yeun was starting to get a gap between us so I got my head down and tried to catch him.  A few laps later I was right behind and I got a better drive out of T11 and got past into T14. I was subsequently outbraked into T1. We swapped places at least 6 or 7 times in the next few laps and on 2 occasions we nearly collided.  At one occasion I had to move right across the track coming out of T14 as he moved across on me !!!!!
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On Lap 9 I managed to get into the lead again and I crossed the line in front, then I kept the lead for the whole lap until T14 which is the last corner, coming into here He braked later than me but a bit too late and went in a bit fast, I kept a good line and got a good drive out to just beat him to the line by less than a second, Phew what a race.
Race 2 had a big accident in the 1st corner right in front of me, I was very lucky to be on the inside of the accident so I could avoid it. The red flag come out and we had a restart.  Another start and another bike goes off into the gravel…..its not me !!!.

I was keeping a constant gap to the guys in front for most of the race, I was not making any progress on catching so I tried to keep my rhythm going. At the start of lap 7 my fuel light came on, this has never happened before and as we had done 2 extra laps because of the re-start I was worried there was not enough fuel, I slowed my pace to conserve fuel.

Another rider passed me but he was in Class 1 so my race result remained the same 6th Place. When I go back to the pits we checked the amount of fuel left, over 2 liters, well now we know that the fuel light comes on that early I can ignore it. Another lesson learnt this weekend.


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