Here's an update from Ben Grindrod a BA(Hons) Business studies & Management student at Faculty of Business & Law students talking about his trials and tribulations at Brands Hatch.
Ok, here it is in short..
Brands Hatch for me went really well for my first proper British Championship race meeting. Having started off quite steady in opening Free Practice being 15th fastest, which wasn't a problem as I'd not rode at Brands in the dry since September 2009 so it took me the session to get back upto speed again.
Qualifying was very positive, posting the second fastest time in qualifying one, in patchy conditions was a huge confidence boost for both me and the team.
Qualifying two was more of a difficult session, as we struggled for rear end grip coming off the turns. We had the bike handling really well, but just seemed to be having issues with grip. This resulted in dropping down to 8th fastest on the timing sheets.
With there being such a large entry for Superstock 600, the two qualifying groups (A and B) were merged to form the grid for the race. I was very frustrated at being 9th fastest throughout qualifying and ending up 15th on the grid due to this system, having lapped faster than a rider who was actually on the front row of the grid! However as they say, its the same for everyone.
I managed to put this out of my head or race day, and posted the 5th fastest time in morning warm-up prior to the Easter Monday race - things were looking good again!
Leading up to the race, I don't think I've ever been that nervous! Things didn't go well at the start and I didn't get off the line very well at all. I got 'boxed' on the first lap, ending up crossing the line for the first time in 20th place. I quickly got into a rhythm and started to pick riders off one by one, getting upto 15th by lap 11 with the rider in 9th well in my sights. My plan was to continue to pick one off every lap to gain as many championship points as possible. However, on lap 14, I may have carried a little too much speed into Paddock Hill bend when the rear went light and came round on me, spitting me over the highside, and that was the end of the race for me.
Not the end to the race I hoped for, as I'm confident I would have had some good points, but there are more positives than negatives to take from the weekend. We will take all the information learned at weekend, to Thruxton Round 2 and hope for a good race!
I'd like to thank all the Seton Interceptor Yamaha team for all their efforts, the team is mega!
Roll on Thruxton Round 2!
Qualifying was very positive, posting the second fastest time in qualifying one, in patchy conditions was a huge confidence boost for both me and the team.
Qualifying two was more of a difficult session, as we struggled for rear end grip coming off the turns. We had the bike handling really well, but just seemed to be having issues with grip. This resulted in dropping down to 8th fastest on the timing sheets.
With there being such a large entry for Superstock 600, the two qualifying groups (A and B) were merged to form the grid for the race. I was very frustrated at being 9th fastest throughout qualifying and ending up 15th on the grid due to this system, having lapped faster than a rider who was actually on the front row of the grid! However as they say, its the same for everyone.
I managed to put this out of my head or race day, and posted the 5th fastest time in morning warm-up prior to the Easter Monday race - things were looking good again!
Leading up to the race, I don't think I've ever been that nervous! Things didn't go well at the start and I didn't get off the line very well at all. I got 'boxed' on the first lap, ending up crossing the line for the first time in 20th place. I quickly got into a rhythm and started to pick riders off one by one, getting upto 15th by lap 11 with the rider in 9th well in my sights. My plan was to continue to pick one off every lap to gain as many championship points as possible. However, on lap 14, I may have carried a little too much speed into Paddock Hill bend when the rear went light and came round on me, spitting me over the highside, and that was the end of the race for me.
Not the end to the race I hoped for, as I'm confident I would have had some good points, but there are more positives than negatives to take from the weekend. We will take all the information learned at weekend, to Thruxton Round 2 and hope for a good race!
I'd like to thank all the Seton Interceptor Yamaha team for all their efforts, the team is mega!
Roll on Thruxton Round 2!
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