Hartwell Round 4 '08

Not good!
It was possibly the most disappointing weekend so far. Certainly the worst result!

We started with a 37 point lead in the championship and came away now second by 18 points.
 
The bad luck started Friday when I missed out on practice due to the late arrival of the infamous thermostat housing.
 
Then race 1 Sat I got a good start but dropped off a little in the pace to be pushing for second then a small slide in turn 1 at about 220Km/h alerted me to something not right. Then at Honda corner the biggest slide out to the left I have ever had, then it flicked me back to the right again. But somehow I kept it all up! I have no idea how!!!!
I thought it must have been water from the thermostat again, so I kept going with only 2 laps to go. 2 of the longest, slowest laps ever at Phillip Island. Just to roll in for 18 points in 4th place.
 
Back at the pits it was really oil!!!!! A kinked breather hose must have caused the oil to blow out a gasket at the back of the motor and all over the rear tyre.
 
Race 2 Sunday starting from row 4 due to the poor finish yesterday. I did my usual blast through to about 5 th place and settled in to chase Craig on 47. I managed to squeeze past 2 more bikes and was gaining on him when as I shifted up, my foot slipped off the lever. I looked down to see oil and steam blowing out of the breather pipe that had popped off. I had no choice but to get back to the pits.
 
We spent a few hours pulling the head off the engine to discover the water pump seal must have blown and was pumping water and steam into the engine where it wasn't meant to be.
 
Our race was run!
 
Well at least now we have 3 race meetings to get the bike sorted out and reliable before the next and final Hartwell round, where the best I can do is second by 9 points. (unless Craig has some bad luck too)
 
Now with only 4 weeks to the seniors meeting the race is on to get the bike up and running again. Or maybe I'll convert my road bike into a race bike and ride that????? Hmmmmm?