Winton Rnd 2

Rain at last!!

As much as central Victoria needs it I just wish it had held off for 2 more days.
 
Friday practice was virtually constant rain all day. We fitted up the full wet race tyres and donned my Jim's Mowing raincoat and went for it!
Each session getting quicker on softer and softer suspension settings.
 
Saturday, the stupid online weather for Benalla said no rain at all for the area so I fitted the dry, treaded race tyres. Only to swap them to wets again cos it was pouring down. I totally blitzed the qualifying to get pole position by about 400m. (didn't seem quite right)

 
Sure enough with full wets on for the first race it dried up!!! So I got flogged and only managed 3rd. But in an awesome display of riding experience Alistair Tassie had a great ride to sneak a win on the last lap.
I think my bike is just too heavy for the wet tyres in dry conditions.

 
Sunday, again the stupid internet said no rain at all for Benalla.......I should have known.
First race we all went out on dry weather tyres and sure enough 2 corners into the race it started raining.
 
Then disaster on the first lap Craig Beswick came off and hit the wall in pit straight and the race was stoped. Once I saw that Craig was up and walking, I went back to the pits for the 5 min break then out for a full restart.
 
It was terrifying!!!! The rain had got worse. Every time I gave it more than half throttle the back tyre would spin. I was leading for 3 laps then Tassie went past me on full dry weather slicks!!!! It was unbelievable!!!

 
With one lap to go I just tried to stay with him, then I was just lucky and found a bit of grip on an exit of a corner and managed to slip past him to regain first place. Then it was back to the pits for the 8th tyre change for the weekend!!!! Fortunately the wonderful Miss Marcelle kept the coffee and encouragement up!
 
So the wash-up (sorry for the pun) of it all was I got a 3rd and a 1st with the last race cancelled due to the conditions. Amazingly, this puts me in the lead of the championship by about 6 points. With the next 2 races at Broadford, my fastest and favourite track. So it's all looking good.
 
But in reality this year nothing is for certain. Craig is very fast now and Tas is showing some great form now.
 

 
The dark pic below is "as taken" the others I have enhanced to be able to use them.

 
 
Cheers!