18 April 2010
Last weekend was the second round of the ASBK (Aussie titles), held at the Wonderful Hidden Valley Circuit in Darwin. I had never been to the Northern Territory before so I was excited to race at a new track, but also very unaware of how the weather was going to be. As it turned out the track was fantastic and the weather was unexpectedly spontaneous with its decisions!!
I cross-entered in to Supersport for some extra track time, as I didn’t participate in the Thursday practice session. I spent Thursday helping rebuild a fellow competitors bike after he crashed.
Friday rolled around and I had 5 practice sessions between the 2 classes (Superstock 600 and Supersport). I used the first practice to learn the track, which was a lot more technical than I first imagined it would be. The next practice I just concentrated on getting better lines and building up my speed throughout the track. By the end of the day I was absolutely exhausted due to the humidity and the heat throughout the days events, even though there was plenty of fluid entering my body. I wasn’t really pleased with my times at the end of Friday (1:17:7secs) so on Saturday morning I analysed the track to see where I was going wrong before I headed out on it for my first session. Straight away I was 2 seconds faster (1:15:5secs) in the first Superstock Qualifying session than I had been on the Friday, In the break I changed my gearing and went out in Supersport qualifying to test out the change, straight away I went another second faster (1:14:6secs) so I pulled in to prepare for my final Superstock qualifier.
I went out in this session and posted an almost identical time as Supersport, which placed me 12th on the grid for the Superstock races for the weekend. I had a 10 lap Superstock race on Saturday afternoon. I got a good jump off the line but with a slow gear change I was passed by a few riders on the run down to turn 1which I entered in about 18th place. I made a few passes through the corner, and started making my way through the pack throughout the race, I got to 10th place and had a gap to 9th which I made some ground on but it was too late, I had to settle for 10th place.
Sunday rolled around and I was hoping for a better start and try to run with the front-runners. As we headed out on the warm up lap for race 2 it started to rain heavily & a wet race was declared. So in a mad rush myself and 2 friends helped change from dry tyres to wet tyres in under a miraculous 10minutes and get back on the track.
The 2 warm up laps I used to get a feel for the track and my bike in the wet. I wasn’t very comfortable with my set up and decided just to try and be consistent and stay upright. I achieved this and finished 11th, which was much better than not finishing. Final race of the weekend came too quickly (but dry). I knew I had to get a good start to run with the front group. I got a great jump off the start and held my place all the way through to turn 1and after the first lap I was 10th. I managed to maintain this position, as I couldn’t get on the gas early enough out of a few corners due to lack of rear traction.
Overall for the weekend I placed 9th and I am still sitting 7th overall after 2 rounds in the Australian championship.
I couldn’t have survived this weekend and the rest of my season without all my sponsors: Mum and Dad, Motorcycle Rim stickers, Mornington Kawasaki, Emtek Racing, Ozzie Moto & ASR Suspension.
On a personal level I would like to thank Michael Demmery & Ross Gurd Racing for the help over the weekend as my father (chief mechanic) had injured himself in a racing incident 2 weeks before the weekend and couldn’t attend. Without their help along with my mums (best pit crew) my weekend would not have happened.
Cheers
Bryce Van Hoof #43
