Mot OC 21-05-06
scott (throttle) and i headed out from kawasaki at 4.30 am on the jaunt to motegi. i had been prepping the bike for a day or so, new pads, tyres, oil, paint job (4000y worth of spray cans!!). we got to motegi and it was a fine day.
qualifying was at 11.30 and i was phsyched with me new clutch fitted that i was going to have gobs more power to play with. and that was the case my first recorded lap was a 2.05 then 2.04 and a couple of 2.03s. i eased off after that and ran a couple off the line, got back on the pace then came in after 8 laps. with a qualifying time of 2.03.3
i was stocked, the bike was moving really well, a lot of sliding but the power was good and i felt i could go faster.
i qualified 12th on the grid of 31 bikes.
it was then a long break until my race which was at 5pm. scott and i watched the various races from different parts of the track.
my time rolled around and out i went for the sighting lap, warm-up lap, and then on the grid.
i knew it was going to be hard during my warm up lap, the long shadows on 5 reflected my tired and unfocussd state….
anyway, ive never got a good start in a race, and i was a bit scared with the new clutch and the power and all, but the light went out and i nailed it, made it into the next row, had a guy try and sneak up the inside of me and i shuttled across closing the door on him. there was no outbraking anyone!! and no outpowering them either, i ran with the guy in front of me, until someone came past then i ran with them, then another…and another…
well enough is enough and i stuck on those 2 guys tails, getting one back under brakes and then the other, i bombed it in 5 about 3 times running to the edge of the track under brakes, and saw the guy behind me closing again. i knew we had only 1 lap left so i shut the gate and rode defensively i was out braking them and i knew i had to because they both had better straight line speed than me, so i went hard in that last lap and rode to the chequer flag ahead of the 2 of them
the guy was directing me to the shaken tent so it seems id got a place, and i had…. 5th in the open challenge race!!!
and 12th overall!!!
i was very happy with the result and the days riding but a little disapointed that i couldnt remain focussed in the race but i guess it understandable…
i ran 7 of the 10 laps in the 2.05s with a best of 2,05.0.
it was great to hang out with you scott, and your help, and good vibes made the day all the more fun, thanks again for coming along and helping out, it was invaluable!
well i guess i reached my goal for motetai, perhaps ill change it to a 2.01 
cheers
tB
oh heres a photo of the newly painted gixxa, (great fom a distance, not so great up close!)
