TAKUMI class at tsukuba.
takumi is tsukuba tourist trophys top division.
i arrived nice and early, pitted with a friend. my pit crew showed up. i was really nervous before qualifying. i think friday had given me a bit of a shock in terms of how lacking my fitness, and prep was.
anyway i went out with a good attitude, and on my second lap i had dropped into the 1.02s where i stayed for 8 laps. i pitted and my friend from Aus who was pit crewing (one of last years motetai crew) suggested i tighten the rear compression to help with the running wide i was suffering from. back out, it helped and i finnished off the session with a storming 1.02.0 that gridded me third in a tight field of 13 riders. the first 8 or so were in the 1,02s.
i was happy but a little disapointed that i couldnt hit the 1s i was hoping for.
we chatted and generally had a good time. my nerves had settled after qualifying and i was ready for a storming start.
i got a great start from the warm up lap. just nailed it and sailed into 1 first…..ha ha ha
around we come for the real thing. as usual the flag caught me unawares and i gave a little hesitation, then got on it with a long low 2 gear wheelie i though id snuck into second but then the pole guy slammed accross and i was in third. there i stayed, repeating the morning performance of a warm up 1.03 then straight into the low twos. the guys out front werent making a great deal of headway and i knew i could stay with them until…. coming out of one the rear cut loose, it kept sliding, sliding then caught, i flew up in the air but hung on to the bars, it went one way then the other under me, i headbutted the screen and landed on the tank but didnt let go. and slid down and back on the gas….phew 
i chilled a bit then, ran a 1.03.1 then back into the 1.02s. the bike was starting to slide more and more and i was toning down my exits accordingly. i kept an eye behind me and nobody was gaining. and thats the way it finnished.
the guy who came first ran a 1.01.2 in the race and qualifying
the guy who came second ran a 1.01.5 in the race and qualifying
the guy who came third (me!! 
) ran a 1.02.0 in the race and qualifying!!
we could have skipped the race altogether!!
anyway lowered my PB a little and best of all my ability to run consistantly in the low 1.02s and got to spray the champagne around, and do the podium thing… so i didnt quite get to the times i was hoping for, but i had a great day never the less.
thanks to my GF, my Aussie mate, and a japanese racing friend for the pit crewing. my mate who i shared the pit with took out the GSX-R CUP with a 1.02.6 so our pit was happy GIXXER land!!….
another great day, and ill post pics as soon as i can!!
now onto moving house!!
