The season had begun on a high, with pre-season testing on the Hyosung going well and the adjustments made over the winter making good improvements. However as the bike broke down, I went into the second round of races in a very poor position.
I got it repaired, but then found a race bike I just had to own. I sold my Classic Japanese Thoroughbred RD 500 LC and within the week, had bought the 2009 Kawasaki ER 650 (race prepped and with a good pedigree).

It was proved to be the right decision, with a second place in the very first race I rode it !

The results got better and more consistent, with 3 podium finished in August, including 2 second places.

The last meeting of the championship was held in late September and the closeness of the championship rankings meant that the competition would be very high, making racing very tight.

Compared to August, where I qualified poorly in 11th place on the grid (giving myself a lot to do), September’s qualifying went better (conditions suited me more, as it was not patchy wet). I was second minitwin on the grid…..on the front row….just where I wanted to be.

The racing was extremely competitive and my first race was fantastic, with lots of dicing, passing, being re-passed and passing again. I improved from an average start to pass people on each lap and on my second last lap, I passed the second place guy, to finish just behind the leader.

Race 2 was just as thrilling, with some hard fought dices, which are always made better when it is with people who are so fast that you have to push to the very limits of your skill. The passing manoeuvres are so close that our tyres are only a couple of centimeters apart. This is when you know you trust your fellow competitor.

On the Sunday, it rained and the circuit was wet for the first race (so now was time for me to prove my previous skills in wet qualifying and get a good result in the race).
From a good start, I lead the race for the first couple of laps. I was passed in lap three by the guy leading the championship, but stuck with him and kept my pace to exert pressure on him.
On the last lap I passed him going into the fastest corner of the circuit and made it stick, Finishing ahead of him, to win my first race for some time. It was a fantastic feeling to be showing the “young guys” with no fear, experience can also be used to good advantage.
It was great to be able to say to Stuart (who has been mechanic and guru all year) that WE had won a race.

So going out into the last race of the weekend, I decided to stay safe and even although I wasn’t taking any chances, I still managed to get 4th position and have some great dices.

It had been a fantastic weekend and a fantastic season, made all the better by my achievement of 2nd place in the championship !

This was an improvement of 5 places from last years result and something I worked hard to achieve, as there was a financial incentive from my sponsors Roemex LTD to improve on my championship standing of last year.

So whats the goal for next year…2011…??...........can you guess??......

Championship win !!!......of course.

HUGE Thanks also to my sponsors:
Roemex Speciality Oilfield Chemicals
Freja Designer Dressmaking

And a special thanks to Stuart McDonald for being “spannerman” and keeping me sane at each race, being an integral part of my great results.

Thanks also to Carolyn & Mette for gracing us with their presence

And last but not least, to everyone who came down to see me race, for the support which has been fantastic all season and has really helped to egg me on.