After the good results from July, I was hoping to continue and try to improve my championship standing. At the end of July I was in about 5th position in the Melville championships. The three races I lost in April being made up by the good result in July.

Saturday began dry and first practice went well, with me in the top three fastest. However…….a wee rain shower (not enough for wets, but just enough to wet the circuit and create my least favourite conditions) did no good in qualifying. I got out first on circuit, to find everyone else following me. I did a few laps and as the rain was getting heavier, came in (so did half the pack) ha….ha…they were just following me to see what I did.

It wasn’t fast enough though, as quite a few stayed out and put in some faster laps, so my qualification position was not good. Row 4 of the grid, right at the outside a bad position (and this would be my position all weekend).

First race on Saturday was a nervy warmup, knowing I had a lot to do if I wanted to improve on my 9th position on the minitwins grid.
When the red light went out though, I got a good start and made up a couple of rows, by the first corner. By the second corner I had made up even more and was running in second place in the minitwins. I didn’t realise this as there were a few 400s in front of me.
I kept the head down and things felt good, so I kept pushing and passed a minitwin, before being passed by one other. I managed to stick with him, but just could not et past and after 5 laps of tooth and nail racing, he beat me over the line by 0.5 seconds.
What a result though, a great confidence booster for the start of the weekend.

Second race however saw the track wet and drying. I made the decision to go with a wet front tyre, but it was the wrong one and despite a good start I lost time throughout the race as the front tyre was so vague and wanted to run wide. I finished 5th. Not bad considering.

On Sunday morning it was lovely weather and the whole day just got better and better. Helped a lot by lots of friends coming to support and watch the racing, including Karen (my niece…..who never did be my brolly dolly……he…he).
The days racing started early and I got a great start in the first race, third by the first corner and FIRST in both classes by the second corner.
Again I knew I would be under pressure, so I got the head down and put in some good laps. On lap 5 I was passed by the same minitwin as on Saturday and again I tried to stay with him. I did my best and in doing so got my fastest ever lap on a minitwin 1:05.1.
It was a great race finishing a close second again.

Race two was great, however my start was not quite as good as I got baulked behind some bikes into the first corner. It was another great race, with lots of good dices and a 3rd place finish this time (still a podium).

As the race groups had been changed, it allowed for a 3rd race on Sunday, but it wasn’t my best, I wheelied the bike off the line, losing, rather then gaining places.
It was great fun fighting my way back through the pack and I fought hard, having some great dices and good manoeuvres to finish 4th (great considering my poor start from row 4.

To sum up, I got 4 trophies and three podium finishes, on a day made great by everyone involved:

Thanks to Stuart for making the bike as good as it can be and keeping me calm.
Thanks to Mette and Karen for bringing the “Team Green Meanie” hospitality.
Thanks to Carolyn, Jimi, Alison, Roberto, Paula, Fi, Ian and Danny Cumming for coming down.

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