Suzuki International Tri Series - Round 2, Wanganui Street race
2010-01-02

Wanganui Street Race Report

What an experience! Andrew, Leigh and I arrived at the track on Christmas day and set up our pits and got the bikes through scrutnieering. It was a pretty cool pit setup with so many bikes so close I thought it gave a pretty exciting atmosphere if a little cramped up.

This was my first time at Wanganui and it was a real eye opener to the exciting nature of street racing. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, I thought it would be much slower than what it was. Walking the track it seemed that the speeds would be very slow but once on the bike it was quite amazing how quick I could maneuver the bike through the tight turns.

I took a few walks around the track both forward and backwards around the track. I was amazed how much extra detail I could get from walking the track backwards.

Race Day

First thing up was the 'virgins' sighting session, seeing as this was my first time here, I got to go out in that and have a ride around.

Qualifying

I was running both bikes again at this meeting with the 2006 GSX-R600 in the F1 class and the Supersport Spec 2009 GSX-R600 in F2. Both practice and qualifying went well and after all the sessions I achieved 3rd place on the grid in both classes which I was very surprised with. I had said to myself if I made it into the top 10 at this meeting I would be very happy. My qualifying position also meant that I would get an opportunity to be part of the Superpole qualifying in F1 where the top 6 F1 positions would get one flying lap on the track by themselves to try set a even faster time. The superpole lap went well for me, my goal was to make sure that I was smooth and didn't make any mistakes. That worked well and I improved my best lap time but so did Craig Shirriffs who knocked me back one place so I ended up in 4th place on the F1 grid. This was still a front row start which was excellent.

Races

Over the day I was to have 5 races in total, 2 F2 races, 2 F1 races and 1 Robert Holden Memorial race at then end of the day.

My first race up was F1. I got a good start and was running in 4th place behind Andrew Stroud, Nick Cole and Jarred Love. I felt like I was taking it pretty easy, but apparently not as I was breaking for turn two I locked up the front wheel and went for a little slide down the track. Fortunately I was okay and the bike was mostly okay. The rear subframe was damaged and some bodywork damaged. The crash did confuse me slightly as I knew the track was quite bumpy braking for that corner so I felt like I was taking it far easier than what I could have been through there, but I suppose this is where street circuits are a bit different than other tracks with a rather inconsistent track surface.

That bike was retired for the day and I completed the remaining races on the 2009 bike. The F2 races both went well and were uneventful, finishing in 3rd place in both races keeping a comfortable lead in the Suzuki Tri Series. After the crash I was taking it even easier and focusing on riding smoother. It appears this works well at Wanganui as even though I was riding even far more conservative than at the beginning of the day, lap times were almost identical at the end of the day.

The final race for the day was the Robert Holden Memorial race. This was quite a fun race and I had a couple of dices with Sloan Frost and Hayden Fitzgerald on the Superbikes. In the end I couldn't keep touch with them and let them get ahead of me, but I was happy to finish in 6th position and set my fastest lap time of the day in the final race.

My first time at Wanganui was pretty exciting, and I am split whether I like it or not - it sure is a interesting track. I would go back again for sure, but I do much prefer the purpose built race circuits.

Overall it was successful weekend and would really love to thank all my amazing sponsors and supporters which make it all possible for me to go racing:

Museum Hotel Wellington – For their amazing support and dedication to motorcycle racing

Suzuki NZ – For the fantastic 2009 GSX-R600. Again the bike was a delight to race, so much feedback and confidence from this bike!

Ozzy Performance – For Chris' dedication to make sure that the bike is perfect when it is on the track.

Continental Motorcycle Tyres – The Conti Race Attacks worked so well all weekend, I had a lot of confidence in them and received a lot of grip.

CKT and Ohlins – For making the bike handle how it should. The bike was handling excellently all weekend and is getting better and better!

Skunkworks – Andrew and Leigh, thank you for your ongoing commitment to help me in so many aspects of my racing, I am so fortunate to have such great people backing me

And a big thank you to all my other product and services sponsors:

Wynns Performance Products
Spectro Oils
HJC Helmets
Berik Leathers
Wellington Motorcycles
DID Chains
Sidi Motorcycle Gear
Vesrah Brakes
Autocycle refinishers

Cheers,


-Glen Skachill #47