Final Race weekend 24th 25th September
My final race weekend came around some 7 weeks after my last race at Elvington, it seemed like ages ago to be honest. In between we’ve had the 2011 Manx Grand Prix, with some great results from the locals, with both race wins and local newcomers making their impressive debut’s, the IOM did us proud. Sadly some of the riders didn’t get chance to see the chequered flag, either through injury or worse, my thoughts are with the friends and family of the riders who didn’t make it.
I spent the two weeks at my usual post as Deputy Sector Marshal at Kerromoar, thankfully we didn’t have anything more serious than retirements to deal with for the duration. We have a good mix of experienced guys and a couple of novice marshals in the sector, and of course we’ve got the best seats in the house, however the races are always in need of more volunteers, if you can spare the time please sign up.
The Andreas Racing Association decided to make a double race weekend for the final meeting, GP Circuit on the Saturday and the newly sorted Club circuit on the Sunday, after a cancelled meeting earlier on in the year it was good to be able to gain two signatures together this way. I was all packed and ready to go by Friday night, the weather forecast looked like we may be in for a good one, touch wood. I was sitting in 4th position in the 650 championship, 2 points behind John Batty in 3rd. It didn’t seem that long ago at the beginning of the year, wheeling the 650 out for my first race on the twin, championship points were the last thing on my mind, but now with two races to go I’m wondering if I can take 3rd position!
Day 1
Waking up on Saturday morning to the rain bouncing off the bedroom window wasn’t in the plans, I looked outside to confirm that yes, its bloody miserable outside! By the time my mate Quiily arrived it was already starting to brighten up, things looked even better as we arrived to a busy paddock to get un-packed, signed on and bike through scrutineering, it was drying up quickly.
I had two races on the GP Circuit today (Saturday) and two race’s tomorrow(Sunday) on the Club Circuit, the first being the Singles Twins and Triples being extended to 8 laps and the second being the 650/400 race extended to 12 laps, my tyres already seen their best days would have to last the weekend, my tactic for the day was to just go for it and give it my best, time to qualify!
Qualifying times
Singles, Twins & Triples qualified 14th out of 36 with a best lap of 1.20.781 (5th in my class)
250/400/650 qualified 7th out of 26 with a best lap of 1.19.034 (3rd in my class)
A positive start with my fastest ever lap of Jurby in the 250/650 nearly in the 1.18’s lap times, and 6th overall puts me on the 3rd row of the grid next to Dave Madsen-Mygdal, The bike felt good and I was up for it!
Race 1: Singles, Twins & Triples
I got a good start and by the first lap was up into 12th position, it was a frantic race with a full grid and such a mix of bikes from the steal framed 600’s, Aprilia 1000’s, 675cc Triumph’s, 650 twins and Modern\classic classics on the grid. I got my head down and by lap 4 was up to 9th position, over the next 4 laps I got picked off by the faster top speed steel frames down the back straight and finished 12th overall , but 4th in my class with a best lap time of 1.19.238, Result!
We only had time for a splash and dash before my next race, the 12 lap 650/400 race, the longer races are physically hard work, I could only hope I could put in the same effort for this one!
Race 2: 250/400/650
I got a fairly good start and by lap 1 I was in 8th position, managing to hold this position until lap 6 when Jules Ray came past me, I dug in and tried to stay with Jules but He started to gap me after a couple of laps, I held 9th position to the chequered flag on lap 12, more importantly I finished 3rd in my class with a best time of 1.19.264, and John Batty who had developed a clutch problem finished down in 7th, I’d re-taken 3rd position in the 650 Championship with only 2 points separating me and John it was all to play for during the next days races!
It was home time, and I had to make a gearing change for the different circuit on Sunday, and having never ridden the Club circuit on the SV it was a bit of a gamble, I decided to come down 1 tooth on the front sprocket and managed to do the job in the back of the van.
Day 2
The weather forecast for Sunday was looking to start off ok but with showers coming in by about 1pm, and they weren’t far wrong. My good mate wasn’t able to help out today, so it was all down to Mrs Mitch who not only made the fabulous butty’s but drove the Van to the circuit worked the spanners/tyre warmers re-fuelled the bike and brewed up, blimey all I had to do was the easy bit and ride the bike! As usual the bike flew through scrutineering, apart from one loose nut on the chain adjuster that I hadn’t nipped up in the back of the van while changing the front sprocket, thankfully Mrs Mitch was quickly on hand with a no12 spanner and the job was complete. We even had a visit from Mr JHS Racing (James) from Bistol who was over with the Supertwin IOMTT 2012 Talks, Another happy customer!
Qualifying times
Singles, Twins & Triples qualified 18th out of 36 with a best lap of 1.33.310 (7th in my class)
250/400/650 qualified 10th out of 26 with a best lap of 1.32.305 (3rd in my class)
My times looked pretty good considering I hadn’t ridden this layout for nearly two years. By the time we came to break for the lunch the clouds had begun to gather, and the paddock was full of racers nervously glancing towards to sky, this was all I needed! My spare wheels are fitted with full wets and to have to race on them would need for it to rain full on, I decided to stay on my dry tyres as it looked like we may just get away with a dry race. I wasn’t feeling my best so made the decision to go out in the Singles Twins and Triples race just to get a practice start and pull in after 3 laps, this would give a chance to check out the circuit and see if the odd spot of rain we were having was starting to make the track wet, I would then give the 650 race everything!
The track was still dry, with enough breeze to keep it this way but it was getting colder and darker. While on the grid I noticed some of the lads had switched to Intermediate tyres, John Batty being one of them. After lap 3 I pulled in, getting funny looks from people, this was the one and only dnf result of the year, but it was all planned for. We chucked a couple of litres of fuel in and stuck the tyre warmers on while the race I had pulled out of continued. The drizzle was getting steadily worse, I couldn’t believe it!
We should have had a sidecar race next before my 650 race, I’m not why but the chairs came back in and they called the 650 race to start next, this was it!
Race 2: 250/400/650
With a 2 point lead over Mr Batty all I had to do was to finish in front of John to secure 3rd in the Championship, not an easy task lol. The rain was to get steadily worse; sitting on the grid waiting for the lights to go out all I could hear was my heart pounding and the rain drops hitting my visor. The lights went out and off we went into the first corner, I caught site of John on my outside and I managed to take the inside line and stay in front. I held on to 9th position for 3 laps all the time the rain getting steadily worse, On lap 4 John got past me getting underneath me on a tight hairpin right hander, I came back at Him and re-took my position but once again John came back past me a lap later. The rain was causing me some real problems and I was getting slides front and rear as I tried my best to hang on to John who was riding really well, as usual. On lap 7 Glenn Harrison crashed out causing a red flag and a race result, I’d managed to hold on to John finishing just under 2 seconds behind him, John finished the race in 6th and I finished 7th, meaning I finished with a total of 64 points and John with 63, I’d taken Third in Championship and it felt like a race win to me!
So that’s my race season over for 2011, and what a brilliant year its been on my SV-R Supertwin, I’ve learnt so much this year and my racing has improved so much and I only hope I can build on what I’ve already achieved this year . Its true what they say about the racing community, everybody’s keen to help out each other and the ARA Club is going from strength to strength, I cant wait for next year already. Im already thinking about next year’s target’s and I hope to share this with you soon, hopefully that first trophy isn’t too far away!
I have also appeared in the RoadRacingSupporters latest calendar alongside the world’s best roadracers, it’s a fund raiser for racing charity’s and a fine production, yours for £6 and worth every penny http://www.roadracingsupporters.com/ Thanks guys it’s a proud moment!
Ive decided not to take part in the Endurance race and I am doing my Marshals IMC Course on the same day at the St John’s medical centre in Douglas, Good luck all the Teams, Marshals, Medics and officials, hope it’s a fast and safe days racing!
As usual I would like to send a massive thank you to all my friends and family for their support so far, too many to mention but without all their help I couldn’t of done it, it’s a team effort.
If you want to get involved with Team BigMitch Racing and feel you could help in any way or have an idea, doesn’t always have to be financial then please get in touch. You can remain anonymous or you could advertise your business and /or have yours or your family’s name on the bike, you will be welcomed into the team, please get in touch.
Cmmitchell41@hotmail.com
http://twitter.com/#!/Bigmitch_racing
Facebook: Chris Mitchell
Thanks to all the photographers for the superb pictures
See you in the paddock for the 2012 racing season
