08 Oct 2011 - Round 1, YAS Motorcycle Racing Debut
First weekend of the new UAE Sportbike Championship and racing as Yas Motorcycle Racing and boy it was a hot one!
We've been pretty busy over the last 3 weeks getting the bikes ready to go in their new Yas colours but we managed to get both bikes ready it time and they look awesome! It was a smaller grid than what I was expecting but I'm confidant the grid will get bigger for the next round.
Boyter #76
Race 1
I got a good start and moved into 5th going into turn one, right behind my team mate but he was lapping quicker than me. On lap 2 Andrea sneaked up the inside of me going into the link which had then allowed Osman to close up behind me. I knew this was an issue as the R6 of Osman is a quick bike and sure enough he took advantage of a mistake I made going into turn 1 on lap 3. the mistake was bigger then I had first thought as he pulled out a good lead on me. The rest of the race was spent chasing him down again. with 2 laps to go I was back on him but could not find a way past him and crossed the line pretty much sitting on his back tyre. To my surprise as we came in He got blacked flagged due to speeding in the pit lane so I was awarded the position. started and finished in 6th and the heat had sapped all my energy. Roll on race 2...
Race 2
Again my start was not too bad but the heat had taken its toll and it was tough out there. My lap times were over a second slower than my qualifying time so my intention was just to hold position and finish. For the first half I was actually making a bit of progress in catching Andrea which spurred me on a bit but on lap 7 i felt the rear tyre going off so that was that. finished again in 6th with what turned out to be a very shredded tyre! I'm going to have to look into the cause as although other riders tyres were showing signs of wear mine was definitely worse.
All in all not the race weekend I was hoping for so time to knuckle down for the next round on the 22nd.
Moody #10
Race 1
I messed up my start completely and by the time I reached turn one, the guys in the front had opened a small gap already, I maintained fourth throughout the race with no issues, a bit of a boring ride!
Having Alshamsi in my sights kept me going and pushing until the last lap but he was running consistent laps and I had no time to catch up. Fourth was good as I really suffered from lack of energy after the race.
Race 2
I had a great start and stayed 2nd until Jason and Alshamsi passed me on the brakes at turn one! I was much closer to them this time throughout the race. Jason was running much faster but mid race I realised I had the pace to go after Alshamsi. The gap was getting smaller with each lap and it was only on the last lap that I caught him on the strait through the slipstream and it was me or him on the brakes for turn one, and that's where the trumpet really worked, I took the lead, we swapped placed 3 times until he dived on the inside going into the link and made a mistake by over braking he clipped my front wheel and off I went into the tarmac! I lost the chance of a podium but hey, its racing and I managed 4th again. It was a good weekend for me although my mate had some tyre issues, but we know the bikes are ready to fight this season and we surely have the pace. Can't wait for race 2.
