18th July 2001 - Cadwell Park

By chance the Motorcycle Folly had planned a track day at Cadwell Park the week before I was due to race there. Sounded like a good plan to get some extra track time in although when I was woken up during the night by the howling wind and driving rain I began to question the wisdom of the move. When my alarm went off it was all quiet so I got up, checked out and found it was still pouring down. You can guess how the day went from there.

Arrived at the track to find a large group huddled in the scrutineering shed which is just about the only area of shelter near the circuit. It's an amazing place but sorely lacking in decent amenities like garages, power or even decent toilets. Well, that's not quite true but the two new toilet blocks weren't actually open so we had to make do with the old one.

Having last used the bike in the dry I ended up missing the first session whilst I put the wet tyres on. Managed to make it out in the second although spent the time gingerly riding round trying to remember where the circuit went. Due to the amount of spray coming up from the standing water the bike was running far too cold so I came in after half a dozen laps to tape up the radiator. By then it was raining evening harder so didn't bother going back out again.

Lunch came early to see if things would improve although not early enough to save us from the circuit being closed for a period due to flooding. Did get out again once it started clearing and sat behind James and Bill Cowing for most of the session on their Aprilia 250s until Shez came past on his KTM in full on super motard mode. Managed to pass Bill but by then James had set off in pursuit of Mr. Hooligan so they were both too far ahead.

Next session was much more interesting as after the amount of p**s taking by Shez complaining that his KTM was only able to go 91 mph and had still managed to get past the gauntlet was well and truly thrown down. I'm sure the foot out cornering style is just to make the bike even wider to stop people coming past mind. Had a good old battle with Nick (a fellow Bemsee racer) and Shez where I ended up in front of them both - Well, it would have been rude not to!

I did get a few comments about my riding especially when the only place I could clear the water off my visor was whilst cranked over for the left hander at the end of the main straight ;-) This session proved to be the only dry spell of the day and the rain came down again so I pulled all my toys back in to the pram and headed home. After all, I was due back there in less than two days for a final practice day before the race weekend.

Memorable sight of the day had to be watching Shez going in to Park corner bolt upright with his foot out and a guy tucked in on a rather rapid, but very small 125 race bike trying to work out where the nutter in front was going to go so he could get past!