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| Saturday, 5th August 2000 - Jurby Airfield My forks arrived from Maxton Engineering (£265.00 including 24hour delivery) on Friday 4th August so I banged them straight on, which didn't take too long, this time I dropped the yokes 8mm instead of the 5mm that I had tried before. Had to also bleed the brakes as I had fitted a new front brake master cylinder and changed the oil and filter, I then put it all back together. Could feel the forks were stiffer just by pushing the bike into the van. Arrived at Jurby, weather not too bad, a little breezy but dry! Had Scotty-Boy riding shotgun for me, he doesn't mind doing all the shit jobs for me - good lad. This was the first time I had done Jurby since the Easter weekend. Since then my bike has had stainless steel brake hoses, racing pads, home made rearsets, G.P.R. exhaust, stickier tyres and the front forks re-worked. I've also got more experience so I was pretty confident about beating my previous best lap of 1' 07. I was, consistently going around in 1'08s and 1' 09s - with 1'07 being my fastest time. Two practise sessions were allocated for Saturday, with only five races scheduled. The majority of the races are on the Sunday, with it being a two-day meeting. Anyway, went out to practice and did about 10 laps, a little windy, but not too shabby. Tootled round for a few laps to warm up my tyres and to get used to the new forks - which made the brakes feel completely different. When I braked hard before the forks would dive rapidly and the bike would weave a bit, something that I was getting used to, but with the new forks, the dive was limited and the bike was much more controllable. Also, my shoulder was still a bit sore from my previous yee-ha, so taking it steady was still the order of the day. Second practise session I upped my pace a little and got past a few people that I had trouble passing back in Easter. The session fared well and I returned to the pits to be informed by my "pit crew" that I had lapped at 1'02.4, which I was well chuffed with, the restricted lap record is 1'02.1. Juan, however, who had also had his forks done, (which he might not have had I not told him I was doing mine) lapped at 1'01 which unofficially smashed the restricted lap record. I know that I can also beat the old one, but there was no point pushing it too hard, it was only a practise. Only had the one race on Saturday, 1300cc Restricted Race, was on the fourth row (Juan was at the front, "On Pole") and got a great start. I was up to second behind Juan for a couple of laps, until Ashy passed me down the back straight after I made a mistake. I held onto third, made a couple more mistakes, like overshooting the chicane, and got passed by the current lap record holder Rob Tulley. I was catching both of them but didn't manage it before the flag and ended up 4th, my first prize money - £30! There's prize money on the first four places as this is a National Restricted meeting. So I have to be happy with that result, but I know I can do better which left me a little disappointed. I lapped again in the mid 1'02s, but Juan smashed the lap record which now stands at 1'00.6 - his previous best being 1'03.4, shows you what happens when you start spending money on your bike. He still reckons that I'll go quicker with a rear shock. He says if he had to choose between a rear shock or the front forks he would improve the rear shock first. This surprised me, but this is obviously something I'll have to think about. Also, I know I can go quicker with a clear lap, I seem to be slightly quicker through Snuffies and the Bus Stop Chicane than most riders in the restricted race but get held up, while Juan buggers off at the front. It sounds stupid but I also forget to to hold on with my knees, which would make it easier - and to use the back brake to steady the bike. I have a lot of things to think about and as soon as it all comes together I should see another improvement, but I have to be happy at lapping five seconds quicker than my previous best at Jurby. At least it puts me somewhere near the front - on the pace.
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Copyright © 2000, 2001 Tommy Clucas Racing.
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