I have just returned from OS after a 2-month trip sailing in 4 events in Italy, USA and Hong Kong. Whilst away I decided to enter in the last round of the Australian Superbike Championship competing in the Pro-Twin/Naked bike class. This is a 2 in 1 combined class for V-Twin bikes and Bikes with no fairing (basically).
Although I was the only 750cc bike in the field competing mainly against 1000cc Superbikes, namely Ducati’s new 1098’s, winning wasn’t my objective. This is something I have wanted to do for a while now to compete at the highest level of racing in Australia amongst the likes of Kevin Curtain, Jamie Stauffer and Craig McMartin etc. who are at the top of this sport at World and Australian level.
So after a couple of days back in the country I prepared myself for the 3 day meeting at Sydney’s Eastern Creek. I completed all the paperwork and organised tyres whilst I was away so for the most part I just had to prepare my bike. 
As it’s an hours drive each way to and from home, rather than take the option to go Thursday evening to set up and scrutineer, I was up at 5 on Friday morning to get there by 0630 when the gates opened to try and secure a good garage spot. Once that goal was achieved it was off to scrutineering and other formalities such as timing transmitters and registration, before a mandatory riders briefing at 0815, which is compulsory each morning before the track opens.
Friday’s schedule for my class consisted of 2x15min practice sessions at 1000 and 1300 followed by the first of 2 qualifying sessions at 1530. I hadn’t ridden for 10 weeks and was keen to get as many laps in as I could, this combined with my nerves I wasn’t to sure how it would all pan out. So on a very nice Sydney day with the sun out and 22c I was the first bike out of the pits ready to get back into it. To my surprise it all felt very good. I got back into a rhythm quite quickly and completed 8 laps before the flag came out to end the session. Back to the pits feeling allot better about what may lie ahead I was even more surprised to see I was lapping consistently in the low 40’s with a best of 1:42.3.  Maybe the break off the bike was a good thing. It was pretty quiet on the first day there, with not many spectators and a good time for me to have a wander around the Pits to check out the scene. Its quite the setup with 4 factory teams and a host of privateer teams that were just as well setup with what looked like 2 or 3 people supporting one bike and rider.
So Practice 2 came and went with more time to get a feel for the track but more importantly ease the nerves a bit more. This session I concentrated on relaxing and my body position and completed 5 laps in the 43’s before learning a big lesson, being to figure out how much fuel I need as I ran out, forcing me to end the session a couple of laps early.  Next up was Qualifying 1. My attitude here was just to treat it as another practice. I didn’t feel I was going to be a great starter so my thinking was if I could work on a good setup for the race I may do ok.  It was also quite warm by then and with Qualfing 2 being at 1000 the following day the track was bound to be faster then as by this stage track temp was 50c.  For sure it was quite slippery and my best time was 1:43.1
Saturday. 1000 Qualifying 2.  1330 Race 1.
So again for qualifying I just wanted to make sure I felt good for the race rather than an all out assault on a fast time. It was a good warm up and I ended with a 1:42.7, which put me 11th on the grid.
Today Terry and Matt came out to support and lend a hand. It’s certainly great to have friends around, as Friday was a little boring without any mates there.
Race one quickly came and although Terry was helping me out with some starting tips I think it was all in one ear and out the other as I battled with a massive case of nerves.  Even though there was a sighting lap and a warm up lap I think I was still shaking as we lined up for the start. Red light on, red light off, I felt like I was on a scooter as everyone rode off into the distance and around the outside of me. I think I went through the first turn bolt upright (normally taken at 180km+). So with an extremly clear track in front of me I set about playing catch up. I got a few on the first couple of laps of this 7 lap race before finding myself in no mans land with the next rider in front of me maybe 5 seconds ahead. I got into a great rhythm and slowly but surly dragged him in to find it was the other D grader in the field in a 1098. On the last lap it was all or nothing to try and find a way past. Lucky he made a small mistake allowing me to get through with 4 corners to go and a very happy twirler crossed the line in 9th position 28 seconds off 1st but more importantly I was in one piece and had just completed my first individual race. ☺  So post race they hold you in scrutineering for up to 15mins awaiting any protests etc. Back to the pits to see my mates Terry and Matt and high 5’s all round. As it turned out I not only completed all laps in the 42s but the last 2 laps were a PB of 1:41.0.
So on the way home I rang through to Steph not only to update her and the girls, but also to get a bath ready with a bottle of Radox and a six-pack of Becks.
Sunday. 0930 Warm up. 1130 Race 1. 1400 Race 2.
Now this was an amazing day. The place was chocka block with people. I’m not sure of how many but it seemed like 1000’s and 1000’s.  Tim, Ian Morgan and Gerald all came out to check out the scene and lend support which was great.  The night before I had re shimmed and bleed the clutch as I felt it was slipping a little so I went out for warm up for a couple of laps just to check everything was ok. All good.
Race 2 wasn’t so good for me. More nerves, but getting better, a worse start and not so good a rhythm. I played catch up again but didn’t catch up so v happy to finish and had fun. My post mortem taught me another lesson. Basically after the high of Race one I tried to over think everything. Start like this and it will be better, try that line into there and that will be better, change that setting and that will be better. Bullshit. Just relax, enjoy and have fun, this is your first race meet and you need to go home with your bike. Ya dickhead. Ok so that’s my attitude for Race 3 then. Stats for Race 2 were 11th over the line 42 second off 1st, fastest lap 1:42.6. Only upper was that my D grade competition retired.
So in-between races I put on a new rear tyre and started fresh. Gerald and Ian bleed the brakes and set everything up for me, which was perfect as I could relax a little. By this time it was 32c and track temp was 53c. I was constantly letting air out of my tyres, as the day got hotter and hotter. I think all was good though, I felt good, (still nervy) and had friends around me to take my mind off things. Probably the best advise I had was from Gerald for the start. Just imagine you’re at the streetlights, so another different technique but seemed feasible. So off I go, same routine, Sighting lap and warm up lap. Red light on Red light off. Go, Go, Go…. One bike comes past, waiting for another…. Wow im into turn 1 and no one else has come by. I felt like looking behind to see if any one was there. Ok so 3rd gear, 4th gear and turn 2 approaching, holly cow there’s bikes all around me, bugger it I’m going in, so with the inside position I then hit the bike in front, bike behind hits me and all I can think about is saying my Holy Marys just praying not to come off and then all of a sudden the waters parted and I didn’t need another miracle I was out of there, exit turn 2 enter turn 3 and I felt good as I promised whoever organised that way out of Turn 1 I would go to Church on Sunday.
This time I had a good bunch of bikes just a short distance in front. Head down, relax and enjoy the moment, so that’s what I did as I set out in pursuit. After a lap or 2 I had passed one and then just as all was looking good, a bike in front was circulating with a mass of black smoke coming from his exhaust. Of course myself and the 3 just in front of me all thought the worst and didn’t want to ride his line so we all slowed a little, well them a little more than me as I used the opportunity to get up onto the back of them. 2 laps to go and I just couldn’t get passed them. Finally after much thought and planning, (sort of) I was able to slipstream 2 of them out of 12 and hold them off into turn one and from there I felt comfortable enough to hold them through to finish (upright) my 3rd and last race and more importantly my 1st race meet.  So for race 3, 7th on line, 44 seconds off 1st and a 1:42.4.
So back to the pits and smiles all round. A successful weekend for me and a life goal ticked.
I can’t explain the feeling of being at a race meet like that. For me it was 72hours of an incredible high that I’m sure would have a street value of in excess of $10,000.  It was a great opportunity that I’m so happy I was able to take. The competitors were all good blokes and especially in my class where most were family men who I think were much better to race than there 17 year old kids. Well for me anyway.
Statistics.
Eastern Creek Raceway. 3.93km.
Outright Lap Record. A1 GP Car. 1:19.14
V8 Supercar Lap Record. 1:31.73.  V8 Ute Lap Record 1:51.05
Outright Bike Lap Record. Honda GP500 1:30.36
Pro-Twins lap record. Ducati 1098, Craig McMartin. 1:33.99
My Results.
17 bikes on Grid.
Pro-Twin Class. 4th overall.
Pro-Twin Naked bike BCD Grade. 6th overall
Pro-Twin BCD Grade. 3rd Overall.
Pro-Twins/Naked Bike. D Grade. 1st overall
Fastest Lap. 1:41.0