Cadwell Park: NG

(6-8 June)

So; after the fun and games at Silverstone, I spend load of hours in the garage preparing the bike for the important NG round at Cadwell. Important because Rowan is leading this championship by 16 points and we need to secure some good places to keep the championship rolling. With this in mind, I get dispensation to practice on Friday with MSV. Rowan is granted a day off from school and I take a day holiday.

What a duff run it is to Cadwell, once you leave the A1M. It's a right pain on those little roads, strewn with roundabouts and speed cameras. After 5½ hours, we finally get to the circuit and get bedded down. Last time here the fastest lap by a Metrakit was 1:52 by Jason, so we have an idea of what to aim for. Row's best was a low 1:53.

Friday: first practice.
With a rebuilt engine to run in, Row knows to take it easy during the morning. We also keep the Sava tyres on saving our race rubber for the afternoon. Row gets three sessions to run the bike in. We change gearing a couple of times and Row gradually gets more aggressive with the engine. As the lunch break ends we can feel spots of rain, so we spend the afternoon refining the wet weather set up. It's a bit of a a pain because we haven't had chance for a dry run to get the jetting sorted. Row is riding well though, so the day is a success.

Saturday.
It's still raining as Row goes out and pootles around in practice.
"No problems," he says. "The bike is running really well."

Race 1: Qualifier.
Row take his place on pole (for the F125s) and they belt off of the line, Row leading the F125s. After 5 laps, Row runs out the winner by a small margin from his cousin Sam. Job done and Row is chuffed!

The rain is due to stop during the afternoon, so I am constantly checking the state of the track. It gets to two races before Row is due out, the rain stops and the temperature goes up. I make a decision to go to dry tyres for the championship race. It's a bit of a gamble, so Row is made well aware that it might be sketchy for the first laps.

Race 2: Championship round.
Watching the bikes go down to the start line, it's a right old mix of tyres, although the majority seem to have stayed on wets. Row takes his place on pole.
Go! Row is side by side with Sam into the first corner. They come past, Sam first with Row hard on his heels. The laps reel off and Row manages to get past a couple of times but Sam (on wets) manages to hold on and win by 3 tenths of a second! Both boys are made up with the race. They re-live it for us back in the paddock! It's fun watching them have a laugh about their dice for the lead. Row has managed to limit his point loss by getting the fastest F125 lap, so Sam has gained just 1 point on him. The next F125 is some 13 seconds behind them.

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Sunday.
It's sunny and hot, which is nice but we haven't had any dry time on the newly run-in engine, so jetting is gonna be a guess. I just drop the needle one place and then get Row out for a few laps of practice. He comes back saying that the bike is flying! I check the spark plug and peer into the cylinder head. It all looks good. Row also says that the gearing is now too short so the next size down of rear sprocket is fitted.

Qualifying race.
Sam has pole for this. They line up and
Go! Once again its Sam and Row out front and once again, despite Row showing a wheel here and there, he just doesn't have the speed to make a pass stick. As the race goes on they get mixed up with some 400s. Row gets baulked and loses the tow to Sam, who runs out the winner, 2 seconds ahead of Row. Lap times show that Sam managed a 1:51:95 and Row a 1:52:25, his fastest ever around here. During our debrief, Row says that the gearing is still too short, so out comes the rear wheel and in goes the next smallest sprocket. I have a chat with Row to ensure he's confident he can use it.

Race 2: Championship round.
As they line up, I am a nervous wreck.
Go! They belt off out of view, Row around the outside of everyone! I wait the nervous minute until they re-appear and Row comes through in the lead! Sam gets caught up with some 400s and Tom Williams. In lap two, Row comes through with some 400s and a couple of GP125s and has extended his lead over Sam and Tom. By lap 3, Row is in clear air and has a huge gap back to Sam and Tom. I am chewing fingernails!

Row keeps belting past, gradually extending his lead. I see him take a good look around to make sure he's clear then he just rides it to win by 12 seconds! Bloody awesome mate!

Row lapped in the 1:52s all race and his fastest lap was a 1:51:30, the fastest ever around this track by a Metrakit and the fastest F125 lap all weekend! We are over the moon but Row is still saying that he needs a longer gear. He reckons he could have got into the 1:50s. He's also really damaged his knee sliders.

What a weekend! Row has extended his championship lead from 16 to 22 points. The club also award him the Newcomer of the Meeting award; the second time he has won this accolade. So, with the van loaded up with trophies and winners caps we head back home.

Nice.

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