REPORT:

Greville speeds into turn one

Pre Race Weekend

After the disaster of Brands Hatch I was not expecting to race at Snetterton only 3 weeks after breaking my Shoulder Blade due to being taken out on the test day. I felt the championship was over, but if I could race at Snetterton and get some top 10 points, and hopefully my nearest competitor Tim Jones not winning everything, I may still be in with a chance for the final round, although I would be coming from behind still carrying the injury although hopefully much better by then. However, it would only be realistically possible if Tim Jones had a problem which I would not wish on a fellow competitor. I also had to get over the problem of the circuit Doc telling the bemsee bosses that I was not to race for 6 weeks.

I had been up to the Brian Simpson, a Physiotherapist specialising in broken bones who has a huge reputation for getting people healed far quicker than anyone else expects, and getting them back on the track as quickly as possible. He is normally very optimistic when it comes to getting back to racing but when he said it would be 4 or 5 weeks, I said how about 2.5 at which he took a sharp intake of breath and said, well maybe. I took that as a no due to his serious lack of optimism. He said come back next week and see how it's going.

Keep that front wheel down Greville !

I was feeling more positive over the following weekend and Loz and Nige had offered to help me repair the bike. They are currently taking some time off work so came over to mine on Monday (apparently they had had enough of decorating) to get my bike out of the van, strip it down and get it over to Maidstone Motorliners. Ray and Tom found that the yokes and forks were bent but one of the big problems was that a mounting bracket for the mudguard had broken off and I had been unable to find my mudguard after the crash that should still have the bracket attached. However, they managed to make a new bracket up and weld it on to the fork, they really know there stuff. Unfortunately the next day I heard that my mudguard had been found with the broken bracket attached, nevermind!

Huge thanks to Loz and Nige, without whom I just would not have been able to get my bike repaired.

I returned to Brian for more treatment the following week and he said pretty much the same thing except that I could give it a go if I wanted to, as long as I was in control then I should be OK, though a tank slapper may cause a big problem. This cheered me up a bit and was feeling a bit more positive about racing.

Bet that shoulder hurts !

After the first session he said that I should not drive for a couple of weeks but after the second session in the second week he said I could give it a go. I really didn't expect it to be so difficult. I had lost all my strength in my shoulder and again doubted whether I would be able to race.

I spoke the Dave Stewart, the Bemsee boss, who said he would let me race if I was comfortable enough, and felt that I was sensible enough to make that decision. So that gave me some encouragement to try to get everything ready to race.

By the end of the week I had started to drive so managed to pick my bike up on my own which Tom loaded for me. Once home I managed to grab someone to help me unload the bike. The next task was to try to get the bike back together. I struggled all weekend but managed to get the majority of it done. All that was left to do was fit the bodywork. However, on starting the bike up the radiator started leaking, it had obviously taken a knock in the crash. Now I was getting desperate. Nige came to the rescue again. He had crashed his bike and was taking it apart in preparation for repairs, so a quick call to him and he let me come over Monday evening to borrow his rad. Due to everything taking me so long to do, I decided to take Wednesday afternoon off to get the rad fitted and all the other little bits done and knowing I would be able to get some help loading it back into the van. Again I started it up to check the rad and all seemed well, but, some time later I noticed a pool of oil on the floor, fortunately before I put the bodywork back on. It turned out that one of the oil cooler pipes was split. I just couldn't believe my bad luck. I did have a spare so went about fitting that. I eventually got it all together ready for loading by about 7pm. So much for an easy afternoon. Fortunately I managed to grab someone else to load the bike for me and I eventually had everything loaded up by 8pm.

Again, not wanting to rush around like a madman I took Thursday afternoon off, it also meant that I would be at Snetterton by 5pm when we were told we could get in, and in time to grab a garage, also so that I could save some space for Jen whom I always set up garage with. Whilst on my way there I got a text from Jen to say that there was an evening track event and that we would not be able to get in before 8pm. This resulted in yet another wasted afternoon off work, still, Jen and Greg arrived and we all got set up together. Jen had broken her collar bone also at Brands so Greg, her husband had taken Friday off to help us both, what a star. Jen was bossing me about telling me not to try to do anything silly and get Greg to do it. Also, Loz and Nige had decided to take Friday out from decorating their house to come and help. It's amazing all the support I have got so huge thanks to you all.

FRIDAY

Practice Day

The plan was to only do two or three sessions, to make sure that I could actually ride, make sure the bike was OK and to remind myself of the circuit.

The weather forecast wasn't too good and I had heard the rain during the night and on appearing from my van it was wet. Although it had dried before our first session, I was in no rush. Sadly one of the Feisty bikes dropped oil around Corums and there were a few fallers on it. Jen was out in the session and it took a while for the riders to come back, it turned out that everyone was being weighed so I wandered up to the technical bay to find out what was going on. It was then that I saw Moose's bike being unloaded form a recovery van and it looked in a bit of a state, I presumed that she had gone down on the oil. Normally riders come back with their bikes if they are OK, but she was not there so I wandered up to the Med Centre. It wasn't long before the ambulance arrived and Moosey was unloaded on a stretcher sucking like a good un on the gas, which meant that she was probably in a bit of pain, and I could see that her ankle was strapped up. It was relatively good news as at least she was holding the gas tube and awake meaning it was probably just broken bones rather than anything more serious. By that time a few others from the Feisty team had arrived so it had turned into a bit of a fan club, although we did wince a bit when we heard Moosey's screaming, she soon stopped when they said they were going to cut her leathers off. Anyway, when she arrived back out of the med centre she confirmed a broken ankle and collar bone whilst being loaded back into the ambulance for the trip to hospital. Her team had collected some cloths and Loz jumped in the ambulance to keep her company and was apparently being entertained by Moose's drugged ramblings.

Anyways, I rushed back for our second session and managed to get out for a couple of laps, but because I had a different radiator, I did not know how much tape to put on it [ZXR400 radiators are very efficient and require some blocking off to keep the correct heat in the engine]. I managed a couple of laps but the temperature guage had risen too far and had to come in to take some tape off. I then managed another lap but the temperature dropped too far so I had to come in and decided to finish that session.

I actually found it a lot more painful to ride than I thought. It wasn't the broken Shoulder Blade that was giving me the problem though, it was the muscles and I presume tendons around the shoulder. They seemed really week and caused a sharp pain, particularly when turning into right handers on the brakes. You don't realise how much and what muscles you use when riding a bike until you ride with them damaged. I also hadn't realised how much you brake whilst turning into the corners. I was really not to hopefull at this stage. I had to check in with Bernie in race admin and confirmed that I would need another session see if I would be racing. I knew what I had to do, and that was to try to only brake in a straight line, but that meant altering my braking points and trying to go into the corners faster.

I missed the following session and went out in the last morning session. Well, my plan seemed to be working and my times got into the 1.20s which meant some points could well be on the cards if I decided to race. After a think at lunch time I decided to give the racing a go and confirmed that with Bernie.

I consulted the Dr in the med centre on what drugs could be taken to alleviate the pain without making me drowsy and fortunately I had some that would fit the bill. I went out in one session in the afternoon and it all seemed to be going well, the pain killers were helping and I just concentrated on getting comfortable on the bike and riding the circuit. I called it a day after that and started preparing the bike for he following dys racing. The wheels went over to Alan Russell for a new set of tyres, I junked the slicks and opted for Super Corsa Pros as the forecast wasn't that great and they will get you round the track in damp conditions, besides, I was not going to be riding fast enough the get the most out of any tyres, let alone slicks.

I had planned to go to see Moosey in Hospital but thanks to updates from Loz and Nige it turned out that her ankle break was quite bad and required an operation. The op took time and once she was out of theatre it was too late for a visit, besides, she would have bee pretty out of it.

I had gone up to the Feisty garage for updates and ended ended up doing the BBQ and cooking all evening. It looks like I've got a new job now!!

SATURDAY

I had prepped my bike but in all the faffing around waiting for news on Moosey's operation, I had neglected to fit the wheels to the bike. When I emerged from my van in the morning, Nige had started fitting the wheels, what a star, again. Also, I had been returned my mudguard so he was trying to fit that. Unfortunately and inevitably, with the new bracket being welded on the fork, it didn't all line up as it should so the whole job took rather a long time but he did it in the end, brilliant.

Practice

I had fitted my on board camera so hopefully I would get some coverage this time. It should be entertaining as well, since I would not be leading it but amongst some other bikes. Saturday was to be a charity day, a Pink Day, in aid of breast cancer and Tim Jones had put on a pink Tou Tou, I found myself behind him in the collecting bay so decided to follow him for a bit, but I was a bit quicker so went in front expecting him to come back past, he didn't, I presumed he was just taking it easy due to his attire. The practice went as expected, just a bit of a familiarisation session. As I came back in I was very pleased to see my John, my main sponsor from Hong Kong had arrived.

Race 1

I started on pole and got a reasonable start but Nick Lewis got a better one, and into the first corner Liam Lyon snuck under me. As I went into Sear another three bikes went under me as was expected given my problem barking into there. However I got good drive coming out and powered back past the three bikes. The next problem was braking into the Esses, a fast left before a tighter right, I had to brake early and Simon Lowes and Andy Palmer went around the outside of me. I followed them until the right at the Esses and Pat Mills came under me, again as I was struggling braking. On the third lap I got a false neutral going into the Esses and Kev Neal came past me on the inside. On the fourth lap Rik Ballerini came past going into Sear but I got him back under power on the back straight however I new he would be back at some point and got me on the inside going into Russells. On the last lap I could see a back marker going into the Esses, the two in front of me managed to get past through the Esses but I was a little further behind and got close enough to get them into Russells and I chose the inside, but they started coming across in front of me and my lack of fitness put me off going for the ever diminishing gap, that left a perfect outside line for someone and Alec Collinson took advantage but did not manage to get past the backmarker, that compromised his exit so I held a tighter exit and got better drive, but I needed another few metre before the finish line to get him back. I eventually finished 8th. Tim Jones, my closest rival surprisingly finished just behind me.

Race 2

Starting from Eighth I got a good start and thought I had got the whole shot to the first corner but Liam Lyon managed to get me around the outside and then with the same old problem Simon Lowes and Nick Lewis got past me on the inside. Again I got good drive out of Sear and lead into the Esses but again Nick Lewis, Simon Lowes and Liam Lyon got back past me. Pat Mills then pulled the same move on me into the Esses. Then into Russells David Scott got past me on the inside only to have a big slide coming out. He tries very hard but is rather erratic. I needed to stay in front to avoid any of his antics. Inevitably I got back past him as I came out of Russells but he then went under me again going into Sear on the following lap but I had the drive coming out and passed him again. Once again he came past me into Russells but this time on the outside. Again I went past him on the start finish straight, I had had enough of this persistency so decided to try to up the pace a bit. It seemed work but then Steve Palmer came past me going into the Bombhole then Kev Neal going into Russells. Going into Sear Alec Collinson then got past me on the inside. Steve Palmer seemed to have a problem coming out of the Esses and I got passed him going into the bombhole but somehow he managed to get back on it enough to get me around the outside going into Russells. I know that I was riding well within my capabilities but I was starting to feel if I had tried just a little bit harder, I could have held off the two or three in front of me. Steve ended up with a yellow flag infringement which put me back into 6th. When we came back in I was directed to the Dyno for a random check and was surprised to see Tim Jones's bike already there. He had obviously not finished the race and was presumably having problems with his bike.

SUNDAY

Practice

It was damp so it was just a case of getting comfortable on the bike.

Race 1

It was wet so I went out on my No2 bike that I had set up for the wet. I got a reasonable start and held my position. Tim Jones came past me on lap two and I could just see him take them one by one in front of me. Just what I didn't want. On the fourth lap I could see Pat Mills pull out, presumably with a problem. I held my position and finished 7th. Although Tim Jones had finished second he had had a jump start and ended up with a 10 second penalty putting him just in front of me in 6th.

Race 2

It had been raining on and off and there was big chance of rain during a race so I took a gamble and had some Dunlop KR364 tyres fitted that are very good in the dry but have a very good tread for wet conditions. I had hoped that at some point it would rain as I knew that most people would either be on full wets or dry tyres. Black clouds had been passing over and I could see some arriving just before our race so the wheels with the Dunlops were duly fitted although it was dry. It was a gamble, but one that could potentially pay off handsomely.

I started reasonably well, but only held my position, Neil Bustin got past me on lap two but clearly had a problem and dropped back again. Alec Collinson also obviously had a problem but managed to recover well to get back past me by lap 4. Unfortunately the tyres were causing some sever front end shaking and almost slappers coming out of corners so I was slowed up quite a bit with this. After the hectic excitement of Saturdays racing Sundays seemed far more sensible, but I was a little frustrated thinking that if only I had tried fractionally harder I could have gained a few more places. My gamble of the tyre so nearly worked as soon as we came back in after the race it started raining. Nevermind, I don't think that I actually lost anything from it though. I finished 8th.

Summary

I went to Snetterton expecting to come away 30 or 40 points behind a new championship leader. To come away 47 points ahead, still in the lead is just amazing, I thought my championship hopes were over but I'm still in with a good chance for the championship with one round still to go. However, I can't expect more problems from the two behind me. I was very lucky. I will not be fit for Brands GP and I know it will still be a struggle. As I write this report I have now started doing as much exercise as I can, my shoulder improves daily but it is very slow and painful.

The amount of support I've had from everyone is amazing and has given me massive encouragement, but above everything else, I don't think that I would have raced at Snett if it wasn't for Loz and Nige's efforts to get my bike repaired. Also Jen for bossing her hubby, Greg, around to help me as well ;-)

Also to my teamate Phil, with his broken collar bone, who helped me out on Sunday as Loz and Nige had a prior engagement.

It was great to see my main sponsor John of EDIasia again who's support is amazing. Having lead the championship from the first race, then thinking it was all over, to now being so close to winning it, I just hope that I can pull it off for John, my sponsors and all the people that have helped me.