First of all congrats to
@yuc2002,
@Brutaka and
@PJTierney for the AM podium!
. What a great race, the start was nice and clean (up the front anyway, didn't see too far back what was going on), everybody played nicely (
@CAMikaze you're all good mate, luckily I'm allowed to put
remember all Enduros (including 1hr) are rolling starts.
It just sucks its all over so fast after waiting a whole week for the next race, especially our first official endurance for the season. But hey moving forward to Nurburg!
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Qualifying: Didn't manage to get into the 2:00's in my couple laps. 2:01.711 by my 2nd lap. Wasn't too worried, just didn't want to be stuck too far back for the start.
8th
Endurance: Had a pretty good start I think, still getting a hang of rolling starts. Had a great little battle with
@Brutaka nipping at my heels giving some pressure, made a slight unintentional block going into Hitachi Triangle so let him pass.
@James Cooper started to join in after that had a nice little 3 way battle during the start of first stint. I managed to get back past Brutaka out of the hairpin getting a bit of a gap while I waited out my tyres grip. By the end of the first stint I was slightly gaining on
@PJTierney with clean laps but my front grip was well low and couldn't hold consistency anymore,
@yuc2002 catching me fast just as I decide to pit with 50mins to go. Not sure what strategy everyone would go for, was clear PJ was aiming for 1 so I went with RH's with a chance to pit for RM in a fresh run if everyone did two stops.
Rejoined 7th behind
@BAZZER just as he pits next lap. Preceded to put my head down and try gain some time on the lead pack with fresher tyres. Saw
@SSJGZWarrior DC due to power out apparently, that sucks big time man, was running behind me with good time I think. Started gaining time on
@RodeRuner1967 and
@Brutaka as their tyres started dying off and then they pitted. Unfortunately after choosing to stay out for a couple more laps and over an hour of racing I made my first big mistake
clipping the exit kerb and grass at T15 kink, spinning but thankfully not hitting a wall and no cars were coming.
Decided to press on with 28mins to go and some grip left, I jumped Ram in the pits also. Quickly tyres died after and Brutaka caught me, with
@Ramalhinho91 straight out of the pits coming down on me too. I was mega slow through the esses as he caught me, staying a little wide too to grip anyway was letting him through at turn 7 but he came in too hot and hopped the kerb, getting into my left side. I hit the grass slightly and instantly spun. Thank go
@RodeRuner1967 didnt clean me up.
Pitted for RM's with 17mins to go, knew it just wasn't enough to try catch back upto 4/5th, rejoined 7th and try to get over
@BAZZER who was a little ways up the road. Managed to sneak past after a couple mistakes by him with over 10mins to go. Knuckled down to try catch 4th and 5th but 22-28secs short by the end.
.
6th
Almost made a mistake free run finally. That podium is so close I can taste it! I just need to work on my strategies better, first fuel intake probably hindered me a little, was left with plenty. Couple spins, luckily no damage so could press on but can't help but think that those two spins by myself and a little trip up with my team-mate unfortunately was the 30seconds that I lost to the lead pack.
Damn that's dissappointing but 6th is a good bag of points and managed to gain on my competitors to their unfortunate dc's or race so can move forward to Nurburgring now with the first Enduro Cup race done did
.
P.s. Just about to watch the PRO race finally, gf had the morning off so got kicked off the tv lol. Finally alone now
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