Round 7....Situations just out of my control

Thruxton is another new circuit for me this year. Can't really do much research on it besides seeing some data of other riders and watching some old race videos. It is not available on any video game currently so can't ride it that way either. Had done some research and it is considered the fastest track in Europe with average MPH speed of over 180mph for the superbikes. Insanity!

 Arriving at the track on Thursday was normal. Met up with the BTC crew and did our briefing for the weekend. Then went out to the track and get to see it and feel it for the first time. I think there are 3 or 4 different types of materials on the track and bumpy to say the least. She was definitely fast though, no hard breaking areas and basically whoever could hold it wide open the longest was taking it this weekend. After the BTC briefings; Jay, Cam and I did a couple more laps on the push bike to get more insight on the track and where I could make up some time. Each time I went around the track I got more and more excited about it. This could be the weekend I can podium again!

Friday morning got up and prepared for the practices. Excited as I was to get on the track, I was mentally riding the track. Getting visually prepared to do the exact same thing in a couple of hours. Once finally on the track it didn't take me long to really groove with it. I was able to attack hard and my transitions felt really good through the fast moving chicanes. I was bouncing around the top10 for most of the practices and was getting faster and faster. As Friday came to an end, I was feeling really good for qualifying. Debriefing with the team, I saw areas where I was coasting and needed to improve my throttle response. Goals are not set and I wanted to qualify in the top6. 

Saturday morning came around and it was time to get it done. Qualifying was a bit of a struggle as I know I needed a tow but kept finding myself lapping on my own. Finally worked out to get a tow the last couple of laps and made a huge jump up to P5 as I crossed the checkered. A couple of other front runners were on their hot laps as well and they managed to push me down to P7. Just missed my goal of P6 or better but I was very happy with the results. Unfortunately my team mate who qualified P6 crashed at the end of session and hurt his foot. So when the grids came out for Race #1 I was starting P6. I haven't had a second row start for a while and I was super pumped. Race #1 started and tragedy happens on turn 3 of lap 1. I was rear ended and pushed into the dirt. I tried getting back on the track but my tail section was swimming under my put. I crawled back to pits and had them fix it as best as possible. I was able to head back out on the track and put more laps in not only for track knowledge but to also get a good lap so I am not starting in the back due to a DNF. I was really upset after the race as I felt I could of done so much more with that effort. Jay was consoling me on the pit wall and John Hopkins came by and found me. He reassured me that its just racing and these things will happen. Told me to keep my head high and aim for a power comeback on Sunday. Between John and Jay I was able to recover quickly and feel a lot better. Thank you guys for coming to my rescue!

It stunk to be taken out so early but its out of my control and nothing I could do about it. I wasn't hurt and I could race again on Sunday. 

Last day of the race weekend is upon us. Race 2 grids came out and I managed to get a time quick enough for P15 after the issues. Not where I wanted to be obviously, but it could of been way worse. Time to put my head down and go to work. Had a really good launch and put the charge down. I started picking riders off and made my way up to P8 leading the group I was in and dragging them to close the gap on the group in front of us. Then, again, rider from behind comes in too hot and pushes myself and two other riders wide. We all fall back and now with 2 laps to go I am back in P15 after all that work. I know I have two laps so I start working through the group again....I am sitting in P13 when all of a sudden the RED FLAG come out....Oh come on man. Talk about taking the wind out of my sails. With only two laps left, the race was over and I finished P13. Yeah I got some points for the championship but I could of done so much better. Again, another situation out of my control and just unlucky this weekend. 

Positives from the weekend were that I was getting back into my mental form. I was enjoying the battle and climbing through the group in order to lead. I feel I definitely had a chance at a podium on Saturday...but again not something I can change or had control over. Sure, I could of gone faster in order not to be in that spot, but I was there and it happened. Currently holding P9 in the Championship with two races left...let's see how close I can get to that Top5 group. Maybe another podium in that future as well would be nice. 

We have a couple of weeks between the next round and school is starting again as well. Schedule will be full with that and training. Only 7 more weeks and I get to head home as well.