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SUNFLOWER RACES
Flipn hec were do i start with
this one! In the middle of week it looked as if the Mondello Pk rounds were going to be my last races this year. To do the
Sunflower races i would need at least 3 rears and 2 front tyres and i was totally skint as usual, apprentice wages dont go
far! First to step in and offer help was Moto Tech, sponsor to Mark Glasgow, well done on lifting the supertwins c ships,
Irish and Mondello. Brian offered to pay for the fuel, then my grandad came up with the rest of my entry as i only had the
deposit paid, a text came in from Uncle Trev in OZ, he would put a set of tyres on the bike and another set of tyres was promised
on race day, no names were to be mentioned. Thank god for that every thing was in place. My first QF and a nice new set of shiny dunlop tyres on the bike,
I went out and was straight into the 1.12s ,this was my usual race pace times. I felt really good and had the confidence i
was lacking back on my side. The second QF and i was faster again this time i was 1.11.520. My time was under the stock
lap record, when i came in and was told i couldn’t believe it. That put me 18th on the grid for the superbike races
and 31st for the sunflower, and i knew there was more to come. Saturday morning and the warm up… i went for 3 laps
just to get dialled in. Then the new tyres went on for the first race .My gut was in knots. At the start i fluffed it a bit
but got away ok, the next thing i was up the inside and past 5 bikes on the first corner i had full confidence in my bike
and went for it. I held on to the back of Mark Pollock who was riding Marshall Neills superbike, Matthew Percys superbike
and Richard Rea also on a superbike but towards the end of the race they pulled away and i settled for 15th place. 1st stock
and 1st cup rider home. But that wasn’t the end. When i got back to the paddock i was told i had got into the 1.10s
and a new lap record for the stock class. Talk about being on a high. That also gave me the Ulster Stock championship and
i drew level on points for the Ulster superbike cup . WE then had to make up our minds as to whether we should leave
out the Sunflower race and save the rear tyre for the next ISB race well that was the plan. i went for a walk and when i came
back to the van another new rear Dunlop tyre was sitting there for me for the last SBK race. I lined up on the grid for the
Sunflower race. I could hardly see the front of the grid, I was so far back. When the lights went out just went for it and
the same thing applied. Right up the inside on the first left hander, i dont know how i got through but i did , then round
the outside of a few more when i came past the pit wall on the first lap my crew were going mental. Too much sun I thought!
The red flags came out on the 4th lap and we came into the pits. My team were laughing and smiling, defo must be on something.
Then they told me i was up to 14th from 31st on the grid on the first few laps. Talk about the cat that got the cream! The
race was to be run over a new distance but i knew the back tyre wasnt going to last ,it had done the first SBK race plus 4laps
of this race plus the 2 warm up laps .When the race restarted i got up to 16th but couldn’t hold the same consistent
pace. My visor started to steam up and i couldn’t see out of one side, (all that stupid grinning obviously generates
heat! debz) It was a new helmet, my spanner man Stevie had bought me, and i forgot to clean the visor. I was going through
the back section of the track and i misjudged the corner. I was on the grass but kept it upright, when i rejoined the track
John Simpson was right there i put my hand up to say sorry to him and he waved back to me but he only used two fingers! lol
So i just pulled in it was too dangerous to try to do the last lap. On the upside, i learned that i had done another faster
lap 1.10 33, just outside Richard Reas lap record for the cup class but another new stock record .The last SBK race we put our last tyre on
and it was a case of just go out and finish the race to get the Ulster championship for the Cup class. That was my intention
but that was not what happened . I got a good start and was closer to the front lads ,then there was mayhem at turn 2. Marshall and
J Laverty were down, there were bits everywhere. I just saw Laverty in front of me, he jumped back and i missed him by a
hairs breadth. I thought for sure it would be red flagged but the marshals did a great job and got it sorted for the next
lap. Well done to those boys. I was up to 9th and held that to the end of the race. What a weekends racing for our wee
team. 2 Ulster championships and a STK lap record. This has been the best season for me and i couldn’t have had
a better bunch of guys with me this year. There’s a few people i would like to thank for this year. My granda HARRY KEYS for buying the bike this year i hope i have repaid him with the titles
this year. STEVIE and DEBZ for
looking after me and my dad so well this season. Nothing was too much for them to do. TEAM
AIR POWER for the transport to the races and a set of tyres. HUGH MASSEY
for the leathers. ROAD RACING IRELAND for the boots gloves and helmets.
STEVEN PATTERSON ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR for the set of tyres. McKILLOP
MOTORCYCLES for the tyre changes at the races, and of course my MUM
and DAD without them it would be impossible for me to do any racing as they do everything else
for me, i just have to turn up and ride the bike. Looking forward to 2011 already. The plan at the minute is to tune the engine
we have and turn it into a superbike. If anyone out there would be interested in helping to fund our team you can contact
DEBZ through this site or ring 07940626660 and ask for RODNEY KEYS See you next year GARETH #72
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