Hayden Fitzgerald - Race report SBK Champs Rnd2

Each day from Friday to Sunday got better and better with weather.

I kept our mechanic Westie and team manager busy all weekend with my demands that needed doing to the bike prior to race day which I would first like to take this opportunity to thank them for all their efforts. It allowed me to get on with my job the best that I could. . . Thank you!

Qualifying showed the odd spit of rain so it was very important to get onto the track early and make the most of the dry surface before it became greasy. The spits of rain became heavier part way through slowing riders more. The fastest laps were done by all the riders in their first few laps.

We qualified 7th. Less than half a second off taking 2nd spot. The racing should be close. After a couple of nights thinking about how we can go faster and making progress we have found a pattern that can help my riding and how to dial in the bike faster.

Race One was here, we were lined up on the grid but I did not get a very good run going into Levels’ first tight chicane. I had brake issues early on in the race and made catching up to the front group impossible so instead I put a gap on Ray Clee and kept that gap maintained throughout the remainder of the race.

Finding out what caused the braking issues in race one, I had the confidence to go for it straight off the start line. I managed a better start than race one and sat a bike length behind the chasing group. This gave me a chance to work out where they were strong and weak. I knew that I had them under brakes as we set the bike up this weekend to be able to pass rather than ultimate lap times I caught the chasing group up but the white flag came out earlier than I anticipated so out braked Scott Moir off the back straight and capitalized on Craig Shirriffs miss fortune making up 2 Places before the checkered flag.

Timaru has to be one of my favourite tracks. For the size it has a bit of everything, it is a real riders track. The racing from each class was tight and kept the crowd entertained.

With the help from Dennis at Ohlins we could dial the bike in quickly and because of that the team has made some real progress on the New Bridgestone tyres and we have got them working how we like.

Bring on Teretonga.
www.haydenfitzgerald.co.nz