Well, what an interesting place Anglesey is. It took six hours to get there but it was worth the trip for the stunning sea views alone. We woke Friday morning for the track day to a wet track which is not the way you would choose to learn a new circuit but out we went. Anglesey has some corners to catch out the unwary and it took a few laps to get into. Coming along the back straight out the corner of my eye I could see something huge lumbering out of the mist and I looked to see the coast guard helicopter flying what seemed about 100 yds away. It made me jump at first cos it was so close, then I remembered I was doing about 100mph heading towards a tight left hairpin so I had better stop watching that and concentrate. Towards the end of the morning it started to dry so on went the slicks and I was starting to feel more comfortable with the place. After lunch I put some new Dunlop slicks on and tried some fast laps, despite traffic I did a few 1.13's which I was happy with.
Friday night about 3am I was rudely awoken by torrential rain and thunder and lightning. It was quite a display for an hour or so. I got up about 7.30 expecting to be flooded but to my amazement it was already strating to dry and there was a substantial dry line around the whole track. New Era had put us in with the Pro-Bikes and 250's for this meeting, so I knew qualifying would be interesting with so much traffic. I managed 6th overall and 3rd in class with just the two Triumphs ahead of me.
First race I got a good start and was away with the front when into the second corner BANG John Simpson on one of the Triumphs had smacked me up the back and took us both off, in trying to avoid the melee Joey Reding on the Honda had gone down too. BUGGER. That left Wade to go on and take the win comfortably. The bike was not too badly damaged although the exhaust looked like a dog chew.
Second race I got another good start and slotted in behind Marcus Wade and a couple of Pro Bikes. It stayed like that for a few laps then Joey on the Honda came past but I managed to get him straight back but I could not hold him off and next corner he went by again and pulled a little on me. It looked like he might have a go at Marcus Just ahead but out came the red flags and the race was counted back a lap so I still got 2nd.
Sunday morning was HOT. The thought of a 20min race in that heat was not a nice prospect but as it turned out I needn't have worried. I got away pretty good again but got shuffled in the first few corners a bit so I think there was five or six bikes ahead of me this time. Into the tight left hander at the top of the hill John Simpson on the triumph (again!) torpedoed Dale Gayson out of the race and clipped Marcus. Out came the safety car and we stayed behind that for a few laps while they cleared the debris up, once we got going again there was another crash and that brought the red flags out. Whilst we waited in the holding area to go back out there was a fly invasion, they were everywhere and big ones too. My girlfriend (Barb) went to the toilets to get some tissues to clean my visor and ended up doing most of the grid! The race was re-started over 12 mins + 2 laps but this time Marcus and Joey got past on the first lap and so did a couple of pro bikes, so rather than push to pass the Pro Bikes which were not in my race I thought I would settle for 3rd and 16 points as Simpson was out of the race the points would haul me closer in the Championship.
A rather depleted grid started the last race of the weekend, of the four people on the front row, only one made it to the line. Marcus was out after blowing his engine in the Formula 600 race, John Fisher(Pro Bike) had crashed and John Simpson had wrecked his two Triumphs in the earlier crashes. So it was down to me and Joey Reding for the race. I kept him behind for a few laps but he got past and Greg Lewis (Pro Bike) came with him, along the fast back section they would pull from me but then I could reel them in through the Cork Screw and start/finish but did not really have enough to pass so I had to settle for 2nd again
Not a terrible weekend despite the crash and I've moved up to 2nd in the championship too.
Pembrey next on the 14th & 15th June. I fancy a wet race so i'll do my rain dance.
Russell #45
