Friday

Enough is enough !!. No racing for the past 4 weeks is taking it's toll. I'm working my butt of in gym but they just won't allow me to ride my bike in it. :) Well another 4 days and we are of to Morgan Park for Round 2 of the Regional Southern Downs Championship. We can't wait so watch this space for more....

A week ago we spend the day testing at Queensland Raceway in Ipswitch. The track is dead flat with two very long straights. This was my first time at the track and the first few sessions went very well and I was only a few seconds of pace. The bike now has to be race prepped and ready for my first National event on the 3-6th of June.

25-28^th March 2010 - Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick, Queensland - Read Race Report Here

Tuesday 16 March 2010 Finally, my bike arrived and all in good nick. Thanks to Rainer from Freight Brokers International for protecting the bike on it's long trip. Been training hard for the first round here in Aus on the 27th and the 28th.

We also have the privilege of having one of the best technicians in Australia looking after my bike. Kazu Karoda has spent 5 years on the 500cc World Grand Prix Championship Circuit, and 8 years on the Japanese National Championship Circuit as a race mechanic.

This experience includes working with Kanemoto Racing (Honda) and Team Rainey (Yamaha) teams, with two of the most highly respected names on the circuit; Erv Kanemoto and Wayne Rainey.
The riders Kazu has worked with include Norick Abe, Luca Cadalora and Alex Barros.

Monday 22 February 2010 My bike left SA a few weeks ago and should arrive here the first week in March. I can hardly wait to get on her again. This week I start some serious training again. Just need to get fit, start riding and get rid of the holiday cobwebs. We attended the Australian motorcycle expo and I just wanted to go race after sitting on the bikes.

Monday 25 January 2010. It seems that we will miss the first race here in Australia. My bike only leave South Africa this week and it will be six weeks before we see her. Well we might as well enjoy the Aus sun & surf before the serious training starts again this week.

17 December 2009. Well my local readers as some of you may know we are now residing in Australia. Currently my bike is still in South Africa as we are still waiting or and import permit. I'm really having withdrawal symptoms and need to get on the track soonest. Keep checking back and I will update you on what's happening.

Hi to all my loyal fans (even if it's just my family :). Well we are waiting in anticipation to hear where the last race will be held. I'm sure it will be Phakisa. Hopefully we will be able to join the race as this will be my last race in South Africa. Till next time.....

Well no real news, just training hard and studying for the final exams. Wish I could get some more riding done but then again school before fun. Looking forward to th Zwartkops race.

A Zwartkops practice day. Was looking so forward in trying new gearing etc at the track but after only 4 laps the bike seized. Aaargh man it seems we never get a good practice.

Training and training. With the next race at Phakisa coming up I'm training like a beast. I need to stay. Currently 2nd in the Championship I know that the next two races will be hard

We decided to head to Phakisa for some practice. There were only two bikes on the track for the whole day and boy what a difference. You can really concentrate. Once again the bike was not up to pace but we made the best of it and did some good laps and times. And the end of the day we got to some shenanigans.

Trackday at Zwartkops Raceway. Once again the first two A sessions were spoiled by incidents and we only managed about 4 laps in 2 sessions. The red flag was waved so many times that I thought we were watching a bull run in Spain. The day was good as we practiced a few different settings on the bike.

Headed out to Midvaal to help Ivan & Ryno. Surprised to see a lot of bikes at the track. The day started badly when, after 1 lap, the exhaust on Ivan's bike broke off. Then the next session a car spilled oil on the track. Midvaal say "oh sorry we don't have cement" and therefore the end of the day !!. Man we pay R 250 and they can't even clean up the oil.

Hey before I forget "check out my new helmet". My Dad surprised me with it at Phakisa.

We desperately need some practice time at Phakisa so hopefully get some testing done on Tuesday.

World Superbike weekend, whoohoo !!. I could not wait to go. My Dad got us some great access so we could walk around in the pits the whole weekend and watch the race trackside. Our local "hero" Sheridan did a great job and hopefully Kawasaki will take notice. Well it's some hard gym training for me this week before our race this weekend at Zwartkops.

Attended a great practice session at Zwartkops on Sunday. Only managed to have 3 sessions but at least we could spend some time setting up the bike.

We got invited by our club, MRC, to attend a Prize giving evening. My parents informed me it was only a dinner and I was none the wiser. They started calling up names that received club awards and suddenly my name was called, I was flabbergasted and really did not expect it. Well I received 2nd place overall in the 125GP racing.

Once again at the race track bright and early to enjoy another action packed race weekend! As usual we got there early on Friday to get pits, even though we only started at 13:30. We did 3 practice sessions and the bike felt good. All was well and I couldn’t wait for Saturday!

It is always bad trying to qualify in the morning at 07:30, when the track is cold and you are cold and well...everything is just cold! I went out and just felt the grip of the track in the first lap then Jordan caught up with me and we pulled each other so that we could get our times down. At the hairpin I was always having to keep it up on my knee so I didn’t lowside! I managed to qualify 3^rd for the first race and 2^nd for the second race! Now it was race time..

This time I just kept calm and tried to stay relaxed and keep my nerves away. I put my earplugs in and everything just becomes quiet and I can focus. We left the pits and onto the grid. My start was ok and I'm in 4^th by the first turn. On the 1^st lap and Cam crashes out, Ivan who was leading, experience brake failure and runs off and crashes. Brad was in 1^st and started to pull away. So it was Jordan, Chane and I battling it out again for 2^nd position. We were swapping places like mad and then, Jordan passed Chane and I passed Jordan on the same straight! Then that next corner I didn’t get good drive and Jordan came past again and he pulled away slowly. We were reeling him in but there just wasn’t enough laps. On the 3^rd last bend she passed me to take 3^rd place. I got fourth but was still happy and had a great race.

Now I was pumped to get a really good position for this race! Ivan was not starting this race due to mechanical issues, so I was basically on pole! Lights off and I got a better pull away to be in 3^rd.Then I got past Cam and Brad came past me. Brad and Chane pulled away and as I came around the first turn I saw that Chane had crashed! So I was now fighting to keep second. I had a reasonable gap on Cam and he was slowly getting closer. I looked over to pit wall to look at my parents hand gestures to see how far behind me he was. On the last lap I just pushed it to keep my 2^nd place and I did!! It was a lonely race but I still had to keep on the button to keep it cause one mistake and I would have been in 3^rd! It was a great weekend and I finished 2^nd overall!! It was really a great day!

Congratulations to all the competitors! Cant wait to do it again on the 26^th May at Zwartkops!! See you there!!

Between the heat one and two we had a memorial lap where all the riders went out on the track and did 2 laps for those great riders who passed away this week. Christopher dos Santos ( 125cc and 150cc competitor) Gary Peterson (2008 Supermoto Champion) Lawrence Carpenter ( ZX10 cup competitor). You will all be sorely missed at all the events and may you all Rest In Peace !!!

Phakisa Race: 20-21 April 2009

We arrived at Phakisa Raceway on Thursday afternoon. I had been looking forward to this weekend the whole week.

We got there early Friday morning to begin our practice session. In the 1st session I immediately noticed that the bike was making a funny noise. So I came back into the pits to check it out. We found 1 or 2 things wrong but nothing serious. So out I went but the bike was still making the same noise. Once again we took the bike apart and we still could not find a problem. So I jumped on a spare bike borrowed from my mechanic Wayne Barrington Smith.

In the 3^rd session I just got used to the new bike. 4^th session I tried to get my times down and the times were not too bad but still under. So with barely any practice the day ended.

Bright and early again for the qualifying, but at least this time we were on at 08:00 instead of 07:15 which was allot better. We went out for qualifying and I managed some good laps. I fell in behind Brad, Chris and Ivan. Brad pulled away and Chris crashed out. I made a mistake in the first corner which had made Ivan pull a fair gap on me. I still managed to qualify 4^th for the first race and 3^rd for the second race. I couldn’t wait to get into the race because this time, believe it or not, the spare bike was better than my own !!

I always try to stay calm before a race to try and prevent getting butterflies in my stomach. Yet I always do, so by now I'm used to them. We went out and I was going to try and get a great start and stick with the front runners. Lights went off and I had a great start! I was still in 4^th but a good start. Then my foot got caught on the gear lever coming into the first corner and I ran wide causing Ivan and Chris to pull away. Then it was myself and Cam battling it out for 4^th. I saw Ivan pulled off track and briefly wondered what happened but kept on the pace. Then on the second last lap I took a quick glance behind me to see that Cam was gone. So for the last 2 laps I had a lonely ride in 3^rd but still very happy about it. Couldn’t wait for heat 2!

The main thing I tried to do this time before this race was to try and keep very cool. IT WAS BOILING HOT THERE!. Then when we went out it was nice and cool. Again I managed a good start. Ivan was in front of me, as we came into the hairpin he was on the brakes to hard and crashed out in front of me. I carried on and then Chris pulled away and I thought I was by myself but I was wrong. It was Jordan, Chane and I battling it out for 3^rd. We were swopping places like mad people. I could see and feel that all of us were shaking and wobbling around out of every turn that's how hard we were pushing.

Then on the last lap I was in 6^th and decided to push as hard as I could. Coming out of the first corner I drafted and passed Jordan, then had my sights on Chane. Then on corner 5 Jordan cut me off on the inside, I ran wide and so did Jordan. We both wanted 3^rd so badly.

On the back straight I drafted Jordan and held it on the inside and it was a close pass. I was not close enough to pass Chane on the hairpin and hoped to be able to pull onto the main straight. As we came out I started pulling and just missed out on the 3^rd position by a few milliseconds.

It was an exhilarating race and even the parents agreed that it was a great to see a battle like that.

So I tied for 3^rd with Chane but second heat was the decider for who gets the trophy and Chane got it. It was still a very great ride!!

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Back at Phakisa for a little practice before the second race of the season. Had to run the motor in but during the 4th session, BLAM !!! she seized up on me......... Man what's going on ?. But all is not lost as our Caddy got a face lift with some fantastic vehicle wrapping sponsored by the great and friendly chaps at Fineline Design.

Ah, the first race of the year and exhaust fumes in the air, and the deafening sound of bikes permanently screaming everywhere. Its beautiful!

We arrived on Friday pretty early to get some pits, but our trusty mechanic Wayne Barrington Smith was already there and we had our pits. We only started at 13:30 that afternoon, which was annoying. We were only going to get two sessions in that day, which was also annoying. I was excited to go out but equally nervous. It was a good practicing session but it was HOT!!

Yet again it seems this year we are going to be qualifying very early again. Luckily it wasn’t raining but dark clouds stayed around the track threatening to drench us any minute.

Qualifying was made difficult because my visor were starting to fog up, so much I missed the checkerd flag.

I qualified 6^th for the race and I wasn’t too impressed with that, but I was going to make the best of it.

Again the nerves that I had missed so much over the holiday period were back again in full force. Just keeping cool and still was hard enough to handle.

On the grid we got a warm up lap and then we went. I hadn’t got the best of starts but it was alright. Then coming out the hairpin on the straights I saw the pack starting to pull away from me so I tried hard but couldn’t reel them in. The bike felt fine but my straight speed were just slow.

Then I was Cam and I to battle it out for 5^th . We were both pushing hard to try and keep position. Then the last lap he passed me and I couldn’t get past him. So I came 6^th but it was a fun race.

As we got onto the grid something happened and we all got stopped, then we had to go again and my bike wouldn’t start.

After a good 3 pushes it finally started then we were off. Again I didn’t get the best of starts but still pushed hard. Once again I noticed that on all the straights they really pulled away from me. So I had to push as hard as I could to make up for the straights but it just wasn’t good enough and I finished a miserable 7^th.

Wayne told us that he could see that there was something wrong with the bike. Hopefully at Phakisa I'll be up there again and pushing hard.

Congrats to all the 125cc racers. See you all at PHAKISA on the 21^st March 2009

Sunday, 8 February 2009

We got some great riding in at Zwartkops. The different classes were jam packed with some National and Regional riders trying out new machinery and maybe even some go-fast goodies. We just wanted to get some bike time in and enjoyed the day when finally I could stretch the bikes legs in the last session. " Hey Dad how's the sunburnt face ?"

Monday, 2 February 2009

Back at school for nearly two weeks now. The racing calendar changed a few dates for the first race but it seems they settled on the 28th of Feb. I'm so pumped for the first race but need some good practice sessions.

Saturday, 10 January 2009

Well time to get rid of the holiday cobwebs and get back on the bike. We were joined at Kyalami with current RedBull Rookie rider Mathew Scholtz. Mathew an I shared some tips and it was a great day to get back into form.

Monday, 17 December 2008

The holidays are now in full swing and I must say I'm bored stiff. Just a few more days then we can can enjoy some Fun, Surf and sand. Yep we off to the South Coast for a few days.

What a fantastic day. My Dad and I attended the World Superbike testing at Kyalami. I was privileged enough to get close to most of the riders.

Saturday, 22 November, 2008

Well the final race of the year has come and gone. You can read my race report on the front page of SASBK. Time for some relaxation a track day in December and some training and practices to keep fresh for 2009. Keep visiting my blog for some updates.

Monday, 30 October, 2008

There were no updates on the blog for the past 2 weeks. I spent some time in Australia. I'm looking forward to Phakisa and need to get training for the next race.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Well Sunday at Midvaal was good and then turned bad. Rear wheel locked up and it seems that the engine had seized

Friday, October 10, 2008

Midvaal training

Well it's time to give my fingers ago on the bike. We will be practicing at the track in the bush.....

Monday, September 22, 2008

Birthday !!!

It had to come, it happens every year, My Birthday...

Friday, April 19, 2008

Dive and burn

To try and heal faster I also had 2 session in the hyperbaric chamber. I believe quite a few of you visited this before...

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Hospital Blues

Now I just want to sing the blues !!. The Doc decided to book me into hospital to straighten by broken finger...

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Shenanigans!

Oh my worst day ever !!. I entered sunset corner, going into the corner, wait for it "high sided". I rolled about 4-5 times, and as I stopped rolling I was on my knee’s and I just felt this immense pain shoot through my hand, and I wriggled in the kitty litter, well like a "kitty"....... ...Result: 2 broken bones in right hand