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Race One is being shown live on Eurosport2 UK (sky channel 411) at 4.40pm today
Tim’s Team Blog entry:
https://www.teamafterdark.co.uk/blog/oulton-here-we-come/Oulton Here We Come !!!!!
Tim White on July 3, 2012
Next up is our fifth round at Oulton Park and in my opinion the best circuit in the country.
The excitement is now growing here and it’ll be good to be racing again on home soil. We just wish the 40 degrees of Misano had followed us. It’s looking a bit bleak to say the least but whatever the weather James and the bike are ready.
Joining us this weekend are Skilcom, friend’s, family and for the first time we will be joined by + BATTERY. We really enjoy having people come and support, it gives a great atmosphere.
Once again a big thankyou to all our sponsors, please take some time to click on the links and have a look at their websites.
I’ll keep you posted as the weekend progresses
Race 1 review from Tim:
https://www.teamafterdark.co.uk/blog/the-story-so-far/
The Story So Far !!!
Tim White on July 8, 2012
Friday saw us wake up to pouring rain after arriving and setting up in the sun the night before. Maybe it was a bit optimistic but we were out for free practice late in the aftrenoon so we were hoping the rain would stop and we would have a dry track as we have been joined by 100% Suspension for the weekend to try and sort out the chassis problems with the bike. It became apparent very quickly that that wasn’t going to happen. Practice throughout the day was hampered by the rain but our free practice stayed on schedule. After 2 laps the session was red flagged so 5 minutes were sat in the pit lane. Eventually we were allowed back on circuit and got one more flying lap in. So all we had got was 2 flying laps. Which was no good to man nor beast but the good news was the chassis was feeling better.
Saturday saw the sun come out and thankfully race control thankfully granted us a 10 minute extension to our qualifying session so we had 30 minutes to get some proper feedback from the suspension changes that had been done. Unfortunately we were geared wrong and after battling hard James could only manage 19th. Not where we wanted to be but we’ve been there before! Again James gave a thumbs up for the suspension changes that Colin ( 100% suspension) had done.
With big black clouds looming close by James rolled out for the first race. The lights went out and unusually for James got the front wheel in the air as he left the line, so plan A had gone to pot. Luckily he didn’t lose any places and set about getting his head down and chasing down the pack. Being on pit wall I don’t get to see to much but I did get to see James put 2 good moves on other riders going into turn one. Once he cleared that group he started banging in some solid laps up until he ran off line in Cascades on lap 6 and managed to save a near high side. He now had the group behind back with him. James dug in again and gapped them to cross the line in 13th.
All in all a mixed bag but James and the team are battling hard to get him up into the top 10.
Thank you to all our sponsors, friends and family for their continued support.
https://www.teamafterdark.co.uk/blog/day-2-oulton-park/
Day 2 Oulton Park !!
Tim White on July 8, 2012
Yet again the weather suprised us today, its just a maybe that the 848′s did bring some of the Misano sunshine home with them!!
James formed up on the grid for race 2 in the sunshine and yet again needed a good start to get himself in with a shout. The lights went out and he got a great start and after sector 2 was up to 11th but had a little mishap through sector 3 dropping him back to 14th as they crossed the line for the first time. All was looking good until a red flag was shown for a faller at the second chicane.
The restart was for a 5 lap dash. Unfortunately James missed the drop and had a terrible start. he battled his way back up to finish 14th after a great battle with Steve Jordan. They were both grinning ear to ear as they swapped stories in Parc ferme after the race.
All things considered not a bad weekend. Thanks to Colin from 100% suspension for his help this weekend. Great progress!!!
Thanks to every one for their support this weekend, sponsors, friends and family!!!
https://www.teamafterdark.co.uk/blog/oulton-park-round-up/
Oulton Park Round Up !!
Tim White on July 9, 2012
What a strange weekend !!! We were expecting a really wet one and ended up with 2 dry race days when it seemed the rest of the country was under water.
As for the racing, well we made a mistake for qualifying and really paid for that all weekend but some real positives came from the weekend. Firstly James had some great races and it was so good to see him laughing and joking with the other riders in parc ferme. He also had that little glint back in his eye!! Secondly, having Colin from 100% Suspension helping us this weekend means that we have left Oulton with a chassis that is starting to work, don’t get me wrong, there is still room for improvement but we are nearly in the sweet spot. That said it meant that James had the feel in the front end that he has been looking for.
Thanks to Lawrence for some great pictures from the +Battery photo shoot and some stunning action shots.
Thanks to all the team this weekend it was tough but yet again James salvaged some points.
Once again thanks for all the support from our sponsors, friends and family. We do really appreciate it!!!!!
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