THRUXTON - FINAL ROUND 10
October 1st
The Fastest, Bumpiest, Widest Circuit in the Country.

Well we found Thruxton just fine, it was peeking through a hedge at us,
we just ran down the A303 until it tripped us up.
We'd never been there before let alone round the place at racing speed.
We got there in two hours door to door with a fuel and choccy stop, not bad in a diesel van, full of bike, massive Laser tool box, genny, compressor, etc. with a caravan on the back with all our junk in !
I walked the track then cycled around as fast as I could. 8mins 1.3 secs was a bit poor and I hoped the bandit would improve on this time come qualifying. 
I did 8 laps in total on a damp and wet patchy course, picking my way around the puddles and slipping about on the damp bits, getting faster and more ragged with each lap as I came to terms with this very strange,
wide, bumpy, undulating fast circuit.

Photo by Steve Bond - Many Thanks Stranger !

My best was 1'32.8 which was OK but I thought I might have sneaked
under 1'30secs given a dry track and more practice.
When it appeared I'd taking 2nd on the grid I was gobsmacked, what a
result. Maybe the playstation simulator wasn't that far out after all,
I'd recommend it to anyone sad enough to play computer games for three
hours a night just to learn a new circuit ! It worked for me !

The start Pics are blurry cos it started raining on the lens as we set off,  I'm the orange and white blurr, the big fat blurr next to me is Richard,
and behind is the white Bike of Mike. 
I had a great time in the race, it started raining as we formed up on
the grid and I was laughing all the way to the first corner, I nailed the bugger.

End of lap one I couldn't believe I was still leading !

I led until almost half race distance too, then Richard and the guys behind started to figure out that if Dezzy could do it, so could they and I had a scrap on my hands.

I lost one place, to Richard who went on to win it,

then held off Mike Otter who was on a charge through from 6th on lap 1

and eventually succumbed. He finished 2nd after a late charge too late.

Steve Jordan was also looking for his first rostrum of the year.

I had to beat him up for it into the last chicane,
he tried it on big time and I just stuck out my elbows, covered
the inside line and screamed NO YOU FUGGIN DON'T.

He didn't make it round and I held him off until the line. Superb fun.
All my crew were chuffed, my sponsors were happy, and virtually everyone
I know came over to say well done. It was great.
I picked up 5th overall in the championship too which was nice.
Oh my first Trophy of the year and a cheque for 3rd place too..

We had a massive beer fight in pit lane and generally mucked about while
we were supposed to be packing the van and buggering off home. Oh well.

Many thanks to Sean and John at AR Motorcycles for organising the series.
Hard work and it cost them a packet, but everyone involved enjoyed the year.
Dez #82