Matt Bond, 11/05/07 – 13/05/07
FIM European Superstock 1000 Cup
Round 4
Friday – First Practice
Lap 1 was amazing, just to feel the true speed of the 1000 compared to the 600 was truly mind blowing and really amazing! Everything was a blur and the main straight was to be brutally honest, one of the scariest things I think I have ever been on. The force when you hit the brakes is unbelievable, the wind tries to tear you off the back of the bike, and it is an incredible sensation.
Anyways, the session was good and I was feeling comfortable, despite struggling with the gearing being far too short and being in between gears at the first chicane. Some of the turns were causing vibration on the front end and the chatter was less than confidence inspiring.
Friday – First Qualifying
Getting a tow around the track was going to be key for the first session, just to gauge how fast and how late I could go into that first chicane. I found out you could go in fast and late, it was just very difficult! At least the bike did not go anywhere near as sideways as the 600 used to. It made the entry much smoother, more consistent and above all, a lot easier to control!
The session went well, and I just took off a little bit here and there, but it was seemingly frustrating at how hard it is to go fast round the track, there aren’t many places to make up the time and I was struggling to get the Lesmo turns sorted. I was between gears but kept trying to pull it through in third, just carrying more corner speed to compensate. It seemed to work.
One last thing I needed to adjust was the exit of the first chicane, and get the gearing sorted. It was a decent session, but I still languished towards the rear of the field, mainly as I did not get a decent tow.
Saturday – Second Practice
The gearing changes we made seemed spot on, and a small adjustment to the front end of the bike made it feel a lot smoother on the transitions from side to side in the chicane. It helped majorly through the fast Ascari section.
The time I set during the session was much better than the previous day’s time so I was happy with it, but I was still off of where I needed to be. I got a better go at getting a tow thanks to Brendan Roberts, who I spent most of the session following and battling with, and enjoyed a sweet round the outside overtake on the teams’ Aussie friend at the Parabolica. It may be the only time I get to overtake a factory Ducati, around the outside, in the dry. Blagging rights to me down the pub!
Saturday – Second Qualifying
I went faster, but not by much, it sucked. I really struggled to improve, mainly as I just didn’t focus on getting it right from the off. I needed a tow badly, didn’t get one, and didn’t make the best use of the guys around me. I really did get it wrong big style. It’s the first time this year I’ve been really annoyed at myself.
The good thing was that the bike was really working well, the gearing was spot on and id sorted the problems I had with the track. I just didn’t make it work for me. Was a bad day at the office but after a good sit down and talk with Mike, I got my head sorted and was feeling much better for raceday.
Sunday – Race
A good warm up session from the morning had sorted my head and I was clear on what I was to do.
The plan for the opening turn was a simple one, get through it while staying rubber side down. I did that and even managed to make a few places in the process. I (hooked onto the back of Barry Burrell and used him to pull me through the opening lap. It was good to finally be with the guys I should have been with all weekend. I slipped past Luke Nedog entering Ascari n blasted down to the Parabolica in a much better place than I had started the race. The it all went tits up!
On entering the Parabolica, I just felt a massive smack into the side of my bike and I had no option but to run straight off into the gravel, narrowly avoiding the back of an R1 in the process. All the hard work of the start had gone down the drain. I got back on the track and just thought “Well, I got nothing to lose, stuff it. If I fall now I fall”!
I really got my head down and pushed as hard as I could. I felt much more stable onboard the bike and it seemed to click. I was catching the group in front rapidly and despite them being some 14 seconds ahead I managed to catch and pass a few of them. I then was pulled up a few more places when a couple of the top guys hit the eject button and when I got back to the pits after the race I was happier than I have been all season. If I hadn’t have run off the circuit and kept the 14 seconds I lost then I’d have been on the back of the group running in the top 20. Gutted!
To see Mike smiling and happy with what I’d done too was awesome. I think I’ve finally started to go forwards as a thousand rider and I’m really happy with the bike now. Even if I don’t like the place, I can’t wait for Silverstone. Fingers crossed that I carry on how I finished off Monza!