MIST Suzuki Racing

Matt Bond, 03/08/07 - 05/08/07
FIM European Superstock 1000 Cup
Round 8

Friday - First Practice

Despite not having tested either the new engine or at the Brands Hatch I was still confident that we’d have a good weekend, at a track that pretty much represented my home round.

First practice went well and I felt comfortable on the bike straight away, even with the engine still feeling tight and laggy, but still top end wasn’t too bad, having not rode for what seemed like months, it felt like a ballistic missile with handle bars! I think I’d forgotten just how fast these bikes really are!

The track was completely different to the previous year on the 600. Everything felt much faster, bumpier, more cambered and generally just a little bit crazy to tell you the truth! I loved every second of it and would seriously describe the place as a small piece of heaven on earth! I’m sure some people would have been whinging about the bumps, but it just made things a little bit more exhilarating in my view.

Lap times were good and once again I found myself inside the top 20, in a respectable 18th place, even though I wanted to be higher up I was pleased with the positives in the session, and knew there was more to come form me and the bike.

Friday - First Qualifying

Relaxing and focusing on just make lots of small improvements in each section of the track were the aims for the session. It was simple really, and after only what seemed a short few minutes I was into the pits to change tyres, only they weren’t sticker, and therefore we couldn’t go out on them. No-one could find them and therefore I had to finish the session on very used rubber.

It wasn’t ideal but I clocked my fastest time on the last lap, which was good but I was right near the tail end of the field and less than happy.

The stickers had decided to fall down the back of the tool box, which no-one even thought of looking in, but it wasn’t that bad, at least I’d get new tyres for every other session over the weekend. And my ideal best time would have lifted me up about 6 places on the grid. So the pace was there, just not all together.

Saturday - Second Practice

New tyres equipped and engine ignition and fuelling remapped, the bike seemed completely different. Much more competitive, more responsive and yet easier to ride. It felt more confident with the bike, and the lap times improved, again boosting my confidence.

A few small adjustments to the suspension to help maintain mid corner grip and front end feel on corner entry were made making the bike feel slightly better, but there was still a definite lack of rear end grip, which a lot of people seemed to be suffering with. Andreani suspension advised more preload on the front of the bike, which we tried, but I didn’t gain enough confidence or feedback from the bike like that so we decided to undo those changes.

Saturday - Second Qualifying

All I had to do was string a good lap together and push everywhere in the process, I needed a good grid slot if I was to have any chance of a top 15 finish and therefore score some points.

I got my head down straight away and instantly bettered my best lap from the previous session, not hard really, but with more to come I still kept pushing further and further and was pleased with the forwards progress.

The bike again got slightly better and the engine was feeling much stronger than previously throughout the weekend, and despite lacking punch out of some of the lower revving and slower pace corners, I was able to stick with a larger majority of the people in front of me, time wise.

I didn’t get a decent tow from anyone, but the small tows I did get seemed to make all the difference and I learnt a lot after just a few laps behind some of the front runners. A few adjustments to the lines I was using made a world of difference, and again my lap time improved, even if the position didn’t improve as much as I’d have liked.

30th on the grid was really not where I wanted to be, but I was still assured by the team it was okay, I’d made a huge improvement form the opening session in terms of lap time, and having not ridden since the opening qualifying at Brno, I was well on the pace with even more to come. I was still ahead of one of the Brit wildcards still though, with Jon Boy Lee struggling somewhat, just behind myself.

Sunday - Race

Warm up in the morning had gone really well, and I was straight back onto the pace I’d been sat at over the previous sessions. The bike was running really good and thanks to some small suspension adjustments from Steve “The Guru” Jordan, I was really happy with the set up we had for the race.

The crowd was huge even if we were the first race of the day and the atmosphere around the place was really intense. It was starting to make me nervous but I just listened to Mike and the team and relaxed. Having my girlfriend Chloe beside me as my grid girl helped calm me down as well. Before I knew it we were starting the warm up lap, and all the worries of the journalists, fans, my friends and family, all seemed to disappear from my mind, and all that I could think about was getting around the first lap safely, but moving forwards too. I got a great start and ran around the outside of loads of the guys who’d started in front of me on the grid. I got squeezed out at Druids however and Graham Hill wasn’t much better, by the end of the lap I’d only passed two people from the start line. I could still see a large group in front of me and I just focused on picking people off one by one.

I’d close on people follow them for a few turns and then dive up the inside on the brakes, or use the drive from the previous turn to slip past. It was going well and I became involved in a battle with Marko Rotthlan, which included some paint swapping moments, but it was all safe and a good laugh to tell you the truth. I made my way through to 21st and then started to catch the MGM Yamahas of Dario Gisupetti and Timo Giesler with just two laps left.

I followed Dario through Paddock Hill bend and he slid slightly wide at Druids so I took the opportunity to go through and the move stuck, and with Giesler within striking distance I made a push to get onto his back wheel.

The last lap and I’d got onto him, and I tried numerous moves before thinking I’d leave it till the last turn and make a move there. I missed a gear however and he got away entering the final straight and beat me to the flag and 19th by a measly 0.019secs.

But I’d got my best result of the year, passed 10 people in total and overall, made a massive jump lap time wise, and had missed out on points by only 5 seconds over a 14 lap race. It was good.

The team was happy and so was I. Despite all the problems from Brno and over the start of the weekend, we’d been able to get right on the pace of the guys in the points, shown up all the wildcard riders who were highly rated back in the UK, and proved we belong at this level. It was good for the team to finally see there tireless work pay off, and the results are starting to come. If we can carry this speed over the end of the year I’m sure we’ll be on for points at each of the final three rounds.

Chris Northover, 04/08/06 - 06/08/06
European SuperStock 600 Championship
Round 6

Ah Brands! Time to get all nostalgic about last year when I started off on this European Superstock 600 malarkey! Two injuries, a lot of sleepless nights and the time of my life, but that’s another tale for another time, or something!

After pulling back such a good result at Brno after an appalling qualifying, I was determined to be on the pace from the word “go” at my home round. With the track only a 20 minute fast drive (or half an hour legally!!) from my parents house, you would expect me to know the track well. While this may be true of the short circuit, red tape and moaning people make chances to ride the full GP circuit few and far between. Luckily Matt and myself managed to get out on a track day a couple of weeks ago for some practice, which proved to be a shrewd move!!

After driving back from Hinckley where I work, in my brother’s car (long story - me and the internal combustion engine seem to be having some disagreements lately…), it was all hands on deck organizing tickets for friends and family for the weekend. Thursday shot past and before we could say “have you got any spare tickets?” it was Friday morning and time for free practice.

Friday - Free Practice

Out on track, it was great to get on a familiar circle of tarmac, especially one as enjoyable as Brands. Some, but not all, of the European tracks just feel so featureless compared with a good ol’ British race through the Kent countryside. After a few laps I was just getting in to it when I saw a pirates flag, but without the skull and cross-bones. Ah, that’ll be the black flag then…

It took a whole lap for me to figure out that a certain, timing-based pretty red box, otherwise known as a transponder, was sadly still in its own pretty box and not filling the gaping hole where it should have been on my bike. I didn’t swear. No really, I didn’t. I was too embarrassed!

Once this had been dealt with and The Boss had bailed Matt and myself out (yes, him too!!), it was straight back on track, to concentrate on the job in hand (and hide behind the black visor!). Now, the potential danger of being worked up over the transponder had passed, but there was another foe in wait for me… the brake gremlins of Teng Wheelire(!?). The pressures of determination led me to ignore the juddering and keep pushing my braking harder and harder. Unfortunately (there’s always an “unfortunately…” in these stories isn’t there!!) as I popped up to brake late for hawthorns (a 120+mph right hander out in the woods) I realised that perhaps I should have not tried quite so hard on this particular occasion…

As I always say, when things are going wrong; when you’ve combined very late braking with iffy brakes; when you’ve entered an already ridiculously fast corner too fast; mindless optimism will get you through. Or, at least, make you think you can get through! Despite my best efforts, the physics of the situation soon prevailed and Mr. Newton won this time. The bike cleared not only most of the gravel trap, but also the air fence, tyre wall and marshals’ road. It then decided it wanted a career change from lowly race bike, to lumberjack and aimed at an innocent tree. Tree 1 - GSXR600 - 0. That’ll be that job down the pan then!

After the session, I still managed to be 23rd fastest, which was fairly encouraging, especially considering that the lap I crashed on was looking to be my fastest lap at that point. I would also like to mention the fact that I was second fastest through the speed trap, although that may have something to do with the speed trap being just before hawthorns…

Friday - First Qualifying

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, my team is the best team in the world! How they transformed a sorry looking pile of bits laying at the foot of a tree into a fully operational race bike again, not forgetting the unforgiving time scale, is awe-inspiring. Having done such a sterling job, it would have been rude not to repay them with a good performance in the afternoon. Well, that and the fact that Matt was in the top ten…

After coming in to iron out a few tree-derived problems early on in the session and to try and cure the vibration from the front wheel, I lapped with consistent improvements and ended the session 17th. Given the fact that I had, only a few hours ago, indulged in the sort of crashing activity that could have easily ended the weekend, perhaps the season, we were rather pleased with ourselves! Our confidence for the remainder of the weekend was further boosted when we discovered the front wheel being buckled was the cause of the mystery vibration I had been experiencing.

Saturday - Second Qualifying

Final qualifying and a final chance to improve my grid position further. After a steady start bedding in new brake pads, I pitted to allow them to cool off before returning onto the track. I took a while to get up to the pace I had been comfortably running at on Friday. Despite pushing hard I failed to improve my time and to make matters worse was relegated to 23rd on the grid as other riders went quicker.

After the Friday comeback, needless to say, this was a major disappointment. After many hours running through every detail of the session, both in my head and with Mike we finally got down to an explanation for the problems and, more importantly, a plan of action for Sunday. The reason for my lack of speed was simple; lack of focus! The solution was to work hard to ensure I was in the right mindset every time I get on a bike and be really, REALLY focused.

I returned with a vengeance Sunday morning, with one goal in mind: overtake whoever is in front of me and repeat ’till the chequered flag. I arrived at the track and decided the best plan would be to relax and clear my mind in the morning and disappear to get mentally prepared in the hour approaching the race. I spent a chilled morning at the edge of the circuit out in the woods with friends, playing guitar and watching the bikes - paradise!! I disappeared to a Quiet Place for the hour preceding the race to run through the first lap bend by bend, move by move. I had my plan decided for the first corner from so many races on Brands Indy Circuit.

Sunday - Race

The start line was, once again, the best feeling in the world, with no one cheering louder than dear ol’ Mumsy!! Gah! Not content with her mischief at Silverstone, Mother Dearest was doing her best to embarrass me and even the grid interviewer felt the need to pass comment! Parents eh? After the sighting lap we lined up for the sixth time this season for what was to be my best race yet. As soon as the red light disappeared, I was off the line in a shot and made for the outside of Paddock Hill Bend like a drunk to a kebab shop at kick out time. Nothing was going to stop me getting the lines I wanted this time!

After passing a handful of riders round Paddock, I managed to get a couple more round the outside at Druids and into Graham Hill Bend. I got settled straight into the race and started trying to pick off riders one by one. I got fellow Brit Barry Burrell fairly early on in the race and set off after my crazy Italian chum Daniel Beretta. Friends off the track, but there would be no love lost between us once the visors snapped down; after battling for some time, he made a break when I had a big slide exiting Sheene Curve and lost considerable time.

By the time I had recovered the time I had childishly lost, master Beretta had managed to pass a few more riders and the chase was on. I set about getting past the remaining riders that stood between me and that all important top ten finish. After a few good stabs at getting through I had another slide, only this one was slightly bigger than the biggest slide I’ve ever seen! Mind you, it did get shown on the big screens and I guess any coverage is good coverage!

I set off (again!) to make up the lost time. Although I caught back up again, setting a faster lap than three riders in front of me in the process, I was unable to make a pass stick in time. After just missing out on 12th place by a ridiculously small margin, a 13th place finish still felt really good.

There were the usual “what if’s” and “I should’ve just…” thoughts in my mind, places I could have made a firmer pass, qualifying sessions I could have actually used rather than just riding round in circles… but the bottom line is that I came 13th after starting 23rd. Having learned so much once again and hopefully started to better suss out the immense psychological side of racing, I can only wait for Assen and make sure I put everything into practice.

Thanks and Cuddly Toys to:

• Steve and Sarah Jordan - Use of plush race vehicle and highside practice… And Steve’s superb bike set up advice
• Mike Edwards - Winner: 100m sprint, pit lane olympics. Thanks for sorting out my head for the race!!
• Uncles Clive and Richard - Superb mechanic service, bikes repaired while U wait!
• Roger and Tony Z - Professional ribbing of CG for crashing, a great double act now showing in a truck cab near you! Top notch supporters and much more!
• Neil Faulkner - Help with brakes and tickets!
• Ros and Pete - Supporting me and photography of Dragon Steak!
• Craig for the NHS Helpline story…
• Beckie Dark - CG Racing, Newquay Division
• The man on the motorhome area gate, for being such a cheery chap!
• Supporters Bruv, Kirst, Gemgem, Smed, Double D, Nick, Loominator, Sammy, Bunny, Unc Sebastian and Auntie Gertie, Jonny B Goode, Sarah, Chris, and everyone else who was there to support us.

Matt Bond, 04/08/06 - 06/08/06
European SuperStock 600 Championship
Round 6

Friday - Free Practice

After two disappointing rounds in a row I was well fired up and ready for Brands, pretty much my home round of sorts and thanks to a superb track day, which was to prove invaluable, I was totally focused on getting a decent result, not only for myself but the entire team.

I started practice at a decent pace and gradually built it up and up, getting used to which lines were working and how the bike felt. I also done a little bit of line experimentation by running in purposefully too deep and wide or too tight, just to get an idea of how to get round the turn well, if I make a mistake and not lose too much time.

After tagging onto the back of Davide Guigliano and finding his pace not too hard to keep I set about slamming in some good lap times. It seemed to work really well and the bike felt absolutely superb, with hardly a wheel out of place round the entire circuit, it just felt so smooth and flowing.

I decided to just finish the session early as I wanted to save the tyres for first qualifying and also to stop any of the other guys following my lines too closely. I was chuffed to pieces when I rolled into the pit lane and Steve signalled to me that I was fifth fastest. I was kind of in shock and didn’t really believe him until I checked for myself, and then a smile came across my face. Just knowing that we were at the top of the time sheets was an awesome feeling.

Friday - First Qualifying

After the first session on track I was more than ready to get myself the best qualifying of the season and it all started poorly! I spent the first fifteen minutes of the session just fooling about and was giving people a tow round the track, which I really shouldn’t have been doing at all. Fortunately a red flag came out and having returned to the pits boss man Mike gave me a useful word or two in my ear and it worked a treat.

Back on track and it began to work better than before and the times started to come together, with little improvements in every sector lap after lap. I just focused on pushing into, through and out of every turn a little more each lap and by the end of the session I was really working hard just to keep the bike on the right line as I began to push the tyres to their limit.

As the session began to end the bike began sliding everywhere as the rear tyre struggled to grip, after a severe amount of power being put through it for the last 25 minutes was beginning to take its toll. Fortunately it stayed together just enough for me to set my best time with a lap to spare, and I was pleased to end the session 6th fastest, with only Simeon getting in front of me, after him missing the entire first session with an oil leak. It was good to be up with the fast guys for a change, rather than languishing down the bottom end of the table as had been the norm for the last rounds.

Saturday - Second Qualifying

I was determined to improve on Fridays time and I so wanted to get onto the front row for the following days race, but it just wasn’t to be. I spent the entire session riding like a lemon to sum it up. I just couldn’t find my rhythm I didn’t focus on getting a tow from one of the guys in front of me and even when I did try I ended up either tailing them from too far behind or on a lap where they messed up or even on one of their in laps. Then when I tried pushing the times on my own my concentration just wasn’t there and I made mistakes everywhere and began to over ride the bike.

After returning to the pits to try and sort my head out there were only four minutes left and a rather stern word or two in my ear from Mike just flicked the switch and instantly I stuck in my fastest lap and then caught a tow from Simeon. I managed to stay with him for the entire lap and was on for fifth and then I completely muffed up Stirling’s, lost the rear on the brakes and only just managed to make the turn, but kept it pinned and crossed the line setting an even better time but the slide cost me dearly.

I slipped into ninth and the third row and was well gutted and I could see the disappointment in the teams eyes, I felt so bad not only for myself but for them mainly, even with the joy of the years best qualifying it still seemed like a poor result. I needed another lap really, and I’d have been sorted!

Mike and myself sat down afterwards and analysed the sector times and it all made sense as to what I could have done if I hadn’t made that mistake and it certainly cleared my mind and made me feel a lot more settled and confident for the race. I just began to think about a plan for the race and visualise it all.

Sunday - Race

After a fairly sleepless night just trying to plan for the race and trying to think about lines and where to pass if I got the chance, I was ready. Rolling out onto the sighting lap and looking around the circuit as I toured towards the grid I could just notice how many of the 120,000 plus people had stayed, and it was kind of frightening!

On the grid was superb, I could actually see the starting lights for the first time all season! And the added bonus of Frank’s wonderful grid girl made it even better, cheers to him and www.superbike-news.co.uk for sorting that one! I owe you fella! Sitting on the grid the media frenzy was somewhat overwhelming and just looking to the side and seeing more people than I could ever count made it all seem surreal, but at the same time made me realise that I had a big task at hand as well. Mike calmed me down and told me to focus in and visualise, whilst ignoring everything else around me (seemed a blooming hard thing to do at the time) and dad just said be smooth. It all worked and I just blanked it all out.

Once the grid was cleared I can honestly say that I was more nervous than for any other race I had been in and I’m sure that a tear of joy was in my eye as we were flagged away for the warm up lap. I just got the tyres scrubbed right to the edge and nice and hot and as I rolled into my grid slot I just re told myself the plan for the first turn. Next thing I know the lights are out and I made the start I wanted and made it into the first turn in about fifth place. The first laps a pretty much a blur and all I remember is getting my head down until entering Druids, Guigliano decided to use me as his brakes and literally smacked my arms off the bars! I just managed to save it but it shook me up, despite trying to get my own back he began to disappear, especially on the straights, damn that bike was fast, but maybe he was just getting out of the turn harder, I’ll never know.

The next lap Michal Savary passed me under yellows and I was well and truly pissed off by it as he didn’t pull over to let me back past. I got stuck behind him for what seemed like ages and I just couldn’t out-brake him due to the gaps he was getting on the straights, and that was definitely to do with his blooming fast bike! Once I finally got close enough I divided past at Paddock and set about catching Dan Sutter, which I quickly done but just couldn’t find the right line to pass him. It was a great little battle and he finally left me a gap at Druids and it was too good an opportunity, and I just ran in so hot, and how I stopped I really don’t know, but it worked! Next few laps I spent really charging and trying to catch Ondre Jezek and by the last lap I was closing in to striking distance, despite trying to keep Sutter behind! Exiting Stirlings I was close, but not close enough and had to let it go, there was no chance I could have made the pass safely, and thought that points would be better than a battered body and broken bike. So I settled for the place and crossed the line in seventh with Sutter right beside me in eighth and Jezek just in front in sixth.

I was so delighted to get a decent finish I just punched the sir with joy all the way up the hill to Druids, and then dully stopped to do a monster burnout! Which I duly copied for all the groups of fans all the way round the track! Some also got an additional wheelie down the back straight as an added bonus!

It felt awesome to return to a smiling, happy team and the improvement in places just made all the weekends work worth it. Seeing Chris come home in the points too bought a smile to my face. But for me being the first Brit home and with my first top ten of the year I was never gonna stop grinning like a Cheshire cat. It was the best day of my career thus far and has really inspired me to do it at every round form now on. No more excuses, just results, and with a great team around me I know its gonna be possible! Watch this space!

Lastly I’d just like to thank all the following people for making the weekend one of the most memorable and enjoyable one to date:

• MIST Suzuki Race Team
• www.givemethekeys.com
• T&J Commercial Repairs
• Steve Jordan Motorcycles
• www.trackparts.co.uk
• S&B Commercials
• Silkolene
• Pirelli
• Nick & Matt @ Feridax
• Frank Duggan and Mike Hill @ www.superbike-news.co.uk
• Louise Cain @ www.petrol-heads.co.uk
• Simon Bradley @ www.motorbikestoday.com
• Mike Edwards for his inspirational words and management skills
• Steve Jordan for suspension set up the gods couldn’t better
• Everyone for their congrats and kind words
• All the fans at the track for the support
• All the fans at home cheering me on and texting me throughout the weekend
• And the biggest thanks to Mum & Dad, whose tireless help, support and hard work has got me to where I am. I owe you so much I’m glad that we finally got where we deserved to be.

Cheers guys and see you at Assen in a few weeks!