Round 1 Morgan Park Raceway

I was extremely happy to be able to have the chance to race at Morgan Park. I hadn't raced there before; yet i had heard how good the track was.
The night before this race meet, i had a training session at Willowbank Raceway with Toprider. We went through how to prepare for a race as well as some practice starts; when the night for me went horribly wrong. I broke the engine mount bolt clean through. My thought was, that's it. Racing was going to be out for me this weekend; I'm going to miss round one of The TJ's Performance Motor Cycle Centre Championship.
The next morning when we should have been leaving to go to Warwick, my Dad searched out a bolt shop to try and find the right dimension bolt that was load bearing required, so i could go race. After sometime that passed he returned with the correct bolt. My mood lifted. As i helped Dad to fit the bolt, Mum packed the car. Great i was going to get the chance to race at Morgan Park after all.


Qualifying

When we finally arrived at the track i couldn't believe my eyes. The track was fast and yet flowing at some points. The surface had just been re-laid it was smooth as. Dad and i walked the track and we discussed what gearing we should use. We made a decision....
As the boys and i (150cc, Metrakits and Moriwaki's) lined up i became a little uncertain of how i would go. I qualified 8th out of 12 with a track time of 49 seconds. I must say i was disappointed. I just didn't get my lines right at all.


Race 1

Race 1 for me and the boys didn't take place on the Saturday as planned, after one of the sidecars that raced blew and spilt oil all over the track. Racing was called off for the rest of the day.
We woke on Sunday to look out to discover the day was cloudy with the most possible chance of rain.
Shortly after arriving at the track my race class was able to go out for a sighting lap and a practice session. There were a couple of places that were a little dodgy with oil but avoidable.

I lined up with the 150cc, Metrakits and fellow Moriwaki riders on the grid. There was no time to think as the lights went out quickly. My start was great i moved through the pack only to be taken by several riders at the end of the straight. I couldn't think why i was taken so easily. As the race progress being bothered by the start i fell back to 11th overall i couldn't get my lines right. It took too long for each of the gears to reach the maximum revs. The gearing Dad and i chose was wrong. I was very disappointed with a time of 48seconds and third for my 80cc class. I was determined not to get another third.


Race 2

Race two i became a little more confident with the race lines. With a change in gearing i pegged off another second off my time to 47seconds a lap. I finished in 8th overall and a 2nd for my class i even finished well before two of the 150cc boys. Unfortunately for one of the Metrakit boys ran off the track on the sweeper at the end of the straight but luckily pulled the bike up before the wall with very minimal damaged; nothing that couldn't be fixed.


Race 3

For race three it rained. I couldn't believe it, i was going to race in the rain. We all lined up on the grid in which i preferred to start the race from the rear of the field for this one. The rain was washing over my visor, the lights went out and i had the best start ever; i went from last to second at the end of the straight with a clear lead over the rest of the field with only one rider in front of me on a Metrakit the had a set of wets on and i had only intermediates. By the end of the third lap the rain eased a little or maybe i just got use to it, a bit of a dryish line started to appear. That was the time for three of the 150cc boys to make up ground and were all over my back wheel, lap four they passed me leaving me with my best result of 5th overall and a win for my class. I was very pleased with my effort and that was when i realised i just needed a good start for the final race and for another possible win.





Race 4

Race four it was still a bit wet. I had another great start that i was all over the rear wheel of the leading rider of the Moriwaki's. By lap five i found away around him on the big sweeper i pulled out some ground but made a incorrect gear change. He was again on to me on the straight only to take back the lead on the third last lap. To his credit he kept the door shut onto the straight and around the big sweeper to take first place giving me yet another second.


Overview

I was lucky for the chance to ride at Morgan Park. I had a slow start in the beginning with some major problems ( engine mount bolt and gearing) once i got use to the flow of the track i began to find my feet; giving me a reasonable result of 2nd overall for the Moriwaki 80cc class. Morgan park is a great track that is easy on the tyres and I am looking forward to going back again. I would like to thank the clubs involved at this meet, The Motorcycle Sportsmen of Qld, Superbike Lites Club and Qld Early Motorcycle Sports Club


Results

1st Lachlan Gilding
2nd Daniel Youl
3rd Lincoln Gilding




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