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Spotlight on - Mist Suzuki

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Valencia 23rd April 2006

European SuperStock 600 Championship

After a couple of days testing thanks to Gerry Bryce at Racedays.net and Jeremy McWilliams the two MIST Suzuki riders were able to take some time to learn the Valencia circuit and ride their 2006 Suzuki GSXR600K6 bikes for the first time. The riders would be contesting the European SuperStock 600 series, a support class at all European rounds of the World SuperBike Championship.

For Matt Bond, the 2005 MRO MiniTwins Champion, this was his first time on a 600 after moving up from the 72 hp SV650 he rode last year. Chris Northover, started 2005 in the MRO MiniTwins before gaining a wildcard ride in the SuperStock class on an R6.

Having made some good improvements learning both the circuit and the bikes both riders made some significant improvements in terms of both their riding and their ability to think about what they are doing whilst on the circuit.

With only one half hour practice and two half hour qualifying sessions before the race it was going to be a gamble as to when to use the three sets of tyres we had available (the series limits us to just 3 sets of tyres with no choice on compound or model, in our case Pirelli Diablo Corsa tyres).

After a very hot first practice on Friday lunch time (Matt in 27th with 1'47.113 and Chris in 29th with 1'47.308, both in front of some experienced and very fast guys who rode in the series last year) both riders struggled with their tyres overheating so we took the gamble of using a fresh set for first qualifying in the late afternoon as the cooler conditions should help get the most from them.

Both riders improved over their previous testing times having started to get used to the new tyres (a combination of the profile from the Diablo tyre combined with a dual compound rear to give greater grip). Matt took advantage of a tow from one of the faster riders to post a 1'45.620 and qualify in 20th place. Chris had a few problems and was trying to override the bike yet still managed to lap in 1'47.373, putting him in 33rd place overall.

Whilst Chris concentrated on getting his head together I walked the track with Matt and suggested some different lines and potential reference points to help him improve for the following day.

For a short while on Saturday morning it looked like our tyre strategy had paid off as it rained first thing and the track was very wet. Just our luck that it dried out just in time for second qualifying and was much cooler than the previous day. Everyone was bound to go faster and we were only left with the half worn tyres from the previous day if we were to save a new set for the race.

The long conversation with Chris the previous evening about his riding position and some suggestions on how to smooth out his approach to the circuit helped and he declared the session as probaby the best riding he had done since he started racing. He beat his previous best with a 1'47.089 which was encouraging as he was on very worn tyres and felt very relaxed and happy that he could improve in the race. Dropping to 35th position after qualifying wasn't a problem as his new found consistency, and positive approach, meant he should be able to make up quite a few places come the race.

Matt had his session shortened dramatically when he lost the front after going off line in to turn 4. He was unhurt but the bike would need some work before the race later in the afternoon. Prior to jumping off Matt had posted his fastest ever time of 1'45.604 - All without the benefit of a tow, in fact his top speed was down 5 km an hour down the straight over the previous session so he was obviously getting to grips with the bike and making up the time in the corners.

The race was a bit of a last minute rush as having confirmed that 5:40 pm was the time we needed to be on the grid it turned out that 5:40 pm was the time for the race start and we needed to be on the grid at least 15 minutes before then. We weren't the last on the grid though and both riders had time to settle themselves before the warm up lap and the start.

Chris complained of a slipping clutch after warm up and with only time to adjust the lever before the grid was cleared he made a great start to overtake the row in front. Unfortunately by the time he got in to third gear the bike was revving freely but not going anywhere. He toured round behind the safety car and had to retire at the end of the lap with a very burnt out clutch.

Matt also made a good start from 26th place, positioned on the outside being preferable to the inside position from the 20th place he held after first quaifying. He made up a several places around the outside of the first corner and was ideally positioned to make up another three in to turn two. As he turned the corner several riders went down in front of him as another rider collected a couple of others on the way out of the turn.

Having survived the drama, passing another couple in to the next corner to find himself in 14th place, he soon caught a group ahead posting his best lap of 1'45.112 in the process. These guys were clearly holding him up as his lap times dropped. It was only after another rider made an unhelpful block pass under a yellow flag that Matt lost the tow and his overheating front tyre made another challenge unlikely.

Matt was caught towards the end of the race by a much more experienced rider who pushed him back another place to 16th. With enough of a gap to the guys behind Matt rode well to maintain his position and was rewarded when the rider who had overtaken under the yellow flag ran wide on the last lap and Matt was able to retake the place putting him back in a points scoring position.

At the same time one of the front runners had a minor gravel excursion and, although he rejoined, Matt was able to catch and pass him in the last sector to move up to 14th at the flag.

Points from our first race? A top twenty was more than we could possiby hope for from our first meeting but despite just 1.5 days testing since moving up from his 72 hp MiniTwins bike we had exceeded all expectations.

More importantly both riders had improved dramatically in their approach and maturity in their riding which has everybody excited for Monza in two weeks time.

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