Official Test – This session was 40minutes & it was on the Indy circuit which was pretty pointless in everybody’s views. The session started damp so Grant opted to stay in the pits. With 20minutes to go Grant went out onto the circuit to make sure everything was running okay on the bike & to post a time. Grant ended up finishing the sessions in 8th position. This would be negligible to how the following day would plan out in qualifying as it would be on a completely different track.
Q1 – This was the first time we got to ride on the full GP circuit at Brands Hatch. Grant used the same gearing & suspension settings he had from the earlier round in the year as he was very happy with this. Grant went out & put in a good time of a 1.32.954 which placed him provisional on the 3rd row in 10th.
Q2 – Grant went out again with the same settings on his Yamaha R6 & opted for the same set of tyres as the weather was a little overcast. Unfortunately Grant didn’t improve but posted a time which was .4 off his best. This meant Grant dropped down to 13th position.
Warm-up – Grant went out in warm-up to make sure the bike was working okay & ready for the race. The track at this time of the morning was wet so Grant didn’t want to push it & risk crashing as this was not needed. Grant finished warm-up in 11th position.
Race – The final race of the year was here & with a good warm-up Grant was hoping it would be wet, but from warm-up to the race the track dried almost. Grant knew he had to get a good start & get away with the front pack to ensure a good, strong end to the year. Grant got an excellent start, jumping up to 6th position as he crossed the line. Starting the 2nd lap Grant went up the inside of the rider in-front & passing for 5th. Before Grant knew it, he & 4 other riders, 2 of which went down in-front of him crashed out of the race in the first turn. Grant was in 5th position when he crashed but unfortunately he tried but couldn’t remount as the marshal’s would not allow this. Grant was unhurt & the bike was very lightly damaged. This was race over for Grant who was really disappointing with himself as he was very keen to reward the team with a podium to finish off the season as he believed he could achieve.
Grant would like to thank ALL his sponsors who have helped him in the 2011 season. It has been Grant’s best season yet which will most definitely set him up for the 2012 season in the best possible way. Grant finished 12th in the championship missing 2 rounds along the way.
Please if anyone can help Grant continue his success towards the 2012 championship where Grant & the team hope to compete in the British Superbikes – National Superstock 600 championship once again.
Thank-you to the following:
HWW Race Team
HWW Tyre warmers
Bond-A-Band Transmissions Ltd
Ferris Racing
Ashton Service Centre
H. Farrar Ltd
Atlas Mobile Valeting
Springfield Cleaning Services Ltd
Jemtech (UK) Ltd
Steve Jeanes
Roy
Maxton Suspension
Arai Helmet’s
Grant would especially like to thank his Mum, Dad, Sister, Girlfriend Laura & mechanic ‘Sam’ for all their help over the weekend.
Please feel free to make enquires towards our sponsors regarding the services they have to offer you.
Any help is greatly appreciated, so if you are in the position to help in any way, then please contact us and see how Grant Whitaker Racing can benefit you.