We arrived at Brands Hatch for the final round of the season in high spirits, hoping we could finish on a high from the experience we gained from earlier in the year.
Free practice was a little tricky as the conditions at the start of the session were dry but with 6 minutes to go, it had started to dry which left Grant in the top 8. Within minutes Grant found himself back in 21th position once the flag was out. This was due to other teams deciding to change for dry tyres and risk it on the damp parts of the circuit where as Grant called it a day as it was very greasy, slippy & only practise.
Qualifying 1 was later in the afternoon and with blue skies all around it was going to be a dry qualifying. Grant went out on new tyres and got a feel for the circuit as there had not been much rubber put down on the circuit so the bike was not working quiet how he wanted it to. Grant came in and made a change to the bike and went back out. With 3 laps to go Grant hooked up with a faster rider for one final push which boosted him up to 8th position and a row 3 start.
Qualifying 2 was the following day (Saturday) and once again the rain had hit the Brands Hatch circuit. The team knew they were not going to go any faster so they used the session to try find a good wet setup as the race on Sunday was looking like it could be wet. Grant straight away found a good feeling with a couple of adjustments to the bi.ke and was confident. He ended the session in 7th position which was encouraging as he was out on old tyres.
Due to the first session being dry this was the session time what would count and Grant would start from 8th position on row 3 for the big race on Sunday.
As expected the rain was here for the mornings warm up but with the sun out the track was drying all the time.
30 minutes before the race the track had dried but immediately the heavens opened. This would mean the race was going to be a wet one.
Grant got a great start entering the first corner cautiously which enabled him to get the bike turned and a good run up into druids (2nd corner) for the first time. He moved up into 5th position or so and immediately felt happy on the bike. Once crossing the line after lap 1 he was up to 3rd and fancied his chances of getting into 2nd and trying to make a break for it. Half way through the lap Grant was up to 2nd position and tried to pull a gap. Unfortunately he could not manage to do so and found himself caught by the pack behind. He kept with the pack which saw him in a battle for 2nd – 8th position, unfortunately a couple of riders in front dropped out and the pace picked up as everyone began to get a feel for the conditions. Grant made up a position going round the outside of a fellow rider once entering onto the back straight as he could see the riders in-front trying to break away but he immediately got passed. With 2 laps to go Grant was trying to maintain his position and keep consistent as he was in 6th position with a 20 second gap behind him. He just did not have the pace to make a pass on the guys in front so held his position in-case something in-front happened and then he could make light of the situation but this did not happen and Grant came home in 6th position and with that secured 8th position (from 10th position) in the final championship standings. This was a good result for Grant and the team as he used his head in the race and brought home valuable points for the championship. Realistically 8th in the championship was the highest position Grant could climb to so he was very pleased.
Grant would like to thank the following for all their support:
J&S Accessories
HWW Racing
Economy Spares Ltd
Ferris Racing
Bond-A-Band Transmissions Ltd
Barnes DAF
KneedownUK.com
Stavros-Sports.com
HWW Tyre warmers
General Banner Company
Springfield Cleaning Services Ltd
Mark @ Paintzfiction Custom Airbrush Paintwork – 07906 431 923
Kais Suspension – Nick & Andy White – 01942 896 366
Thank-you to all the 79 club members & people who attended over the weekend for your help and support including:
Laura Standen – my Girlfriend
Gordon – Dad
Georgina – Sister
Phyllis – helping to drive down the Brands Hatch as well as taking some of the pressure off over the weekend
Sam Black & Tiffany Russell
Steve Jeanes
Mark + Liz + Andy Standen
Jim + Abi + Katie Higgs
Alan Matthews & Guests of Barnes DAF
Mr & Mrs Jeanes for their continued support throughout
Russell Parks + 1 guest (79 club winner) Hope you had a great day out!
Roy Sutton
Mark Drummond + his little lad who enjoyed his birthday day out at Brands Hatch
Thank-you to Tiffany, Sam & Tony + Tracy for the cakes for the weekend
Thank-you to Jim & the girls for the end of season gifts they presented to Me & Laura x
To all the absent 79 CLUB MEMBERS who could not attend.
A special thank-you to Steve Jeanes, Mark Standen, Phyllis and Laura Standen for their superb catering throughout the year, of whom without their help, team hospitality would not have been possible.