Race review - GP Originals - round 2

Due to the event selling out almost immediately, things were looking tentative for round 2 of the GP Originals but Andrew Green managed a late entry when a space became available. Roy and Tom accompanied Green to spanner for the one day meeting being hosted by Wirral 100 club. Green was again out with his Yamaha TZ350.

With Green only ever having been to Oulton Park once before a few years ago, It was going to be a learning curve. However he remember quite enjoying the challenge the last time so was looking forward to getting another go.

Practice consisted of a steady if unremarkable waddle around to get used to the place. This resulted in qualifying 18th out of a grid of 33 TZ’s.

With only 2 races in the day, There was only time for a quick check over the bike before the first race. This, thankfully, found nothing, so it was a case of topping the fuel up and getting the kettle on for a cup of tea.

Never being one to get excited over practice, Green found more focus lining up on the grid for race 1.

When the glad dropped he lost a few places by getting stuck on the right hand side of the circuit and on the inside of the first corner. As the pack started to spread out after the first few corners Green was able to make the most of his

Green eying up Hannaford - Roy Dale

GPFAX compound brake pads biting into twin EBC discs, easily pick a few competitors off on the brakes into the slower corners that followed. Soon he settled into a routine despite the bike feeling a bit more of a handful than it normally does. The undulations on some of the corners made the bike seem not as planted as Green had been accustomed to. Despite this he settled the bike down achieving a new PB around Oulton Park and brought the bike home in 12th place, which he was pleased with overall. Green, ever seeking improvement however knew there were improvements to ne made. Not least getting his arse down the gym!

Keeping things looking tidy - Roy Dale

The second race was a different thing altogether. The bike felt on edge and on the second lap approaching the second apex on Druids corner the back end let go and spun up when on full throttle, something Green really didn’t expect or want! The bike had been squirming around in the first race but he put that down to running the suspension soft on the rear. So Green gingerly carried on whilst also encountering a few other issues that a wondering mind thought a steering damper could fix. This was not something Green was accustomed to using but with the front wheel feeling like it was constantly hovering above the tarmac, it was starting to appeal to him. With all that going on; a moments lost focus lead Green to out brake himself so had to run on through the barriers and miss Hislop all together! He waited for a couple of bikes to come past before rejoining the track to finish the race off. Trickling over the line in 15th.

Once back in the paddock it became clear the tyre had gone off and was like chewing gum on the edge. Little wonder he was struggling for grip.

Oulton park at its best - Colin Port Images

Greens big take away whilst learning the TZ is that he need a steering damper and no more than a couple of meetings on a rear tyre… Need to find a tyre sponsor at this rate. Even though the wife doesn’t read any of these reports, I'm still reluctant to publish the cost of a new rear tyre just in case…

The bike never missed a beat, with special thanks to NGK for the continued support for what is the team's 10th season with them.

Super thanks again to another year of support from some great names in Motorsport.

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