Race review - GP Originals - Round 5 Donington park 2022

Pots Bends Greens ear - Roy Dale

This was the second visit to Donington for Andy Green in two weeks, having been technical support (spanner man and brew maker) for Jason Burrill who was racing in the Tri Options Ducati series supporting World Superbikes. This time it was Green’s turn to race his TZ350 in GP Original’s last round of the season.
Steady away in practice had Green produce a personal best straight off the bat, much to his surprise. The bike seemed to deal with the fast flowing Donington Park circuit extremely well.
The first race soon came and had Green starting in 11th on the grid. This, combined with a good start, got him into the middle of the pack and into a bit of racing with a couple of other riders. With places exchanged and clawed back, Green eventually crossed the line having picked up a couple of places and for 8th overall. Hacking 2.5 seconds off his PB, which he had only just set at qualifying, was a good sign for things to come (hopefully)!

Green ready to head out - Roy Dale

The second race on Saturday was much the same as the first with another good finish on the horizon. That was until the last lap when the bike started to splutter out of redgate. A quick look around the bike showed the problem to be a fuel line had detached from the filter and was pouring fuel everywhere. Not ideal at the best of times but certainly not mid race! Faced with a dilemma, Green had to decide between pulling over for a DNF or staying focused on the mission of finishing at all costs, somehow… Experience had taught Green that there are not many things more terrifying than a lift back in the back of a recovery wagon round a circuit, so yes he obviously chose the latter option.. He took his chances riding the bike with his right hand leaving his left searched for the detached hose, whilst simultaneously holding his finger over the end of the filter to stop the fuel pouring over the hot engine. Somehow he managed to aim the pouring fuel into the end of the fuel hose whilst riding one handed to, bringing the bike back to life. Inspired by watching the ‘True Heroes Racing’ guy race one armed the week before on a Tri Options Ducat, Green nursed his TZ to the finish line, only dropped 3 places in the process. So not a complete disaster!

Green returns - Roy Dale

After an evening checking and rechecking all of the fuel lines were secure now (fuel is far too expensive to be spraying it around!), Green settled in ready for Sundays racing in the morning.
With fuel on the mind, pre race was spent calculating how much fuel was needed to make the most of weight saving to get every advantage he could. As such, the first race of the day was going great until lap 8 when it turns out, the rapidly diminishing fuel sloshing about under braking was causing fuel starvation. It turns out the bike needed about 5 litres more than Green had hoped for, which is a disappointing 5kg extra to lug about, cancelling out all of his dieting and exercise gains. Should have just had some chips.
The second race had Green on the back a couple of faster riders which dragged him along nicely until the bike and rider both started to feel a bit fatigued. Green slowed in the second half of the race. As the end of the GP Originals season was drawing closer, he decided to not push it any harder and bring it home. After all; next week will be the CRMC classic motorcycle festival, back here on the TZ and the Brightman 350 Aermacchi.
Big thanks to the GP Originals team for organising this season along with all the support it attracts. That’s all for GP Originals apart from the end of season jolly.
Thanks to Roy and Potsy for the help over the weekend.

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