Race 1 - 11:58am

As we had ‘professional’ qualifying we were allocated grid positions. I was in 22 place which was in the middle of row 6, next to Pat Herron. An average start which then turned into a bad start because I bottled it going into Pilgrims (I though ‘I'm in the middle of the pack and do not want to get taken out at the beginning of the weekend - I can easily make up places later’.

Well, I made up places, scalping here there and everywhere – nothing especially sticks in my mind except the last lap: determined not to be beaten by the TZR I could see ahead of me (if I had known Pat was riding the TZR I would probably have stayed behind him - he is quite experienced being last year's 250LC champion) I started to give it loads on the last lap. Closing in a little going into Pilgrims, the gap was still large coming out of Chessons. There was one thing for it, a mad late braking (the front end was sliding like nothing I have had before!) fast corner speed dash into and through Devils. Unfortunately I didn’t get ideal drive coming out of the Elbow and still had a lot of work to catch Pat (3 bike lengths?). I was as good on the brakes in the wet going into North Bend as I am in the dry and just managed to get my nose in front. I also managed to hold him off going into and through Paddock, but after following Pat later in the day I don’t quite know how – he must have been holding off.