MIST Suzuki Racing

Brno, Czech Republic – Race

Posted on July 22, 2007 by Mike Edwards

Matt Bond, 20/07/07 – 22/07/07
FIM European Superstock 1000 Cup
Round 7

Friday – First Practice

After the success of the test a few weeks before hand, the first session was a simple re-familiarisation process, that didn’t take long, and instantly the bike was feeling really good and the times were consistent and improving.

The new internals inside the rear shock seemed to totally alter the way the bike gripped, making it much more stable under braking and acceleration, which made it ideally suited to the Czech track. Even if there was very little grip on the track, making traction somewhat non-existent and made for some very interesting sideways moments!

Towards the end of the session I started to push a little bit harder and managed to better my previous personal best lap time, putting me nicely inside the top 20, in 17th place. It was the best free practice result so far this season, so all was looking good for the opening qualifying session.

Friday – First Qualifying

I got onto the circuit with the front group straight away, but after 2 very hectic laps, I decided to pull back and wait for a tow from one of the fast guys. Cue Sheridan Morais on the Pedercini Ducati!

I hooked straight onto his back wheel and for four or five laps we were together, and I managed to follow his lines and match his pace round the majority of the track, and it was all clicking into place. Both Shez and myself managed to clock our fastest laps, just before we both let off, with the intentions of returning to the pit lane to put in a new pair of tyres for the last half of the session.

I blasted off in an attempt to make it back to the pits quickly, giving the guys more time to change the wheels, etc. Then the back made an almighty bang and all the power beneath me just disappeared. It sounded like a plug cap had come off, so, not knowing any better, I proceeded to tour back to the pits, with the engine getting worse all the way up the hill leading to pit lane.

As soon as I was back I could tell that our weekend was over by the looks on peoples faces. I was gutted. With no spare engine, the best opening to a meeting we had had slipped through our fingers, and I watched the timing screens as I slid from 12th down towards the bottom end of the field, but I wasn’t last! Far from it, but with no chance of returning to the track the last thing I could do was smile or see the good side of things.

The Rest Of The Weekend

I decided to just sit and watch and see what I could learn from the guys out on circuit, and it helped me to see just how to ride really hard for that one lap in qualifying, and also how to pace yourself in the race. It was useful.

On the good side I’d ridden the bike well and proved I can run at the sharp end of the field, and we’ve got a good bike set up ready for Brands. Whether we will have a new engine will be the major question, but I have faith in the team.

Posted in 2007, Brno, Matt Bond, Race Report | Leave a comment

Misano, San Marino – Race

Posted on June 17, 2007 by matt

Matt Bond, 15/06/07 – 17/06/07
FIM European Superstock 1000 Cup
Round 6

Friday – First Practice

Thanks to the Italians doing there usual trick of leaving things to the last minute, and not finishing the resurfacing of the track until late on Thursday night, I did not even get to do a lap around the new configuration of the circuit, until the opening session of the weekend.

Going onto the circuit via the opposite end of pit lane and going clockwise did feel a bit weird at first and the new sections of track they’d added over the winter months really has changed the character of the place, for the better I reckon! The new surface was really greasy and dirty and made the whole session difficult when combined with learning the new circuit.

Despite this the front boys, who had already tested at the track went instantly fastest, even with Claudio Corti finding the ejector seat button right in front of me. At least I was not slowest, and I was ahead of one of thee guys who’d already been on the new circuit!

Friday – First Qualifying

The track was much better for qualifying, and it showed as everyone went lots faster, especially myself, who, thanks to a newly fitted Yoshimura ECU, went an amazing 6.4seconds faster! Half was down to the way the bike was working really well and the other half was me finally getting confidence in throwing the bike into the turns.

I finally felt confident to run the front hard into the turns, trail the brakes and the newly smoothed power curve made getting on the gas a much more controllable and easier task, compared to when I last rode the bike. It made the whole session more enjoyable than pretty much the entire season has been.

It was pleasing to close the gap on a lot of the “faster” guys ahead of me, who were usually a lot further ahead than in this session. I was a little gutted that Baz (Burrell) got the better of me at the end of the session. But I was confident there was much more to come.

Saturday – Second Practice

Once again the track improved and the times got that fraction faster, especially towards the middle of the grid, where everything closed up to the smallest of gaps between riders.

I made a small improvement, but was mainly focusing on lines, markers and combining corners into a flowing movement. I also tried many variations on lines through the complex to try to improve on the entire section, as that was my major dud area of track. Still the improvement took my closer to the top guys, so it was all heading in the right direction!

Saturday – Second Qualifying

I had to go from the off in this session, with it being so short, and instantly I dropped another second off my previous best lap time, mainly thanks to a balls out approach to the final section, where I felt particularly strong.

I then focused on really nailing each corner and just going forward in small bits to make up the time. A tenth here and there and it all started to pull me closer time wise to the leaders. Position on the grid was improving too.

The final 7 minutes of the session was when I was meant to get a tow, but I couldn’t find anyone so I just thought “stuff it, if I bin it trying, it happens!” and I really put my head down. I knew the lap was good as it just went together so easily and I got the last three turns absolutely spot on, and when I got back to the pits and saw 28th I was chuffed. It was my best qualifying by a long way and I was only 2.5 seconds off pole, which is much better than before. That’s was the main thing we focused on, that and only being 0.9secs off of Brendan Roberts! (Ever get the idea that beating him is my main aim this season?)

Sunday – Race

A nice steady warm up got me settled into things, and a few more minor adjustments on the suspension following the advice from Andreani and we were ready to roll.

I got a good initial start, but got boxed out going through the opening turns, and really had to fight to get a line through the turns safely. I tagged onto the back of Marko Rothlaan and closed into the back of the next group by the end of the lap. From here he got passed Marko Jerman, who I then got stuck with for the next two laps, and eventually I just made a dive for it and got through, and then proceeded to pull away instantly and onto the back of the few riders ahead only for the red flags to be bought out.

Well, I started in the same spot on the grid for the restart, but this time got away a lot better, began moving forward a lot more rapidly, and was passing and battling with people I have not been against before. However, two laps in the rear really began to slide and was getting worse lap after lap, making it a real struggle to get on the gas. I think it must have been a dodgy tyre as the suspension had been spot on throughout warm-up. I just tried as hard as I could for the final laps, and was really chuffed to cross the line in 22nd, which became 24th on aggregate time, but it equalled my best result of the year, and this time I done it in the dry, on equal terms with everyone else.

I’m really chuffed with how the weekend went, and at last I feel like we’re going forward with everything. Myself as a rider confidence wise, and the bike in terms of development and competitiveness. I can’t wait for Brno, it’s going to be awesome!