If it weren`t for bad luck, I`d have no luck at all......

Saturday morning, cloudy and cold, I went out to practice and soon found why so many `old farts` bang on about the place. It may only be a mile long but Lydden is big on fun and a lot more challenging than it looks....

Race 1; From 18th on the grid I got a fair start but on lap two I ran wide at Paddock Bend, a classic Lydden mistake, and scared myself silly (that tyre wall looks pretty close when you hit the grass), on the next lap I performed another classic Lydden error and gave it too much gas out of The Devils Elbow nearly losing the back end...

I was a bit shaken and by the time I had settled back down had been passed by several riders including Gavin Smith on his bright yellow Ducati. I battled to pass Gavin for the rest of the race but he held me off to cross the line 0.7 ahead.  I finished sixth in class and was quite pleased as this was my first go at the track...                         At the hairpin....

Race 2; Following the breakdown of the timing loop, grid positions were allocated by the lap-scorers, one of whom made a complete blunder.... I had expected to be nearer the front this race but got placed dead last, thirty first!                                                          I was in the middle of gesticulating my unhappiness to my daughter who was trackside when I was alerted to the start by the noise of screaming bikes... I wasnt even in gear when the flag dropped but still managed to sythe my way through the back-markers into the first corner.

I got involved in another battle with the Duke of Smith and another Ducati, frenchman Eric Quartier which lasted most of the race. I eventually got past both by the chequered flag and got ninth place but had to watch several lc350s get away who I was sure I could have kept with or beaten had I not started dead last............                               Chasing, then leading Gavin Smith.....

SUNDAY... Race 1; I carry two batteries, one for each day and both fully charged just prior to leaving home.. I changed battery and rolled down the hill toward the collecting bay but it just wouldn`t start.  Turns out my battery (which had held its charge all winter), had gone flat. Dont know how, just one of those things................

Race 2; Staring at the back again due to failing to start in the previous race I was seriously wound up for the start.                       I got a really good start again, taking a dozen bikes into the first corner, but was held up by the frenchman Quartier who was undecided which line to take on the long uphill right hander.. After things had settled down I found myself again locking horns with Gavin Smith whilst Quartier, together with the lc350s was getting away.. I got past Gavin when he went into the Devils Elbow too hot, but by that time the others were well ahead. Lap by lap I clawed my way closer and, had it been three laps longer, could have caught them but had to settle for tenth.                          Out on my own....