22 December 2009

Track conditions excellent with weather always threatening to rain but remaining dry for the day and even a bit warm in the afternoon.  In morning qualifying it became very obvious that the larger bore bikes were going to be hard to beat, add to this the fact that Gozzini was struggling on used tyres and his work was certainly cut out for him.  With practice held on the Friday all that was left to do today was one qualifying session and two races (2 for points – 3rd race for fun) Gozzini placed 2nd in qualifying behind local boy Toby Summers (#777) on Aprillia SXV550, 3rd place went to Ivan Lazzerini with only thousandths splitting the three.
 
Qualifying comments:
I asked David how he felt about the choice of gearing and if he will make any changes to try and close the gap to the big bore machine of Toby Summers, "Yes I try now to change from 42 to 43 on the rear, I think I am losing too much from out of the corner so we will try this for 1st race"  I asked how are the tyres holding up "tyres are no good they are difficult for some corners but I will try to use old tyres for today and save good tyres for next round"
 
Race 1:
With 4 bikes per row, 500M to the 1st corner and no staggered lines on the grid there was no advantage to be gained from qualifying 1st as all 4 bikes on the front row had equal chance for the 1st corner, that said Gozzini as usual stormed off with a lightening quick start only to be taken by the bigger machine of Toby Summers into the 1st corner.  After 2 laps the top 3 bikes of Toby Summers (Aprillia 550) Davide Gozzini (TM450) and Ivan Lazzerini (Honda 450) were clearing out from the rest of the field, constant changes in position throughout the race as Gozzini showed the guys how to take corners inside and outside lines always coming out of the corner on top but unfortunately to be taken by the bigger Aprillia whenever a straight section of road presented itself.  Ivan too was coming to the party and between the 3 guys there was some very exciting elbow rubbing and position swapping throughout the race, most of the time Gozzini having to wait for the corners to pass the leading two bikes.  Down to the last lap board and the outcome seemed predictable with the 550cc of Toby Summers always able to sweep around the outside of the two Italians on the last (large sweeping) right hand corner onto the main straight, out of the final corner and its Toby – Lazzerini – Gozzini with Davide desperately looking for the slipstream but unable to get past on the 300M sprint to the finish line, almost a photo finish but it was Toby 1st Lazzerini 2nd followed a bike length behind by Davide Gozzini.
 
Comments:
I asked how did the gearing change go "I think we go back to 42" and how about the tyres "tyres ok but I better if we have new" I left them alone then I could see they were planning something for the bike.
 
Race 2:
Qualifying positions stay same for the day regardless of previous finish so the start line remains the same, this time its Lazzerini who takes off 1st and leads them into the 1st corner followed closely by Toby and Davide, out of the turn and Davide is 1st but then quickly loses two positions on the straight section to turn two, history repeats until around lap 4 when from out of nowhere Scott Moir on Aprillia SXV550 blasts down the infield straight section and past all three front runners, Scott placed fourth in race one and managed a fastest lap of only 77 seconds which is a long way off the 75's being posted lap after lap by the Italians, however in race 2 he found something extra and got into the 75's to make a race of it.  With some small adjustments to the TM, Gozzini was showing signs that he could take Lazzerini and Summers but was finding it hard to stay in front of Scott Moir.  Again they swapped plastic throughout the remaining laps of the race and at the final sweeping right hander Davide made his move, an all balls out pass around the outside with the tyres screaming for mercy and the bars shaking to take himself around Lazzerini and onto the back tyre of Scott Moirs Aprillia 550, then the final 300M dash to the line and it looked like the slip streaming could pay off but unfortunately Moir just gets over the line 1st with Davide 2nd Lazzerini 3rd and a disappointing 4th place for race 1 winner Toby Summers.
 
General comments on the event:
Race control decided that race 3 would not carry points to the 2nd and 3rd rounds; reason is that these rounds only have two races each so they wanted to follow that format.  Also S1 and S2 have been put together for an all powers event, however after racing concluded I discussed this with the event controller and he stated that given there is enough trophies for both classes he will most likely split the championship points into the relevant classes.
 
Currently if this remains an all powers event then it stands:
1 – Scott Moir – 43 pts (S2)
2 – Toby Summers – 43 pts (S2)
3 – Davide Gozzini – 42 pts (S1)
4 – Ivan Lazzerini – 42 pts (S1)
 
None of the top four raced in the 3rd race (no points to be had) opting instead to save the bikes for the 2nd round.
 
If they split the classes then Gozzini is currently tied 1st place leading into the 2nd round and a far more suitable track for the TM450
 
An excellent performance by TM racing Davide Gozzini, who had to work himself and the bike very hard to for this result