We all groaned in Systems Control when you stalled on the start line.
Congrats on the finish!
As a matter of curiosity (and to see who in Systems Control wins the bet), in the practice session where you (almost) went two laps, what happened to you at the end of the 2nd lap? You went missing somewhere between Cronk ny Mona and Governor's Bridge...
Chris.First of all can you believe it!!
I'm still stunned by the way it all went down..
To your question-
Leading up to that particular practice I had the One lead lap.I had One session "off the chain" I was able to do my thing and not have to sit behind anyone.in that session best was something like 26 seconds off what I needed..As you know there was a real pinch after that with the weather..What I had found out in that 1st session on course was that my fuel capacity was easily going to make 2 laps,there was even a chance it would make 3 laps without pit stop..With those 2 nights of cancelled practice I was just sick..My dream was slipping away I NEEDED that qualifying lap BAD..I talked with a big medicine guy in the paddock and he had some advice.."now that you know you can make the fuel,you need to reduce the fuel load,and get as small on the bike as you can-you have fuck all top speed,thats out the window." So before going out in that 2nd night of practice that finally rolled around I filled my tank only HALF full! I needed maximum weight off the bike and I had no choice but to go for it.I had no idea if this was going to be it and I needed that time..on the 2nd lap going up craig willy's hill I saw that fuel was low.I turned it on Reserve going down Cronk Y Voddy..Comming off Kates cottage the bike coughed.I pulled in the clutch 50 yards from Craig Na and it died..The traveling marshal pulled in be hind me.The gas tank had over a Liter trapped on the right hand side of the tank.I though it was designed to cross over but no..I dropped the bike on the side and pulled the gas to the petcock side.Lifted it up and hit the starter it fired right up.The Marshal said "GO" it took about 50 seconds..I blasted down to Cronk Mona and there was a guy in the road holding Red Flag..I pulled in and said I need to make my 2nd lap..He said - "you get nothing!" "you will not be awarded your 2nd lap" I told him I could make it no problem..He said park it...I was pissed but I didn't argue..Up at the Craig though there was a crowd of people around me screaming that I had done it on the First lap..The phone app time sheet had said under 27!!..I didnt want to trust what they where saying but I went to the office to talk to Ann and she told me to chill that I would get 1 more practice to get my 5 lap total...I was happy and bummed..They had said "ease into the course" and I had to just go for it in my 2nd try,not the way I wanted it to go but the situation forced me to.
