Really glad to have won at least one for this Trophy, and tagged my name to it somehow, this will be one I will cherish. The fact that it was fast paced and hard fought against pretty tough competition only adds satisfaction to it, fitting tribute to Joe's racing style I would say!
Rather surprised to be starting on pole, as I thought Hristo was going to be there, for once I managed to be quick off the blocks and give it full beans right from the opening laps. It was no surprise when I saw Clive was the one behind me, we seem to be playing over and over a rather repetitive script, racing in close company practically every race for a while now! This time it was his turn to be the persistent chaser, until after the first third of the race I managed to nail a couple of good laps and shake him off my back. This track has a rather hypnotic flow to it, brake-turn right-gas, which tends to send you in a bit of a daze if you are running by yourself for a while. So, just when I was getting all confy and starting to flavour the imminent present of an unexpected win, I had to be abruptly woken up by my pitboard man, who rather anxiously (it seemed to me..
) signalled me Juha was now behind me, and had already started making up some serious ground. No need to panic, 6 seconds in the lead and 8 laps to go, just need to stay calm. So, after a very very near miss of a very slow and very smoking Honda sitting on the racing line, 2 or 3 excursions on the grass, and 3 straight laps in the 29s, I had a rather feisty JH right on my tailpipes
. Fortunately, at that stage I had finally regained my cool and could start pushing with no more mistakes, 5 laps at full speed and a very close finish were to follow. Grats to JH and Clive for some very good racing, and to all who took part to the bitter-sweet event. Hope Joe has enjoyed the show up there
.
I will see you at the next one guys, thank you for the racing.