Sunday morning the bike started spluttering
really badly even after cleaning out the
carburettor something like five times. As I
rode up to the waiting grid for Race 2, the
bike was on the verge of dying, and finally
stalling. When we were given the all clear to
go on the track it wouldn’t start. So, I ended
up starting from pit lane, jump starting the
bike and only got three corners around the
track before it died again. It was the most
disappointing feeling ever.
When we got the bike into the pits, we
worked on it for a couple hours checking
everything before swapping the carburettor
for a spare. It sounded really good when
it started back up, like a new bike, but our
mistake was not taking it for a test ride. When
Race 3 was due to begin, it just wouldn’t start.
We tried jump starting it but... nothing. This
wasn’t the way I wanted to end the season,
but we’d had it really good throughout the
rest of the season with no real bike issues.
It was just our luck we had problems at the
final round. Later on we found out that when
we’d had the carb off cleaning the pilot jet,
we’d crimped the overflow/breather hoses
when feeding them back into the overflow
bottle. Once we found that, it ran fine.
Thanks heaps to Brett at Brett Roberts Dyno
Tuning for finding the problem.
THE OVERALL
Despite missing two races due to fuelling
issues at Taupo, I ended up 5th overall for
the season. Even though I was obviously
disappointed at Taupo, this was still a great
result considering three DNFs and a really
average day at Manfeild. We also came
away with 2nd in the NZ Grand Prix and
2nd in the Moto TT race two National Titles,
as well as two overall wins (at Whanganui
and Hampton Downs) and the class lap
record at Hampton Downs.
This has been an amazing series if you look
82 KIWI RIDER
at the results; starting off just scrapping in
the top 10 to winning races, overall rounds
and podiuming in national titles. I have
learnt so much in such a small time span
and have enjoyed it so much. I’ve met some
great people alon g the way.
I strongly encourage all riders aged 14-
21 to try and find a way to give it a go this
coming year – you really won’t regret it. It
sure has got me hooked and I’m hoping
to be able to do it all again next year if I’m
given the chance.
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