Round  8 - Cadwell Park

Saturday – FP1 & FP2:

Got some solid track time on scrub tyres, completing 17 laps in FP1 and lowering my previous PB of 1:34.68 to 1:32.401. Towards the end of the session, the quick shifter issue returned. Back at the gazebo, we identified the cause—a loose rear set affecting the sensor due to excessive vibration.

In FP2, I completed another 14 laps and improved my time to 1:31.931. The bike felt strong, and this performance secured me a spot in Q1 for Saturday morning qualifying, thanks to the weekend’s new qualifying format.

Sunday – Qualifying:

With tyre budget constraints and a good scrub tyre available, we went out on a scrub tyre. In the first part of qualifying, I set a 1:31.857, securing my place in Q2. After 5 laps, I pulled in to save the remaining tyre for Q2.

In Q2, I completed 4 laps and put in a 1:31.295, but ran out of tyre to improve further, leaving me 25th on the grid.

Monday – Race:

With fresh rubber for the first time this weekend, I had hoped to drop into the 1:30s, but the events of the race prevented that.

I got a strong start and gained positions in the first half of the lap. On the way up the mountain, another rider had a fall, causing a red flag. I initially thought his bike hit my foot peg, but later discovered it was the rider himself. The impact caused my foot to come off the peg, hitting the mountain top, bruising my foot and lower leg, and bending the footrest.

At the restart, despite the soreness, I focused on the race and made a solid start, gradually progressing to P20. However, in the later stages, my foot peg came loose and my leg pain increased, preventing me from pushing 100%. Despite this, I finished P21, my best finish to date.

I wish Dave Sellars and all other injured riders a speedy recovery.