Brands GP

Well it was with just a hint of trepidation that I rolled into Brands for the G.P. meet, having binned it at Westfield last year. I booked the practice day, both to learn the GP section and to run the bike in after slotting in a new set of pistons. With that done I started to push a little harder, basically having some fun in the sun on a Friday and not having to stop the programmers I support from eating their crayons.

Race one and probably my best ever start at Brands. I was chasing Mr T till I got my entry to Surtess wrong and then couldn't get a gear. By the time I had calmed down, selected a gear and got moving, I had lost a 100 yards and set off to get it back, eventually scrapping with Frank "Elbows" Barret. Though in fairness Frank has yet to return to race form and fitness. Despite all this I had acheived a new pb of 1:58, 4 seconds up on last year and had a grin you couldnt shift with a mallet. Luckily Frank only had a torque wrench in his hands when I gave him a copy of the results.

Race two, and, surprise, another poor start taking two attempts to hook second. However it wasnt all bad for most of the race I was being given a masterclass in "Taking a defensive line - the Priddle Method." If Rossi had taken this course Edwards wouldnt have got past at Laguna. I eventually did only to be re-taken on the drag to the line as I was in race one Sunday when after scrapping with Alan and William Charters for most of the race they double teamed me to the line but I had a grin you couldnt shift with a torque wrench.

Race two on Sunday and I was determined to get a 1:57 or better and invoking the "Team Norbar" motto "Ride it like you stole it," it must be a scouser thing! I did and managed a 1:56.3 and another scrap with Frank. I twice tried to pass into Druids only to discover that his elbows are still working and are plenty pointy and sharp. Race two also saw a blinding ride by Fish to set a new class lap record of 1:45.3, a big BOTG round of applause for that.

Non racing hi-point #1 was, well shall we just say that Len Whalin tried on my leathers on Friday afternoon and found they were tight. He said that I must be thinner than I look. I could see that the idea that he needed to lay off the pies for a while wasnt going to pop into his head. Not wishing to burst his bubble I said I had a "Fat Karma", and anyone who has been behind me can confirm this. To his credit Len has a particularly nice pair of "man breasts" even if his legs were the prototypes for Emu. Lo-point was discovering that someone had removed the flashing neon warning sign from Griggsy's awning as I took a short cut through it. It used to flash "Hi, I'm 5'8" - how tall are you?" As my head and cross member interfaced through the surprise pain port in my brain I dropped a bottle. Kneeling to ensure I had retreived all the bits of glass Griggsy Jnr turned up with his friends to look at what a "Grown up" had done. Griggsy's expression was much more eloquent, it asked "Whats the village doing for an idiot when youre here ?" The retort that sprang to mind was " The local Bobby doubles up," but I had already exceeded my self inflicted pain limit for one day.

Snetterton is next up and hopefully I will have finished my new paint job by then. I'm not giving anything away other than the clue that I will be impersonating another Yamaha World Champ - or at least their paint job. This is George Watson for Back O' the Grid and "tonight Cat I'm going to be ,,,,," See you all at Snett.

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