Darley Moor - Round 3 Race Review (2021)

The heavens opened for Darley Moor Round 3, resulting in the meeting being abandoned after the first half of the race schedule had run. The Sunday evening was extremely pleasant, but there were a plethora of weather reports available advising of the forecast Bank Holiday Monday conditions - all of them had rain listed somewhere throughout the day, but "when will it land?" was the question on everyone's lips...

On Monday morning, the sprinkles of rain got heavier around 9am, so that was when we made the decision to switch across to wet tyres on both machines. Along with the tyre swap, we also made some corresponding suspension adjustments to the forks (as typically we leave the rear settings the same).

Beautiful Sunday weather...

...waiting for the Monday rain...

...tracking it's progress!

​Prior to the Twins qualifying session we had a little bit of drama. Having started and quickly warmed up the Supertwin we took it to noise testing, where we couldn't find Neutral (due to poor clutch adjustment after recently installing the uprated clutch springs) and we stalled the machine. A prod on the electric start brought it back to life and we performed noise testing before leaving the area to adjust the clutch lever. Unfortunately we stalled the bike again so just decided to make a blind adjustment. Another prod on the electric start showed that the battery voltage was now low and it wouldn't spin the starter motor quick enough to start the engine. After a brief intermission we tried once again and it fortunately roared into life! Phew, out into qualifying... This was our first time using Bridgestone W01 wets, so we carefully scrubbed them in then started to circulate a bit quicker. At the end of the session we were surprised to learn we had qualified in 2nd position, just 0.06 of a second off pole position, as we felt comfortable doing those lap times.

In the Formula 600 qualifying once again we spent a few laps scrubbing the tyres before getting faster. Again, we managed to qualify 2nd on the grid, but this time 0.61 of a second off pole position.

The rain finally arrived so wets were fitted

​We took the decision to take 2 turns of preload off the Supertwin shock before the Allcomers Race. In the assembly area we drew the 11th grid spot out of the hat, then when the lights went out we got a flying start and managed to work our way up to 2nd position by the end of the opening lap. Mark Brailsford on his Honda CB500 was flying in the wet and cold conditions but we took the race lead on lap 3 and then led for majority of race. On lap 8 (of 10) Jim Hodson came passed on the entry to Park corner. We tried to tag onto him but by pushing we made a few unforced mistakes, along with catching some backmarkers at the the wrong spots. Regardless, we didn't have the speed to match Jim who took the win and we crossed the line in 2nd place. What was most concerning was that we couldn't feel our fingers after 6 or 7 laps - so it was time to defrost next to the caravan heater for a while...

Even with a partially-taped radiator, the Supertwin was running around 45c during the Allcomers race

Next up was the Twins race which shared the track with the PreInjection 600 race. After another good start we entered the chicane in 3rd place, before taking a couple of laps to find a safe way through into 2nd position. From here, a few of the PreInjection 600 riders came passed but we managed to hold onto our 2nd place finish in the Twins class at the chequered flag.

Some more duct tape deployed to help increase engine temperature

Over the next hour or so, the rain continued to fall and the weather conditions were now very cold and very windy.

From our front-row grid position for the Formula 600 race, we dropped back to 5th position out of the chicane, but managed to pass two riders at the hairpin and then moved up to 2nd position by the end of the opening lap - 3.14 seconds behind race leader Rich Baker. After putting in some strong laps (including the fastest lap of the race), by the end of lap 4 we were just 0.51 of a second behind the race leader. We now experienced a new problem though - closely following Rich meant that we were riding through a lot of spray and struggled to see. With worsening track conditions meaning that we were now wheel-spinning across the puddles down the Pope straight  - along with locking up our brakes twice on braking for Paddock corner - we decided that a 2nd position finish (meaning a 2nd place grid spot for the points race) would be fine.

The wet tyres produced plenty of spray

​Shortly after the Formula 600 race, it was officially announced that the meeting would be abandoned due to the standing water on the circuit. Trophies would be awarded based upon the results of the races that had already been run, but no championship points would be awarded (which in the scheme of things makes our attendance at the meeting quite pointless - no pun intended!).

​We met Mike Gittings after leaving the circuit to collect a one-piece race leather suit - which should allow Dave Snr to participate in his first-ever track day later this year. Another (quite random) thing that happened on the way back to Two Daves HQ is that we hit a pothole on the M6 and watched the caravan wheeltrim pop off and casually roll across three lanes of traffic before coming to a rest by the central reservation... The next one will be held on with a cable tie!

We got home with a few trophies...

...and received a few cuddles!

Now for some good news - for the next Darley Moor meeting (Sunday 20th June) spectators should finally be allowed to attend - so if you do come along to watch then please give us a wave! But before then, we will be attending a Flat Track school to get some practice with a bike moving around beneath us!  :-)