Solid weekend at the Norfolk circuit…….
Free practice 1 saw Andy make a solid start to the weekend putting the Aztec machine into the top 10. As per the last meeting at Knockhill, the Windy conditions were playing havoc with the lightweight machines. Some changes from the engineering boys resulted in some additional performance which saw Andy finish in a very respectable P8 in the second session.
Expectations were high as the team went into Saturdays qualifying sessions. Andy is looking more and more at home on the bike and with some new bodywork, the now infamous “Reid Tuck” even more refined. With best laid plans, Andy set off at 9.00am to attack the session. The first 10 minutes were spent getting in some “banker laps”. In and change for new rubber back out in pursuit of the all-important hot lap. Back out went the Aztec machine as per the script, then back in the following lap. A powervalve failure had curtailed Andy’s efforts. The team had to watch the 16 year old slip down the order to a provisional P22. Still never mind there was qualifying 2 to look forward to.
You know when things just seem to conspire against you when, qualifying 2 magically becomes FP3. How could this be? Well, earlier in the day a nice man on a bike came along and made a nasty scratch in the track at the Russell’s chicane. This meant that the organisers had to, in the interest of safety, alter the track and delay everything by about an hour. The alteration involved one of the Superbike riders repainting the White line approximately 10 inches from the original one. It was now deemed unsafe for the riders to try to hard to better their morning times because the track was now, technically different.
Anyway, even after a well-reasoned discussion and deposition to the powers that be, the decision stood. There would not be a second qualifying session, but a 15 minute free practice session for the riders to reacquaint themselves with the “White lines”. Needless to say we were all very disappointed especially Andy who was really flying and was in line for a second row start. Some consolation in the evening kick off, where Aztec GP overcame the KRP boys in the paddock soccer match. Winner from Kevin, however star of the show was probably Dakota Mamola watched by his Dad, Randy. We can also say there were no saves that came close to his…….
Timing is everything, Sunday morning shook into life with the sound of the sidecars, then promptly stopped by the vision of a Red flag. One of them had dumped the contents of its engine while exiting Coram, more delay. Warm up came and went from 11.10am to 11.18. All went well and we subsequently settled into a long wait for the 15 lap race.
At 17.29pm the lights turned Green and the charge into turn 1 was on. The Aztec machine seemed to “Bog down” on the line, Andy was left with a lot of work to do from P22 on the grid. Work is certainly what the young Irishman did, picking up 4 places on the opening lap. By lap 7 he was up to P14, the Aztec machine continued to make great progress with Andy battling it out with Shaun Horsman and an improving Simon Low.
Lap 10 saw P9 having finally broken the number 57 machine of Low. Well and truly in the groove “Reidy” set about chasing down Lee Jackson who was in a group of Four. With 4 to go the gap was about 5 seconds and a valiant effort from Andy saw the gap closed to within 2 seconds of Jackson by the chequered flag, who was in the group covered by 1 second up to 4th place, a great close race.
Andy Reid:
“With the disappointment of qualifying 2 being cancelled it was always going to be tough from P22 on the grid. I did not get a way to well, however I seemed to be able to pick my way through the field and keep out of trouble. The bike ran great, although the temperature was a bit high toward the end of the race, which seemed to take the edge off a little. Overall very happy with a top ten finish, with a break in qualifying we should find our way onto the podium real soon”
As always we would like to thank all of our Partners and Sponsors for giving us the opportunity to race. Andy and the team would like to extend their gratitude to: Ian Kidson at Masco, Neil Clayton at Doodson Broking Group, John Miller at Base Chemicals, everyone at Panther, Derek at Magnum, Derek at RTD, Tim at NGK, Richard at MAXTON and everyone involved in pulling the show together, thanks very much.