Marcus Wade at Pembrey

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

It was a big challenge for Marcus this weekend with another new track to get to grips with and a weekend without the help of Ben (as he was on holiday) leaving Becks and himself to change wheels and keep the bike up to scratch.

Saturday
SOT
Qualifying - Marcus went out with a steady head and did a 1.02 lap putting him 4th on the grid.  He was happy with this as front row was enough.
Race 1 (20 mins) - Marcus managed to get to 2nd into the first corner but just lost out to a hard charging VTR1000 on the back section of the track.  He kept pace with the leading pair to finish 3rd and secured the fastest lap of a 1.00.62 lap. RESULT - 3rd
Race 2 (8 laps) - Marcus got a perfect start by slotting his bike into 1st, he continued to lead for 5 laps and before a battle with the VTR1000 began, they swapped places more than 2 times a lap until the finish but Marcu was unlucky with the back markers and dropped off behind him by 0.5s leaving him in 2nd.  Result - 2nd

F600
Qualifying - After a quick change to his suspension Marcus got his head down and qualified 5th.  New Era had decided to mix the Pro Bikes (Superbikes) with the 600s so this moved Marcus down to 8th on the grid for the rest of the weekend.
Race 1 (20 mins) - Marcus had a poor start getting boxed in on the first corner, leaving him in 10th with a lot of work to do.  He plugged away passing Probikes and 3 600's to finish 3rd 600 and 5th overall.  He also claimed the fastest lap of a 1.00.32. Result -3rd
Race 2 (8laps) - Another difficult start left Marcus in 9th, the first gear hairpin was proving very difficult to negotiate.  This race was a fast forward version of the 20 min race.  He finished 3rd 600 and fourth overall. Result - 3rd

Sunday
SOT
Race 1 (20mins) - Marcus headed out with a used front from the day before, unfortunately there were problems with the tyre and settled for 3rd, although I managed the fastest lap of a 1.00.52. Result - 3rd
Race 2 (8 Laps) - After the start Marcus was in 3rd, he eventually passed to take 2nd and was all over the leader for the final 2 laps.  Not want to take too much of a riskin the SOT so I settled for 2nd and set the fastest lap. Result - 2nd

F600
Race 1 (20mins) - Marcus managed to keep 8th from the start and had an aggressive couple of laps climbing to 5th and having been off the track once!  He then settled and rode the hardest he had all year.  Marcus fought hard and managed to pass all but one 600 and one Pro bike that had managed to gain a good lead.  He finished 2nd 600 and 3rd overall setting the fastest lap of a 1.00.42. Result - 2nd
Race 2 (8 laps) - This was Marcus' last chance of a win and he went for it.  After a good start he was 5th with 4 pro bikes and one 600 ahead. He spent 5 and a half laps passing the 3 pro bikes between him and the other 600.  Marcus smashed the quickest 600 lap time of the weekend and timed it perfectly sling shotting the 600 into the final corner of the final lap winning the race and setting a lap time of 59.95s.......Job done and a very happy Marcus knowing he was back to past form! Result - 1st