Jamie Masterson: Points in the Bag

Last weekend the JMR team headed north- to Bishopscourt for more high speed action. After not riding the bike for more than 6 weeks (since the last Adelaide Masters race,) I was more than anxious to get out on track, I had been praying for rain all week as I felt this would level the playing field with my closest rivals’ more powerful superbikes. I was very confident if it rained that another win was on the cards.

Peering out the camper window early Saturday morning I was gutted to see all the rain had gone away and the track was dry. Ah well, I thought, the show must go on so up and out and on with my Michelin power slicks for morning warm up!

After a brief morning shake down, the serious business started for qualifying and after 10 laps I put the DLM tuned GSXR on row two in which was a very close session! Not exactly what I was after but was good enough.

For race one, I lined up in the middle of the second row just behind Egan and McNally. I managed to make another one of my demon starts and squeezed in between the front row occupants! I was up to 4th as we rounded turn one but lost a place or two after a small mistake on lap one. I followed Hollingsworth for the whole race unable to make a move and finished up in a lonely 7th position. Not the result I was after but more points in the bag!!

In race two, after an even better start I was running in 4th position for the first few laps right in the leaders’ wheel tracks, but struggling for front grip in the ultra fast turn one. I lost a bit of pace and got passed by Murray and was getting shown the wheel from Hollingsworth so I had no choice but to take the chance and push on again. I battled hard to keep Hollingsworth behind me but I made a mistake on the crucial corner coming on to the main straight- allowing Melvin to get alongside me. After a bit of looking over at each other and some near bar banging at 160+ mph I outbraked him around the outside of turn 1. Fairly hairy stuff on a bad front tyre!! Melvin made a mistake out the back which gave me some breathing space so I got the head down and caught back up to Murray but just hadn’t the pace to make a move before the flag. I finished up in a fine 5th position.

All in all very happy with me and my motorsport.ie backed machine!! Now I am really looking forward to coming back to Mondello for the Adelaide Masters in two weeks to try and improve on my current 2nd position in the championship!!

Keep following my progress right here on Motorsport.ie.

Over and out
Flash #22