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Round 2
11/13 April 2003
Snetterton
After a disappointing race at Silverstone, I knew I needed to get some points at Snetterton, a track I used to hate that I’ve learned to love. I had a big crash in practice after highsiding the bike coming out of Russell’s chicane. I’d hurt the back of my left knee and had also sprained my right wrist. I was pleased that I’d managed to continue that day, because I qualified on pole position for the first time this season and I received my first Animal watch bonus.
After being the last rider to leave the Yahama bike tent I was beginning to get nervous and as I arrived on the grid I was really up for the race. I got a great start and was leading into the first corner. I heard a bike behind me screeching its tyres and I knew it was Benjie Cockerill. I let him through and I was happy to just follow, right on his back wheel. On lap eight, Tommy Hill came past me into the first corner. Straight away I tried to pass him back at the end of the back straight but unfortunately I knocked the bike down one too many gears, which made me carry straight on, onto the grass at nearly 130mph. I re-joined the track again in third place, three seconds behind the leader with only six laps of the race left.
With two laps to go I pulled back on Tommy and managed to pass him. I was really pushing to catch Benjie and it paid off as I passed him on the last lap to win the race. I was absolutely ecstatic to qualify on pole position, to go on to win the race, and to set a new Yamaha R6 Cup lap record on the last lap!
Cal |
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