Marco Bijl
Axe Travels
I had a really bad day yesterday. Was feeling sick all day, and had not been able to stay of the toilet for more then 1 hour. Even had doubt not to qualify, so I could start in the back, just in case I had to drop out.
During practice, I started to feel a bit better, so decided to go out during quali. Pushed hard during first 2 runs, but went off in both, so decided to do a bit more relaxed in the 3rd run. Managed to get a lap, and ended on 14th place.
Race started nicely until the 2nd corner (after long straight). I got a tap in the back, but no further harm was done there. A few corners after that, I saw Marco Sbordoni go off in the outside of the corner. Knowing he would come back across the road, I decided to enter the corner on the inside, since it's more easy to go wide, then to correct into the inside of the corner. Marco went off a into the grass on the inside, and got back on without going sideways. It felt as if he came back to the racing line, while I was driving there and gaining on him quickly, which spooked me a bit. I made a small correction, and ended just in the grass with my rear wheel. This caused the slide which took Ricardo out into the wall. Sorry for that.
When the race was over, I looked at the replay, and saw I missed Marco, and Ricardo had no other option then to hit me. I will make a short movie out of it, and leave it up to Remco to decide if there is a penalty, and to whom it will go. If I destroyed the race of Ricardo, I deserve the penalty as well .
Anyway, a bit demotivated after the second time in three races I had a crash in the first lap, continued the race. I noticed that, although I made quite a smack in the wall, there was no damage which effected the driving of the car. Did play it a bit safe, and after about 20 minutes, I noticed very little tire wear was occcuring. Made some quick calculations, and at that point decided to change strategy, and try to do a no stopper. This was the best choice I made that evening .
When pitstops came, I made it upto 9th place. I saw Jonatan coming in the mirror, and left him room at T1 to pass me, since I did not want to fight him in eau rouge. He was quicker then I was (he had new tires, and better pace), so it was useless to keep him behind me (fighting him would have cost us both to much time, and I needed the time to stay ahead, and build a gap to those who made a stop). Took a good look at the times and differences, and decided that I could not hold Ken back, but had to do my best to keep Janos behind me. Tires were becomming worse, so really had to concentrate.
Last lap (or the one before), I got lapped by Chris. When he passed me, I was paying attention to the wrong parts of the game, and missed my braking point . Just went off track, and this gave Janos the possibility to pass me, and set me back to 11th place. To bad, since I really feel I could have hold the 10th position.
All in all, I did what I came to do again, and thats finish it. I was really scared of 65 min Spa, since it's one of those tracks where, IF you go off, mostly ity is game over .
One side note.
I really would like to mention that organizing a league like this, is a real big job! I am glad to be able to do so, but I do feel kinda disapointed in the number of no-shows today. Only 16 people present in second division.
Please people , try to realize what kind of effort this takes, and please take the curtisy to at least give notice when you are not being able to race! I do not think thats to much to ask now is it?
During practice, I started to feel a bit better, so decided to go out during quali. Pushed hard during first 2 runs, but went off in both, so decided to do a bit more relaxed in the 3rd run. Managed to get a lap, and ended on 14th place.
Race started nicely until the 2nd corner (after long straight). I got a tap in the back, but no further harm was done there. A few corners after that, I saw Marco Sbordoni go off in the outside of the corner. Knowing he would come back across the road, I decided to enter the corner on the inside, since it's more easy to go wide, then to correct into the inside of the corner. Marco went off a into the grass on the inside, and got back on without going sideways. It felt as if he came back to the racing line, while I was driving there and gaining on him quickly, which spooked me a bit. I made a small correction, and ended just in the grass with my rear wheel. This caused the slide which took Ricardo out into the wall. Sorry for that.
When the race was over, I looked at the replay, and saw I missed Marco, and Ricardo had no other option then to hit me. I will make a short movie out of it, and leave it up to Remco to decide if there is a penalty, and to whom it will go. If I destroyed the race of Ricardo, I deserve the penalty as well .
Anyway, a bit demotivated after the second time in three races I had a crash in the first lap, continued the race. I noticed that, although I made quite a smack in the wall, there was no damage which effected the driving of the car. Did play it a bit safe, and after about 20 minutes, I noticed very little tire wear was occcuring. Made some quick calculations, and at that point decided to change strategy, and try to do a no stopper. This was the best choice I made that evening .
When pitstops came, I made it upto 9th place. I saw Jonatan coming in the mirror, and left him room at T1 to pass me, since I did not want to fight him in eau rouge. He was quicker then I was (he had new tires, and better pace), so it was useless to keep him behind me (fighting him would have cost us both to much time, and I needed the time to stay ahead, and build a gap to those who made a stop). Took a good look at the times and differences, and decided that I could not hold Ken back, but had to do my best to keep Janos behind me. Tires were becomming worse, so really had to concentrate.
Last lap (or the one before), I got lapped by Chris. When he passed me, I was paying attention to the wrong parts of the game, and missed my braking point . Just went off track, and this gave Janos the possibility to pass me, and set me back to 11th place. To bad, since I really feel I could have hold the 10th position.
All in all, I did what I came to do again, and thats finish it. I was really scared of 65 min Spa, since it's one of those tracks where, IF you go off, mostly ity is game over .
One side note.
I really would like to mention that organizing a league like this, is a real big job! I am glad to be able to do so, but I do feel kinda disapointed in the number of no-shows today. Only 16 people present in second division.
Please people , try to realize what kind of effort this takes, and please take the curtisy to at least give notice when you are not being able to race! I do not think thats to much to ask now is it?