Dan Wrong un had a huge crash into paddock with brake failure - and was off to med centre as we were going out - I just hoped he was ok...His bike ended up 10 foot in the air up the catch fence - It was BIG !!

Race 2 - 3rd row and 10th place - Got a terrible start - I was really concentrating on doing a good one here and left the fecking thing in neutral -  - I got my head down and battled - seems I was down to 14th by the start line ! - next lap I had got by 6 riders and up to 8th - Pat came by on the next lap flying putting me down to 9th again - I got by Andy Davies on the next lap and on lap 5 by Jamie Cooper - I cant tell where it was over 4 weeks ago - I then chased and caught dexter and got by him into Druids I think it was which put me up to 6th and just finishing ahead of him by 3 tenths of a second - The good thing was riding past the Ramit tent back to ours I saw Dan stood up chatting - so somehow he came out of that one reasonably unscathed - Rab had bike issues and didnt get out

I was gridded for 5th the following day tho due to my lap times - although going by the pace of the top 4 I could only really hope for a top 3 finish given everyone finishing - but you never know.

Saturday night was mega busy for me - we did the cycle race - me bally and Gaz, that was fun but not for dexter who crashed a kids bmx and twatted his head on the floor knocking himself out ... had the trophy presentations in bar - Jane cooked some wicked tea, Moose and me set up the music down in the Team Stinkwheels, got the trophies out and sorted - did the speech, handed them out had some food and nibbles - it was a blast - Thanks to everyone that helped sort the food - The girls from Stinkwheels, Denise and Katie - Katie for the flowers, Moose for his PA system again and all others who chipped in. Top stuff - Makes the class what it is

Sunday -

3 quick laps  as usual - oh yeah had I said the Sun had beamed down Saturday and also today - Amasing for the end of September - This day didnt turn out that well - There were many delays - 2 air ambulances and we eventually got to race at 2:45 - This was to be our only race of the day - I didnt perform my best but I did set a PB round there but I put that down to the 209GP - a 1:44.39 - but given Tyler in low 1:43's , Pat in 42's and Mike smith in 41's they were on a blistering pace - but I set the 4th quickest time and considering I haven't been out for much of the season I was happy with that . I ended up 6th in this race but as I say the crash and stoppage prior to my race done me in -  Ben Lightowler - MRO stocksport 2008 champion was killed in that accident - Just tragic - I didnt know Ben but I've read a lot about him - he was young and obviously very talented and loved his bike racing - And once again the sport he and we love can just be so cruel - RIP Ben you were a star to many and will keep shining for them I am sure ...

So that was it - I did 4 rounds this year didn't buy one new tyre - just 2nd hand ones from Hardy, 1 set of piston rings, 1 crash, 1 podium but proved to myself  I can still run in the top 6 - Congrats to Mark Hardy - what a superb year and rider - amazing - Also to Tyler who set some amaxing times in the 2nd haf of the season and to Rangi - who else deserved the 3rd place more than him - From a YPM perspective it was a tough start to the year but there are some new faces on the block now all keen to keep the class running as it has been - I thank them for helping me out

Moose finished his 2nd year and is riding better and with more confidence - If he were to stick at it I am sure he will find his way up the field for sure - Expect more progress in 2009 - Gary had a good season too - he is still enjoying it and still wanting to prove he can get back to where he was prior to that crash in May last year - Bally well he got on the podium a few times in his limited racing, but also had some bike issues and now  has ultimately decided to hang up his leathers for a while at least - His family commitments are just too great so at least we have a pit bitch for the year and they don't get much better than bally !! I feel quite sad really - I loved going out on track with him we have had some great races and battles since 2003  until he just got too fast for me that is - we set up Team Norbar in 2005 and helped  it grow to 5 riders and of course he won his championship in 2007 which was a great achievement  - He's taught me a lot on and off track and with the bike and of course we've slung many a beer down our necks in paddocks across the country and have shared just about my  best 5 seasons racing with him - Nice one Bally you are a star !

That's it for now - Lets see what next year brings - I will be out for sure and with a bit of luck I'll even have a new set of leathers !!

Fish - #7