EMRA Round 4

The day started as normal, bike sorted and kit done and signed on. Bike still had the wets in from the last round so Viv helped while I was busy doing other bits and she did a fantastic job.
Out in the open qualifying and it went well and the bike felt good and was just getting into the swing and the chequered flag came out, my fastest time was 1:01 witch I was not happy about but nothing I can do about it now.
Qualifying for the F600 went very well, still had the open time in my head for the first few laps but soon got on with it and got into flow, thought I had done a few 59’s and a couple of minutes but I was shocked when I got the time sheet to see that I had done a 58.7. To say I was over the moon was an understatement.

Race 1 (open)
Started 23rd on the grid and had a very good start made a few places, on lap 5 the red flag came out because of an off at the exit of the first corner. As we lined up on the start line for the restart unfortunately my bike started to boil over so I had to push it off the start line, and take a DNF.

Race 2 (F600)
Started 14th on the grid and made a few places going into the first corner but lost them in the second and forth. Had a fantastic race and ended in 14th after a few good battles, very happy with my self.

Race 3 (open)
I had a very long wait between the last race an this one and was out again straight after, but started 18th because of the dnf in the first open, had a few good battles with a few people and finished in 16th

Race 4 (F600)
Straight in from the last race got fuelled up at the side of the track and straight onto the grid to get lined up. 19th on the grid and had a very good few passes into the first corner and held them for the second but lost them going into the hairpin for the first time. Very pleased with my effort and ended in 17th.

To summarise I had a very good day and very pleased with my efforts, and very very very happy with my first 58 second lap roll on the next round where I shall be looking to repeat this and aim for a top 10 finish. Big thank you to R&D and DineIndia.co.uk for their help.

EMRA Round 3

Went to this round only being booked into the Open races and forth reserve for the F600 and booked into the novice race at the end of the day. Got the bike sorted and myself booked on for the day. The morning was dry but looked like it was going to rain, but left the dry tyres in for qualifying. The Open qualifying was going well until the red flags came out and it was declared a wet qualifying, and that it was delayed until after the F600 qualifying. so in with the Dunlop wets and a quick visor change, out for the F600 qualifying and was trying to get the feel for the wets as it was the first time I used them, came in with a fastest lap of 1:12 that put me 20th on the grid, straight out for the open qualifying and had a good few laps and came back with a time of 1:11, that put me 24th on the grid.

Race 1 (open)
Still had the wets in because the clouds were still over head, but as we went to the grid the track was bone dry. Its amazing the grip a full wet tyre gives you in the dry off the line. Had a brilliant race and came home in 20th with a 1:02.

Race 2 (F600)
As I was only forth reserve I turned up at the gate to be told that the other three reserves didn’t go out in qualifying so I was on the grid. Had a good race and ended in 20th after the red flag came out on the 7th lap. With a fastest lap of 1:00.

Race 3 (open)
Wet again, and a good race there was a few that came off in front of me, so I couldn’t pass under a yellow flag. Ended the race in 18th with a 1:11.

Race 4 (F600)
Again a wet race. Started well from my 25th spot on the grid had a few good battles with a few lads and finished in 18th with a fastest lap of 1:08.

Novice race
I was not looking forward to this as I have not done a novice race for about 4 rounds. Lined up on the grid, lights went out and there were bikes everywhere on the first corner. About 4 laps in I had a bike come up the inside and snap my brake lever off so that ended my race.

Started 5 races and finished 4 races, a very good day considering the weather we had for the day. Really can’t wait for the next round to do it all again

EMRA Round 2

The day started early as it always seams to on a race day, got the bike through the checks ok, signed on and got the warmers on for practice. Practice was damp but went ok, not fantastic by any ones standards but I was here trying to shake out the last round when I had the coming together with the 250 in the first race. Set a 1:06 as my fastest in the open qualifying and a 1:03 in the F600 so the times were going in the right direction.

Race 1 (open)
Got a good start and had a few good battles in the race, ended in 21st with a time of 1:00.77. Very pleased with my self after a poor qualifying.

Race 2 (F600)
On 25th for the start, I had another good start and flowed through the pack and into the first corner, had a very good race and ended up finishing in 21st. With a fastest lap of 59.5. Again a very good result if you take into account the qualifying effort.

Race 3 (open)
Had a fantastic start and was up to top 10 running into the first corner, on the exit a rider went down in front of me an slid back on to the track into my path, I could see eyes and they were saying please don’t run me over, managed to miss the rider on the floor, looked around to see myself dead last going into the second corner. Managed to fight my way back through the field and finished the race in 14th with a fastest lap of 59.3.

Race 4 (F600)
Started this very well, carved my way through the field on the run to the first corner. I had 7 very good laps but my tyres had started to go off and lost a few places in the final laps, ended in 17th place with a fastest lap of 59.9. In all a very very good day today and I am looking forward to the next round.

EMRA round 1

The day started good, had fresh rubber on from the trackday before and was feeling very good about the day ahead. Bike flew through its checks, got signed on and the bike set up how I wanted it.

First qualifying (open)

Was good brought it home with a 1:01. Not bad I thought since not being on a bike since November.

Second qualifying (F600)

Managed to get out first so had clear track for a few laps, soon settled into me swing and brought in some very consistent lap times. Best being a 1:01 again

Race 1 (open)

Qualified in 18th when lining up on the grid a bike was already on my spot, quick words with the marshals and was told to go to the back of the grid 28th. Saw the red mist and had the best start I think I’ve ever had, was 19th tipping into the first corner, second corner I held 19th. Had a battle with a few lads and go through, lap 4 I missed a gear going into the hairpin so had to run a little deeper than normal, but found first and slapped it on its side and straight lined it for the bus stop. Just as I was tipping into the bus stop I had a coming together with a 250 stroker. That was my race ended. Got checked out in the medical centre and all was good. Even after a bash on the head. Got the bike back and started to fix it. Hopefully in time for the next race. Race 7 had a big accident as well so lunch got called early.

Race 2 ( F600 )

Just got the bike fixed and all checked over as they called my next race, good timing. Asked to start from the back of the grid to check I was up too racing with a sore wrist and back. Did the sighting lap and felt alright. So 30th on the grid lights went out and got a good start, and had a good race and came home in 26th

Race 3 (open)

Starting to feel the pain now and came out on to the grid for sighting lap, started 23rd and unfortunately went backwards and on the third lap was in 26th but managed to grab 25th on the last lap. But I finished witch is what I set out to do.

Race 4 (F600)

At this point of the day I was really feeling the pain, went out to do the sighting lap and at that point I decided to do the start to get practice and call it a day while I was still upright and walking.

Im so sorry to the people that came to see me as I wasn’t on top form, but we live to fight another day. Roll on the 12th of April

Mallory Park round 6

Well the year is over.... and what a year it has been!

Dan started the year running a twelve year old carbed bike, fighting his way out on the circuit trying his best to get respectable times during the races. The season ended with Dan out on his K1 Suzuki completing the last of his 3 goals for 2008....
yup the lad did a 59.47 Second Lap!
The other goals were achieved earlier in the season, being a top 10 finish and completing a F600 race without being lapped by the front runner.

F600 Qualifying
For the 1st time all year Dan was heading out onto the circuit with brand spanking new tyres, so decision was made that he'd only give it 90% so as to run the tyres in get a grid slot and not lose the bike do to trying too hard on new rubber.
Dan's version of 90% is a 1.01 lap.... but with having the Thundersport GB lads filling up the grid for F600 Dan took seat 28 on the grid (19th from the F600 racers).

Open Qualifying
Tryes now suitably scrubbed in and Dan really feeling everything is right and out he goes, looking good and passing some of the lads from the pits that he's been playing with out there all year. And that when his 1st 59 second lap was achieved. Fantastic and grid spot 21.

Formula 600
Sadly the age of the K1 is starting to show and now of all moments she decides to have clutch issues, needless to say Dan got a less than fantastic start off the grid, but he was not to be out done he battled out there with his peers and brought the bike home in 22nd place overall and 15th in the F600 class.

Open
Starting again wasn't great and the lack of wheelies from him out of the hairpin showed that the clutch is well past it. BUT it was still a cracking round from Dan finishing 22nd, and seeing as 16 of the bikes in front of him are over 600cc not bad at all.

Here's a short set of video clips from the open race, sorry the quality isn't very good it was filmed on a mobile phone!

Mallory Park round 5

Open Qualifying 1st(Dry)
Dan was out very cautiously, and obviously on a mojo finding run. But still qualified with a 1.02.74 which gave him 24th on the grid.

Formula 600 Qualifying(Dry)
Saw a much more confident Dan, settings had been fettled a touch and times were vastly improved at an amazing 1.00.002!! that was 17th on the grid.

1st Formula 600 (Dry)
A brilliant start off the line Dan managed to make a couple places into the 1st corner, sadly lost a couple too BUT held 17th. Crossed the line 16th again bringing in times of 1.00

2nd Race Open (Soaking Wet)
Demons were back, 1st time on that track in the wet again since losing it. Cautious dan was definatly back, he had obsiously made a decision to take it steady and just bring it home, form 24th on the grid dan finished 28th. but he finished! there were 5 that didn't

3rd Race Open (still chucking it down)
Dan went out got half way into his warm up lap and wasn't happy. Brung it back to the paddock and sat that race out. A bold decision and the right one.

4th Race Formula 600 (yup still wet)
Dan started from 16th on the Grid, Got a fantastic start again but it was obvious he was still not 100% into it, his own words were "I wasn't even 10% into it". Bike brought home 3rd from last, times of 1.09.

A challenging day for Dan. and all of us as we all wanted him to do soo well and He did! but in his head it was dissapointing.
Lots of lessons learnt and some blagging begging etc we'll get some different wet tyres as he has no faith in the ones he had on (same ones he crashed on) also we're going to get a track day booked to get him dialed back in to the circuit and we hope to see him back at 110% for the last meet of the Season in october

Mallory Park round 4

Well round 4 was sadly a bit of a disaster, a wet and miserable disaster.
Dan had a lightening qualifying on the K1 and grided 7th for the Formula 600. Out he went on the grid as the highest qualified rookie and off they went, into Gerrards fantastic holding his position, only to be punted over at Edwinas and got forced to go through the bales to get to rejoin the pack. But he only slipped back to 9th position! Fantastic its shaping up to be an excellent race.... then disaster strikes heading into Edwinas on the 2nd lap the bike goes down, and so ends Dan's day. The bike thankfully didn't sustain any serious damage but we were not able to get him back out for any more racing that day.
Lessons learnt are not to race on aged wet tyres, new ones will be purchased for the rest of the season! and carry a larger selection of spares and more gaffa tape!

Mallory Park round 3 15th June 2008 Post TT Races For this round there was no novice race, so I entered the open and buildbase for a bit more track time on the new bike (Suzuki GSXR600 K1). Morning practice went very well for the F600 race and ok for the open. Managed to qualify in 11th for the F600 (my best yet) and managed 18th for the open. I was 1st reserve for buildbase.
Race 1 (Buildbase Heat) I had to line up with them in the holding area, just in case no one turned up. Waited till the last possible second, got the ”get to the back of the grid sharpish!!!”. I lined up on grid spot 33. Got away cleanly and I got to 19th by the end of the 4th lap, the red flags were out, some one had gone down on the exit of turn one. So 4 laps in, the grid for the final had been done. Race 2 ( F600) A disappointing one for me ,came round to take my grid spot and was flagged down by fellow racers, my torque arm had dropped off my rear calliper, so a DNS for me on this one. Not very happy but this is racing and it happens. I was swearing to myself as I returned to the pit with my head in my hands. Race 3 (The Open) After a good qualifying I was 18th on the grid and got a flyer of a start got past a few on the first corner, only to be passed again on the straight up to Edwina’s. Had a good few battles in the 10 laps but came home 15th, the second 600 in the class, what a race I really enjoyed it. I got to learn a few faster lines here and there. So in all a good result for me Race 4 (F600) I was made to start from the back of the grid, because I didn’t finish the first race, so 25th on the grid for me. Not happy about it, I made the decision to take it out on the track not on the sweet little lady that told me “back of the grid”. Sat there willing the lights to go out, I made good time off the start passing a few on the back wheel and I went for the inside on the first corner. A very hard race for me, as I was trying to make up ground all the time. Managed to claw my way back to what I thought was a very respectable 15th.
	Race 5 (Buildbase Final) I started from 19th on the grid. Lights out and we’re off, again front wheel pointing to the sky but carrying plenty of forward momentum. Again crossed the path out a few bikes to get the inside line, drifted over to the outside on the exit so I was on the inside for turn two, a good friend showed me this line, got through the carnage that was in the middle of Edwina’s . I got my head down and started to make progress but the back tyre went off in the latter stages and the pace dropped off. I finished in 16th only 1 place off getting a point. Race 6 (The Open) I was not looking forward to this as the rear tyre was let’s say 'past its best'. 15th on the grid and the three on the row in front had not turned up. So I had a clean run to the first corner and a very nice line to the inside. That line was mine and the guy on the inside WAS going to move.
The tyre held out till lap 7. I just couldn’t get the power down to get the drive out the first that I needed. On the last few laps I lost a few places and ended up being 12th by the time the flag was out. Overall A jolly good day had by all, and a couple more of this seasons goals achieved. A big THANK YOU to all the staff that make EMRA happen.

Mallory Park round 2 20th April 2008 “What have I let my self in for” practice/qualifying in the rain, the first time I have had the pleasure of riding on full race wets. Very hard to tell my head that there is enough grip to lean the bike, had a (what felt like) very slow qualifying, very mentally tired by the end of the 10mins. Managed to qualify in 20th. Very happy with that.

1st race (wet) Very wet race, sat on the grid waited for the lights. One lad left well before the lights went out, I nearly followed him. Reset button, and ready for the lights again. Set off first lap and my confidence was shot, leaving the line the rear just didn’t seam to grip and was sliding every where in the first lap. Felt my self getting quicker and a little more confident in the tyres towards the end of the race, came home in 17th out of 29, so very happy for my first wet race. In between race 1 and 2 the rain stopped falling and a dry line started to appear, made the choice to run the dry tyres. 2nd race (wet/drying) The grid was split for the 2nd race so I now found my self sitting on grid slot 10. Never been that close to the front before. Lights go out and I got swallowed in turn one because of the poor start. Lap one out the way and I got in my grove. Felt very quick compared to the morning, and started to pick a few off on the brakes at Edweenas and the Hairpin, managed to scrap my way back to 14th out of 29 by the end of the race, I was giggling like a kid by the end and thought to my self this is why I do it, this is what I wanted to do. 3rd race (dry but threatening to rain) Race 3 the novice race, grid out of a hat for this again. 14th I can live with that. Again another poor start witch put me back in 17th by the end of the first lap. Again I manage to find my grove and began to feel like I belonged here on the track. And started to do the out braking and the mid corner passes I had to do, due to the srad being so under powered compared to the rest out there. Got a few on the brakes at Edweenas and Hairpin again, even out braked a few going into Gerrard’s. Last lap flag was out in what felt like no time, last time into Edweenas a rider fell off in front of me. Got round him and had an easy run through the last half of the track and bounced over the line. 10th out of 19. That is one of the goals achieved for this year, a top 10 in the novice. VERY VERY HAPPY

Ok first race meeting 2nd march

Complete mayhem in the morning, I forgot my orange novice bib, managed to run round like a loon all over the pits to find a spare one. Found a spare bib minutes before qualifying. went out in the qualifying session bedding new pads in, getting used to the gear change I made after the 16th Feb. Came in and waited to find out what grid slot i had manage to get, got a lap time of 1:01.9 witch put me 18th on the grid. “Get in” not too bad for the first time out.

1st race

Filtered out onto the grid, found my spot (nearly missed it). Waited for the lights, Red lights came on, 1st gear revs up. My heart stopped, it felt like a year had past while the lights were on. Lights go out al all hell is let loose, didn’t get the line I wanted but never mind. Nearly high sided coming out of devils elbow managed to save it. Finished the race in 23rd out of 32(21st in class)

2nd race

As before filtered out on to the grid, again nearly missed me spot (18th). Lights came on and a felt the bike move, “did I just jump the start”. Lights went out and I made a mess of that. The bike felt good for the whole race, no slides no near high sides so all in all a good race. Managed to come home in 20th out of 32. (16th in class)

3rd race (novice race)

The grid was picked out of a hat, pulled 22nd. Found the grid number forgot to engage brain to pull lever to stop. Got on my slot and waited for the lights, lights go out. Got a good start round the outside of a few and forced my way onto the line I wanted. Had a good race, quite a few fast boys came past me. I was gutted, but managed to past a person a lap in the last 5 laps. Finished in 16th. Had a really good day out, and looking forward to the next one on the 20th April, although I am going to change the gearing again, to try and get a better drive out of the few tight bends.

Ok, since the last time I got offered a full time seat with RSR but couldn’t get the cash I needed in time so the seat was sold to another lucky chap. We looked at the costs for running in the EMRA championship, and made the decision to go it alone off our own backs. Looked at a number of bikes, all were good but not what we needed. We fell upon a 1997 GSXR SRAD; witch is perfect for the first year.
The bike had its first outing at Mallory on the 16th Feb on an open pit lane track day, started the day not doing the time I was hoping for, but got the bit between my teeth. Got a set up that I got on with well and tyres were coming into their own after I got them scrubbed in. It felt like the bike was starting to know me and vice versa. Got some time on track on my own, about 15 laps to be honest, that felt good because was starting to find me braking points and apexes. Managed to get the times down to 1:04’s consistently, then a fork seal went pop and I started revving out down the straight in 6th so the gearing needs to change for my first race on the 2nd March 2008. Hoping for a good season but I have a lot to learn about this racing lark.

Received a last minute call Friday before last... Get to Mallory tomorrow...
turn up at mallory... get kitted up an off out Dan goes on his 1st session..

"1st session goes well even though the only space left was in novice gets going round and round and just getting used to the bike again, come in thinking that want bad only too find out i only went 1 sec quicker than i did in the pouring rain (was cross with my self to say the least)
had 40 mins to think about what i could do that was different....
2nd session came round.... RIDE IT LIKE YA STOLE IT were the words I heard from the back of the garage ( was the wife! ) so upon instruction thats just what I did..... It felt real good to be there tyres warm an no one in front of me at all so got my head down put a few good laps in and ........... came in chuffed to bits with me sen, to hear that I'd done a 1:05.03
and was consistantly in the 1:06's even with traffic
was then told that i am know a reserve rider for RSR
And possible riding full time if the team purchases a 2nd R6."

Well the 15th of August was try out day for Dan with RSR racing.
It was a wet and wild day at Mallory Park and it was a bit of an eventful one. Dan was riding a Yamaha R6 that he was sharing for the afternoon with another hopefull rider. 1st session Dan was 2nd out on the R6 and started off well bringing in times of 1:16.... by the end of his 18 laps this was down to 1:13 consistantly, not bad seeing as it was his 1st time at the circuit and his 1st time on an R6. Unfortunalty on the 2nd session the other hopefull crashed early on and the R6 is a bit of a mess.... so that was Dan's day over as far as the R6 was concerned. Thankfully though Dan achieved enough in his 1st session to be invited back by RSR to complete another test day at Mallory once the R6 is up and running again.

Welcome to the Diary page of Dan Moss.

Here we hope to keep you updated on Dan's progression into racing and hopefully you will all get to see him achieve his life long dream!

Dan 1st got on 2 wheels at the tender age of 3 and went on to compete in motorcross junior racing into his teens.
Sadly school commitments and the general things that come with growing up prevented Dan from continuing.
But now he's one of the quickest riders you see at a track meet, quite impressive seeing as he's using a rather barge like zx7r thats seen almost no performance tweeks...... and Dan says she's staying that way too, its more satisfying passing litre bikes that way!

Progress so far on the racing front.... well Dan's currently awaiting his ACU license arriving and then its off to Mallory for a test day with a club racing team to see if he makes the grade!
I'll up date you all with the outcome of that day but for now here's a couple pics of Dan out on track.