As I dash out the door to go to Laguna Seca I see this report from the UK. They're running a race at the Anglesey track, and this is their press release about todays practice. I'm seeing tweets from the teams complaining about the rain.
http://egrandprix.com/news.php?id=112
After arriving yesterday to be greeted in Anglesey by glorious sunshine, the TTXGP paddock were optimistic for a great weekend of racing. Unfortunately, this morning, the optimism was short lived, as the Welsh coastal circuit was (and still is) overshadowed by grey clouds, drizzle and a wet track.
The morning saw teams preparing for a wet practice; fitting wet weather tyres and strategically applying Gaffa tape to open ducts, exposed vents and vulnerable electronics. Both Mavizen bikes from Morris Motorcycles Racing Team and the British Army's Electric Hussars made it out to practice in good time, as did MRB Racing. James McBride's Team ManTTX bike is still having controller issues, but the team managed to resolve them just in time and sent James out where he completed 2 laps before controller problems plagued them again. Despite this, James set the fastest lap time of the session. Pete Ward of Electric Hussars managed to set the second quickest time, 0.536 seconds slower than McBride, which he is happy with being his first time racing here. Annie Seel, another new rider to Anglesey was third, running with a full wet rear and road compound front tyre. Russ Licence was fourth but only completed two laps, just to shake down the bike in preparation for timed practice this afternoon.
MRB Racing have probably been the busiest team since Snetterton, making several upgrades after their disappointing DNF in the race. A nicely machined duct running along the bottom of the bike designed to deliver cool air to the motor should avoid over heating problems and improvements to the cooling of the batteries will help them both electrically and aerodynamically. MRB have even found time to upgrade the front forks to give more adjustability and fit their first data logging system, which they hope to develop throughout the series and use the data to improve the bike's performance.
Rob Moon on the Team Agni bike only managed two laps before one motor failed and he retired from the session. Unfortunately his transponder wasn't functioning, so no time was recorded but he looked confident in his full wet tyres, despite being new to Anglesey.
Tork India have been working on the front end of the bike since Snetterton, but refitting it has resulted in a problem with the throttle and they couldn't get it fixed in time for practice but they are confident it will be ready for timed practice.
Jenny Tinmouth's bike couldn't get fitted with wet weather tyres in time, and the team are still trying to fix some of the aerodynamic and cosmetic damage sustained at Snetterton, so Jenny decided to sit out of first practice.
Both the Kingston and LifeBATT/LiFeTech teams have fitted some testing in between races and both riders have been to the track before, so made the decision to not prepare the bikes with wet weather gear and just wait for the sun to come (fingers crossed) for qualifying.
If qualifying is dry, as the weather forecast predicts, pole position could be anyone's!
For more information contact our Press Office
(t) +44 (0)870 445 0111
(e) press [at] egrandprix.com
