WE ARE BACK! The 4 hours of Assen got upgraded to 5 hours šÆ but we where up for the task.
Team
Since the last time we had 2 speed limits penalties in the pitlane and stayed to long on the track we went with a more slow team name this time. The name is: Tourclub de Pantoffel (Touring club the Slipper), so we donāt feel like the fastest team out there and be normal š. The team was made up with 1 team manager (Mart), 2 mechanics (Jelle and Harley), 3 people for the pit board (Mandy, Roy and Rob), 2 ladies for the catering (Nicolle, Jolanda), 1 media guy (Sietse) and of course 3 riders (Peter, Dennis and me š¤).
Training
The Netherlands has always a surprise and the day started with rain ā. So one of us got a second bike for the rain and went out on it. Mine got changed quickly to full wets and we kept one on slicks. The rain was supposed to be briefly but the track surface was completely wet. When it was my turn I did some laps but the track was already dying up pretty fast and I lost all grip with the rain tires. Since we canāt really communicate with the pitwall we agreed that I put out my leg when it was still pretty wet and they had to change the bike to rain tyres. But since the track was drying to fast and it had only some small wet patches and my grip was getting less and less I cam in early. Gave the feedback to the team manager and he said, rain front and a slick on the rear. A little more pressure in the front and GO! The mechanics swiftly changed the tire and he could go out on the track.
We saw that despite the hectic start of the day with the rain all went well. Pleased with the team we had present.
Qualifying
Dennis was the first one out on the track to put in a good time and after 2 or 3 laps š©. Turn one with a accident. Since we forgot to put the transponder on his bike (we will not forget it the next time) we couldnāt see if it was him or not. After some time all riders that where on the track came back in and the track was empty (not). It was himā¦ After watching the video he went to far and over the curb trying to make the corner and lost the rear. Pity because he needed to visit the hospital and he was out of the race.
Next was I. To make some decent laptimes I need time on the track. Since I had only ridden in the wet and now the track was dry I had to get into the groove. My fastest time was a 2:00.724 which was not bad but had some issues with downshifting. 2 times I missed the downshift from 5th to 4th where I went on the last fast part straight on (check the video). To bad because on both laps my laptimer was telling me I had some decent time off.
Next then was Peter, he did a solid run and put in a very good lap time 1:55.360 and was way faster then I could do. Because we decided the fastest must start Peter was for the second time up for the task!
Race
Since we where only with 2 riders the task became instantly much tougher. Instead of having a 1 hour break it became only a < 30 minute break. Peter and I where worried we would not finish the race because we had each 2,5 hours of race time with sessions of 30 minutes. Thatās more what we normally ride on a whole track day and even 10 minutes more per session.
But we went for it like real men š¦ø and Peter started. On the start of the race he had learned from the previous time that was not good š¤¦ and did it much better this time. But due to the number of bikes starting all at the same time he didnāt noticed that his bike was already running on the first try and tried to start the bike which was already running. Tip, look at the rpm indicator š. While taking off had a miss shift but it went on nicely after that. Of the 56 teams competing he came was passing in the first lap at place 41, now the race has begun!
He did the full 30 minutes and now it was my time. Everything goes so fast and suddenly your on the track. Since I did not ride so much in the morning I was putting in some good laps but not at my best. But I survived the session. At the first hour mark we where still at position 40 (21st in class) so we won 1 with 2 riders changed. This was good and we both had consistent lap times.
The second time out went much, much better. Was able to put in consistent lap times in the 1:56 which was close to my personal best on the track and at the end of the 2 hour marker we where at position 24 (12th in class) and we passed a lot of riders by just riding consistent. Mas quite some mistakes but kept them within a reasonable time loss. Since it is a endurance race, you canāt win or loose it in the first laps. 5 hours is a very long time!!
Disaster in the 3rd hour!! When exiting the Strubbe corner I had almost a high sider. When I looked back I saw someone sliding on the ground and at the time I didnāt knew what happened. I was not on the gas or did I had a big lean angle. But I was in race mode so I continued the race since I had 1,75 lap left in my stint to finish. The people at the wall saw that our number 36 was missing (together with a other one) and they thought I had crashed but I was still running! Back in the pit Jelle saw that I lost the transponder. He went to the office in a split second getting a new one, put it on the bike and Peter was off again. But due to this issue after the 3rd hour we where in position 37 (22nd in class). Once back in the pit I didnāt understand what happened and took a better look. Then I saw that the side of my rear seat at the left side was damaged and also saw some cracks in the seat. Conclusion was that someone had ran into me and knocked off the transponder. This made us loose around 5~6 minutes and our race for a top 10 position (in class) was gone. But the effort on our bodies was also taking its toll. It was getting very heavy to run all laps on a decent pace and keep the concentration. At the end of each session we both where destroyed and took the maximum time of our interval we had.
At the 4th hour of the race we dropped a 2 positions to 39 but kept 22nd in our class. Lap times where dropping and it was now really a survival. Peter did his last session and I had to ride +/- 40 minutes. The longest time I have ever ridden on the race track but exhausted physical. Before I want out I told them I try to ride the maximum but be sure Peter is ready to go out when I canāt ride anymore. I took of like planned and started to tick down the 14 laps they gave me to do. 4 laps to go my lap time dropped to the 2:13 because I made a error and had to wait for some bikes to pass. In pit lane they thought I was getting to tired and they reduced the laps with 2. But when I came back in the zone grabbed all my energy together and started to ride better again. When I saw BOX BOX on the pit board I also saw that I had 11 minutes left. I thought changing riders we will lose a lot of time and I felt I donāt know how OK so I stayed out. Determined to finish the race, the second time I passed no pit board because they where expecting me to come in but one of they guys saw I was passing again. Seeing the minutes count down gave a boost to continue way beyond my capabilities. Found again some speed and the last laps where in the 2:02s. When I passed start finish I saw the whole team yelling at me to continue! Real nice moment to see. Finished in position 39 (21st in class) and it was a very good moment! Everyone was waiting in pit lane for me and I was so happy I completed the task.
Conclusion
You can do the 5 hours endurance with 2 riders but you will need to be at your best! With a 123,78km/h average and 137 laps with 624km done, more then 100liter of gasoline we had e very good day with my best (1:56.383) and Peter (1:55.598)
