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Race Calendar 2009Seton 09 line upMz Experience 09WSB R1 Philip IslandWSS R1 Philip IslandBMCRC/MRO Brands 080309Seton Tuning Brands MROCenturion look strongCrescent Suzuki AlmeriaTeam Co-Ordit 09Sy Langford BrandsWSB R2 QatarYPM Snett 290309YPM Snett 290309BSB R1 Brands IndyKennaugh 4th at BrandsYART win Le MansSolid Brands FitzpatrickOlivers Mount - Ian Watson CupWSB R3 AssenBSB R2 Oulton ParkBSS R2 Oulton ParkBSB Brands GP 090809Kennaugh leaves Linxcel Seton YamahaCooper thwarted at BrandsCenturion suffer at BrandsBMCRC/MRO Brands GPYPM Brands 260709Sy Langford Brands SuperstockFitz on song at BrandsBSB Cadwell ParkLinxcel Seton CadwellCenturion Honda CadwellCo-ordit Lowes loves Cadwell Langford CadwellBSB R10 CroftSupersport R10 Croft Centurion Progress at CroftTesting time at Croft for Co-OrditLinxcel Seton suffer at CroftOlivers Mount Gold Cup 200909BSB R11 SilverstoneSuccess for Coordit at SilverstoneSolid Silverstone for CenturionBetter w/e for Linxcel Seton at SilverstoneMRO Brands Weymouth podiumLangford - Silverstone SuperstocksYPM Brands 260909BSB Last Rd Oulton ParkLowes takes BSS Cup for Co-orditSolid end for Centurion at OultonBrignola wins Italian CIV3 points for Webb & Linxcel SetonWSB Portimao Spies winsYPM Lydden Hill 01-11-09Rangis YPM @ LyddenMotoGP Rossi top in test

YPM Snett 290309

YPM Rounds 1&2 Snetterton 28/29-03-09
Pete Fishwick reports from a wet and windy Norfolk weekend

Team Norbar rolled into Snetterton on Thursday evening ready for the Norfolkline Yamaha Past Masters 2009 season opener.

Practice day on Friday was used to brush off the rust scrub some new tyres in and cut my chain too short - oh no that last bit wasn't supposed to happen..

Riding for Team Norbar on Yamaha TZR250's through the year are myself, Gary 'Gazza' Button and Andy 'Moose' Muse - Chris 'RabSport' Rankin probably wont be out as the credit crunch hit Subaru WRC forcing Rab to go it alone, so will be concentrating on setting up his own business for this year at least.

Saturday brought the threatened downpour and boy did it come - first on the program meant we were one of the first out in practice - horrible - Rain, cold and wind the perfect combination at the norfolk circuit for us rusty racers and for of course the Rookies and their first race meeting.

As the morning moved on the rain stopped but the strength of the wind didn't ease First race on the program we were soon called out to the grid - handed 7th from my previous season points total and some non showers from 2008 . My start was poor, as Terry Poulter went sideways off the line and pushed out in turn one and before I knew it I was back in 12th or 11th - Mike Smith was soon on his way to his first win of the season with a gaggle of bikes in hot, well cold pursuit - I have to say this was the windiest and most treacherous I have ever experienced at Snetterton - I managed to settle and get a rhythm and eventually got myself up to 3rd pick off riders along the way - perhaps not missing the gear on the penultimate lap and I may have been able to challenge the talented Pat Herron to 2nd but I didn't have any more to give.

The second race was dry and I found myself battling it out with Dan Wright and Paul Welch from Ramit Racing, Jamie Cooper and Taymar rider Terry Poulter - Mike and Pat had already checked out on their respective 350's - Lap 2 and Dan was face down in the puddle off track on the exit of Russel Bend - his rear had enough and gave him some air on the exit - Paul had to take to the grass giving me some advantage, until Jamie Cooper came by but he soon made a mistake at the same turn dumping his well prepared bike on the floor and nearly collecting me along the way - I was fortunate to miss it. Terry took advantage and got ahead but I managed to get my position back a lap or so later - Rangi giving pit signals gave me 2 seconds as I crossed for the last lap but some poor handling of back markers and Paul Welch was hotn on my tail again but followed me to the line - Seems Pat Herron had dropped his PV handing me 2nd much to my surprise and Mike won by a clear 53 seconds !

Race 3 - was a 2 way battle between me and Paul Welch - Mike had gone and with some quick runners at the back of the grid we were able to fight it out cleanly - A great race we swapped position probably every lap - There was nothing between us for 12 laps as we fought through back markers from lap 3 - It came down to the last corner at Russel bend as we came across 4 back markers, as Paul got slightly hemmed in and protecting the inside line I managed to get round the outside of another rider putting him between us, although I have to say the front tyre almost cried enough - I just won the drag to the line, giving me another 2nd and another 3rd for Paul.

The last one brought some of the front runners back to the two front rows - I was all over the place - Mike got held up for a lap and checked out - until the Pell 350 ran out of fuel on lap 4 - Roy Parbury, Dan and Paul took off like scolded cats - I tried to hang on but mistakes with back markers and Sears didn't allow that - I trailed Paul by 3 seconds to the line to bag 4th - and after knocking himself out in race 2 on Saturday, he won the last one by 8 seconds - Respect.

That wraps up round one and two putting me 2nd in the championship for now - Gary had an absolute nighmare with clutch issues all weekend culminating in it totally imploding and Andy managed to get his best result ever providing him with a row 3 start for the first time in his YPM racing career.

For those 2 stroke fanatics out there - check out the new website and forum at www.ypmrc.co.uk and keep up to date with the Team Norbar TZR250 race team at www.norbar-racing.co.uk



Fish

YPM ;7







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