Spanish pre-season testing
With the disbelief that he had actually been one of the twelve Red Bull Rookies selected at Paul Ricard last November, finally fading as he boarded the plane for Spain, Josh reflected on a whirlwind first part year in big bikes.
“My Dad would have been Happy for me to do another year in Mini Motos in 2007, but to be honest even in 2006 when I managed to win another double Irish Championship, my thoughts were elsewhere” Josh commented.
He continued, “It was my choice to move on and if there had been any doubts, they were quickly blown away at the MCUI training days at Kirkistown last February, when I first went on track with my Aprilia RS 125. From then on I couldn’t wait to get my race licence in May and race it in anger.”
The rest of 2007 is history as they say and 2008 brings a new and far greater challenge. Any misconceptions of just how difficult it was going to be were dispelled at Jerez on 25th February. After briefing and getting presented with their fabulous new Alpinestars race kit and team gear, the rookies were shown their new KTM 125 machines. Exciting times for kids and families alike, but the first session came along quickly after, and it was then down to serious business. They were there after all to race in competition, and the task of getting to grips with the new machines and getting some sort of feeling and set up was essential.
It was obvious that the ten kids retained from last year, and even those new guys that had been out testing or racing over our winter in warmer climes were quickly on the pace.
Josh’s first impression of his KTM was the brakes are ‘wild’ and it is fast, pulling so hard in every gear! Maybe not surprising as it is possibly 6 to 8 hp up on the wee 1996 Honda he rides back home, but as the sessions rolled on a bigger challenge became very obvious, that of setup!
With only three competitive races under his belt on a GP 125 and suspension set up done for him by his team back home, this was very new territory for the thirteen year old and one he struggled with. Josh knew the bike wasn’t doing what he wanted or what other riders were able to do with their bikes, but how to tell the suspension technician was his problem. The two days went by and no real progress was made to make the bike feel better, so a down beat Josh left heading for Valencia with him at the wrong end of the timesheet. If he had any doubt about how hard it was going to be, he knew exactly what was in store now!
With a day in between test events some time was spent discussing suspension settings, and their effects on what the bike does. The ‘crawl before you walk’ story was coming into play, and for Valencia Josh refocused his efforts on learning how to change the bike so he could feel comfortable. With parents and friends unable to get access to the bikes, it is up to the kids themselves to suggest changes to the White Power suspension guy.
During the morning photo session Josh had time to spend some time with the bike off the stands and check the suspension. What it was doing (how fast it compressed and rebounded) was relayed back and forward, and eventually Josh was able to write up a feedback sheet of changes that were suggested.
It was obvious that whatever was done was in the right direction, as in the first session the bike felt better, turning in and holding its line making it easier to ride. He did have a moment near session end, when under braking for the last turn he hit a bump which pitched the bike upright, forcing Josh to straighten and run on into the gravel at high speed. He slowed and tumbled in the gravel before the tyre wall but no damage or injury thankfully.
A little rear end patter was present, so another tweak was suggested to the rear for session two. The bike felt better on the first lap, but sadly a vibration on the next lap spelled the end of the session for Josh. As he sat out the 20 minute session in the pits, the senior mechanics diagnosed a failed gearbox, so it was the next day before Josh was to try and improve, but was now playing catch up with the rest.
Next morning was cold and some complained of poor grip, but Josh managed to improve by three seconds, as the rest had done the day before in session two. His final run brought another improvement, but not enough to shoot him up the grid as he would have liked. We left Valencia just 3.7 seconds off pole which Dad was very happy with and in anybody’s book isn’t bad, but Josh feels he can do much better.
At the next and final test at Estoril, Portugal, the riders will have their bikes weighted to bring them all up to at least 136 kgs. Josh and bike are already over this weight, so he is one of the few getting no weight added. That may change things a little, but regardless Josh will focus on his own riding and bike setup and whatever the rest does is up to them.
It is true that the competition is at a very high level and there are some exceptional talents out there. What a great place to learn for any kid, especially one with little experience such as Ireland’s Josh!
He has made many new friends from all parts of the world, some are crazy characters and it’s good to see them get on well. (They are only kids after all!)
The GB riders who were in the Rookies last year have been very good to him so far and have been very helpful, so a big thanks and all the best to them.
That’s it for now. Hopefully Estoril goes OK and the next weekend is the first GP at Jerez.
Thanks everyone for your support.