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2006 Australian Superbike Championship (YMF Loan) - Round Seven - Eastern Creek, NSW - November 17/18/19 |
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2006 Australian Superbike Championship (YMF Loan) - Round Seven - Eastern Creek, NSW - November 17/18/19 |
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Team Report - Shannon Johnson
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| Well after having spent
over two months off the bike after my training accident if
you take away the issues we faced regarding machine
technicalities and infringements I can’t be too unhappy with
the results. Yet I am.
It’s only normal that I want only one result, and that one result is first. As a professional motorcycle racer the drive to succeed and be the best is incredible it is part of my make up as a person - and being a “Johnson” it’s in my genes - not only for self satisfaction, but more importantly for the people that work for me with the same results in mind. From my team of mechanics to the technical partners of the team and for every one of my amazing personal sponsors that not only offer the best products for me to use but the behind the scene support that not everyone sees. So when the results are not what I expect from myself the burden of failure just seems to be doubled with not delivering the results that those people expect in return. One thing I can assure you of is that I will continue to push myself that little bit more in every training, test, and practice session between now and the start of the 2007 season kick off in February, simply because I don’t like not wining! Back to the weekend, for the first time this year I ended a qualification session on top. It was a great confidence boost. As normal we wanted to fine tune some of the problems we had for the second session. The track temperature had increased quite a bit which made things a little difficult to test the new settings, we ended up going a little slower and finished up in third place. Still a front row start. Race one ended up a two part race due to an oil spill. I made a great jump and went with the leaders early on, as things started to heat up my lap times started to slow as tyre wear was becoming an issue. The red flag came out at this time. While the track was cleaned up we were sent from the grid back to the pits, we had no choice but to fit a new rear tyre. I was to receive a starting penalty meaning I had to start from the rear of the grid, fifth row. On the restart I made as many passes as I could as quick as I could so the leaders would not get away. I was in the middle of a five bike group and making passes was not so easy with the track been so greasy off line. I managed to make my way up to fourth by the end and with combined results third. A little reward for the big risks taken. A short time later I was then given an additional 60 second penalty for changing the tyre. I try not to get involved in the political stuff so that’s all I needed to know. The penalty is this and that is that. So for race two the team decided to resort to a street bike tyre. I knew I had only a few laps before the tyre would not continue to give me the grip I wanted. So I made the most of that time. Second in the opening laps and third fastest lap of the race was ok considering the disadvantage I was at, and as time went on the times slowed and I slid away from the podium. Finally finishing fifth. I’m happy to announce that I will be continuing with the Kawasaki Race Team for 2007, not only on the ZX10R SBK but also on the all new ZX6RR SS bike as well. I have an operation this week to fix up the aftermath of the accident and then we start our new program for 2007. So to who ever it is with the voodoo doll of me please leave it alone for a while………. Thanks to everyone and
can’t wait for the start of 2007. |
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2006 Australian Superbike
Championship (YMF Loan) - Round Seven (Final) |
