Sunday Worship. A short photo essay. 12/20/2004
Last weekend was the final round of the year for the Malaysian Supersports Series (MSS). Because the last round was postponed due the Malaysian MotoGP in October, it was decided that there would be two 25 lap races in the day. 25 laps of a 6.5 kilometer long circuit may not sound like a lot, but at race pace, trying to hustle a superbike through the corners, is an exercise requiring extreme mental effort and physical stamina.
And thus, on Sunday, we found ourselves at the Holy Sacred Church of the One and True Great God Speed. The penitents were assembled, under a grey, overcast sky, with rain pelting down.
Many of the riders looked at the track and shuddered, because the current race tyre as imposed by the race organisers was not designed for wet, slimy rainy conditions. Which resulted in much bending of knees in fervent prayer and scrubbing of tyres.
Everyone was trying to remove the molding varnish from the tyre surface, so that there would be some semblance of grip when the bikes shot off the grid.
The race finally came down to this guy…
… and this guy… who won on points when the second race was red-flagged due to wet conditions.
Worhsipping at the altar of speed is not the easiest endeavour in the world. Any sin is rewarded instantly and painfully. Usually resulting in scars that will inspire awed silence in pubs.
Any momentary lapse of concentration is also very painful, with much tearing of hair, rending of clothes and beating of chests.
- Posted in : General
- Author : thesnark
Comments»
Seriously…we didn’t bother filing the tyre. We ran them brand new, varnish, wax and all.
Other riders thought our rider had lots of practise, but the truth of it all, he had not ridden at all since the MotoGP support. The reason, no money for tyres. Such are the realities of being a privateer.