Motorcycle Race Gear: Bryce Van Hoof Race Report from Round 2 ASBK Symmons Plains Tasmania

Bryce Van Hoof Race Report from Round 2 ASBK Symmons Plains Tasmania, Motorcycle Race Gear Sponsored Rider.

Wow !!!! What a hectic 2 weeks I have just had, which included 2 rounds of the ASBK series.

Round 1 was at Phillip Island last weekend and Round 2 on the weekend was at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

It was a busy 2 week lead up to Phillip Island. I had to get my bike, which was in road trim to be sold, ready to be raced in supersport. I was awaiting some parts from overseas and had to make the bike all pretty. A few days of hard work rubbing and sanding for the team and some late nights for some sponsors and she was finally back together on Wednesday night before Rd1 ready to ride on Thursday practice.

This was my first ride on the bike in Supersport trim and only the 2^nd ride in over 4 months!

Round 1 didn’t go as planned, I struggled with setup in practice and qualifying trying to adjust my new suspension to my style took a lot longer then I had hoped for. I had qualified 21^st and was over 1 second slower than my previous best for the track, which I was very disappointed with.

Race 1, I got a good start and was battling for 15^th place which I felt comfortable holding for the race distance, unfortunately as I went into turn 3 at about half race distance I felt a twinge in my neck and lost feeling in my right arm for about 10 seconds. Luckily I kept the bike upright, but unfortunately I dropped places dramatically as I could barely move my neck and arm for the rest of the race. I placed 19^th. We made some adjustments to the bike and I went to the race medics and found out that a muscle in my neck had a spasm. I received a massage and was feeling good for race 2 the next day.

Race day Sunday came around and the heavens had opened up for us. I was a little nervous yet excited at the same time to be riding in the wet again. I got a good start and was in a great battle for 15^th place most of the race, even having a few big saves during the race. I finished up 16^th, which I was happy with in the wet conditions.

I finished the weekend 19^th overall. I was a little bit disappointed with my results, but I had to start looking forward to Tasmania the weekend after to consolidate my results.

Round 2 at Symmons plains was another disappointing round for myself. I didn’t reach the goals I had set to achieve!

I was not happy with the results I had achieved during practice and qualifying. I have only myself to blame. I was never really comfortable on the bike or on the track, I got very frustrated and it showed in my times! I eventually qualified 18^th on the grid. I had to change my mindset to make amends for what I had got myself into on race day!

Race 1 came around on Sunday and I was as ready as I could be, my head was in a better place and I was a lot calmer than I was in the previous few days. It had to be I had two 20 lap races to ride. I got a good start and made up a few places and was in a 3 way battle for 12^th place, our positions were changing at every corner and it was a very enjoyable race with some big moves made. I unfortunately made an error during the 13^th lap and had to avoid the rider in front of me, which meant I had nowhere to go but the gravel trap. I kept the bike upright and continued my race a long way back off the battle. I ended up 14^th for the race and I went over a second faster than I had been all weekend. “Hooray”, I finally had done something I was happy with.

Race 2 came around and I was pumped after my good performance at the start of race 1. Things weren’t meant to go this way. On lap 2 of the 2nd 20 lap race my brakes decided not cooperate as planned. I managed to battle for a few laps for 14^th place but unfortunately couldn’t maintain the pace with the way the brakes were. I finished 15^th and still managed to go quicker than in qualifying which was another positive for me to take away from the weekend.

I finished 15^th for the round and am now 17^th for the series.

I am still disappointed with the results as they weren’t what I had aimed for before the weekend.

I have to remember that this year is a steep learning curve for me.

It’s time to take a deep breath. I am now hoping to do some testing before the Darwin ASBK round next month and hopefully post some better results.

I will be in the pool and on the pushbike as well as running to keep my fitness levels up. The humidity in Darwin is a killer but hopefully we learnt a few things about it last year.

I couldn’t continue racing without the support of my sponsors, Mototrack Accessories, Motorcycle Race Gear, RS Taichi Gear, ASR Suspension, Dewith Motorsport, and TBG Sport.

I also have to thank my parents who have always supported and helped me in every way through the rounds and all throughout my racing career.

Thanks

Hoofy