I was on the road at 8:30 Xmas morning after opening pressies with the Whanau. Stopped in at Peter's to pick up the SV, but he had one look at the van and decided to take her on the trailer. I got to Wanganui about 1pm so had a look around the place. The gates to the pit complex opened around 2pm and I setup in the corner with Darrin, Deano, Dan, Phil, Archie and their family/crews. I signed in, got the GSXR and my gear checked. Peter and Kiri got in around 5pm just missing the bike check for the day. Not worry though as there was still one from 6-7am the next day. They set off to their nights accommodation, I had decided to camp at the pits in the van for the night. A few of us forgot about food and headed off to get pies form the servos, yummmmm! Lucky we had Phil Endean's Mum and Dad to feed us with a awesome dinner and desert! I'd forgotten about everything being closed for Xmas so next year the bbq is coming with me! 

Boxing Day rolls round and I get the SV checked over, drop off my cards and head straight to Maccas for what has now become a bit of a race ritual for me, a coffee and B&E McMuffin with a hash brown stuffed in the middle!

As this was my first year I got a 4 lap sighting session. I took the SV out and had a look around basically, the left over the rail way lines looked very technical with the exit dropping away and being off camber. My favorite section was from turn 3 through to Robert hold, it seems to have a bit more of a open road feel to it.

I managed to qualify 16th in F1 with a 54.951 and  10th in F3 with a 56.901.

F1 Race1: I took it easy off the start, I'd been to enough Boxing Day meetings as spectator to know that turn one can be pretty full on and I didn't really want to push my luck. So I came through turn one about second to last and just tried to slowly get faster. I ended up catching Mike Perry on his Ape but couldn't get past. I finished my first ever race at the Cemetery Circuit in 16th with a best time off 54.182, a new PB! haha.

F3 Race1: I tried to get a good start in this class as I felt a lot more comfortable on the SV, she is way more forgiving than the K3 and a bit softer suspension was. I had a good start and got behind Geoff Booth unable to pass but being held up over the bridge and thru the S's up to Robert Holden. The Japanese rider came past me just before the bridge. I finally got passed Geoff coming up to the railway lines and then Kishimoto at the same place a lap later. I could see Daniel Kempthorne but never really made any time on him. We finished this one in 5th place with a best lap of 54.709.

F1 Race2: This one was red flagged twice and then postponed until after the 2nd F3 race. I was feeling a lot more confident around the track and was loving flying thru the S's. Got a good start and ened up behind Marl Perry again until he ran wide at turn 1 giving me 11th place but the Canadian came past me with two laps to go putting me 12th across the line with a another PB of 54.244.

F3 Race2: I had not so good a start and I got stuck behind Geoff again while Kishimoto headed off into the distance. I got him into turn one and tried to catch Kishimoto but ran out of laps. I finished this one 7th with a best time of 54.608.

Robert Holden Invitational: It must of been one of the slower years as I managed to qualify for this all be it 27th on the grid. I had a not bad start and just tried to get faster. I had Phil Endean show his front wheel a couple of times and eventually passed me going into Robert Holden, I chased him for a while only to have Biggirls pass me into turn one. And this was where I stayed second to last in 19th but with a new PB for Wanga's 53.827!

I had a blast and want to thank Peter and Chris Harkess from Acacia Bay R&R, Chris Mitchell Motorcycles, Steve from Gigabyte Solutionz, Richie and Scott at MotoSR, Sue and Kev Ure at MotoTT, Dunlop, ExpandaSign and everyone who came and said hello!