The weekend started a little rocky as Robbie had to miss most of the first session due to failure of the generator which failed to charge the battery.

Session two was a turn of fortune as Robbie was putting in some impressive lap times and very consistent race distance lap times. Knowing he has much more to improve before qualifying, Robbie was looking forward to the task ahead and looked towards FP3 to make some extra changes.

FP3 came and Robbie was immediately quicker. He made many different setting changes to the bike and got the bike to something he was happy with, however the lap times did not reflect on the effort he was giving.

Qualifying came and Robbie had been analysing the data for areas to improve. He head out knowing what he needed to do, the first half of the session was spent on a race tyre, so that Robbie could make any changes to the bike as the tyre wears. He managed to go quicker than all weekend on his harder tyre, and then decided to put some ‘sticky rubber’ in to help him improve. Unfortunately the session was stopped and time was running out. Robbie head out and immediately went quicker, but couldn’t match his time of earlier in the year. Knowing the time was ticking, Robbie pushed and constantly improved until he was out of time, and fuel.
Disappointed with his performance, Robbie was placed 20th on the grid.

“Qualifying didn’t go exactly to plan. I absolutely loved the new timetable for the weekend [referring to 3 Free Practice sessions and 1 Qualifying, instead of the normal 2 Free Practice and 2 qualifying sessions] It really suited us, because it meant we could focus more on fine tuning the setup and not wasting tyres. It’s definitely more cost effective.
I pushed and pushed but for some reason I am down on my time of previously in the year. It’s hard to understand because on the data I am matching my speeds everywhere. Still, I need to stay focused and see what tomorrow brings” explained Robbie

Unfortunately, the race was short-lived for Robbie. After a fantastic start, placing him in 14th, and just behind eventual Cup winner Sam Lowes, Robbie was confident. His lap times improved until on lap 4, Robbie crashed out at Hislops chicane. Evaporating his title hopes and ultimately dropping him to 3rd in the Cup standings.

“This season has been extremely tough. Then to have the last three meetings pan out the way they did is heart breaking. Everyone puts so much effort in and I ride to repay them and get myself noticed. Obviously its not the way to end the season, but I tried to get a good result and felt sure I would have had one, I was perhaps just a little too keen to impress the teams.
It’s going to be a tough call to get into a team for 2010, but hopefully people will see my past performances and understand that I do have the ability. It’s a long break now before the start of the 2010 season, and I intend to get the funding and help I need to help me win whatever I contest in 2010. I need to write off these three nightmare weekends, and focus on next year where I will make amends for a bad luck ridden season” commended a frustrated Robbie.

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