What a race that was.
Qualified 4th, so decided to jump on the RM and try the alternate strategy a shot.
By the end of the first corner I was in 3rd and disco slotted in behind me.
For the next 18 laps, while Tubbs and Grease ran away on the RS tyre, Disco bump drafted me to ensure the front guys didn't get to far away.
I pitted lap 18, topped up, giving me enough fuel to get home, overfilling on purpose to go hard.
Once all the stops were done, I was back in that very familiar 3rd spot, but had managed to gap Disco by 2s.
This time however Grease and Tubbs were on the RM.
I set out to reel them in and I did so over the next 14 ish laps. Behind me though Disco and Rolls were keeping each other busy, with a gap of about 2s. Rolls managed to get Disco at some point.
Got past Grease without much drama with an undercut on T1.
Rolls got past Grease after he had a sketchy exit under the bridge and then slowly managed to get into my slip with 3 laps to go.
Tubbs was still 8s up the road, so the battle for 2nd and 3rd always on.
I defended Rolls on his first attempt of an overtake on T1 and again on his 2nd a lap later.
On the final lap however he got me on T1 with a massive slip stream assistance.
I kept close and almost got Rolls under the bridge, but kept a tight line and slotted right in behind him.
I went deep on the double corner to open the exit up. This enabled a slingshot effect for the run up to the final corner and everything rested on getting this right.
We both aced it, but I was within .2 or .3, and it was down to a drag to the finish.
I had to ace the up shifts to maximize speed gain, which I did.
Running over the line .07 in front of Rolls!!
Epic end to a race I was dreading.
Very impressed by the clean and respectful racing all night.
Kudos to all for that.
Also, it is my first D2 podium finish!!!
@TUBBSTER22 Congratulations on the win champ. Too fast on the Mediums. Well done.
@rollscanhardly Congratulations on the 3rd. Epic finish to the race for the both of us.
See you all next week for Kyoto.
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