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Feb. Race review |
02/21/2010 |
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My son Alexander his best friend Chandler and My lead tech Ben Welch of Speedskunk Racing / RTillery Powersports and I arrived late Friday night noticing the pit parking was going to be a little tight on space we decided to park way down at the end, near turn 1. I went to bed asap so I could be fit for the riding to come... The pactice sessions went well with my times reaching 1:20's and keeping a smile on my face. Despite the track changes to turns 9 and 10 I wasn't able to find a way to go faster through the back section. We had to make some slight changes to the suspension to let them move a bit more in the transitions , you seem to be in the next turn before the last one ends...! Ben hooked me up with a couple twists of his black magic suspension screwdriver and I felt I was ready for racing. OK....Here we go, get up. Go get registered, get the bikes to tech , get both the bikes back to the pit and get the tires warmed up using the one set of warmers you have so you don't through away the whole weekend on a "cold tire incident". Don't forget to eat something !!! oh and drink more water !!! clean the visor on the helmet, check fuel , make sure tire warmers are still on and heating up, (announcer) " Final call ,Middleweight practice 501-650cc machines" Yikes! I got to PEE ! I make it out for the morning practices and had been able to squeeze another second off my lap times on the 1000 but nothing improved on the 600, matter of fact I felt like I was going backwards on it. Whatever ! I felt good and confident that I was going to have a blast regardless of my placings.I missed being on the lil' 600. (Race# 4) 600 Superstock I had a blast in this race . For the most part I was settled in behind Ryan Tarr and Jeremy Simmons. They battled it out while I was in waiting , hoping for a clear shot at getting around them. I was only able to pass Simmons on the last lap and last turn after a near highside he had ( beautiful save, good job) . Wound up being 6th behind Ryan. (Race #6)Open Mod. Prod. This race was the first of a three race back ,to back ,to back sprint. I got a awesome start but was passed by Corey Neuer in the first lap. I showed a consistant drop in lap times over the first 5 laps setting a lap record 1:16.86 (for the open mod prod) in the 5th and then slowing in the final lap suceeding to Coreys initial charge ,getting 2nd place. (Race #7)Formula 2 I came in after race #6 franticly looking for Ben ( He had told me he'd be waiting with the 600 on the tire warmers near the entry to the track so I wouldn't have to travel all the way back to our pit area) I didn't see him at first and began to worry that I'd miss the warm up lap ! FOUND HIM ! I jumped of the 1000 , handed it to a friend , hopped on the 600 and got on the track just in time . It was very strange to switch so quickly from the 1000 to the 600. They are both set very differently and it seems to take its toll on my times for the 600. I made my way to the front at the start and didn't look back ! All RrrrrTillery all the way ! By the end of the race I had over a two and a half second lead. (Finish line wheelie FAIL! Ooops, thought I was on the 1000) (Race #8) Open superbike Right back in to the pits where I had found Ben waiting with my 600 earlier, now, in wait with the 1000 ready to roll. I got aboard and felt a bit of fatigue setting in. I holeshot the start with Reno Karimian very close ,knocking hard at the door ! I was able to hold him at bay for only 3/4 of the first lap (still felt good,did I mention he's a fast mo fo!) I Quickly saw that I was dropping off pace and let Reno get away with an easy first while I came in second with a 22 second gap to third ( Pete Curtis ) . I felt the two previous races had taken thier toll on my body. (Race #13) Formula 1 At last,the main event ! This is the race that I hope to do best in every month but find it harder than I could ever imagine. I always get good starts and this race was no exception. I was in a field with some heavy hitters from all over and it seems that the event had drawn in a few people that wouldn't have normally dropped in at "The Big Track". So here we were going into turn 1 at "Street of Willowsprings" I was in second place out of 12 starters. Got passed by someone in turn two, coming down the hill into three I could hear the roar of 10 bikes ripping the tires apart under heavy acceleration...by the end of the first lap I was passed by nearly the whole pack leaving only James Randolf and Corey Neuer behind me. James was the only one out here on the new KTM RC8 and I could easily distinguish the sound of the V-twin at my backdoor. He made his way around me and I found myself in last place (Corey had to pull off due to what seemed like a mechanical failure in lap two.) But I kept on the thottle as if I was fighting for first. I then saw Reno pull off followed by Karl Lowry and then Lenny Hale. This was getting better and better for me ! I was seeing the bigger picture , Karl and Reno were the only two starters of the race ahead of me in the overall points so my consistancy was getting me a shot at closing the gap in points. I remained in eight place to the finish and did it with a smile and honor. I am now tied with Shawn Higbee for fifth in the F1. Persistace pays... (Race 16) 600 Mod. Prod. Wow , there were some fast dudes out this weekend ! I was in fifth place for the entire race and for a moment had Chris Duran creeping up to make a move. Once I noticed he was there it lit a fire in me and we began to pick up the pace getting us both closer to Ryan Tarr in 4th place . In the final lap I thought of making a final turn pass on Ryan but there was a waiving yellow flag (no passing flag) due to a highside crash involving Bryce Prince when he went for a final turn pass on Lowry. I guess it was for the better that I didn't... Six races , One day and a happy racer going home in one piece... Thanks for reading and thanks to my big sponsor for the month "Harmonic Design" Thank you Scott Peterson, it really helped me out. BTW, Special note... Dunlops rock ! |
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2010 Race Schedule
January 16-17
February 20-21
March 20-21
April 18-19
May 15-16
June 19-20
July 17-18
August 14-15
September 18-19
October 16-17
November 20-21
January 16-17
February 20-21
March 20-21
April 18-19
May 15-16
June 19-20
July 17-18
August 14-15
September 18-19
October 16-17
November 20-21
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