Missed my race report for May 2nd and 3rd, so here is a quick highlight of that weekend first;
Middleweight Supersport - 3rd - best time 1:18:0
I rode hard in this race, I don't recall much of the details now, but I remember seeing Dustin down in T2. Finished 3rd, first hardware of the year!
450 Superbike - 6th - best time 1:18:6
Don't recall much about this race either, I'm sure I battled with the usual subjects of Sam, David, Darren, and Jeff.
Middleweight Superbike - 6th - best time 1:19:3
More lack of recollection leaves this section blank.
Rode hard, battled with the usual suspects, and finished 6th.
Overall it was a nice weekend, people thought it was going to rain, and I raced on a dry track all day.
Moving ahead 3 weeks too May 30th/31st weekend.
Arrived Friday morning to setup the pits and practice with CTT. It was hot, really hot. Worked on my T1/T7 braking, and tried to get T7/8/9 figured out. Those last three corners are my nemesis right now. I just can't seem to link them well. Spent most the day "trying" to figure out what I'm doing wrong. Didn't happen.
Saturday came, and I didn't practice. Just helped with ToR and did my OMRRA duties. Brian and I are becoming quite the team.
It was another hot one, tried to stay out of the sun as much as possible and drink a ton of water.
Sunday arrived, and its race day...
Got to the pits, and everything was already setup, canopies were lifted, snacks were out, and all I needed to do was unlock the trailer, and relax for a few. Got the warmers on, bike warmed up, and sat ready for my first race.
Middleweight Supersport - 5th - best time 1:17:9
On the warmup lap, Peter Lenz crashed pretty hard into the T1 tirewall, we were delayed a bit while they got to him, and transported him to the ICU. I wish Peter and his family the best, and for a speedy recovery. The kid is fast!
Once the track was clear, went out and gridded up. Per the norm for me, my starts suck hairy donkey toes, I got passed by about 3 rows by the time I got to T1. Tucked in behind someone, and started my work. I am learning I get stronger as the race goes on. My quickest lap times are typically towards the end of the race. I wish I could figure out how to move that up about 8 laps.
So I get to work, pass a few people here and there and finally settle into a spot. I start the battle with the usual suspects again, Sam, David, Jason, and now Mike Grey! It was fun dicing it up with those guys, they would take me on the straights (I'm 250+lbs on an SV! and I create a HUGE bubble to draft past me) and I would get them back in the infield. This went on for many laps, and finally I gapped them enough to have an open track. In the end it was another great race, and I dipped into the 17s! Great race guys!
450 Superbike - 7th - best time 1:17:7
This race is the third from the last race of the day, its been hot all day, I'm tired and feeling it, but this is racing, and I put it all to the side and focus on what's at hand. I head out and grid up. Again I have a crappy start and get passed by a few rows of riders behind me. I get going, put my head down and start turning hot laps. Again I'm race with the usual suspects, this time adding Darren C. and Dave H. to the mix. I get in behind Jason and Zoe is in front of him. I'm follow them for a few laps, then Dave H. drafts past me on the front straight, I follow him into the infield, no where to really pass, but I keep in in reach. Then see Zoe go down in T4 (lost the front end), I watch as another rider who is trying to avoid contact runs into her. I have to stop looking before I become part of the incident and put my head back down and start chasing Dave and Jason. They pull me on the straights, but I catch him in the corners. The last lap, I catch Dave and am on his rear wheel when we run up on some lapped traffic in T4, Dave took the outside line, I was choosing the inside line, and Dave almost gets bucked off his bike when he about hi-sided it coming out of T4. I cut underneath and get the position. Nice save Dave! Cross the line in 7th. Got into the 17s again! Another great race!
Middleweight Superbike - 7th - best time 1:17:8
This is the last race of the day, I barely caught my breath from the previous race. I would talk to the scheduler, but he is enduring the same pain I am, so I'll just nutt up and deal with it.
Go out and grid up. Another horrid start and I enter T1 way back. I start picking off guys where and when I can, and find myself once again battling with Darren for a few laps, back and forth with him, great fun! I started seeing Mark Bothe in front of me, he was getting a little closer each lap, but I knew he had already backed down and was just bringing it home. I would have needed a about 5 more laps to even get close enough challenge him. Another great race, and dipped into the 17s in all my races for the day!
What a great weekend, finished well in all my races.
Thanks to all my sponsors, EDR and team for hand delivering stuff to my pit for me (that's top notch guys!), my team mates, and pit mates who make the time between races enjoyable, and of course my lovely wife Cierra and son Rowan!
I have some video of the 450 Superbike and Middleweight Superbike races, I just need to figure out how to edit them down from 300+mb each.
See you all in a few weeks!
