AFM Round 5 - Infineon (July 9/10)

[mostrobelle]

I don't want to wait three days for that--did he beat go-go or not. 

[desmoquattro]

I don't want to wait three days for that--did he beat go-go or not. 

Nope. Finished 3rd.

[tigre]

Yep.  After the end of a trying weekend, I walked away third.

I was disappointed.

I had the pace on GoGo.  Again.  Even though I was on my 749R (850cc) and he was on his RC8R (1200cc).  I got in front of him on the 4th lap passing on the outside going into 9.  Always a fun move.  I thought about it and left him a little room on the entrance, but he was gone.  Then I came around T11 and saw a red flag at start finish.  Since not all the leaders had come through (open production was the 2nd wave), we restarted.

I got an okay launch, and was 3rd going into Turn 2.  But I got in too hot and felt the front slide.  I barely managed to avoid hitting the dirt, but found myself back in 5th.  I quickly bullied my way into 4th behind a guy on an SV and lined him up coming out of the carousel, but another red flag.

3rd time...  bad start.  Not good for a shortened 4-lap race.  I managed to bully my way into 3rd by T2, but there was a big gap to GoGo and Randolph.  GoGo actually had the holeshot, but ran wide in 4 and Randolph got through and checked out.  GoGo held a pretty big gap on me through the first 2.5 laps.  Then I put my head down and started going after him.  I was closing on him quickly, but ran out of laps.  Even a 6-lap race would have been enough.  GoGo turned consistent laps at 43.5/43.6/43.4 (fastest on his 4th lap).  I was 1:44.0, 1:42.9, 1:42.4 (fastest on my last lap). 

Moral victory...  I went a second a lap faster than GoGo...  I went faster than I've ever been around Infineon...  but still bummed. 

[mostrobelle]

3rd and your fastest time around Sears are awesome, but I'm with ya--it would have been really tasty to have stomped Stop-Stop on the little bike.  I blame myself.  Had I been there, my customary squealing and clapping might have been enough to mentally push you through.  When's the next opportunity to take a bite out of Mr. Gulbransen? 

[tigre]

End of August....  *sigh*
I'm solidly in 3rd in the points now.  Alas.  Still not a feeling of satisfaction.

GoGo will have to be thinking about it that I went a second faster than him on the 749, though.

[AJ]

Tigre!! Argh!!
Sucks that you ran out of laps to reel GoGo in, sucks about the mechanical issues, and I suck for not making it up to Infineon*

AWESOME that you were flying around the track, on the 749GRRR no less!!  Fastest Infineon time, 3rd place, that's fantastic!!

I'm sure you'll spank GoGo in August 




* yes, I'm totally lame, but major furniture assembly had to occur or I'd be sleeping on the floor for another week.

[desmoquattro]

End of August....  *sigh*
I'm solidly in 3rd in the points now.  Alas.  Still not a feeling of satisfaction.

GoGo will have to be thinking about it that I went a second faster than him on the 749, though.

Dude, in the first start you methodically managed and closed the gap to Go-Go, passed him, and were gapping him. You had that kind of pace on the first restart. And you did the same on the second restart. Save for one or two small variables, you were the better rider...on an underpowered motorcycle.

That said, the starts were the key. I managed to get the two restarts (but not the original start) on my iPhone video:

Restart #1
AFM Open Twins Restart #1

Restart #2
AFM Open Twins Restart - 10 Jul 2011

[enzo]

RRW has you second, Steve.  Is that wrong, or did GoGo get DQ'd for some reason?

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=45256

[tigre]

That was for cal state championship.    Gogo is not entered in that.

[Desmostro]

Oh dude! Good story though - as usual.
You know it's like the drama makes it more fun to watch. If you won every race everyone would get bord. But you should win this next one just to mix it up. The suspense is killing!!!

3 restarts!?!? I'd be creating material expressions of dismay and bewilderment in my shorts at that point. Good fight though. That's why they call it racing.
Can't wait to see the next one. F