Well this is my second weekend back to riding/racing and man Im out of shape. This was a given going in and I actually was hoping for 6 lap races, but 8 it was. For me practice was just to shake down the bike and to see how the butt dyno compared. Well the problems that I had on the dyno surfaced while riding it. I had some issues with my brand new quickshifter too as I was trying to get my kill time set up. It wasnt perfect but it was still good enough to ride around... I ended up doing some geometry changes and minor suspension changes which helped a TON. With the weather being as perfect as it was I ended up running my best time in practice, which was pretty ridiculous. My best practice time before was a 1:28.5 and I ended up running a 1:25.6. I was feeling great on the bike and was ready for Sunday. I was entered in 600 Mod Prod and F2 and I was optimistic.
600 Mod Prod
I was gridded on the 5th row since I had no points and this race had one of the larger grids of 21-22 riders I think? I SUCK at starts so I had some work cut out for me. I was just hoping to run a best time and was hoping to latch on to some of the faster guys to get a tow. I had another incredibly shitty start and had to make up some ground in 1 and 2. Picked off several riders and finally made my way to Steve (Hewitt) and Loren Black. I kind of got stuck behind them and was able to line up steve iaround the outside of 8 and ended up capitalizing on a mistake that loren made coming down 4B.
At this point I had to go after Simmons who had checked out with the leader and had the pace to pass but didn’t have the fitness. My knee was killing me and my whole body was just fatigued...I couldn’t push anymore and ended up taking 3rd comfortably. If I had been up a row or two Im quite certain I would have finished second easily. I was about a full second faster than the guy in front of me. Ended up only running a 1:25.8 but it was pretty windy so I was ok with that time under the circumstance.
I had not planned on racing the F2 race since it was at the end of the day and since I had so much trouble with stamina in my first race.
I talked to Dave and Terry who were in the points for the championship and it was up for grabs between them and frank gray. Frank had been running consistently fast this year so he was definitely in the hunt. I was gridded last and got off the line DEAD LAST...lol
Made my T1/T2 make up and had Purcell/dave/terry/frank in front of me. Frank went around Terry in T2 and I followed, I knew that Frank was the guy to beat and I didn’t want to lose touch so I was trying to keep pace. Going up T4 Tyler chopped the throttle and Dave almost collected him and had to brake. Frank went around the outside of dave(4A) and then tyler in 4B. Dave was pushing and tried to go around the outside in 5 and block pass in 6 but tyler beat him there which kind of ruined his drive off of 6. I made a run on dave and was able to BARELY pass in T7...pretty hairball and not much room but had to not let Frank Check out. I ended up catching Tyler in T8-T9 and lined up for a good drive. I had the momentum down the front straight and was able to get him on the brakes in T1 and had Frank in my sights.
I started to push and gained some ground because he ended up messin up in T5 where he ground a peg and went wide...this killed his drive for the back straight. On to the front straight and Frank looks back at me...maybe to see if he was checking out or where he was at...I was about 10 bike lengths back and lets just say that was all the motivation I needed to push a little more
I was in striking distance as I was coming around T8 and decided to show him a wheel as we entered T9. I normally wouldn’t have pushed the issue but since he looked back at me on the front straight I figured I would make sure that he knew which bike was behind him. I am pretty decent through T1 and ended up trying to go around the outside of him in 1 and ended up getting position on the inside of T2...So I ran some defensive lines and tried to calm down and just find a relaxed pace. I havent run in this class all year and ended up running into some crazy lap traffic since there was 3 classes in this race. It was pretty dangerous if you ask me. I finally got screwed in T9 and had to shut it down because of a lapper and Frank got by on the front straight...But I got him on the brakes going into T1. I could tell he was breathing down my back for the whole race and I really dug deep for the last few laps...I ended up crossing the line 0.3s before him. It was my first Expert class win and it was a great way to end my weekend.
2 races with 2 podiums...I didn’t run the times and didn’t have the consistency that I wanted to, but I raced...and got on the box. Still have a lot to work on, but great racing and a little redemption for this being my second weekend back.
Oh yeah, thank goodness for pain medicine...lol
This win was dedicated to Jody Scheuring(LEE’S CYCLE) that gave me a bike capable of winning, and to my girlfriend/Crew Chief who helped do geometry adjustments, tire changes, safety wire, cameras, warmers, stands, fuel pump changes, and fuel for my bike.
Big thanks to Ti2TT, ACT Racing Leathers, Calimade Sportbikes, Dunlop, Suomy, Go Pro and my buddies who came out to watch!
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