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James Kupernik
ECK-Racing
LRRS/CCS/WERA #576 Expert
LRRS Round 2 – May 1-3, 2009
Friday:
Had every intention of skipping Friday practice and saving the $100. Woke up and saw the sun was out and the weather report looked promising. I hadn’t done any packing for the weekend yet, so I just started to throw stuff in the truck and trailer and headed up to Loudon. Arrived at 12:30, setup and signed up for practice.
I got about 5 laps in on the first session, then it started to rain. I came into the pits and it started to pour. Rain lasted about 15 minutes. Sun came out and dried the track within an hour. I got out on a dry track for the last two sessions. My rear tire was starting to go off pretty quick, but I was still able to turn 18s, and a high 17. I knew that I could get back into the 16s with a fresh tire on Saturday. It Ended up being money well spent for practice.
Saturday:
Woke up to rain, but just enough to make the track damp. Sat out the first round of practice while the track dried out. By the second round of practice the track was dry and I was able to get some good morning laps in. Was in the 18s, rear tire is done, but I feel like my mind and body are ready to go.
MWSB:
Gridded 3A. I got a good launch, but the bike didn’t shift into 2nd or 3rd gears right away so I started to get consumed by the pack. I hold the throttle open a little longer once I find 3rd, Joel (404) is just in front of me and I tuck up the inside of him going into turn 1. We are making our way through 1a and Mike M. goes down, and gets hit by at least 1 rider (he is ok). Everyone else stays up and we make our way through 2, in the mess I ended up in the top 6, but the red flags came out pretty quickly. Restart.
Got a better launch this time, and was able to find both 2nd and 3rd gear successfully. I was 7th on lap 1. #61 got by me on lap 2, then #10 got by me in turn 3 on lap 3. Laps 2 and 3 I was back in to the 16s again. I was now in a comfortable 9th place and rode around in the low 17s for 3 laps. The last two laps I made some adjustments and got back to the mid-16s finishing 14 seconds ahead of 10th and 11 seconds behind 8th. Pretty uneventful race, but very pleased with my finish (best in class for me).
MWGP (Dash for Cash):
Gridded 3C. I got a very good launch, but turn 1, 1a, and 2 were a mess. I went wide in 1 which hurt me in 1a and 2. I had no drive out of 2. I am not sure of my position. As the race sorted itself out it became a 3 way battle for 12th between #141, #79 and me. I was following 141. The first move I made was in 2. I followed close in 1, 1a and went around the outside of 1a and put myself on the inside of 2 at turn in giving me the position. He quickly got me back on the outside of 11 (I am awful here). My next attempt was in turn 3 on the inside. I made the pass, but didn’t square up the corner enough, so 141 tucked up the inside going up 4 and 79 was able to capitalize on my lack of drive up 4. 79 got to the front of our group and put a small gap between him and us. We started to come up on traffic and the gap closed down, but my focus was on 141. 3 laps from the end I made the same move in turn 3 again, but this time was able to make it stick. I tried to hunt down 79, but couldn’t close the gap fast enough. Last lap I knew 141 was right behind me. As I headed up 4 I heard him coming up behind me. As we crested turn 5 we were side by side heading into 6. It was a who is going to brake later battle. The first two cones went by and I gave in and rolled off and tucked in behind him. Chased him over the back half of the track hoping to make a move in 11, but he got a better drive out of 10. My last chance was on the front straight, but I knew from following him around that my bike was down on power. I got through the chicane quickly and rolled on the throttle hard and started to close in, but as we stood the bikes up he start to pull away. The three of us finished within half a second of each other. It was a great race! I ran consistently in the high 16s for the race and did a 16.1 on the last lap. Both 171 and 79 dipped into the 15s that race.
I really feel like I’m on the edge of getting into the 15s. I believe I know what I have to do to get there, it’s just executing on it. Following both those guys I believe I got a little quicker through 11. I was talking with Zach (79) after the race and he told me where he was catching me the most, which is the exit of 10. I will work on this in practice tomorrow.
Sunday:
I had high hopes for today based on the lap times I put down on Saturday. I was the first one out for practice both sessions and got the most laps in out of anyone. I got my times very close to race pace and was ready to go. When I came in from 2nd practice, I had noticed my tire was starting to shred on the left side. I had increased my pressure by 2 PSI before I went as a test, but was surprised to see this. I dropped the pressure slightly for the first race.
MWSS:
Gridded 3A and I get a good start off the line. I am 7th into turn 1 and stick with the front group for the first lap. As we came out onto the front straight the rear started to spin up on the exit … I was wondering if I took a bad line through 12. As I enter turn 1 I give the throttle a turn and the rear steps out again. Now I know the left is on its way out. Time to be more careful coming off the corners. I put my head down and try to brake less and carry more corner speed, but I know 141 is right behind me. Sure enough he drives past me on the exit of 12 (I believe) on lap 3. I try to hang with him but I have nothing for him. I make up some ground under braking, but either over brake into the corner and/or can’t get the power down on the exit. I’m comfortably in 8th and finish the race clicking off mid 17s. I finished 13 seconds in front of 9th and 5 seconds behind Zev (#141). I came into the pits and the tire pressures were on the high side, so I dropped them down a couple pounds for the next race.
HWSB:
Gridded 3A again, I got a great start for this race. I was right with the front group for lap 1. As usual, they started to pull away, but not as quick this time. I did a 1:19 on the out lap which is where I was at last year. I felt that controlled aggression that is need at the start of the race to get up front. I was right on #91’s rear tire for lap 2. As we entered turn 6, #6 went by me and I tucked in behind him. As we went over turn 8 Rick (#6) setup Brent (#91) for a pass on the outside of 9. Brent went wide which forced Rick wide as well. I was able to tuck up the inside of both of them, but Rick got me back near the apex of 10 and I followed him into 11. Rick quickly checked out, but I could hear Brent’s 848 right behind me. I put my head down and tried to click of consistent laps. I had better rear traction, but still not great. I couldn’t accelerate between 1 and 1a, which didn’t help me coming out of turn 2. I clicked off laps in the high 16 low 17s. The last two laps I clearly heard someone behind me each time up turn 4. On the last lap, sure enough Alex (#100) got me going into turn 6. I followed him and tried to find a way by. I thought about a bonsai move into turn 11, but couldn’t pull it off, so I squared up turn 12 to try and get the drive on the front straight but I didn’t have it today and he beat me out by 3 tenths of a second to the line to finish 8th. I had a lot of fun this race though and a great way to end the weekend.
Overall from a results standpoint this was a good weekend for me. As I continue to say, if I can get into the top 10 with this group, I’m very pleased. I was able to pull out two 8th place finishes, a 9th and a 14th this weekend. I did get my times down to last year’s pace, but I am feel frustrated that I am still stuck here. I feel like I have found more time in parts of the track and just wondering what I am missing to get into the 15s. Just need to get out there more and keep turning laps.
Thanks so much to all that came up to support us this weekend, especially Tim, Jess and Ken. It was great seeing you all up there. Thanks again to all our sponsors TonysTrackDays.com, Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists, Phoenix Graphics, Woodcraft, Moon Performance, RJ's Motorsport, Motorcycles of Manchester, and BostonMoto-Pirelli.
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