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So I had a fun weekend (yay!)!!
I got to the track later than I expected on Friday afternoon, because I needed tires etc, I was unable to make practice. I got pit setup and made some lunch then took my wheels off the bike.
I have been thinking about trying different tires, but I hate change, so I walked over to each tire vendor that I hadn't used before and asked a bunch of questions. I ended up at Street and Comp. and asked Miles about 10 minutes worth of questions. He finally gave in and told me to just buy the tires and if I hated them after morning practice they would take the back and refund me the money. "Who else here would do that for you?" he said ... good point.
So we talked about the times I was running and he recommended I just go with the Dragon Super Corsa (not the PROs). They are only $275 for the set and will be good for the 18s. This sounded good to be since I had budgeted $400 for the Power Races. Before I went to pick them up from being mounted, I stopped and said hi to Paul and one of the first things he said to me was "you know, I have been meaning to tell ya ... I think Pirelli might be a better tire for you and your riding style". I am feeling good about my decision.
Saturday morning practice came and I went out the two sessions and really just got a feel for the tire. The softer carcass made it feel real different, but not in a bad way. They bike just flips right into the corners though. I feel like they could be a nice tire for me. Ken C was there this weekend and spent his free time watching me and giving me things to work on. The biggest tip he gave me was "you head is pointed in the right direction, but I know you are not focusing there". He was dead on about that, and it was my #1 goal for the weekend.
GTU: Got a bad start like usual, and ended up near that back. I didn't finish this one last time, so I just wanted to get through it, and get a feel for these tires. I can honestly say I didn't really enjoy myself out there. I still had visions of highsides, hangtime and pavement contact stuck in my head. I just continued to work on my riding as everyone had put a good lead on me, so I was all alone out there (for the first couple laps anyway). As we got through the race, the experts caught up and some amazing passes where made on me. At one point one guy came past me by the treehouse on the outside, came in front of me, and I couldn't see his rear tire, then he flipped for 9 and was gone ... I looked to see if he had my front tire with him. (= I got passed a bunch (even passed by the top 3 experts again for good measure). I just held my line because before I knew it they were gone anyway. It was the first race where I actually got buzzed like that, so it was a wake up call, but it was also very reassuring that all the passes were very clean, close, but clean. I finished dead last, but I finished. The best part of the race for me was my consistency though, check out my lap times for the race:
I feel REALLY good about this! I really feel that I am starting to have more reference points around the track and I am hitting them with pretty good consistancy. I maybe one of the slowest AM, but I am consistent ... the lap times will come with practice.
MWSS: 3rd from last finish ... hehehe. The race was ALOT of fun! Geno and I had a very nice battle during this race! Where he ended up taking the checkered before me by 3 tenths of a second. There were a couple of spots that I would catch right up to him and if I wanted to be a jerk, take him up the inside (turns 3 and 6), but I am not at that level yet, so I just didn't got for it. He would walk away going up turn 4 and out of the bowl, and of course down the straight where everyone walks me. I would reel him back in from 1-3, but couldn't get by. Near the end he passed one of the AM and I got stuck behind, but thanks to and expert who passed me in 9, then had contact with said AM in 10, it spooked the AM and allowed me to get by to try and hunt down Geno for the last two laps. It was a good time and good racing!
Laptimes:
Again, pretty consistent here. Which is my goal at this point.
HWSB: This was an OK race, not much to right about as I was pretty much by myself out there in the back. I didn't finish dead last because Eric Sampson had to pull off for a mechanical and then rejoined the race, but in theory I did. (=
MWGP (dash): Not much to say here ... I got the best start of the year, only to have my bar clipped by someone. I got control of the bike, went to hit the brake for turn 1 and noticed I had no brake lever ... so I went around the nascar turn and sat there for the race ... oh well, thats racing.
Sunday Practice 1: Geno and I went out (there was like nobody out there), we did the warm up lap, he was in front. We go into turn 3 and I pass him and put my head down. I wanted to have a little mock race in the morning to get us up to pace as quick as possible. He chased me around for a couple laps then got me just after 10. I chased him for a lap, got him one more time as we came over 5. He got me in 5 on the next lap, then put his head down until the end of the session where I couldn't catch up. It was one of the best practices I had ever run. I felt I just came in from a race and was all geared up for the races!!
HWSS: 5th from last (getting better!). This was another great race with Geno. I got a pretty good start (for me anyway). I was in the middle half going into turn 1 and stayed there through 3. I looked at the field and front of me and didn't see Geno, so I knew he was behind me and I needed to put my head down. 3rd lap in he passed me going over turn 5 in the bowl. He was pretty much checking out at this point. I would catch him in the usual spots, but he really pulled from me down the straight and up turn 4. I just couldn't get close enough to make a move on him. It was alot of fun chasing him around ... I'll get him next weekend!
MWSB: I didn't really feel like going out for the race ... for some reason I was nervous about it, and the excitement wasn't there because Geno wasn't in it. I went out though and had one of the best races of the year! I got a pretty good start (ended up being my best first lap of the weekend), but then got passed by a couple people. I made a pass back then got behind 691 and chased him around. I was gaining ground on him on the back half of the track, so I started planning my attack on him in laps 2 - 4. On lap 5 I knew that it was time to go for it and the only place I was going to do it was turn 11. Never made a pass here, but my closing speed on him for that turn was very quick and I knew I could get around him if I just went for it. We came by the tree house where I started to set him up and match pace with him through nine and into 10. He always pulled on me out of ten so I made sure to stay on him. I kept him close and as we approched 11, I went alittle to the right caught him and passed him on the outside at the apex. I had some great speed going through there, but was out there, so I had to check up for 12, which made him check up allowing me to setup my drive down the straight. I just put my head down to make sure he didn't pass me again. It felt so good to make that pass, and I had a ton of fun. I went to find his afterward and we talked about how there are 4 of us taking up the back of the AM class right now, but its been a fun weekend because we can have some good racing between the 4 of us. Nice guy and also enjoyed the race.
I want to thank everyone that came up to watch the races this weekend. I had som family from VT, my father, brother and his girlfriend up, so that was really cool. I would really like to thank Ken and Gram for watching me race this weekend and giving me some great advice to hopefully help make me a better racer. You guys are the best!
I had a great weekend and really am happy with the decision to switch to Pirelli. They work for my riding style and I feel that they will help me to move forward. I am very pleased with the consistency of my lap times. One of my next goals is to try to have a quicker first lap. I am WAY off pace on lap one. Another issue that I need to address ASAP is my early turn in for 3 ... I keep doing it every time ... I don't know why. I need to find a way to get Geno for the next weekend, and alot of that is going to be getting a better drive out of 12 and up 4. Something I will be working on at the track day I am going to do this month.
Congrats to Justin for his 4th place this weekend, and also to Mike for his 4th place on Saturday. I love the crew we have in our pit .... just makes for an excellent weekend!
HUGE THANKS TO MARK FOR THE HELMET AND DAMPER!!!
See ya in 3 weeks!!
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) when you were tellin me you were lovin the Pirelli's... I'm lovin mine & they're lastin one helluva long time on my powermonster 
