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Friday:
Went out for practice and instantly felt comfortable and relaxed. Started clicking off 17s comfortably then soon hit a 16.9! Very please. Hit 2 more 16s in practice and the rest were 17s. I just felt like one with the bike today.
Saturday:
Morning Practice: Go out and put my head down, ran very consistent mid to low 17s first thing in the morning. Didn't feel as comfortable as yesterday ... but the tires are really starting to show signs of wear. Go out briefy for 2nd practice but pit in after a couple laps because of fuel needs.
MWSS (1st - personal best lap):
Got a great start and holeshot into 1 and put a good gap on the group from the start. My 1st lap was a 1:18.6 ... new personal best out lap. I then clicked of a 16.8 on lap 2, and on lap 3 red flag came out. We regrid and I get pole. Another good start, but didn't put the same gap on the group, I heard the guys knocking on my door. Kept my head down, put down another 18.6 for lap 1, then followed it up with a 16.6. Lap 3 of the restart, another red flag ... race over, I win.
MWSB (1st - personal best lap):
Get a good start but misshift, 5 guys go by me, i get sorted out stay on the gas until I get past 4 of them onn the way into turn 1 and fall in behind 318. He is running my times if not faster so I knew this was going to be a chase. I followed him for 5 laps, forming a plan of attack. I learned alot about where he is quick and where I make up ground. The only spot I thought I could make a clean pass was turn 3, so after the half way flags come out, lap 5 I make the attempt. I come hot into 3 and just hit the brakes late and less aggressivly at first. I get side by side with him almost at tip in release the brakes throw the bike in ... yay, it stuck! I continue up 4 put my head down and run the last three laps in the low 16s, finishing off with a 16.04 and the win. Awesome race!!!
Well, there are great days, and not so great days .... Sunday was one of those days.
The weather was just misting all day and just was dreary ... such is loudon, the race goes on.
HWSS (3rd):
Got the holeshot, 318 instantly on my tail and started to make moves early in the race. He showed me a wheel coming out of 2 and into 3 a couples times, but was able to hold him off. He made a pass on the inside of 3, but went wide and I was able to reclaim the lead going up 4. We quickly caught the first expert in 9 and I tried to make a pass, put back off at the last minute which killed my drive and 318's drive, so 818 was able to get us out of 10, into 11. Now in 2nd we head down the straight and I just try to keep up with 818's 750. We get to 1, 818 passes the next expert there, I pass up the inside of 2. We go into turn 3, I miss my brake marker and try to hold my line and make the corner, but no luck. I go VERY wide, AMs, 3rd, 4th, and 5th go by me on the inside, including the expert I passed. I head up 4 and stay on the gas into 6 taking back 5th, and 4th, along with the expert putting me in 3rd with 2 laps left. 318 was able to put enough of a gap that I couldn't close it. Lap times were all over the place with the traffic ... some 16s, etc;.
MWGP (DNF):
I had just seen 877 take out the leader in race 11, and was pretty nervous about him being behind me in the race. I got a GREAT start and put my head down and just tried to get away. I got past the first expert I caught cleanly, then came up on the 2nd on lap 5 and tried to get by in 1 but couldn't, nor in 3. I knew 318 was knocking on my back door now. We come around 9 into 10 and I get a drive to try and take the expert in the enterance of 11 on the outside. As I try to make the pass, he drifted wider than I expected (didn't know I was there) so I had to bail and go through the grass which was wet. I was headed for the divet in the run off, tried to scrub speed, but tucked the front in the wet grass, broke shift rod ... DNF
Not my day today ... win some, loose some.
I'm here to race another day and I took myself out instead of tagging the expert with my bad decision.
Off to Summit in a couple weeks, then I think I might be returning to Loudon as an Expert.