Back from VIR - Round 1 in the books

[s a x m a n]

Neal and I rolled in from VIR this morning at 4:45am.

Overall the weekend was a lot of fun. Great to be racing again. Not too thrilled with my finishes from over the weekend, but I got my laptimes down and stayed on two wheels.

Full report coming in the next day or so.

Thanks to Neal for helping split the driving time to and from the track. Thanks to Jason, Arcy and Neal for helping all weekend getting me out on a track and giving me input between sessions. It was a fun weekend!

[OreoGaborio]

I was waitin for this. Glad ya had fun & kept it on two. Congrats, bro

[nt650hawk]

Bet it was good to be back on the pavement. Glad all was well.

[BMFR6]

wellcome back jamie. glad you stayed up and got to shake the cobwebas out. looking forward to the report.

[daviid]

Sorry i didnt make it up there this weekend jamie. i meant too, just woke up too late on Sunday to make it there in time

[s a x m a n]

Sorry i didnt make it up there this weekend jamie. i meant too, just woke up too late on Sunday to make it there in time

missed a beautiful day for racing ... 68 and sunny, perfect racing weather

[s a x m a n]

Neal and I hit the road at around 7pm Thursday night and made our way south. 12 hours later we arrived at the track. We unloaded the trailer and set up the pit. Arcy arrived soon after and we got the newly painted bodywork mounted up, tires swapped out, registration papers and went to tech.

Friday Practice:
Damp track and cold tires for first practice. Just went out to roll around, make sure the bike worked and get a feel for VIR again. When I raced at Summit last year, I didn't learn where I needed to shift quick enough, so the goal for this second session was to figure out my shift points around the track. We only got 4 "hot" laps in, but I felt like I had a good idea how many shifts I needed to take for each corner. I also discovered my two problem areas on the track. My quickest lap at the end of the morning was a 1:48.557. Well off of were I was hoping to start.

They announced after lunch that we were going to have only two 20 minute sessions in the afternoon. So I only have two sessions to get up to speed as much as possible. I start working the back section known as the rollercoaster. This is my worst section, I have this weird inability to do downhill sweepers well. I tag onto a couple guys and make some improvements in the first session. I got my times down to 1:44.7. The last session of the day I need to continue my focus on the rollercoaster and also turns 4-6 so I get a good drive into the esses. I was able to get my times down to 1:41.395.

I was disappointed with the lack of track time for the cost on Friday. To have all day practice and only be allowed 4 sessions seems a little odd.



Saturday:
I was 1 of 6 people to go out for morning practice. The temperature was 37 degrees. I wasn't so concerned about laptimes this morning as I was about making sure I improved on the two sections of the track from Friday. One note of interest, my bike was topping out at 160MPH on the front straight. At 37 degrees this makes it very cold. I came in at the end of the session and had to hand the bike over to Neal and Arcy, I could not unclench my hands. Once I got the gloves off they were purple. (=

Second practice was warmer but the track was still cold. The nice thing about WERA is that they let you run in multiple practice groups as long as you are registered for races that apply to those groups. So I was able to run in 2 groups for a total of 4 sessions each morning. I didn't run any faster during the morning practice than on Friday, but I felt like I made improvements so I can start to put things together come the race.

I only had the one race on Saturday which was the Middleweight Solo, 16 laps. I was looking forward to this race to get back into race mode and figure out where and how to pass on this track. There were 42 bikes in this race with a 3 wave start, I was in wave 2. First wave was off, then flag flew for our wave, was a little caught off guard but got an ok start. Our wave caught up to the tail end of the first wave on the exit of turn 1. The first two laps were very crazy, some bonzi passes into turn 1 and at the top of the rollercoaster, etc;. My goal was to make it through these first couple laps and settle in for this 16 lap race. By lap 3 things started to settle down and the pack of riders that I was in was having a nice close battle with a couple position changes throughout the lap. On lap 4 we came into turn 7 in a tight group and and I slipped in behind the front two and headed up the hill. I knew I could get to the front of this group heading up the hill as its my strongest section. I squared off the left hander head up the hill to setup for an outside pass on the next right, as we crested over the hill I accelerated to make my pass only to find a rider motionless in the middle of the track. We were three wide at this point, me being on the outside, I avoid the downed rider but get bumped by the guy in the middle trying to do the same. This sends me off track into the field. I kept the bike up and rode it out. Finally at this point do I see a yellow flag come out, then as I re-entered the track, the red flags came out.

The incident on track was pretty serious so the track was shut down for over an hour. According to the WERA Solo rules, a race shall not exceed 45 minutes, including red flags. So the race was called after 3 laps. I was scored 24th out of 42 with a best lap of 1:44.3. Not how I wanted the 2009 season to start for multiple reasons, but namely for the on track incident that resulted in 2 riders getting injured. I wish both of them a quick and full recovery!

The team spent the rest of the day watching races, cooking dinner, and doing a track walk. It was good to get out and walk the 2.25 mile track. Between my legs already sore from riding and Arcy's tired feet, it made for an entertaining walk.

Sunday
I wasn't even 30 degrees when we woke up, so being a learned individual from my previous morning practice experience I decided to sit out of first practice. I don't believe a single rider went out for the first couple sessions. It started to warm up pretty quickly so I went out for the other 3 sessions that I had. Two of them were red flagged after 2 laps, so I wasn't able to get much work in, just got the mind and body warmed up.

3 races scheduled for Sunday. After the incident in my race on Saturday I was a little nervous about the first race.

C Superbike (600s)
This was another large grid of 33 racers, but a 2 wave start this time. Having learned from the timing of the last start, I got a much better start this time and was 4th in my wave going into turn 1. The front pack took off very quickly and I was leading the the next group of riders. By lap 3 everything had sorted itself out. VIR eats my knee pucks, and so I lost my 2nd one of the weekend half way through the race on the right side. Once that happened I kept my knee close to the bike for the right handers and it felt like I was carrying more speed and through the corners. On the last lap I got passed on the inside going into turn 1 by number 54. He pulled a slight gap on me from 4 through 7 but I made up the gap heading up the hill toward the rollercoaster. As we headed down the rollercoaster I didn't loose any time and knew I could setup for a run down the front straight. I came off the last corner hard on the gas, and as I came up the inside it looked like he missed a shift and I was able to shoot right by to take 19th. The last 3 laps of the race where in the 1:39s, so I was pleased with the drop in lap times, obviously wish the result was better. I felt like the first race of the season was out of the way now.

B Superbike (up to 750s)
31 Rider field, 2 waves. I was in wave 2 again. There were 2 classes in this race, and I think the grid marshal got confused. They gridded wave 2 of the B Superbike class with V7 HW class. After the first wave went off, the starter held us for 6-7 seconds before throwing the green flag. This made for a hectic turn 1 as riders in my class bumped for position trying to chase down that first wave. I found myself near the back pretty quickly. I used to be good on the brakes, but has been my weakness today. I was able to take a few positions back by the middle of the race and rode to a lonely 23rd with a quickest lap of 1:39.9.

A Superbike (up to 1000s)
A grid full of liter superbikes, should be fun to watch them pull away. (= Smallest grid of the weekend for me, so I got to be in the first wave. Green flag flies and we all head into turn 1, I got a decent start, but its a long way to turn 1 and most of the field got by me before the braking zone. The field settled in early. I got behind a GSXR1000 that I could catch in the corners, but pulled away on the straights. It was going to take a quick/close pass to get by. Since I am strongest heading up the hill after turn 7 I decided to make my move there. I finally had a good line through 7 which allowed me to get on the throttle early. The rider moved right to set up for the next left hander and I pulled him in, and was able to duck up the inside as he tipped in. I was able to hold my line enough and put a gap on him by the time we reached the rollercoaster. I headed down the hill and got a nice drive onto the front straight. I had put enough of a lead on him to not have him pass me back. As I head down the rollercoaster on lap 5 the red flags come out, race over. I finished an awful 16th out of 19th with my laptime no better than a 1:41. I was exhausted and happy to have finished the first race weekend on two wheels.

We finished packing up the trailer, watched a great 125GP race then hit the road. We got back into town at 4:45am Monday morning, which allowed me to make it to work on time for 8am.

I want to thank Neal for helping get the bike ready in the off season, and splitting the driving time to/from VIR. I could not have done this trip with out your help. Thank you to Arcy, Pine Motor Parts, and Phoenix Graphics for getting the bike looking great for 2009! Thanks to TonyTrackDays.com, RJ Motorsports, Moon Performance, Woodcraft, Motorcycles of Manchester, and BostonMoto Pirelli for getting parts and tires to me quickly in the off season and for the continued support in 2009.

It felt great to be back at the track with the team and racing once again. Although I had hoped for better results this weekend, it was my first out of region expert event and I learned a lot which I can take with me into the start of the LRRS opening round in April.

[BMFR6]

good write up Jamie. This was your first time actually racing at VIR right? Not too bad!

[s a x m a n]

Yes it was my first time racing at VIR. It is a fun place to race

[McBiggity]

nice work Jamie!
Sounds like a good time!

[Boston Moto]

How 'bout them pirellis huh?

1:41 is very very good jamie. nice work.

Wow, just noticed!! 1:39.9 even better

[s a x m a n]

How 'bout them pirellis huh?

1:41 is very very good jamie. nice work.

Wow, just noticed!! 1:39.9 even better

1:39.790

The Pirellis were great as always, its usually the rider getting in the way. (=

My best time was a 1:39.790


Cory West and Robert Jensen were there running in the 1:29s ... crazy to watch those guys ride!

[BMFR6]

yeah its a little bit of humble pie to see your times and then see what the pros run.

[Ken C]

Entertaining write up J. And good job with the weekend.

[s a x m a n]

Some shots from the weekend thanks to Arcy!

2009 ECK-Racing #576








Trying to pick up some times watching the fast guys come down the rollercoaster:




Caption Contest!

[s a x m a n]

Entertaining write up J. And good job with the weekend.

Thanks Ken!

[GixerJockey]

Caption Contest!

Hmmmmm... Why is the grass all torn up outside of T-4???

[OreoGaborio]

Congrats, bro I know it wasn't the results you were lookin for, but you'll make the best of the learning experience, I'm sure.


Aw shit, I forgot my room key back in the paddocks...

[Paul_E_D]

Nice job, and nice write up. As for the caption:

"If I don't find that kneepuck my budget for the season will be shot! "

[BMFR6]

LOL!
Where the hell is this damn "Apex" everyone keeps talking about?? I don't see a damn thing!

[rolker]

Great write-up Jamie! Having just ridden that track, It made your naritive much more vivid in my mind. (Note to self: Ride a track day at all tracks saxman will race.)

[s a x m a n]

Nice job, and nice write up. As for the caption:

"If I don't find that kneepuck my budget for the season will be shot! "

BAWHAHHAHA! Best one yet!

Neal brought it to my attention today that I had lost at least $50 worth of kneepucks this weekend

[s a x m a n]

Great write-up Jamie! Having just ridden that track, It made your naritive much more vivid in my mind. (Note to self: Ride a track day at all tracks saxman will race.)

Thanks Roland

I'm surprised at how many people are reading my reports actually. They are so long (=

They really end up being points of reference for me and something to look back on. I got a kick out of reading my first couple race reports from my Novice season.

I appreciate all the support from everyone. I can't wait to see everyone at TonysTrackDays.com events and the LRRS weekends.

Life is good when its race season!

[s a x m a n]

Video!

http://www.saxmanwebs.com/wordpress/?p=328

[Ken C]

Excellent!