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Cliff's: Couldn't do a 1:19 (as Doug Polen predicted) but did get consistent and a new PB of 1:21.9
Saturday Practice was hit and miss. I scrubbed in the new slicks and did a 24. I passed Lorna Murphy coming out of 7 on the inside of 8. I thought I had the room but had to go over the rumble strips and crossed in front of her line, gave an apologetic wave and went and apologized later. She said she had saw "Doc" on my ass and knew it was me. (Lorna was looking at my ass!) :
GTL: Grid up, crappy launch, but at least I can out drag a couple EX500's , I get by Rob on his Harley early because I know he is so hard to pass, I try and stick with Dana Temple and keep Rick in sight but they are gone by the 4th lap, by the 5th lap I am regretting the race and looking for the halfway flag I think my times are dropping and I keep looking back, by lap 7 or so I see like 4 bikes closing fast. I'm thinking there is no way I am gonna hold em off. I am tired and feel like I am crawling, It is the front row coming to Lap me. They get by me and a couple Amateurs come by a couple laps later I try and catch a wiff and do a 1:23 but that is all I have. I finish 13th out of 18 starters. Best lap of a 1:23. Looking at my lap times after the race I see I have gained back my consistancy and did pretty much all 1:25's even when I was friggin TIRED! No more GTL's for me.
ULSB: Grid up. I can't see the flag, another crappy launch, Eric Wood Launches past me like a rocket from the back row! I am not going to just sit back on the first lap like I usually do. I get by Tony Soucier going into 1 and I get a couple people coming out of 2, I get Robb going into 6, I am tryin to keep Rick in sight again but can't. I know I have a couple people behind me that usually aren't so I try and put my head down, Andy Hull gets by me on lap 2 and Joel Taylor goes by on lap 4. I decide that I am going to try and stick with Joel and he gives me a tow into the 1:22's (My previous PB was a 1:22.6) He starts to gap me but comes up on Jason Cavanaugh and this allows me to close the gap a little. Joel makes his move in 2 on the last lap and I close under braking in 3. Jason looks nervous and I see him glance a couple times so I figure I might be able to do something. I am feeling pretty good after 6 and close up big time in 9. I have Gino's words ringing in my head (stay back so he won't effect your drive on the front straight) as I see a standing yellow in 10. I don't even lift and close a little more as I am scanning the track, see a waving yellow in 11 and I see a bike down on the outside of 12. I slow a bit into 11 and stay back but as soon as I am even with Mike Martire (the downed rider who is up and reentering the race) I hammer it and try and get by Jason at the line. I miss 9th by .2 and finish 10th out of 14. The cool down lap was cool with Joel, Jason and I congratulating each other.
New PB of 1:21.9 on lap 7! (and I beat Mike Martire!!)
01:26.810
01:24.199
01:23.381
01:22.604
01:22.971
01:22.612
01:21.912
01:22.008
Bunch of 1:22's too! I really need to remember to get a Tow!
I felt really good, the bike felt like a new bike and I have some spots I know I can work on. I feel ALOT more consistant and am looking forward to next race weekend.