11
This was a good one for me.
P-89
Gino was in this one for the first time this year. I'm way ahead in the points so wasn't going to risk anything passing him. Long story short, I followed him for the majority of the race, learning some pretty good tips in the process. I ended up getting past him as we both went around lapped traffic. We had a long conversation about this afterwards and got the whole story. Anyway, after passing Gino I pulled off my fastest lap of the race at a 1:20.929. Is it a coincidence that the last digits of my fastest lap are the same as his race number? 1st place finish
ULSB
This race is extremely competitive and I was one point out of the lead for points. I got my typical crappy start and went into turn one way back. Maybe 10th or so. Maybe worse. I wasn't counting at that point. That frustrated me and I put my head down, passing my way up to 6th in the first lap. I made it up to 5th the next lap but then couldn't find a way pass 922 Eric Block. I struggle behind him for a couple laps and 77 Eric Shaw passes me. Back down to 6th place. Shaw has the same trouble getting past Block and keeps pushing hard for an opportunity. I bide my time expecting there to be a opportunity for me to make it past one of them when there's an attempted pass. My opportunity comes in turn 1a on lap 5 when Shaw tried an inside pass and they bumped. Shaw went wide in 2 and Block got knocked to the inside pretty dramatically. I whacked the throttle, made it past Shaw and passed Block going into 3 because he had lost his drive coming out of 2. It took me the rest of the lap to catch up to the only two other riders I can see. I passed 67 J Cav early on lap 7 and catch up to 428 Adam Clark. I got a strong drive out of 12 and passed Adam on the front straight just as the white flag flew. He passed me back in 3 but sacrificed his drive up the hill. I passed him going downhill into 6 and never saw him again, taking second place and putting me into the points lead! Despite all the back and forth I didn't do a lap (other than my out lap) slower than 1:20.7. My fastest lap was my last one at 1:20.027.
I've slowly crept my way up in points in ULSB and the competition has been incredible! Every race has been a nail biter and it's been so much fun racing with those guys, even if they're on motards. Thanks to all my team mates on LDR, especially Adam Clark for the competition. RSP's Keith Draghi loaned my teammate Bill Morey a motor so he could at least get on track and complete a race this year. That was a huge mental hurdle and you're the man for doing it! The corner workers and medical staff got an incredible workout on Saturday so they should get props for that. I'm glad I didn't add to their workload. All my track time with TTD has dramatically increased my comfort on track and helped me become better about being able to read and predict what other riders are about to do. My Pirelli tires continue to be wonderfully sticky but yet predictable when I over tax them. Gino, you're the best. Thanks for your tips on track and bench racing afterwards (and the delicious rum). I'll take your advice to heart and plan my strategy accordingly.
Thanks to those that read all this to the end, both of you!