5
What an incredible weekend! It's great to have weekends like this to remember how much fun racing can be!
Saturday morning practice went OK, nothing special.
Amateur GTL: It was a big grid and I'm still new to the whole amateur thing. I was pretty nervous going into it but pulled off a pretty good start despite starting from the back of the grid. Luckily I got ahead of Bill Morey (#868) as I was expecting him to be a good bit faster than I am. He and I pit together with the LDR crew and we're good friends. I knew he was tight behind me but was able to hold him off until lap 6. I was preparing to pass a rider on the inside of 3 when I saw a waving yellow and checked up so as not to pass the rider. Bill was apparently lined up next to me on my left when I checked up. Not seeing the yellow he didn't expect the change of pace and passed me so close he clipped my clutch lever on the way by. We were both startled by the "ping" and watched the better part of the lever spinning down the track. He stayed on the gas enough to pass the rider and headed off down the track. Luckily he left me with a finger or two worth of lever so I kept on motoring, actually in great spirits but determined to catch him. I passed the other rider and passed Bill on the front stretch. He was relieved to see me passing him, not knowing whether or not he had taken me out. Then it was game on. We swapped positions a few more times before lap 12 when John Dorans Jr (#109) managed to get past myself and then Bill. I ducked past Bill one last time in turn 3 but the red flags were flying by the time we made it to the tree house meaning that the hard-earned passes didn't count. All said and done Bill took 4th, I had 6th and we both had personal bests. Bill had a 1:22.195 and I squeaked ahead of him with a 1:22.194.
Amateur ULSB: I know Bill is faster but I'm more agressive in the beginning. We both went into this race hoping for a podium finish and knew it was going to be tight. I got a better start again and held onto second place until lap 7 when he out drove me through 4/5. I made a feeble attempt at tucking up inside of him in 7 but chickened out thinking he wouldn't see me in time. That was my one and only chance as he turned up the heat. I put everything I had into chasing him hoping he'd mess up somewhere. It didn't happen and he took second and I got a third. My first amateur podium! Again, new pb's for us both. I managed a 1:21.9 and he pulled a 1:21.5! We were both stoked!
Pit bike race: Brett Larson and I were pretty equally powered but I managed to squeak past him after a couple of laps. I held my lead until the end and took the win! Unfortunately it was somewhat bittersweet as a friend crashed on the last corner of the last lap and ended up getting carted off in the ambulance.
Sunday practice: Again nothing notable and this is getting long.
Amateur P-89 Lights: Bill and I each had a solid chance for our first amateur win here and both desperately wanted it. I was finally starting in the same row as Bill so I figured I'd have a solid chance at beating him to turn one. He had a much better launch than I did and I scrambled to catch up to him in turn 1, eeking past him in 1a. Then the game was on. I was in the lead and had to find a way to stay there. I kept finding ways to pass the experts were were gaining on and hoping to put them between us. Every time I looked back, he was there! The white flag flew and I was gaining on one more rider. I knew I could out brake him into three but as I was tipping in I saw Bill passing him on the outside! We both new it was going to be tight where we came together. He ended up standing it up enough that it took him off line. I was sloppy as hell for the rest of the lap hoping it wasn't my line that botched Bill's run. He had stayed upright and was apparently hot on my tail when I took my first amateur win! As Bill pointed out later, not only were we first and second in the amateur race but we'd passed all of the experts except Gino!
I felt bad having roadblocked my way into the win and having taken a trophy before Bill who I knew was a faster rider. He still had one more race to go though and I was elated to check the results on my way home to find out that not only did he take the win but set yet another pb!
Gotta thank Gino Berrio for the personal instruction at the Tony's Track Days. That totally restored my confidence in the bike and has allowed me to ride the way I have. Bill Morey for pushing me to keep up. I wouldn't be where I am without you and your advice. Mike Kurtz/MTAG for the sticky Pirelli's. Last but not least Low Down Racing for letting me pit with them and treating me like family. You are all the best!
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Great to have you back John and thanks for writing my race report for me, LOL! It is great to share the track will you and I look forward to more of the same in October. Of course if we have aNother good weekend we might have to get white plates. 
Originally Posted by Yknot
