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Got up to the track Saturday morning around 7am. Personal best up until then was 1:23.3xx.
When I got there I noticed my water pump was leaking from the weep hole, which meant time for some quick surgery. New outer water pump seal and good to go. First practice made sure the bike was running right as I hadn't been on a motorcycle for 5 weeks...all good. Second practice turned some 23s on completely shot tires, rear was everywhere.
My first set of brand new tires ever for this bike went on after practice, thanks MTAG.
First race on Saturday was Amateur Super Singles. There were only 3 of us in AM and 10 experts so they started us all together. I went into turn one in front of all of the AMs, and I think behind all the experts. Ended up passing 4 of the experts and then riding the rest of the race alone. New PB of 1:22.472, I was pumped when I got back to the garage, thank you new tires. 1st place.
Second race on Saturday was ULSB. This was probably the best and most frustrating race I've ever been in. Came into t1 about 5th, luckily ahead of Jake Vader somehow. Over the first lap or two I worked my way to third, and this is when it got interesting. Travis Benisano on a monster 696 was in first, and Bill Morey was in second on his Hawk. I eventually got my way passed Bill and then started closing in hard on Benisano. That monster had SERIOUS motor. I was on his ass everywhere, but could not stick a pass on him. Front straight, 3, over the hill into the bowl, and the back straight he just pulled obscenely hard. Eventually, Jake worked his way through the field and got on my ass. On the 6th lap, Jake stuck a pass on me down the front straight due to a fresh top end rebuild. Last weekend we were neck and neck on the straight but his bike was running tip top this week and he pulled hard. I took it back on the outside of one. Next lap, same thing, he passed on the straight and I tried to take the outside of one again, late on the brakes. Jake executed a perfect block and purposely pushed wide, and blocked the pass. Super clean, played exactly right and held me off. Last lap, I was determined, and I could tell Jake was as well, because it was sickening how much motor the monster had on us. Coming into three, after talking to Jake post race, we both wanted to stick this pass by him, but couldn't quite do it and things got a bit hairy. To avoid hitting Jake my rear wheel was at least 2 feet off the ground. I got it back, and then ran wide, allowing Bill to pass me on the inside. I followed closely through the rest of the lap and sized him up for 11. I took him on the outside of 11 and just shoved the bike into 11a super tight and made it stick, footpeg deeply engraved into the ground. Looking at the times. The monster won with a best lap of 1:23.5, Jake was second with 1:22.4, and I was in third with a 1:21.9. I was pumped on the time and a new PB, but I wanted that win. Oh well, always next time. Third place.
Pit bike race. I took my roommates Vespa for the weekend so I entered into the Pit Bike race. God this was a blast, but I soon realized for the first time ever that I had a ton of motor on EVERYONE. I kept it fun though and tried not to race too unfairly, jumping the curb, giving rides to mopeds, dragging knee (forcefully) and just having fun. I thought the yellow flag was a joke, but no, someone got ran over. Last lap I gave the bike ahead of me about a half a lap lead and then gave it the beans. Ended up making it a photo finish, and I took the checkered flag by about 6 inches, victory lap and all. Although it didn't feel right with all the motor the Vespa had on them, we all sure had fun!
Disaster struck Saturday night as I locked my keys in my trunk. Roadside assistance came, and couldn't get it open, so I figured I'd deal with it in the morning. Headed to my friends place in Laconia for the night, and then got up at 5:30am and drove back to Boston to get my spare keys. Made it back to the track around 10am and missed both practices. What a night/morning.
LWSB, I was excited for this as my times from Saturday would put me at the front of the pack and I really wanted to mix it up with my teammate Lou. Sadly I was gridded on the inside, far back. I have great starts, but on the inside I'm not comfortable. Terrible start, almost dead last. I spent about 6 laps getting past riders, and spent the last 2 riding alone. Ticked off 23s once I got past traffic and finished 10th of 16th.
Last race was Amateur motard. Like super singles, there was only 2 of us, and they started us with the experts. Almost identical to the Super Singles race, I got my start, passed some experts, and then just rode alone the whole time. Ticked off more 23s and really worked on my reference points, 1st place.
I had a fun weekend, especially Saturday. Crushed my PB, hit 21s, consistently dragging knee through 8, and just had a fun time with the guys. I really took advantage of the open laps I got to work on my reference points and try to make sense of this whole racing thing.
Big thanks to my teammates Adam, Lou, and Dave. Marco for the pictures, and ECK and RSP for the company. Glad I got to meet Adam Clark and Chipper finally after all the help you guys have provided me on here getting my crf sorted. Can't wait for next race weekend, only 3 weeks away!
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Originally Posted by Rada
