ECK #565 LRRS Round #5 Report - My short weekend

[The Snowman]

Had high hopes for this round, since PT had me feeling really loose. But the man upstairs had other plans for me.

Practice was uneventful. I was only running 23's, which is 3 seconds off my average pace as of late.

The only race of my weekend ended up being the GTL. I got the best start of my expert "career", slipping past 3 riders on the outside of T1, including Brett Larsen (226) who got a fantastic start from the back row, to settle into 9th, with an outlap in the 23's.

I had a decent battle going with David Dayon (611), clicking off laps of 20, 19, 19, 20 and keeping him close, since he had motor on me.

I finally decided to make my move on lap 6, with a late pass on the outside of T1. Unfortunately, I hit that bump in the seam at what my GoPro showed to be about a 30 degree lean angle, and just trailing off the brakes. I felt my front rim bang on the bump and it lifted my front wheel enough to break it loose and down I went. Both me and the bike tumbled off the asphalt and through the grass.



When I got back to the garage, I was hurting. An hour later, I decided that since I had 2 track days to ride after the weekend and needed to recover (and I'm in so-so shape to begin with), I would scratch the rest of the weekend's races and support my team.

A short weekend for me, but another learning experience. During the track days, I worked on finding the right lines through T1 for passing. I also feel that I'm pushing myself WAY too hard and forcing things to happen that maybe should be happening. Time will tell.

[Trouble]

I'm glad you seemed to be feeling better by Tuesday afternoon. You seemed pretty down on the whole racing scene when I first talked to you after the off. Hopefully this may have changed your direction a bit. You're a skilled racer and a great guy, it'd be a shame to only see you at the TTD's.

[The Snowman]

I'm glad you seemed to be feeling better by Tuesday afternoon. You seemed pretty down on the whole racing scene when I first talked to you after the off. Hopefully this may have changed your direction a bit. You're a skilled racer and a great guy, it'd be a shame to only see you at the TTD's.

Thanks for this. After all of the criticism I get from certain forum members here (whether kidding or not, since it tends to get pretty damned harsh sometimes), hearing something like this really helps. I'm grateful to have the people I do around me at the track. Some great peeps. Mainly the ECK and RSP teams, the misfits in center garage 2, and the T1a crew.

Annalisa and I did our own thing for dinner on Sunday and I talked to her about the possibility of hanging up my racing hat. She says that I tend to over-think and make abrupt decisions about my motorcycle life sometimes. She advised to take round 6 off to think about things. Thank God I have her. I don't want to give up racing, but I spent 3 months of PT getting back into a condition where I was in minimal pain, only to have to start all over again due to a stupid mistake. I've been lucky. In all of the time I have been riding on the track, I've crashed 5 times, all of them low-sides and have walked away with minimal damage. I can't help but think that maybe my days are numbers before my luck runs out.

[brady]

I was wondering if that was you out there in the GTL, sucks that it made you end your weekend. It seems that bump is getting more and more people lately so I'm making a strong mental note. I didn't finish the GTL either, though in a much gentler fashion.

After allowing yourself to take a round off I'll be interested to see if you start jonesing enough in 2 weeks to sign up anyway.

[PainfullySlow]

I was bummed when I saw your bike in T1 but glad to see you were standing. Annalisa is right, dont make any rash decisions. The margin for error gets smaller the faster you go and despite what some nay-sayers on this forum might say, you are fast.

I think your recent jump to the teens might be driving that point home as things become less and less forgiving. IMO focus on being smooth and the rest will come naturally =)

Anyway, glad you are alright, thanks again for the Shark shield, and I hope that I will see you at round 6.

[Pittenger5]

I been there Chuckles, ready to call it quits. Just take a week off to get your head right, or go into the weekend with no goals, no expectations, just to ride clean, and hit your marks. Looking back now I cant believe I almost walked away.

[JettaJayGLS]

Sad to hear that Chuck, tough weekend.

You've done nothing but positively contributed to my racing experience thus far, the pits wouldn't be as fun of a place without ya. Hope to see you in September, whether you are racing or not.

[darkduc7]

Chuck, we have much battling to do, you can't stop before I catch back up ;-). I was really down this weekend too, but I just spent some more money on the sv to make me feel better. I tend to overthink things too...this next round I'm just gonna focus on my own rythym and consitency, and have fun. As much as I want to go faster, its not worth me getting so upset (yes that's MY wife talking). She's right though, this shit is fun, and it's easy to lose that.

I hit that t1a bump last round in gtl, did the exact same thing. I wonder if it's getting worse, or just a coincidence? Then I went surfing in 9 this weekend. Good thing my sv is nekkid!

[tropicoz]

Glad to hear you're doing fine Chuck. I've run over that bump before and nearly mud myself.

[OreoGaborio]

She says that I tend to over-think and make abrupt decisions about my motorcycle life sometimes.

Yeah you do

Chill, man. Get the bike ready for next round & come up anyway. Reg for races the day of if ya feel up to it.

[snwbrdr435]

Glad your feeling better, you looked pretty bummed out that night. Even though I don't race(yet!) you are a pleasure to hangout with at the track, I hope to see you at round 6!

[mzdagrl]

I was wondering why I hadn't seen you around much this weekend. Listen to your wife, she knows you very well and has a good head on her shoulders. I'd suggest you come up next round and just hang around the pits, support your team and do things that remind you of why you are there - to have fun. It is club racing, after all.

(yeah, yeah, I don't race, but trust me, I have been there in my own way)

[SVRACER01]

theres only a couple of smooth transitions in T1. i know of 2 and both have pretty good reference points as to where they are. if you arent going over one of them then you have to force yourself to let go of the brakes before the transition (kinda like in T3). ive hit that transition in the wrong spot a few times. ive been lucky not to lose the front completely but ive had a few good "moments" there. with the forks being near fully compressed and then asking them for just a little more so abruptly at that lean angle is tough.

[Doc]

Thanks for this. After all of the criticism I get from certain forum members here (whether kidding or not, since it tends to get pretty damned harsh sometimes), hearing something like this really helps. I'm grateful to have the people I do around me at the track. Some great peeps. Mainly the ECK and RSP teams, the misfits in center garage 2, and the T1a crew.

Annalisa and I did our own thing for dinner on Sunday and I talked to her about the possibility of hanging up my racing hat. She says that I tend to over-think and make abrupt decisions about my motorcycle life sometimes. She advised to take round 6 off to think about things. Thank God I have her. I don't want to give up racing, but I spent 3 months of PT getting back into a condition where I was in minimal pain, only to have to start all over again due to a stupid mistake. I've been lucky. In all of the time I have been riding on the track, I've crashed 5 times, all of them low-sides and have walked away with minimal damage. I can't help but think that maybe my days are numbers before my luck runs out.

I know how critisism can make you feel... Don't let anyone get in your head, stop pushing yourself so hard and just go out and have fun. It's not like you are going to catch Pete this year.

[Pittenger5]

Doc brings up a good point Chuck, no matter how much criticism you get, you will NEVER suck as bad as Doc.

[Doc]

You see what I mean... you sleep with one guys girlfriend and...

[nt650hawk]

You know what happened with me and what I did.

Take whatever time you need. But please whatever you do continue to come up and be part of the program in whatever facet you may choose.