1
Lets get right to it, shall we?
Showed up Friday, watched the races, helped the guys & chilled out in the pits. I win
Saturday
Practice
Just went out there for a little shake-down to see how my body would hold up after my tree hugging and uh... Well... Not bad but not good.
LWSS
Got the holeshot & led for a bit. Ricky tried getting around me in 3 and 6 but I said and shut the door. We went side-by-side through turn 3 TWICE on laps 1 and 2 with him on the outside... that was fun He also tried his usual move in the bowl by, squaring it off & showing a wheel on the inside at the grandstands... On the opening lap I was able to hold him off, but on lap 2 he got through.
Chris Cucinotta then got by me exiting T10. My wrist just wouldn't let me flip side-to-side or get on the gas the way I wanted to... had to do a little "finger walk" on the throttle and that delay was enough to open the door and he took advantage. I mustered a 1:21.5 out lap and a 1:18.1 on lap 2 but that was all I had in me, getting slower & slower, finishing with a very uncharactaristic 1:21.4, but with Scott Mullin at work, it was enough to land on the podium.
After three rounds, I'm in a tie for 2nd with Chris Cucinotta with 79 points.
Sunday
No practice. Just wanted to save myself for the race.
LWSB
Again, I got the holeshot, but Scott Mullin quickly took over the lead entering T3 on the brakes. Heading up over the hill I looked back and saw Rick Doucette and did something I don't think I've ever done before....... I waived him by. It was just the opening lap, yet my wrist and abdomen were already in pain. I didn't feel like affecting the race results by getting in the way so I let him through on the inside entering the bowl and off he went, chasing down Scott. Sorry Scott... I woulda loved to have held him off of ya for a little while longer but I just wasn't feelin it. Psyched you were still able to pull off the win, though!
A couple of laps later and Chris Cucinotta made his way through entering T11. It was a little bit of a close shave, but I avoided getting any nicks. Moments later, down the front straight, Sean Byrnes went blasting past us both to take over the last podium spot. He kinda chopped off Chris's nose on the pre-turn, which sent Chris wide into T1, but when I tried to take advantage, Chris slammed the door, keeping me in 5th. I managed a 1:18.186 on lap 6 but it was only enough to keep the two of them in sight, not make a move to re-pass. Even if I were able to get close enough to make a re-pass, I'm not all that sure if my body would have let me.
After three rounds, I'm in 4th place with 70 points, 5 points behind Sean Byrnes.
All things considered, I'm happy with the results. Times weren't where I wanted them to be and I was really hoping to participate in the 15 lap CCS/ASRA Thunderbike race, but it just wasn't happenin. But bottom line, I made it out there, did my best & got some bling to bring home with me so I can't really complain about that.
Best of all, I got to hang out at the track for 6 days with some of the best damn people I know and although trophies are nice, that's worth way more to me right now. Was pretty bummed I couldn't make it to "Stonerstock" to tip one back for Beet, but he was definitely on my mind and I'm sure he was callin me a wimpy ass git every time I got off the bike like a hurtin little bitch.
Wanna thank Tony's Track Days, MTAG Pirelli, On Track Media, Woodcraft, Street & Comp, Aesthetic Rain, Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists, Motorcycles of Manchester, All Balls, Chuck & Doug's Starter Motor & Battery Depot and everyone who came up to watch. Hope the fine racers of Loudon put on a good show for ya and I hope to see ya next round.