2
OK, I'm actually starting this during the race weekend!
Saturday
1st practice felt pretty good; clicked off a 23, 24, and 25 among a couple slower laps. 2nd practice was longer, and felt better. Practiced passing a bunch, and got into the high 21s (PB is 1:21.512) LOTS of folks setting new PBs in 2nd practice today...
Race 8 - AM LWGP
Gridded in 7b, first row in our wave between 226 Brett Larson and 276 Shane Lewis. I got the holeshot at tip-in for T1, then 900 Jane Kennedy showed me a half bike and I checked up giving her the lead and slightly blowing T1A and 2 I stayed basically on her tail, then tried to do something different in T12 and blew it (don't try new things in races!). This gave 226 and new fast guy 212 Lou Peck a chance to get by me on the straight. I said "F*&$ NO!" when I saw Mr. Peck in my peripheral, and outbraked him into T1 again. Hot on Brett's tail now, I chased him for another lap, eventually passing him on the brakes in T3. Now it was head down and holding my position, passing some traffic through the next 5 or 6 laps. Second Place, best lap 1:21.841. If I hadn't checked up for Jane, I'm confident I could've used her as a carrot (she ran a couple 21 flats) and at gotten a new PB, if not passed her. Oh well, there's always tomorrow. I'm now eight points behind Brett Larson and the lead overall for the year in AM LWGP (technically Chris Rau still is in the lead, but he's bumped to EX).
Sunday
1st practice felt good... Finally got to practice what I was trying to work on in Lap 1 of yesterday's race and it definitely worked well. Went out for 2nd practice with 212 to get him some cajones entering T1, and again felt really good. Got separated from Lou so I just focused on pushing some limits, which worked well until I got on the throttle just a bit too quickly before the transition out of T12A and highsided onto the oval. Went down on the right side and rolled a lot, but neither I nor the bike got hit or hit anything. Bike damage: scrapes on the upper, slightly chewed up grip and muffler (Bootlick's can sliders did work though!), and broken peg. So far it looks like the new Woodcraft prototype pegs work as designed, but I'll check it out more later. Bill damage: bunch of scuffs on the suit and a sore right hip. Forgot to turn on my Mad Monkey Speed Qstarz GPS timer, but NHMS timing shows me turning four 22s in a row. Yay for fast consistency in practice! Can't wait for the races...
Race 9 - AM LWSS
I'm gridded in 1B, with 276 Shane Lewis to my left, and someone to my right whom I already don't remember. Flag drops and I take the holeshot, and stay in first the rest of the race. I got a 25 outlap (my fastest yet I think), three 22s, and three 21s including nearly tying my PB (1:21.532). Shane definitely made me work for it though! I'm now one point behind Shane and the lead in points for the year for AM LWSS.
Race 11 - AM Thunderbike
Gridded in 4A (the pole for this race), 900 Jane Kennedy again to my right, and two other big Ducatis to her right...just four of us in this race, but that's the biggest AM T-bike grid this year! I'm not looking forward to this race because I know Jane's been running 20s all weekend, but I am looking forward to getting a tow from her; and I have no idea how the other two racers will perform. Green flag flies and I get an awesome start! And then get a false neutral after hitting 2nd gear Jane and 214 Matt Dipadua sneak by my right as I find 2nd again and get back in the groove...and almost asspack Matt twice through the front chicane as he checks up behind Jane. If only I'd had a solid shift...sigh... Anyway now my goal is to keep Jane in sight. I'd reel them in on the corners, then they'd walk away on the straights. Their motoring down the straight slowly added up to a decent lead, but I'm very psyched to have kept them w/in sight the entire race (esp considering Jane's Duc is bored out to over 1000cc!). 3rd place, as well as another 25 outlap, and SEVEN 21-SECOND LAPS including a new PB of 1:21.375! I've got the overall points lead by 38 for AM T-bike; if I can at least get third place in the last three weekends of this season, I'll keep the lead
Despite the practice crash, I'm very happy with my weekend. HUGE THANKS to my RSP Racing teammates for the helping hands and words as always, as well as to Eric ct1200 for being a great pit bitch again this weekend, and to my super cute stolen-from-ECK umbrella girl Jeanine.
All my sponsors were, as always, much appreciated this weekend: Tony's Track Days for all the training and advice (missed being at NJMP with you guys!!), MTAG-Pirelli for the super-sticky Diablo Supercorsas (and #82 Pete Gaborio for the take-off <3), Dyno Solutions for the super smooth tune, Sport Bike Track Gear for some of the stuff that kept me safe in my crash, Brunetto T-Shirts for providing the duds for our umbrella girl, 434 Racer Parts, Mad Monkey Motorsports for the Qstarz laptimer and IMPECCABLE customer service, and MOTUL for the lubrication