[s a x m a n]

Friday:
We lucked out today with dry track all afternoon. My first session was alittle all over the place. I came in, got focused and went out and found the groove again. I got down to my race times from last weekend (19s and some 18s) and ran my laps within 1-3 tenths of each other. Very pleased with today and know where I picked up some time.

Saturday:

What an interesting day!

I went out to practice on Bridgestones ... not enough time to get used to them. Under braking they were very different. I switch back to Pirellis for the races.

MWSS (1st Place):
Gridded 2nd Row, slot 1, got a good start and followed the guy in pole into 1. We went into three, me just behind him, but he hit the brakes too hard and threw it away. I got on the brakes as bike and body were in front of me, and lifted the rear off the ground and got out of shape. Set it down, made sure the coast was clear to turn in and powered up 4. Lead the rest of the race until the red flag on lap 5 to take the win!

MWGP (DNF - stupid):
Gridded front row, ok start, 2nd place into turn 1. Lap 2, I almost get my front removed in turn 3 by a wacky AM (115), but check up just enough to keep it on two wheels. Stay in 3rd for 5 laps, said AM highsides out of 12, causing red flag. We restart, they say 7 laps left ... ok, experts off, crash in turn 1. So we do a cool down lap, to pregrid, then another warm up. Final start, 2nd into 1 and follow for a couple laps. Rider screws up in 11 allowing me to take the lead. I hold the lead until the end of the 2nd to last lap. Follow him for a lap to plan my over taking. We get onto the front straight for the white flag (last lap) and as we go by start finish my bike starts to die on me at full throttle ... out of gas! ugh! I try to hang and see if I can make it, but over turn 5 into six there is just nothing left in it. I put the hand up, many people go by at this time and I just pit in to save my index.

I had a plan to make a move for the win at the end, but my lack of planning for fuel cost me that race and a possible win. Such is life ... I'll hopefully make up for it tomorrow.

My times have been VERY consistent this weekend. A ton of 18s, so I'm please. Looking for some 17s tomorrow, have a couple places of improvement, so we'll see.


Sunday
MWSB (2nd place):
Got an OK start, was 2nd going into 1, then quickly got passed in turn 6 to get pushed back to 3rd. I followed 898 and 318 as they started to battle. You could tell someone was going to crash, so I say back and let them go at it. On lap three 318 made a move into turn 1, and 898 tried to get back by braking later but harder and tucked the front heading into the corner. You could see it coming, so now I was 2nd and had to hang with 318. He was riding really well and I was working to keep him in sight. We came up on the experts for the last couple laps, which slowed him up enough to give me a chance to catch up. He gets by the first expert at the start of the last lap, and I quickly get by just as he passed the 2nd expert. I try to make a move on the 2nd expert into turn 3, but was too late and had to check up. I tried one more time to make a run around turn 9, but followed to close over 8 and couldn't get a good run. Half hearted try into 11, but the gap was too big and settled for 2nd as I turned in for 12. Good race though!


HWSS (1st place - personal best lap):
This was one of the most fun races I have ever been apart of. 318 and I got off the line well and he got the holeshot. With in two laps we caught an expert, 318 got by cleanly and I set up to pass on the exit of 10, but the expert checked up causing me to just miss running into the back off him .. 6 inches away at most. I got it together and passed into 11 with 318 still in sight. We continued 1. 2 for laps, coming up on another expert a couple laps later. He gets the expert into one, I take a tight turn 1 really accelerate out of 1 to make the outside pass in 1a. We get to last lap and I brake later than ever into 1 closing the gap, and close the gap even further into 1a and we flip into 2 and I roll on the throttle fast and hard. We go into three and I keep the throttle wide open until he sits up, he does and I pass him on the inside and get on the brakes hard, turn in and power up 4. I've been working hard in turn 6, so this was the test. I get over the front of the bike and keep on the gas over the hill longer than I ever have. Brake just enough to turn it in and roll the throttle to the stop, back off alittle for 7, then to the stop again for 8 As I approach the tree house the engine is bouncing of the rev-limiter (huge smile on my face because I know this is a HOT lap). I brake slightly for 9 and throw it in hard, quickly gaining on the next expert. Follow expert into 11 and through 12 and power onto the front straight for the win and a personal best laptime of 1:17.6. I think if I had clear track from 9 to the start finish it could have been a lap in the 16s.

That last lap both tires were moving in 1, 2, 4, 9, and 10 and it felt like the rear spun all the way out of 2. I don't think I've ever riden so hard before. I learned so much that lap though, about how you can really ride these bikes and what type of aggression it requires to start cutting these fast times.

Overall GREAT day and some excellent racing! 318 is a great clean racer and alot of fun to battle with! Looking forward to the next weekend!

[Paul_E_D]

Sweet!!! Congrats

[BMFR6]

well done jamie, congrats. i missed being up there this weekend. i'll catch you next time.

[Daytona440]

Originally Posted by BMFR6

well done jamie, congrats. i missed being up there this weekend. i'll catch you next time.

Ditto. awesome weekend.

[OreoGitorio]

Congrats, bro! You looked awesome out there

[RyanNicholson]

congrats man, it was fun watching you battle with Ronnie.

Do I smell white plates in the somewhat near future?

[s a x m a n]

Thanks guys!

Ryan,

I'm really wanting to bump up ... but having a lot fun with the front battles as well. If I can find it in myself to get down to the 17s with some regularity then I'll be more happy to bump. 18s would not put me where I would like to be when I bump ... but we'll see.

Like I said, I learned a lot in that last lap of the HWSS race on Sunday, so I'm hoping I can take that with me into practice and build on it.

[Pittenger5]

Good job dude

[RyanNicholson]

Originally Posted by s a x m a n

Thanks guys!

Ryan,

I'm really wanting to bump up ... but having a lot fun with the front battles as well. If I can find it in myself to get down to the 17s with some regularity then I'll be more happy to bump. 18s would not put me where I would like to be when I bump ... but we'll see.

Like I said, I learned a lot in that last lap of the HWSS race on Sunday, so I'm hoping I can take that with me into practice and build on it.

i hear ya bud, its definitely a big jump. I miss the days of running with the front runners in AM haha...when you're ready we'll be waitin for ya

congrats again on a successful weekend

[s a x m a n]

Thanks to Neal and Arcy for the great shots:

[Crash Dummy Denno]

white plates?

[BMFR6]

Originally Posted by Denno

white plates?

as in bumping up to expert.

[s a x m a n]

i don't know yet ... big jump and my times are not there yet ... we'll see after this weekend

[BMFR6]

no shame in waiting

[nt650hawk]

SWEET. Excellent write up. I was reading the last lap and it sounded like 17's. Think about it Jamie. You are passing Experts on the 2nd lap. This should easily put you in the mid pack Expert. Just the white plate and black # is worth an easy 1 second.

115, Orlando; has been a AM as long as I have been racing since 2004. Nice guy, but I have noticed that he is very erratic and had destroyed many bikes and bones. He was supposed to be an Expert in April, but "things got mixed up in the office". He told me he was going to be an Expert for the May's race. Guess not. Best to stay in front. I have no doubt you will.