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Practice session 1- Shakey at best. Softened the rear spring at the end of the last race weekend and it took some getting used to.
Also, the Alley was a man short this weekend with hammadown absent but also a man up with "new guy", apollomx681.
Practice session 2- Muuuuuch better. The adjustments made were in the right direction, I just had to get my head in the game. At lap 3 the session was red flagged due to a crash at the top of the hill.
Race 3- Felt great until I realized I didn't drink enough water. My mouth was dry come mid-race. My times started getting consistant even though I pulled a bonehead maneuver and passed on a waving yellow before the next flag station...Figured out why I was placed in 7th on the final results.
I decided to dial back the front springs at that point as it didn't feel like it matched what the rear had to offer as far as tracking and handling goes.
Race 11- With the new and untested setup, I had to make the most out of the warm up lap. It was then I was going to decide whether or not to put the front springs back to the previous setting. I felt pretty good when I gridded so I went with it.
Green dropped and I launched pretty poorly. I made my way up to 4th for a good part of the race. It was a single mistake I made going into T3 where a blue Gixxer reaped the benefits. I would not be able to reel him in for the remainder of the race and placed 5th as a result.
The good thing to come out of that was a 1.21.8 trying to get around this guy. He'd pull on me on the front straight, I'd catch him in 1 and get a better drive that he out of 2 but he simply had more motor. He would park it in 3 nearly every lap and I had one chance to get under him but decided to play it safe in the interest of both of us going home safely. Making the pass just wasn't worth it, IMO. Next time he'll get a lesson in OMGWTF-latebraking.
So I earned my first wood for placing 5th and hit my goal of 21's.
This race weekend was dedicated to the memory of my Uncle Gary. It was 3 years ago August 7th that he did himself in, ultimately for reasons none of us will ever understand.
I rode my best with my uncle in mind and also with the unmatched support of my teammates in fuckin Zip Tie Alley Racing.
Next weekend the sights are set on hitting 'teens and I hope the F4i is feeling up to it because I can see it happening.
A big thanks to Mongoose441, wookie, Pittenger5 and apollomx681.
As always, it's a great pleasure to ride in the Alley with these guys.
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Originally Posted by Dieseldan
