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Swapped fork oil and installed Emulators in my forks late wednesday night. Got outta work early on Thursday and headed up to the track.
Up early for Penguin Advanced with a bunch of roudy NESR'ians the next day. Did the track walk, took tons of notes, realized that EX's don't take lines like most any other bike. Still good, Petah Kates knows his shit or at least he makes us think so. Lots of good info!
Follow the leader was a snooze fest. Open practice gave me the chance to ride a little. BJ followed me around, I followed him and then he gave me a good 5 minutes of advice. Mostly entry and mid corner speed. I then let him in on my secret to slow: suspension. He agreed things would be a bunch easier with a new shock. Just so happens I have a new one now! (thanks Darrell!). Just gotta install it this week some time.
Practice on Saturday was like a dream. Blue sticker novice and I was passed by one guy and the practice was the FULL 15 minutes. Kept getting held up by these pesky little 600's and 750's though to the point of me hitting the brakes going into 12 after I already setup my corner entrance speed. No biggie, still got both practices in full with NO reds. Felt good, worked on entry into 1 and running a good strong 2. Also tried to work on tight turn 10 but no matter what i can't get used to it. Just kinda off diving hard into a 95% blind corner. Hopefully they won't do it anymore but it sounds like they will. I'll run it again but I prefer regular 10.
Ran LWSM on saturday. Weather was mint. Got 2nd on the holeshot and diced with two motards for a while. They started to walk away from me mid race. Was content with a 3rd. They suddenly started getting much closer as they went through traffic so I started to work my mojo. Kept running deep in 3 hard on the brakes. Outbraking on the inside got me the final pass for 2nd on the last lap. I'm sure I really stuffed the guy but hey, that's racing. At the checked I was a couple seconds behind the first place motard. Given another lap, I was sure I coulda caught him. On the cooldown lap I got the wave and thumbs up from the guy I took second from. Good to know I'm not hated out there!
No practice Sunday. Rain. No race tires and my current tires were completely spent. Let the bike sit all morning and all day. Suited up in the rain for race 14. Darrell convinced me that since there was only 4 of us Ptwin'ers running, a 4th won't be bad. What the hell, I need races anyways to move up to AM. Start was kinda funny, they listed us as Wave2 on the grid and then started everyone at once. Darrell and Conner didn't know so they got held back. I putted around the track and let Conner go by. Never caught the older gentlemen on the other EX but I watched conner make the pass on him. I knew I was taking last place and was ok with it since Supercorsa's on wet cold pavement that are shagged anyways is like riding on ice (literally in turn 2). Waving yellow came out as I was meandering through 2. Saw a white fairing with 386 on it while coming into 3. Looked up to see Darrell walking his bike through the tire barrier. Oh no!
Took my time and let people pass (waved them by) for the rest of the cold wet rain. Got lapped by a couple motards (guys I beat in LWSM) who gave me a nice wave. Ended up taking 3rd with my right exhaust nearly falling off. Two trophies! My index is still intact after the rain race and if I complete the rest of my races this season I'll be ready to move up to AM! WEEE!!!
What I need:
New tires, REALLY bad. Probably staying with Supercorsa's.
Spare wheels!
Rain tires!
That's basically it for now....got tire warmers finally!
Gotta thank Darrell for this weekend. He helped me out a bunch and really will do most anything for a team mate in need.
Another good weekend!
And thanks to Mr.Valvestem for the bonus score of parts!!!
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