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I'm baaaaaaaaaack! Previous pb destroyed.More to come when I get home, or tomorrow.
OK, here is the full report.
Since I was just getting over being sick for a week and it was raining, I decided to head up Thursday morning instead of Weds. night. I ended up just hanging out Thurs/Fri, not wanting to go get myself and all my gear all wet and cold for fear of bringing back the cold.
Saturday, first practice, I'm STOKED to be riding. My bike is finally not giving me issues, allowing me to focus on my riding. Practice was fairly uneventful as I worked to get my riding back to where it needs to be. I was pleased to find that I was ~2 seconds off my PB, and all the fast guys appeared to be 2 secs off as well. It was cold, partially wet, etc. Traction was not abundant. I was also REALLY pleased to be withing a second of Don and Coleman, my 2 primary targets.
Saturday, GTL: I got a GREAT launch and found myself thinking I was going to be top 4 into T1. Then the HP factor kicked in and I remembered why we refer to bring an EX500 to GTL as "bringing a knife to a gun fight". I went into 1 in 6th and held that until halfway to 3, when another faster bike went by as though I forgot to twist the throttle. AJ then came past me out of 4 and gave me a wave to follow, hoping to drag me into the 24s. That was not to be, unfortunately. A few laps in Don (#557) got past me. Since he's recently been running a little faster than my PB, I decided he was the carrot and started stalking him. I got a bit tired and sloppy toward the end and let Don get away, but I knew I had a LOT more on the table, so I wasn't discouraged.
Sat PTWIN: Another good launch put me in with the motards for a moment. Didn't take long for Coleman to come around me between T1 and T1a, taking a motard or 3 in the process. AJ followed him by into T3, and I settled into 3rd. I didn't really expect to be able to catch those 2, so I was still happy to have Don behind me. A couple laps in I see a waving yellow into 3, and coming out of 4 I see AJ sitting by the tires. I then see his bike, on the racing line, and tighten up a touch to get by. Don eventually got around me and I set in to do some stalking, hoping to pass him back late in the race. A couple of "oh crap, what gear am I in?" moments (result of a much better drive from 12 than I'm used to) in 1-2 and a major moment in 11 let Don get away, and I settled in for an unexciting 3rd place finish.
Sunday I was set for the big show. My last race of the year, the bike was behaving, etc. I'd decided in my T11 moment Saturday that my rear tire was shot, so I bought a new take-off and mounted that up. With the new rubber, I felt unstoppable.
LWSM (aka, the good one!): Another killer launch brought me all the way out of T2 still in the lead. With AJ done for the weekend and Coleman gone to a wedding, this was basically a shootout between Don and I. There was a motard in that race too, but I decided before the race that I was only going to worry about the other EX's. A waving yellow into T1 and a bike in the T1a tires reminded me that as good as the bike felt, the track was still cold and not to push too hard. On the third lap Don slides past me into T3, and I'm in my groove. I'm feeling good, staying with him and planning the pass for the win. Last lap, and it's time. I came out of 12 hotter than usual, anticipating the white flag and wanting to be close to my vict... er... competition. Out of T4 I see Don look over his right shoulder. Sweet, I'm to the left. Then he looks over his left shoulder. He knows I'm there. He knows what I plan to do, and where I plan to do it. With a heartfelt "Game On!" into my helmet, I set it up into T6. I come in wide and stay in the gas later than he does. He sees me coming alongside him and starts to let off the brakes, pre-apex. I'm having none of it, and give the throttle cable a good stretching. I run all the way to the new apron outside T6, trying not to think about cold unused pavement and the change to off camber. With Don at my left elbow, the only option is WOT. Having the tighter line and a handful of throttle himself, Don sneaks inside me @ T7. I stay in it and target the 8 cone, knowing Don will be doing all he can to slam that door in my face. My bike is wobbling all the way from T7 to the tree house, but I stay in the throttle and beat him to 9. On the gas as early as I dare out of T10, I take a somewhat conservative line and pace through 11. I know he can't pass me there, and if I blow that turn he'll get me on the drag to the finish. It works, and I come out of 12 well. I can feel him breathing down my neck as I try to tuck my entire self behind my windscreen. Checkered flag, and I got him! Thrilled, I head back to the garage.
It wasn't until 15 minutes later I found out the lap times, and that I had shattered my PB of 1:25.5 with a 1:24.874! Anyone that was in the center garages toward the back straight heard me yelling when I did find out, I'm sure.
All in all it was a kick ass weekend, and a great way to wrap up the season. Huge thanks to my Team, Piston Pit Racing and all my team mates. All the sponsors of Piston Pit Racing, with a special thanks to Advantage Contracting. Without them, this wouldn't be possible for me. Big thanks to my girlfriend Jess, who has taken on the roll of a girlfriend and a full time pit crew at the track. This really allows me to focus on my riding more. All my friends and fans (I'm looking at you Paul and Chippy, who knew I had fans?!) for the support. I could not have asked for a better season, or a better way to end it. Next year can't come soon enough!
Round 7 Highlight Vid:
Round 7 Compilation - YouTube
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Originally Posted by Chippertheripper
