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It was great to get back to the track. For the first time, I decided to do the Friday practice, since I had not been on the SV since October and I had done quite a bit of work to it over the winter. Practice was pretty uneventful. By the end of the day, I was running an average of 2.5 seconds off my personal best, which made me extremely happy, considering the chilly temps.
Saturday, 4/28
With the temperature in the high 30's, I decided to skip the first practice, since I rode the previous day. I did go out for second practice and had a best lap in the high 22's, right in line with the previous day.
Race #3: Amateur GTL
The butterflies, which I had in practice seemed to disappear and I felt relaxed. I took the holeshot just ahead of Brady Ward (122) and ran away from the pack, except for Chris Rau (245), who got me on lap 4 coming out of T10. I tried to reel him in, actually contacting his rear wheel just before tip-in in T3. We both held back from passing an expert rider and my bike hopped into the air, nearly stopping my heart cold. I just couldn't find enough to get Chris, who was running an FZR400, punched out to 560. That's the order we finished. I took a 2nd at the checkered with a best lap of 1:21.949.
Race #8: Amateur LWGP
Almost a repeat of the GTL, I grabbed the holeshot once again and stayed there for almost 3 laps, when Chris Rau got me on the inside going into T11, as I hesitated to pass an expert. Again I tried to track him down, but just couldn't find it in me. I took the checkered once again in 2nd place with a best lap of 1:21.716.
Sunday, 4/29
Again, the thermometer was registering high 30's at the time of the first round of practices, so I passed. Second practice, I just wanted to warm up, so nothing stellar to report there.
Race #4: Amateur LWSB
This time, Chris Rau got the holeshot and I went into T1 in second. We both ran a great outlap. He a 1:25 and I a 1:26, leaving the rest of the field behind. We both clicked off 1:21 second laps and when Gino gave me the 3+ second gap over the next place sign as I crossed the line on lap 2, I decided that second was a good thing. I wasn't feeling "it" for that race, so I just got confortable running 23's the rest of the race. For the third time in the weekend, I took 2nd place with a best lap time of 1:21.995.
I spoke to Graham Pattison after my LWGP race about bumping, since that race gave me my 400 amateur points in a 12 month period. He told me to fill out the paper work, so again I have petitioned to bump to expert. I am a bit more optimistic this time, as I now meet the criteria.
A great weekend for both the ECK team and myself in the frigid temps. No one on the team went down and every race that was started, was finished.
Cliffs:
Am GTL: 2nd, best lap 1:21.949
Am LWGP: 2nd, best lap 1:21.716
Am LWSB: 2nd, best lap 1:21.995
Thanks to the ECK team and all my friends for the help and support. Thanks to our sponsors: ECK Racing, Tony's Track Days, Woodcraft CFM/Armor Bodies, Pine Motor Parts, MTAG Pirelli, Street & Competition, OnTrack Media, Asthetic Rain, Motorcycles of Manchester, Spiegler, All Balls Racing, and Motul USA. A special shout-out to Adam Butler, Lou Peck, and David Olivares for the extra help when I needed it. I am ecstatic to be a part of the ECK team. I think this is going to be a great season, not only for myself, but the entire team!
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Congrats on all the podiums in what we all hope will be your final AM weekend.
Originally Posted by PPS26
