Alright Race Fans, We're Back!

NorthEast Motorcycle Road Racing - NEMRR Round 1 is done and dusted. TLDR: HWSS 2nd, Dash for Cash MWGP 3rd and 3rd overall, MWF40 2nd (damnit!) MWSS 1st (finally!)

Here's the long version: Friday practice with Penguin Racing School Inc. was awesome. warm and cloudy conditions allowed me to get up to speed perhaps quicker than any other season. But things would change quickly as they do at Loudon.

Saturday was a rain soaked affair and it would persist through Sunday morning. At least the temps were mild at around 60 degrees.

HWSS: I got an OK launch and slotted in behind Ian Beam. He rode really well and I had nothing for him. Took a safe 2nd place.

MWGP Seacoast Sport Cycle Dash for Cash: Gridded on the 3rd row, I had some work to do. I got a perfect launch and threaded the needle between bikes going sideways on the painted stripe to slot into third position behind Beam and Eric Wood.

Eric had a couple of bobbles and I was able to come around the outside of 9 and make the pass stick. Ian was checking out again despite me running some good times early on. Eli Colby finally came through and set off after Ian. I tried to latch on, but was starting to spin the tire and couldn't drop my pace.

I knew I had close company, and Justin Landry put a move on me out of T6 into 7, but as he tried to accelerate into T8 he went sideways and was ejected about 1 second after the pass. I was too close and had nowhere to go. I readied myself to hit his bike and possibly dive into T9 face first, but just as I was about to hit it, the bike spun and a door opened. I went straight through. No contact. The bike then closed the hole behind me and Eric took to the dirt on the inside to avoid it.

It took me a second to get my head back in the game as I couldn't believe I was still riding. The laps were ticking by, but I was starting to spin enough that I was losing drive and running a bit wide. Eric got by me but just a couple of corner later the red flag came out and I was scored in 3rd. That was probably the most fun I've ever had racing in the rain. Phew!

Sunday we basically had a noreaster. 46 degrees, spitting rain, then 25-30mph wind with stronger gusts at times. Yay!

I had race 1 MWF40. The rain had stopped, but the track was drying slowly so we all chose rain tires. On the sighting lap it was clear that the track was already 95 percent dry. I got the holeshot and tried to carry good corner speed and be smooth on the throttle. I built a gap, but as the laps went on the rear start drifting as I reached lean angle, and I was a sitting duck. Justin Landry passed me on the last lap to take the win. I took 2nd.

MWSS: It was dry, but now the wind was CRANKING out of the west northwest. I took the holeshot, but within a few corners the red flag was out. We did a quick re-grid, but with that cold wind, our tires were just getting colder. I took another holeshot and chanced trying for a few fast laps. No one else took the chance so I had a huge gap on the field and just eased it home for the win.

It was great to be back with the racing family and we all had a blast despite the conditions.

Thanks to everyone at NorthEast Motorcycle Road Racing - NEMRR and all of my sponsors: Woodcraft Technologies, DP Brakes, Superbike Services 44, Cyclesmith Track Days, Vanson Leathers Inc., #mtagpirelli, MINT Project Llc

Thanks to everyone in the center garages. And everyone for your kind support of Kerry and me as we face this health challenge. Family first, Racing second!

Some pics: https://photos.app.goo.gl/j6Chw8a3TW4YmxPm7