2
I got back into the country the Thursday before with plans on getting to work on the bike. Everything needed to be done. Between the lock down and some other stuff, my brother and I were still sanding and painting at 3:30AM Thursday morning. I arrived at the track that night and made camp and finished up a few things on the bike.
Friday practice, I got out and was feeling quite slow all day long. I was more than 6 seconds off of my PB of 20.6. During the afternoon, I ran out of gas around turn 9. That is a long walk back while pushing.
GTU - After running out of gas on Friday, I vowed never to have to walk back to the pits ever again and put in more than usual for a 20 minute race accounting for the extra 5 minutes. Can you see where this is going? Out on pre-grid, the low gas light came on as they waved us out and there was nothing I could do at that point. I was gridded literally in the back row behind everyone in the race. I got a great start and ended up somewhere towards the middle of the AM GTO/GTU pack and started working my way up. After picking off people slowly, I followed Brett Babaian around for a few laps before deciding to make the pass during what I deemed to be late enough in the race that it would stick. During that same lap, as I got back on the straight, I felt the bike stutter and I decided to just try to nurse it over the line. At this point, I backed off the pace a bunch and just putted around. As I came down the straight the next time, the bike started really choking and I was about a bike width from the wall going all of maybe 40mph with my hand waving. As I saw the flagger wave the white, Greenwood blew past me on the left and Cronin between me and the wall (Cronin and I have since talked and all has been ironed out, apparently, his arm hit me). Left side of the straight from now on........ The bike ran out of gas on the back straight. Gave away what could have been my first AM podium.
5 of 6
Best of 1:22.189
MWSB - I got a great start and was in the mix off the start again this time. I made a few passes and got myself towards the front but lost 2 positions over the next few laps and maintained it until the red flag. During the restart, We were regridded based on where we were before the flag and I was amped to have picked up a position or two. On the green flag, my clutch lever got stuck on my hand guard and released in two steps. This gave me a very big unexpected wheelie and I'm pretty sure everyone got past me. I was too pissed to notice if that was the case but it sure felt like it. I was able to get past a few riders over the remaining laps. This one was quite disappointing.
9 of 15 (Laptimes shows 7th but results show 9th?)
Best of 1:23:170
MWSS - I can't remember much of this race except for it felt like everyone was getting past me.
10 of 13
Best of 1:22:778
Very tough weekend with some dumb mistakes thrown in there. I'm going to have to refind those 20's that I had last year.
I was also pulled aside late Sunday and talked to about swoopy lines. Apparently the announcer called it in?? Does anyone have any insight?
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Originally Posted by wiggeywackyo
there was no way I was letting you take my podium.
. GTU I usually go with about half a tank. gives enough to get through a race and a half if there's a red flag. I've never been one to run it really close to empty on purpose because I don't want to not finish because of running out of gas. I did almost go out with the gauge flashing, had the bike off the stands and was like oh shit cause I don't even take the warmers off till after 3rd call. thought I was gonna be late but luckily Scotty James was right there and ran over and helped and I made it to pregrid no problem.
Wake up call.
