Race reports

Aug 14-15: Barber

USGPRU

Pat #233

This race weekend also crept up on me, I had to put a new top end in and some other parts, and I thought everything was fine when I tried to start the bike the day before I had to leave to get to Barber. It ran like crap and kept leaking water into the crankcase. After fixing it friday after work (I thought), I got on the road saturday at about 4am and got to the track in the morning. Yeah, it was POURING RAIN !

I bought some VP fuel outside the track, since Barber is a snob and has Sunoco pumps in the paddock, and got soaking wet in doing so. Got to the pits, a lot of USGPRU folks were in one spot and I set stuff up. I thought the bike was good to go but 2 laps into the USGPRU qualifying session, the bike crapped out and I sat it out near turn 5. I was mad since I thought I had fixed it, but luckily it wasn't anything major, just more water in the crankcase. But I also would be near last on the grid for the 250 race since I didnt get a timed full lap in. I knew if it did any damage to the crank, it wouldn't matter too much since I had to replace it anyways -- I just wanted to get through the weekend.

Somehow, for once in my life, the saturday races ended EARLY and there was still time left to be had on-track. CCS, in a glimmer of brilliance, opened up for some extra practice sessions late in the day. Now, I didn't hear the PA calls about this, and I still had rain tires on my bike -- but since I'd fixed the motor I figured flogging it for a lap or two wouldn't hurt too bad. I got out and made 2 or 3 laps on the rain tires before calling it quits. This was good because then I was sure the motor was going to be OK.

I got out for the 250 race and really started riding well. Later I found out somehow I rode my personal best fast lap at Barber on my 250. How I did that, I don't know. I made a few mistakes, but worse, the bike cut out twice going into turn 5. It was like someone just killed the motor cold, it was strange. I suspected something electrical but just had to finish the race. I had been battling with a group of about 5 guys, and as such could've finished as high as about 5th? But, the motor cutting out, plus the fact that my left foot cramped up pretty bad (shifting foot, did not feel good not being able to downshift exactly when and how I wanted to), led me to finish a lonely 9th place. 

Overall not terrible, but I know I can ride faster and harder. I need the equipment underneath me and I need a clearer head in order to succeed --- this translates quickly into MONEY. I can work on riding all I want with what I have, but a newer/faster bike could easily lend quite lower lap times. It is also very frustrating knowing that you are restrained to a certain envelope when you know you can ride harder than that, given the right circumstances.

Anyways, due to having to make multiple starts from 0 mph when the bike crapped out in turn 5, I had beaten the clutch up really good. So for the LW GP race later in the day, I fried the clutch on the start and only did about 4-5 laps in that race. I did have a good battle with Mark Stiles though, who is a very good clean rider. But, once it really started to go, I knew it was pointless so I came in. It was hot as hell also (August in Alabama) so, I called it quits and therein ends my short (and not sweet) 2006 race season.

The USGPRU series continues to impress me, and the competition is fierce. And growing! Many more racers have come out to battle for the 125 and 250 titles, from young guns to older warriors.  Next year I know I'll have to bring an updated bike and bring my A-game in order to feel good about racing -- not just going out and circulating, having problems and being frustrated, and throwing away a lot of money. But then again, nothing replaces the rush of motorcycle roadracing and this is why many of us still do it regardless !!!

2007 should be a better year, at least I sure as hell hope so. After being laid off in Sept 06, racing stopped for the moment.