Race Day - results

**1000RR** · 08-29-2011, 09:55 AM

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EDIT: Video added below...
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Had my second race day (ever) yesterday, and what a day. My debut was back in May but it's been a crazy summer so it wasn't till now that I could get back to it.

We have two categories of racers - Novice and Expert. And then they throw in an extra class of racing called Amateur. The Amateur classes are where the faster Novices race w/some of the Experts. Great stepping stone for the Novices. So this day, I decided to race one Novice Race (600cc class) and two Armature races (600cc and 1000cc classes). My race bikes are '03 R6's, so racing in the 1000cc class is always a treat

.

The first race was the Amateur 600 class and I gridded last and had a terrible start... didn't gain anything on the start and headed into turn one in last. Fought back and was able to grab 3rd in the end. 2nd place guy was too far out in front by the time I was able to navigate traffic to do anything to catch him (he was an expert tag too, so that added to the challenge to begin with).

Second race was a Novice 600 class race. Again, gridded last or second to last I think. (Grid spots are done according to points so having only raced once in the season although with good results, didn't put me up on the grid much). We took off and I had a better start, was able to bump into 3rd off the start and then worked on the riders ahead one at at time and was able to grab a first in that race.

Third race was my big race, Amateur 1000cc class (me still on my little 600

). Game plan was to give em hell and hope for a good race (some battling

). Gridded in the third row, last again

. There were 5 expert tags and four of us novice tags in the race. I was able to get by all the novice folks off the start and was right behind the 4th and 5th spot experts battling it out for position. I was sitting back behind them keeping up watching them battle and finally the 5th spot took 4th and now it was my turn to battle with the guy just passed. I stuck with him for a handful of laps and after figuring out I could hang, I finally made an attempt to pass on the front straight... no luck, back in line I went. Then out of a double apex, I was able to come underneath him on the exit and we fought for the next turn and I had position. 2 laps to go and I'm sitting out in front of him and gaining a little distance. I go into a hair pin and I try and get on the throttle immediately. And all of a sudden the rear spins up, the assend steps WAY out and I'm in the midst of a high side

The bike bucks me up and shoots me over the front of the bike. I was running a GoPro on my top triple and you can actually see my helmet come into the screen shot. The guy behind me said my asss was 2' off the seat. Someone up above was surely looking after me, because right then as the bike is bucking me off, I land back on the backside of the tank and back in the saddle I go. At this point, I'm slightly (VERY) confused and can't believe I'm still on the bike. Too much time was wasted and by me he went

. One more lap to go and I fought to reel him back and into the last turn we went and I was pretty late on the brakes and deep in the turn I darn near ran over him... my intention was to draft a little and then come out underneath of him to fight for the finish line. But my timing was off and I ended up going up above him right away which is a bad place to be because the wall on the front straight is coming up. There's some cones out there too that make the line between the pit-out area and the track. I'm hitting about 100 and coming up on those cones w/no place to go. Took out 5 or 6 of them and kept her steady and made it to the finish line, right behind the guy

. Was a great race, and probably the most fun I've had out there even though I came in 6th. But I gave him hell and I now believe I can get em (again) next time, but next time I won't give it back

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EDIT: Video added.

Cut some video last night, got the pass I made on the expert tag/guy, the near highside, his pass back, then me fighting to reel him back in the last lap. At the end you can see where I take out about 5 cones at about 85mph trying to get him back in heading to the finish line. Enjoy...

moto27 · 08-29-2011, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1000RR

Had my second race day (ever) yesterday, and what a day. My debut was back in May but it's been a crazy summer so it wasn't till now that I could get back to it.

We have two categories of racers - Novice and Expert. And then they throw in an extra class of racing called Amateur. The Amateur classes are where the faster Novices race w/some of the Experts. Great stepping stone for the Novices. So this day, I decided to race one Novice Race (600cc class) and two Armature races (600cc and 1000cc classes). My race bikes are '03 R6's, so racing in the 1000cc class is always a treat

.

The first race was the Amateur 600 class and I gridded last and had a terrible start... didn't gain anything on the start and headed into turn one in last. Fought back and was able to grab 3rd in the end. 2nd place guy was too far out in front by the time I was able to navigate traffic to do anything to catch him (he was an expert tag too, so that added to the challenge to begin with).

Second race was a Novice 600 class race. Again, gridded last or second to last I think. (Grid spots are done according to points so having only raced once in the season although with good results, didn't put me up on the grid much). We took off and I had a better start, was able to bump into 3rd off the start and then worked on the riders ahead one at at time and was able to grab a first in that race.

Third race was my big race, Amateur 1000cc class. Game plan was to give em hell and hope for a good race (some battling

). Gridded in the third row, last again

. There were 5 expert tags and four of us novice tags in the race. I was able to get by all the novice folks off the start and was right behind the 4th and 5th spot experts battling it out for position. I was sitting back behind them keeping up watching them battle and finally the 5th spot took 4th and now it was my turn to battle with the guy just passed. He stuck with him for a handful of laps and after figuring out I could hang, I finally made an attempt to pass on the front straight... no luck, back in line I went. Then out of a double apex, I was able to come underneath him on the exit and we fought for the next turn and I had position. 2 laps to go and I'm sitting out in front of him and gaining a little distance. I go into a hair pin and I try and get on the throttle immediately. And all of a sudden the rear spins up, the assend steps WAY out and I'm in the midst of a high side

The bike bucks me up and shoots me over the front of the bike. I was running a GoPro on my top triple and you can actually see my helmet come into the screen shot. The guy behind me said my asss was 2' off the seat. Someone up above was surely looking after me, because right then as the bike is bucking me off, I land back on the backside of the tank and back in the saddle I go. At this point, I'm slightly (VERY) confused and can't believe I'm still on the bike. Too much time was wasted and by me he went

. One more lap to go and I fought to real him back and into the last turn we went and I was pretty late on the brakes and deep in the turn I darn near ran over him... my intention was to draft a little and then come out underneath of him to fight for the finish line. But my timing was off and I ended up going up above him right away which is a bad place to be because the wall on the front straight is coming up. There's some cones out there too that make the line between the pit-out area and the track. I'm hitting about 100 and coming up on those cones w/no place to go. Took out 5 or 6 of them and kept her steady and made it to the finish line, right behind the buy

. Was a great race, and probably the most fun I've had out there even though I came in 6th. But I gave him hell and I now believe I can get em (again) next time, but next time I won't give it back

Good going Donny, sounds like you had a blast!!

**1000RR** · 08-29-2011, 10:57 AM

My 6th place finish was my most memorable race and the most fun I've had out there. It's not always about winning, sometimes the battles are the best part

**chopt** · 08-29-2011, 11:39 AM

The ability to regain your composer like that was awsome. Keep giving'em hell, somethings bound to give.

**1000RR** · 08-29-2011, 11:48 AM

The amazing thing about regaining composure after that, was when he passed me back, I went back on "the mission"... and tracked him back down and ran my fastest lap time of the day which was the last lap of that race. Just not quite enough though. But still a great lap time and a very rewarding race for sure.

**AMRRA12** · 08-29-2011, 11:58 AM

Way ta go!

**chopt** · 08-29-2011, 12:34 PM

FOCUS, is what it ball's down to. Now get better control of that right-hand wrist and wax some ass next time.

Nikk777 · 08-29-2011, 01:37 PM

Nice play by play....just wait till you race a 1000...that stepping out and bucking you out of the seat becomes common place untill you get used to it!!! I was over the bars 4 times or more my first weekend on the s1000rr! Smooth is key.

TheRedBaron · 08-29-2011, 02:39 PM

You tell it really well, felt like I was there. I too just BARELY started racing this year. Nothing beats it.. I have done a lot in my life, but in these short few months, racing has become my focus.. I guess there is a bug, and you can catch it! Good luck with the rest of the year!

**1000RR** · 08-29-2011, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikk777

Nice play by play....just wait till you race a 1000...that stepping out and bucking you out of the seat becomes common place untill you get used to it!!! I was over the bars 4 times or more my first weekend on the s1000rr! Smooth is key.

I certainly hope that getting bucked out of the seat doesn't become common place

Not too likely I will opt for a 1000 any time soon. Our local track is short and quite technical. A 600 actually has the track record. Not that the liter bikes aren't fast, but on this track there is truly not a need for a liter bike (aside from the fun factor

). Plus I figure putting a 600 out there will likely make me a better/faster rider quicker for the sole reason of having to keep up w/the liter bikes will take corner speed and getting on the throttle sooner.