Another Race Day - Results from yesterday...

[1000RR]

Kept the rubber side down, not too many mistakes and those that were made, were learned from quite well

Summary of the weekend:

• Trackday on Saturday, got to control ride, helped some folks out w/lines and such here and there. Was fun to give back and help others achieve their goals.
• Trackday was first time back on this configuration since May, personal best time previously was a 58s flat.
• Sunday was race day, my third career race day. New tires, got em scrubbed in, everything felt pretty good.
• Race #1 (Amateur 600 class - Experts and Novice combine) - all day was dropping down into 1st gear in the hair pin (risky business passing by neutral), without a slipper you really have to be on the ball blipping otherwise rear end locks up = blows turn! Got a great start, hit the hair pin in the first lap, downshifted, hit neutral (OH SHITT). Instead of braking and coasting and waiting till after the turn to slam it back into first, and risk loosing many spots, I decided to say fukit and slam it down into first before the hair pin anyway... pop the clutch and hang on to make the turn. Started chattering bad, blew the turn a bit, tipped it in, got back on the gas -only lost one spot. Unfortunately it was too far of a distance and I wasn't able to catch the guy (#505) back. Now he just made my list of "to do's" - BEAT #505 ;-\ Not sure where I finished but the rest of the race I was kinda by myself. There was one pack ahead of me and a big pack behind me... me in the middle doing my own thing - kinda boring. Best time was a 58.4 Which kinda pissed me off - wasn't happy w/my time.
• Race #2 (Novice 600 class) - Gridded in the front row but all the way on the outside. Smoked the start and was into Turn one first. The guy behind me wasted no time and passed me out of the turn. Then he just checked out... just continued to pull every turn. Turns out he was an expert racer that hadn't raced for a couple years so it's mandatory to be placed back into Novice. So he's taking first no doubt... I'm in second doing OK. Then out of no where #505 is on my ass. Didn't even know he was back there... he must have some ninja exhaust on that bike! He poked his tire out there to attempt a pass, and I said not this time. So now I moved my lines in tighter and went to full on defensive lines. Held him off the entire race, he would try and stuff me on turn one a couple/few times and I would slam the door and get my front tire in there first and not give it up. Made a mistake that all most cost me though, into the last turn prior to the front straight (and finish line) and down to the end of the race, I cut the last turn tight and scrubbed too much speed... opened the door for him to race me for the #2 spot. I hunkered down in the bike full throttle, through the gears, almost to the finish and I'm bouncing off the rev limiter - opted to not shift and continue bouncing. I was too focused to see him next to me and apparently it was a photo finish. From what I heard, I beat him by somewhere around 1 to 3 one thousandths of a second (.001 - .003) . Next time I'll go on and shift. So I maintained and kept 2nd. Got a personal best of 57.7s AND, I put a check next to one of my "to do's" - BEAT #505
• Race #3 (Amateur 1000 class - Big boys - Experts and Novices) - Was in the 3rd row, gridded 10th. Made it through turn one and got to the 7th spot. Passed #6th spot in the last turn of the first lap. Then #5 spot (the start of the expert guys) was about one turn out from me. After I realized he wasn't walking away or anything I decided to try and catch him. Previous to this, I would have said it was a very tall order - catch up and overcome that big of gap. Turns out to be the same fella that I did a little battling with on the same race two weeks prior where I took the video of me almost high siding and ended up giving him back the lead never to regain. So I decide to push some of my brake marks back in order to catch him, in the front straight I probably pushed it back about 3 bike lengths (quite a bit). Fastest I had ever been into turn one for sure. Found I was gaining ground. Found myself lower in all the turns than I had ever been before. One particular turn (double apex) I found I was actually having to pick my knee up so I could get the bike lower in order to get a better exit and drive out of the turn. To my delight, the bike was holding fine and sticking like glue. Almost felt like I was gonna drag a calf or something. Finally, coming into turn one, I was coming on him fast and furious... right up on his ass and then I just went a little above him and then ducked under him on the exit and off to turn 2 we race. Basically a game of chicken. I was about to let off and give it to him when he (a split second before I did so) broke -whew, got it. So now we're heading into the hairpin, turn #3 w/me leading now. I downshift to 1st, didn't blip too well (no slipper on this bike), rear end starts hopping, run it wide/deep and he passes back - ah crap! So now it's on again. We come back around to the front straight and I get great drive outta the last turn. I am trying to pass him on the straignt, but we're pretty equally powered, so I dive the bike down way early into turn one just to try and lay claim. I made it there first but I had to really brake to be able to stick my line, now I see him outta the corner of my eye trying to carry his speed on the outside, so now it's on again... I stick the pass and on to turn 2 we go... now it's all defense and hope that damn white flag comes out soon! Out it came and one lap left. Into the last turn, but this time, I broke late, ran it hard, and on the throttle early... no chance of a pass at the end this time. Won the battle, took 4th in the race - all time favorite race I've ever raced hands down! New best lap time ever on the track - 56.5s

Now for some really cool news... Earlier yesterday (after my 1st race), I heard rumor from the powers that be for the race club that I was getting bumped to Expert next year and would get my white plate The last race of the day probably sealed that deal because the typical cut off to advance to expert is a lap time of 57.5s. It was a very proud day to get that news, especially given Saturday was only my 8th track day ever, and Sunday was my 3rd career race day ever. Have had a LOT of great coaching and help out there, so this was certainly not achieved alone

[chopt]

Sounds like you're having a blast. Congrat's, and thanks for sharing.......

[MotoMadMan]

Damn after reading that I want to start racing. Props on the great times. Glad you kept it safe and had a blast while doing it. Good job on getting your new plate! Keep it up.

[randomwalker]

A HUGE congrats for climbing up the ladder to Control Rider and Expert Racer. Didn't realize you did it in such a short time period. That's really awesome. You'll be with the big dogs now!

[Triple Threat]

Holy smokes, sounds like a day you'll remember forever. Nice one!

Triple