Race Reports

James (576) 2007 Race Weekend #1

Loudon, NH

April 30, 2007

First, my thoughts are with Geno, Pete, Aaron, Todd, and all the other racers that got injured this weekend. I hope you all have a quick recovery. Glad it wasn't worse fellas.

Second, Thanks to my folks for coming up to watch me race! I know it makes them nervous but I love having them come up to see!

Thursday Practice = short:
Someone oiled the track in the 2nd sessions ... the WHOLE track. Took and hour to clean. Only got two full sessions in. $100 ... oy. I was able to increase my drive out of 4 though, which allowed for the front wheel coming off the ground over the hill of 5 into 6 ... pretty fun!!!

Friday Practice = typical lrrs weekend weather ... all over the place:
First practice I went out on rains, track was drying in spots ... did a couple laps came in. Session 2 went out on DOTs and just wasn't feeling it 100%. I was still not hitting 1, 1a and 2 like I felt I should be. I sat out of session 3 to watch my session from 1a, and see how the experts do it. Looks at what marks they are hitting. I took some mental notes and went out for the last session ... WHAT A DIFFERENCE! It finally felt like turns 1, 1a and 2 made sense. The started raining 4 laps into the sessions, I pitted, but very satisfied with my newly found information.

Saturday:
GTO (finished 3rd): Gridded first row, out the outside (perfect spot), got a great start and stayed in it! Turned in for turn 1 .. I was ALONE!! "uh ... what happened" I said to myself ... there is usually 15 bikes in front of me at this point ... I was kind of in shock ... made my way through 1a, and through 2 ... some caught me on the exit of two, then into 3 ... I started to find myself falling back quickly. Feeling frustrated I started to try too hard, and just missed ALL my marks .. I was all over the place. I didn't fall into a groove until lap 5, but we got red flagged on lap 7 ... ran pretty consistent 25s ... eh

MWSS (finished 11th):
(This was a restart because of Geno's highside in turn 10)
Gridded row 2, inside ... held position 5 into turn 1. Again, still not feeling comfortable, trying to force everything ... this made me fall back again. At one point I dove into turn 3, 2 feet from the apex and another AM stuffed himself there as well ... I had no choice to check up, or else he would have taken my front tire with him. This made me lose a couple more positions as I slowed way down up 4. My saving grace for this race was that I has some free laps to put things together and clicked off 23s for the last three laps, which is just a second off my pace of last year. Felt good about that.

Sunday:
MWSB (finished 6th):
Best finish per number of riders in my AM career. It was a FUN race! I went into turn 1 in 3 place (starting from row 3). My drive out of two sucks, so I always lose spots there. I find myself in 6th. Run around in 6th for a couple laps, when on lap 3 I find my buddy Arcy trying to pass me up turn 4, I rip on the throttle and pull on him over 5 and stay ahead through the back section. We had another drag race out of ten, which I was able to win. We race up turn 4 on lap 4, I was able to hold him off, but in 10 he came out like a bullet and flew by me. He instantly put a good distance on me. I put my head down knowing I had a couple laps to catch him. I started working the brakes later into the corners and carrying more speed. By the last lap I was 100 feet behind him at the white flag I was almost able to get beside him into turn 1, but just too far ahead. I follow him through 1, 1a, and 2 and rip on the throttle out of two .. he hits the brakes for 3 and I stay in it. Not exactly sure where I braked ... but according to neal "I thought your brakes failed". I threw it in for 3 and just rode a defensive line for the rest of the lap! It was a great race!

I finished my weekend on a high note, and felt much better about being able to keep myself in check on the Sunday race. I find it frustrating to what people make it look so easy, and for me at times I struggle with myself. Sunday I felt good and I felt like I was able to stay in control while trying to chance people down. Plus I finished on two wheels! YAY!

Missed Erin being there this weekend! She is my rock at the track and it was really strange without her! Can't wait to have her back up there!

One weekend down! Can't wait until may!