Race Report

It's a good thing for NASCAR there isn't a way to put the average middle-American inside the helmet of a Superbike racer as we head into turn one at Brainerd. On my Superstock bike I was consistently clocked at 170mph at the end of the nearly mile long front straightaway. You set up on the far left of the track and just keep the throttle wired as you bend it in and pop out from behind the windscreen. The windblast crushes your helmet flat against your face, and the energy needed to twist the bike onto it's side at that speed is incredible. You barely have to lift the throttle off of the stop to keep the back end in line at the apex, and the G-forces are just insane as you immediately open it right up again. There is no doubt in my mind at all, that if there were a way for just anyone to experience that chain of events, Superbike racing would be the most popular of all sports. Hands down.

Practice went fairly well leading up to the important stuff in the weekend. I got a fair bit of track time in on Thursday and by Friday my best times were down into the 1:42.8 rage. Although I'd been to the track a number of times before it was almost like learning it all over again because since last year they have done a LOT of crack sealing on the racing surface with that rubber/tar stuff that squirms your car around on the interstates. I think all the racers would have appreciated them putting some sand/gravel in with the tar as it was just crazy going into some of the turns. The list of people that crashed on the sealer just in turn 8 alone is pretty daunting.

I had some problems in Superstock qualifying that put me way back on the 5th row with a time about a half second slower than my practice times. I got a decent start and picked my way through the first couple of turns safely then went to work. I started picking them off lap after lap, one position at a time. Tommy Hayden, Tony Meiring, Rich Conicelli, Chris Rankin, John Haner, Brian Parriot, Ty Howard ... Those last two made me shake my head as I got the run on them out of the last turn onto the straightaway. Seeing as how they were the ones that figured my bike was a cheater out at Road America and had my engine completely torn down to verify it's legality I couldn't help but say out loud "Ooooh, he's not going to like this ....." as I picked up their draft with the pass inevitable. hehe. By the time I got clear of that group there was too big of a gap up to the lead pack. I ended up 7th at the line.

I'm overjoyed at the progress I've been making in the last short while. I've bettered my best finishing position at the last three events and shown that I can run with the leaders when I get the chance. I'm forced to cut some financial corners that the guys I'm racing next to don't have to, and that's holding me back a little bit. The support I'm getting from my sponsors is superb though, and it really feels good to start delivering them the results that they deserve. I'm expecting the momentum to keep building through the season and hopefully I can put together a package next year to make a run for the championship.

I was forced to use the same front tire from the Superstock race again in the Superbike race. I thought I could just circulate safely to bring home a paycheque but ended up dicing with a couple guys and running a pretty fast pace. I got a low 1:43 and a couple 42's out of the front before it let go on the 5th lap in turn 3. It was a minor lowside, but bent the handlebar enough that I couldn't get it going again. I don't care though, cause Superstock is the reason I go to these races. I'm soaring on a high right now and going to one of my favourite tracks next week (Laguna Seca). I'm stoked, feeling strong, and can't wait to wheelie that thing down into the corkscrew.