Race Report

Writing these reports has been getting more and more enjoyable through the season. If you were to take a look back on some of my early 2004 experiences, bad luck was sort of having its way with me. I kept soldiering on though, knowing that it wasn't my riding that was dragging me down, and that I'd be dealt some good cards eventually. Last weekend I won the OMRRA championship for the #1 plate. I could have finished 2nd and 3rd in my races and still clinched it, but I went out and won my first race. At that point I could have finished 7th and still won it, but I holeshotted, set the fastest times around Portland International Raceway on a 600, and won by a mile, with a smile.

I had far too much time leading up to the weekend for my own good. With the lead in the championship, the pressure was all on me. I cracked a rib since the last race too, and was worried that would bother me as well. But it's the worries of the bike that really got to me. You start wondering about how old your wheel bearings are, hold old your chain is, all the stuff you don’t normally every think of, just stressing you out. Finally when we got to the track it all just went away. I was able to focus on the task.

The forecast was for scattered showers through the weekend, and I knew there was a good chance I'd have to race in the rain. I was hoping I'd get some wet practice in on Saturday so I wouldn't have to try to figure it out during green flag conditions. We got one wet and one dry practice session Saturday morning. I felt pretty good in both. I spent the afternoon prepping the bike, then got some sleep after watching several episodes of Da Ali G Show.

600 Supersport qualifying was wet. I got into turn one in second, riding fairly tentatively. I drifted back to 4th while slowly getting comfortable with the wet track, but still staying with the leaders. On the last lap of the qualifier I set the fastest time of the heat and moved up a position to 3rd for the main. Although at this point in the day it was looking like it was going to dry out, I felt confident that I could do the deed even if it rained again.

I got the holeshot on the dry track in 600 Superbike qualifying, checked out, and won by a pile to take pole for the afternoon main.

Although I holeshotted, led all the laps, and won by a safe margin in the 600 Supersport race, I still wasn't happy with my ride. I made several mistakes and lost my concentration a number of times. Lappers were screwing with my head and I was determined to do it right for the next race. But at least after winning that one, I was in a much better position with regards to the championship.

Again, I got the holeshot in 600 Superbike. I told myself to ride hard for a few laps, take a look behind, and see what kind of a lead I had to manage. After a few laps it really felt like I had stepped it up considerably from the previous race. I was in a good rhythm and decided to go to the halfway flag. By the time I got there though, I only felt stronger, faster, and more in control. I felt I could bump it up some more, and would be surprised if anyone was still with me at that point anyway. Instead of looking back, I kicked it up a notch and lowered my lap times even more. I finally allowed myself a look behind at the last lap flag and saw that I had about 6 seconds on the rest of the field. I spent the last lap doing celebratory wheelies and showing off, but still crossed the line with tons of room to spare. It felt so good to cross that finish line for the last time.

As far as club race seasons go – I had a nearly perfect one. I won every 600 Supersport and Superbike race at OMRRA except for one mechanical DNF (that happened while I was in the lead). To top it off (and this is staggering folks) I never hit the ground for the ENTIRE YEAR! Of all my AMA and Cdn National racing from Daytona, to Rd. America, to Laguna, Calgary and Fontana – I never crashed my race bike once all year!! For those that know me, that stat is even more staggering than for those that don't. I could go on and on about the times when I almost crashed. Normally I'd think that I was getting old and slow, but that's just not the case. I don't understand it, but that's OK too.

I can't say enough about my supporters. These are the guys and girls that really made it possible for me to get that #1 on the bike for next year, and I'm more happy to earn the championship for them than I am for myself. I won't list them here because they're well represented on my site. I just want them to know how happy I am to have their products highlighted on the #1 bike for next year. Thanks to you all.

I've got some very exciting things happening for my race plans for next year. I'm in the process of working with some new people, with huge help from a major manufacturer. Things are still in the process of getting ironed out right now, and until things are finalized, we'll just leave it as that. There'll be a release when we have the details worked out – I won't keep you in the dark longer than you need to be. All the best, and stay tuned. Thanks for keeping up with my season.