Race Report

One of these days I’m going to get my paperwork and bike through tech in time to get my name in for when they’re making the qualifier grid at the WMRC races. Until then though, I guess I’m going to have to keep starting from the last row for the Q’s.

The Pro 600 Supersport qualifier wasn’t that bad, as there were only about 3 rows of bikes or so. I made my way to the front quick enough to take the win, securing pole position for the afternoon. Pro Open Supersport was another story though. Same result, just a little more work getting it done. There were about 8 rows of bike or something like that with the amateurs mixed in for a little variety. I played it cool, and used up about 3 of my 4 laps before taking the lead to secure pole once again.

Moto #1 of the Pro Superbike class was a bit of an eye-opener. It really shouldn’t have been, but man, what a crazy few laps to start it off. Our original start was red-flagged and they sent us back to the pit before re-gridding us for a full restart. So I’m about 8th going into the first turn, and work my way up to 5th or 6th by the end of the first lap. Meanwhile the rider in the lead has stretched out a healthy lead. I went cleanly up the inside of a competitor during braking for the first turn of the second lap while the two guys ahead of us took each other way out to the outside of the turn. We both cut underneath the two of them and all of a sudden I’m in second, well behind the leader, but it’s still early in the race. I’m thinking “pretty sweet” as I head down the short shoot to turn 2. Just as I begin to bend it into the turn I get a push from the back by the rider I just overtook on the brakes trying to lift me out of the turn. I’m forced to steer into it to keep from getting spun around and I’m going wider and wider while hoping the push is going to stop. Finally it stops just as I’m about to leave the track. My competitor couldn’t make the turn and headed out into the gravel. Serves him right, I say! Anyway, this leaves the door open for those other two or three guys to get back underneath me. Now the leader has a HUGE lead, but by the end of that lap I was back into second. Problem is that when I come across the line to finish the third lap they gave us the last lap flag! I took about 3 seconds to think about that one. I was sure it couldn’t be right, but I thought maybe they shortened the race due to the initial red-flag incident so I better go for it. I figured I only had one lap to take the lead, and the lead was huge. I basically risked life and limb for the ¾ lap it took me to take the lead only to get the halfway flag the next time around. From there I played it cool to safely take the win. I hope the flaggers realize what kind of implications those little mistakes to us out on the track. I’m not pissed about it, cause mistakes happen, but it’s maybe a little more serious business out there than they give it credit for sometimes.

600 Supersport was a challenging event. I got into the first turn in 3rd and took a while to gain second position. The leader got a decent lead in that time that I never really was able to chip away at. I made up a little time in the middle of the race only to make a mistake and give the lead right back to him. I finished it off in second place.

Pro Open Supersport was a breeze. I took the holeshot straight off the bat, busted out a nice big lead in the first 3 laps, then coasted home for the win.

I was pretty sure that the last race of the day was going to be exciting, and I really wanted to take the holeshot in case there was as much drama in the first couple laps of moto #2 that there was in moto #1. Everything went according to plan. I was first on the throttle and last on the brakes in the charge for the first turn. I laid down the black lines for a few laps, charging as hard as I needed to leave the rest of the field. Once I had a safe lead I put it on cruise control once again to take the win, doubling up both the Superbike moto wins to end the day.

It was one of the better race weekends I’ve had at Mission Raceway Park. The track is far from safe, but I’m getting more comfortable at it. I feel that I can turn some pretty quick laps without risking it all. Really though, I will only ever ride as fast as I have to there – it’s not the kind of place that you want to crash at too many times.

I want to give some props out to my buddy Ron Hopkins who’s been building my motors for the last 5 or 6 years now. Ron’s set up in Portland, Oregon, and has been working off the side of his workbench at a local Triumph dealer there. He’s had quite a bit of flexibility in doing his own race motor stuff alongside his Euro duties, but his time has always been pulled in two ways. Ron’s taking the leap this year, he’s getting his own shop. He’s never compromised in his motor work, so I’m not expecting that there’s going to much change in the quality of the motors that he builds, but that’s a good thing cause they’re second to none. I routinely had one of the fastest trap speeds when competing in the AMA 750 Supersport class on his motors, and he’s even been able to make slow bikes fast. Ron’s going to be able to do quite a few more motors now than he’s been able to in the past, so that’s some pretty good news for his customers to be. Ron’s the most honest guy in the motorcycle racing industry that you’ll ever meet. Give him a call, and he’ll take care of you (503) 421 9123. His rates are also more than competitive.