Race Report

After the crap weekend we had the last time out I was stoked for a full day of racing at my favourite track in perfect weather conditions! I was feeling on my game, going blisteringly fast in practice. Nothing could go wrong! Let’s get ‘er done!!

Drop the green flag on the first 750 race of the day, 750 Supersport, and I’m off the line and leaving black bananas out of the turns on my way to stretching out a massive lead. I’m feeling great and leaning on the bike, using this effectively open track time to get a feel for the pavement for the rest of the day. Now, I’m still not 100% sure of what went wrong. I wasn’t using the front tire compound I prefer as it wasn’t available, but a more likely possibility was there was something on the track, but either way I lost the front end about two laps from the end of the race with a MASSIVE lead. Not cool, but hey………if you don’t push you’re not fast, so I guess it just comes with the program.

The 600 Supersport race was next, and I was really looking forward to a strong race after having to pick grass out of my facesheild!!! We got off the line pretty decent but had to follow Chris Ancien into turn 1. I followed him through the infield for a half lap till we got to the ultra critical turn 4 that leads onto the back straightaway. He went in real early so I squared it up for the exit speed. On the exit I had quite a lot of momentum on him and was passing him on the outside of the right hand kink called turn 5. While we’re bending it back right again I’m worried he doesn’t know I’m coming by, cause if he doesn’t, we’re going to run out of track! I reached out with my left knee to give him the little “hey buddy, you’re not alone here” tap. We shared a glance and a nod. Chris is a buddy, I knew he’d be cool with it, and he was – we chatted afterwards. He kept me honest for a few laps but I managed to stretch out a lead, and by the time we reached the lappers I was safe to cruise home for the win.

I start out a repeat performance on the next 750 outing. At the flag I put the hammer down to stretch out another massive lead. However, at around lap 4 the bike doesn’t seem to be pulling top gear that well. A lap later and it’s the same. I’m thinking maybe there’s a bad headwind or something. It gets worse though, and soon it’s obvious I’m on 3 cylinders. Aside from it not pulling top gear, I was pretty certain I could still win the race due to my large lead, and I could still go fast most parts of the track. That was till I was down to 2 cylinders. Then I realized I was a hazard, with no chance of winning or really finishing for that matter. I pulled off to score a second DNF on the 750 for the day.

For some reason the bike was running very lean. There are a number of possibilities. I guess the ignition advance module was doing something weird after the race, and we had that new pump gas in earlier for practice that’s got the 10% ethanol……not sure. But either way the bike leaned out and consumed the electrodes off of the sparkplugs.

The last race of the day for me was on the 600 again. I was pretty certain I could win the race as I was able to stretch it out in the previous 600 event. Between that and the fact that both 750 races were a write-off I was feeling I should be a little conservative. Not so. I took the lead straight away, and began running what I thought was a decent pace. Chris was determined though, and when I took a look back after about 3 or 4 laps he was still there, keeping me honest. I was kinda surprised, but still had a bit in the gas tank, so I kicked it up a notch or two. I didn’t have a perfect run, but after I hit about 3 laps the way I wanted to I figured I’d take another look back to see if he came with or not. I’d shaken him, so kept a solid pace to the flag to secure another win for the day.

Even though I won two of my events, scoring no points in the 750 classes hurt me in the overall tally. I’m still leading the organization in the points, but only by one. I’ve got to start getting some luck go my way in order to build back up the safe margin I deserve based on how well I’m riding. It’ll come though, as my riding is as strong as ever. A bit of misfortune is part of it, but luck goes both ways eventually. If my riding wasn’t there I’d have something to worry about – but there’s nothing wrong there! Till the races in August, I must wait!