Race Report

Never mind making you wait till the end of the report to learn: I won the Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association overall championship (and number 1 plate) for the fifth consecutive year. This win tied me for the record with Shawn Roberti for the most consecutive championships ever. The association has been in operation since 1972 (the year I was born), and it’s something special to me to hold a record like that.

With the last round being held the middle of October, I was prepping myself for a weekend of wet riding. However, leading up to the weekend the forecast was for clear and cold weather. The forecast proved true for the entire weekend which was a welcome surprise. The combination of the nearly brand new pavement and cold temps really took a toll on tire wear though. I was concerned it was just my set-up until I took a brief walk/talk through the pits. It didn’t take long to figure out that it didn’t matter which tire brand or set up you were on, if you were on a proper sized bike (600 Supersport or faster) you had tire trouble. Aside from tire consumption though practice went just fine for me, and I felt strong going into race day.

I had a points lead for the overall championship to start the day, and with the way the schedule worked, I could sew the C-ship up by lunch if things went well. 750 Supersport was the first event of the day, and I hate racing in championship mode. It screws with my head to start thinking about riding conservatively, and ensuring I finish in this place or better, etc. It’s just not my style. I really wanted to win the first race of the day as it would give me a good jump start, and allow me to be that much more conservative in the following race (600 Supersport). I did just that, but it was painful to ensure I won, going as slow as possible. Painful I say!!

600 Supersport was the race it all came down to. Because I won the 750 race I could finish 3rd and still sew it up. They dropped the flag and I immediately was in the lead. I began at a painfully slow pace, waiting for the competition to start coming by. Finally a competitor came by and I had a chance to follow him through the infield. I just couldn’t do it. My conscience wouldn’t allow for me to cruise around at that pace and not win. I figured I’d risk it to win it with style. I took the lead back right away, picked up the pace slightly, and held it for the remainder of the 12 laps and brought it home for all the marbles. There were a few high five’s at lunch, and with two races left in the day and no pressure it was time to have some fun.

They dropped the flag for 750 Superbike and I just took off, set the new track record for the class, and rode off into the distance to win by a large margin.

600 Superbike was due to be a fun race, and I was looking forward to racing the 600 for the final time not having that “conservative” angel on my shoulder. I took the lead straight away and managed the gap to second place. Around the half way point in the race though, there was a waving yellow flag as we approached turn 7. The rule is that once you see the waving yellow, you’re not allowed to pass until after the incident (and that includes lappers). So, there’s a lapper in front of me and I’m very impatiently waiting for “the incident” (as my lead is being erased) before I pass them. I’m still waiting……where the heck is “the incident”!!! I’m still following the lapper, looking for the incident, now, two turns later, with one palm in the air as if to say “how long am I supposed to keep following this guy?” I gave up waiting when second place came around both of us on the outside to take the lead away. Not cool, and it’d be nice if the yellow was only waved until the incident isn’t visible from the track any more – otherwise what are we supposed to do? Anyway, I set chase immediately, took the lead back that lap, and stretched it out to win by a comfortable margin. It sure felt good to win all my races to finish off the day and the season. I’ve got a reputation for sweeping the table on the first and last weekends, and that’s one tradition that’s nice to keep going!

Before the weekend I’d made provisions for potentially racing an SV650 in a couple classes, since my challenger in the points race was racing those classes (and I could deny them 1st place points by finishing ahead of them). That wasn't necessary, but word got out fast that I was signed up for these classes. You wouldn’t believe the stir it created, and the number of people asking me about it. I would have been happy enough to crack a beer after the last of my races, but instead I did something much different.

Without even the slightest break after winning the 600 Supersport race I hopped immediately upon a 1999 SV650 normally raced by my friend and sponsor Darrel Farmer of Columbia River Motorsports without even a chance for a sip of water. I’d never even ridden this bike before other than the warm-up lap (and didn’t even know where I was supposed to grid up)! Just before leaving with the pre warmed up bike I was warned that the brakes were pulsing a bit on Darrel. On the warm up lap it was evident that the brakes were going to be a problem. I just lined up at the back of the grid. At the green flag I started out tentatively, working my way through the field. It took me a full two laps to get into 3rd place, but by that time the two leaders had already stretched out a large lead. Once I had some clear track ahead of me I started about trying to figure out where to hit the brakes and what gear was best to take what turn in. The brakes were a serious problem. Every time I applied the front brakes the bike would vibrate so badly it literally blurred my vision. I couldn’t see anything until I let go of them again, and I bet I loosened some teeth. Over the next 4 laps I slowly picked up speed, and by the halfway point I’d already smashed the previous class lap record by .4 of a second and had taken over the lead. I couldn’t shake them though, and had some really bad luck with traffic, and ended up crossing the line second. It was fun, but not the sort of thing I’d be into on a full time basis. Well, it gave everyone something to talk about for the rest of the afternoon anyway.

So in the end it was as victorious as possible. I won the overall championship, and all my class championships except for one where I had a crash and a mechanical failure in. Pretty much all you can ask for. A just want to say a huge thanks to all of my sponsors. I really do appreciate all the help I receive regardless of quantity or value. I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out, so I ask you to please take a quick look down the right hand side column (which are all hyperlinks) to see the tremendous organizations I’m associated with. I’m very lucky to be able to be a bit choosy with my sponsors, and can say honestly that you won’t go wrong with any of these outfits. It makes my job of endorsing products and services of my sponsors so much easier when I’m confident in their quality. So a thank you to all my sponsors, and a “go check them out” to everyone else!!!

Here’s to 2009, and more of the same!!!!