Race Report

For a number of reasons the Oregon Motorcycle Roadracing Association had to reschedule the last round of racing for the season. It was scheduled to go forward in October, but instead was now going to be run in August. Basically they took a single event weekend they already had the track booked for, and ran a full race day both Saturday and Sunday so they wouldn’t impact the total number of rounds they’d run for the season. I was just fine with that, and was hoping we’d trade some typically crappy October Oregon weather for some nicer August climates!

My hopes were realized! The forecast was for nothing but sun straight through the weekend with warm temps and moderate breeze! Oooooh yeah.

I had a huge weekend of racing in front of me going into day 1. I was entered in 6 classes of races for each day and to get things rolling! I had a pretty good lead in the championship points, and if everything went in my favour I could sew up the championship a day early! That was my goal.

Race #1 was due to be a real barn burner: 600 Supersport. Every 600 race at OMRRA this year has been a good one. There’s a handful of guys that are riding really strong, and their engines have been running even stronger! They turn us loose and it’s immediately a tight battle for the lead. We started our usual procession of me passing for the lead on the brakes into turn 7 or into or exiting turn 4, then me getting passed for the lead on the straightaway. This went on for quite a number of laps before I was able to start holding them off at about ¾ race distance. Finally we got into the lappers (and a chance for me to put some distance on them). I took full advantage, and had luck go my way just a little bit, allowing me to pull a slight lead and take home the win on the first of many races for the weekend.

Open Supersport was next in line and my first chance to pull the trigger on my 2009 GSXR 1000 for the weekend. I simply LOVE this bike now that I’ve figured out the chassis a bit. There’s still some room for improvement in the steering, trail braking, and rear side grip departments, but the drives off the turns and rush of acceleration it has when I click into 6th gear are nothing short of intoxicating! I got the holeshot into the first turn of the race, started having some fun out there, and by the time I turned around and looked I’d ditched the field. The gap back to 2nd was HUGE, and the gap back to 3rd was re-donk-ulous!! A solid win on the big bike, and an excellent way to set the tone with my competitors. I was here to do business, and this race did a lot to ensure everyone knew it!

Next up (and to make sure none of my bikes felt lonely during the lunch break) it was time to wring the 750’s neck for 12 laps in 750 Supersport. I haven’t had much competition in the 750 classes for most of the year so it wasn’t too much of a surprise that I got the holeshot and took off on the field. After 12 laps I’d stretched out a 17 second lead on 2nd place. Probably not the most exciting race to watch, but it was good from my perspective!

When racing six classes in a day, the lunch breaks are highly anticipated, and impossibly short. It’s the only time all day that I get a chance to take my leathers and boots off. Thankfully my crewchief Chuck Burns keeps the whip poised over his minions (Andy Nelson and Aaron Scheiss), so the bikes are always meticulously prepped. It’s just a matter of cleaning faceshields, hydrating, and catching my breath for me.

Lunchtime comes to a close and it’s almost time for the big race of the day: Formula Ultra. Based on the championship points I’d need to have a few things fall in line this day to sew up the championship, but the biggest sway lied in the results of Formula Ultra. This is by far the largest points-paying race for the overall #1 plate, and winning today would virtually seal the deal. At the drop of the flag I spun off a mid 1:11 lap time from a standing start, backed it up with a mid 1:07, then put two very strong laps in the 1:06’s to break from the field. From lap five through to the end I stayed in the 1:07 bracket, clearing off from the field by 1 to 4 seconds per lap on my nearest competitor – ending the race a staggering 19 seconds clear of second place.

Although I still had two races to go on the day, it felt like my work was done. I had virtually sealed up the championship at this time, but figured I’d keep my game face on for another two races to complete the day. 600 Superbike is always a very entertaining race, and this one didn’t disappoint. But looking at the lapchart on the results it’s incredibly mis-leading. It shows me leading the race from about lap 5 till the end. Fact is though that I was passed on the front straightaway each and every lap and had to fight my way into the lead again before the start finish line. That meant passing on the inside going into turn four, on the outside into turn four, on the outside of turn five, and of course my favourite, on the brakes into turn 7. It’s an incredibly aggressive way to have to take the lead every lap compared to passing under power on the super wide front straightaway, but for anyone looking to complain I always say “I’ll stop passing you in the corners if you stop passing me on the straights”! Nah, I’m just kidding. Oli Jervis and I are good friends, and have always been highly respectful of each other on the track. Regardless of who wins, we always share some good laughs and stories afterwards. On this occasion though, it was Oli congratulating me, as I crossed the line a mere 0.057 of a second before him for the win.

The 750 Superbike race was pretty well a celebratory parade for me. I got the jump at the flag, led the field into the first turn, and never looked back in my runaway victory, winning by 23 seconds over 2nd place.

So that night I crunched the numbers to determine that I’d won the #1 plate with a round to spare! On top of that I also achieved one of my own personal goals of winning 6 out of 6 classes in a day! I can’t say for sure if that’s a record for OMRRA or not, but it would be kind of fitting if it was, as on this same day I set the record for the most ever consecutive OMRRA #1 plates also at six. Problem was – I was too damn tired to celebrate! Plus – I was signed up for 6 more races the following day! (If winning six races in a day is a record, I only tied my record of Sept 23rd of 2002. Does that mean I should try to break that some day…… ? hummmmmm? Check out the archived reports on the site for that one..)

I decided over the evening though that I wasn’t going to race them all. I’d already “brought home the Canadian bacon”, and figured I just compete in the races I wanted/needed to the following day. Heck, I deserved a bit of a rest!

My rest ended early though, as racing a 2009 GSXR-1000 on DOT tires first thing in the morning can hardly be considered a “rest”. If anything, it’s a far more effective way of waking up than a shower or coffee..... The first shot to the adrenal glands is at the drop of the flag and the big gix paws it’s nose in the air for the first few gears hurdling off on its way to turn one. We were there first, and everywhere else that race first.... starting the day out the way we left off – with the holeshot and an 11 second lead come the end of the race.

I entered 600 Supersport as I still had a chance of winning the class championship for it. It wasn’t meant to be though. Oliver Jervis and I had another epic battle going, swapping the lead every lap for the first 10 laps. The lapper wildcard didn’t play in my favour this race though. I got some real bad breaks, and there wasn’t anything I could do to win it without risking both mine and the lapper’s lives a few times. Oli beat me fair and square – he rode a great race.

My buddy, Geoff Klassen, crashed the day before in morning practice (in some unknown substance omitted from an early model ZX-7RR) and wrecked his bike pretty good. He rode it the rest of the day, but when he was changing his tire on Sunday morning noticed a huge crack in the casting of his swingarm! Although it was fine the day before, we decided he’d better not ride it any more. Since I’d already sewn up both the 750 class championships I just leant him my bike for the day. He still needed to graduate novice and my work was essentially done, so we figured it be fun to see what he could do on a bike that was well set up! So I never rode in the 750 races, Geoff passed novice, won his novice race, and set his fastest lap ever! It worked out really well.

Between Geoff borrowing my 750 for the day, and me not entering in the 600 Superbike race (I was well back in the class points due to skipping the first round) it meant for a comparatively relaxing 3-class day! That meant just one more rip on the 1000 and that was it. Well, I guess having too much time on our hands isn’t the best for our camp, we made a rare mistake of forgetting to plug my powershifter back in (we have to leave them unplugged in Supersport).

Realizing the powershifter wasn’t working on the warm-up lap, I wished there was something I could do about it cause without it the 1000 is a real handful through the 4-5-6 combo while accelerating and steering at the same time. With the chassis all wound up under acceleration, when the power is chopped to grab the next gear the chassis settles back onto the springs. When the power comes back on it tends to wheelie and slide the rear wheel a lot more than normal. That’s fun unless you’re trying to make a steering change at the same time. With the powershifter though, you can leave the throttle held wide open, click the shifter, and the change happens so fast the chassis doesn’t get a chance to unload. It’s really the only place on the track (and the only one of my three bikes) where it’s a problem.

At the drop of the flag I once again got the holeshot. Although I had the lead, where I typically ditch my competitors is through the 4-5-6 combo. That’s wasn’t working as well this event, as I struggled with my upset chassis. I kept my head down though and put in the best run I could given the situation. Although I held the carrot close enough to keep the boys on my heals longer than normal, eventually I wore them down. By the halfway flag I was able to break clear and started establishing a large lead. I ended up winning by a large margin, but I will admit that I was surprised when I took a look back 4 laps in and still saw a couple number plates close on my heels.

So that did it for my OMRRA season! Championships abound, and record breaking events left and right. I won the #1 plate once again, for the sixth time in a row, and had good reason to smile on the way home. Two years prior I gained some motivation by realizing I was only one championship away from tying Shawn Roberti for the most consecutive, then last year when I tied him – I knew only one more would put me solely in that position. I won’t say I’m any less motivated, but it’s comforting to know I solely hold the record, and that nobody is able to touch it till at least 2017!!

I’ve gotta say some big thanks for my local supporters. First and foremost, Chuck Burns, for faithfully being there each and every race day without fail, having a great time in the pits during the day and the pub during the night! You’re a great mechanic, Chuck, and an even better friend! My boys Aaron and Andy – I can’t say enough for the help whenever you could make it. You guys rule – and I’m gonna get you good and plastered at the banquet! Tom and the guys at Competition Motors and Pirelli tires – you’ve got the tire biz figured out. Everyone can appreciate the professionalism you bring to the track, and the dependability the entire paddock can count on. Garry G at EBC!!!! WASSUP!!! I just might take you up on the Seattle SX offer buddy! It’s good to be back on Team EBC, and the product is working good enough to get the entire field to shake their heads every time I pound the bike into turn 1 or 7! Darrel at Columbia River, we’ve been working together for the last few years, and I’m very glad to continue our relationship for as long as you want ?. Your shop is well worth the drive from town, and it’s nice to work with a shop that never drops the ball or lets you down. I don’t know what it is about the motorcycle industry, but everyone can appreciate a shop that never forgets to call you back or place your order, and always follows up. Keep up your program! Ron Hopkins from RPM and Frank Lyons machining – you guys are the best. What else can I say? The engines always work great, reliably, and the turn-around is second to none. Thanks so much for the support – the championship’s for you guys! Don and the guys as Motocycleusa.com – thanks for the support over so many years. I know I can count on you whenever needed. And I’ll be your head-flapping Canadian contact for as long as you need one too! Todd Davis at Advance Motorcycle Gear, you’ve ended up being a good friend. The Falco boots are second to none. I wasn’t sure about trying the Spark Technical Sports Underwear on the hottest day of the year (something about putting on another layer when I’m already pouring in sweat) but man, it works! And the Wiz knee sliders are kicking! The selection of patterns is crazy – and the pattern is all the way deep into the plastic so when you grind them down it’s still there. And Dave at GP Suspension: as always, I wouldn’t want to be on anything other than your products. We dropped your 25mm cartridge conversion into the BPF forks and BAMM!! – we started ripping off track records. Simple as that. Dave, Ben, Sage: you guys rock the block. Mark and Elaine at Acme, Bryan and Su at Loud Art, and Kent at On-Sight: all of your efforts are so much appreciated. My success is reliant on so many people I really don’t know where to stop. All I can say is how appreciative I am to everyone that’s been a part of my program over the years.

To anyone looking for direction on where to turn for products or services you don’t need to look any further than the right sponsor banner of this site. I’ve had the luxury of being able to associate with only people and companies that are all about treating the customer first and foremost. Many thanks to all of you!

And finally I’m giving a massive “kick-ass” to Bradford and the crew at Corazzo. Man, I like their style. These guys through the most wicked season ending party/fashion show/social/scooter-burnout event I’ve ever been to! (not to mention how bad-ass their jackets and retro-modern scooter product are). You all gotta check them out.

Cheers to all – and there’s one last report coming from the final round of the Western Canadian Championship held in Calgary, Alberta. Stay tuned to see if I can sew up three for three championships.