posted on May 05, 2010 11:49
Race Day - NJMP with CCS
I was rather nervous as it was my first race on the Ducati as well as only my second expert race. Luckily, I have done a bunch of track days at Thunderbolt and know the track really well so that was not an issue. My first practice I ran 34s - I was ok with that for a morning session, but as it got hotter out, the bike felt completely different. Tire pressures remained perfect, but I could not get the bike to turn. My practice times increased to 36s and I was beginning to get worried about the race.
My first race was the GTU - a 25 minute endurance race. I was gridded up row three left of 3 so I could get a great start. The green flag dropped and I did get a great start, but I couldn't make it stick. I went into turn 1 and was swarmed with angry motorcycles. Getting bumped left and right and just trying to keep my position in what was now 8th or 9th seemed hopeless. I got a bit overwhelmed as I'm still getting used to expert starts... turn 1 I came out about 10th, after the chicane I was in something like 15th. It seemed like everytime someone would show me a wheel I would just let them through - almost move over for them! Some thing I need to work on for sure! In lap 3 someone went on the inside of me, so I finally said NOPE and repassed him into 2 as he went too hot into 1 and almost went off track. As he was coming back on line he hit me HARD and the whole bike started to go out of control. I recovered but he got me back on the exit of 2. I did not have enough trust in the Ducati yet to make any risky moves and I was riding on the extremely safe side. After about 7 of the 14 laps I started to get realllyy tired. The Ducati is sooo much more difficult to throw around than the R6 and while it's great out of the corners, it doesn't have much top end, so I am not as relaxed on the straights and could not catch my breath. Training program is increased as well!
Sunday was a fresh start. My first race was the Pirelli Diablo Challenge - not too many entries, but many of the guys in it are AMA so I knew it would be some tough competition. I was gridded up on row 4 and got a good start. Stayed with them for the first lap, but then started to fall back. It was only 10 laps and I managed to finish 9th.
Race 2 was the MW Supersport. I got a bad start and fell back pretty far finishing 26th overall - I believe there were 34 in the class so at least I wasn't last.
Race 3 was last in the day and it was cloudy out. I still had my dark visor on and was having trouble seeing, but it worked out for the better. I got a meh start and was in about 10th place when on lap one there was a nasty crash and a red flag. It was my chance to restart and start well. I got a good start and rode aggressively into turn 1, fending off as many guys as I could with my lap times still being high. It was a short, 5 lap race. I was waiting til the last lap to pass the guy in front of me, but there was no white flag so next thing I knew it was the checkered. It was okay though I finished 16th, which was a huge improvement from 26th!
Now... Markbilt is finishing up the R6 this weekend, so I will have my baby back to race on if needed. We'll just have to see how VIR track days go! Special Thank you to: Bioweapon Fuels, Mark Rozema of Markbilt Racebikes, Mike from Penske, Jeff at Arai, Chris at WFO, Todd from Heroic, Mikie Suh, my mom and dad, and Linda for track-side support, CCS for not hating me for running LW instead of MW femmoto, the corner workers for having my back, 785graphics.com for getting me there, XES leathers, Sidi Boots, Galfer Brakes, and OF COURSE - Nutella for fueling my breakfast!!
Next race: Miller Motorsports Park WERA National May 20-25!
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