I arrived at the track early Saturday morning. I was tired and really needed some rest. I decided to take care of registration and tech. It was hot and I was in no rush to do anything. Unloaded the trailer and got the bikes started. Then I wasn't tired anymore. Funny how that works. Got out and did a few laps then turned it on. Finished with a personal best lap of 1:32. Crazy fast guys are doing 1:20's. So you all have some perspective.
Sunday morning decided to put new rubber on for the races. I was a bit rushed in order to make the practice session for the day. I got out and ran the tires as hard as I could to scrub them in. All went well.
Got on the grid for race one with one thought in mind...A good start. Well that DIDN'T happen!! Left the line in last place entering turn one. I ran up the inside of 3 riders on the brakes going into turn 2. I was starting to pick them off one by one when on about lap 5 I got hit by a huge gust of wind on my left side while knee down going to the right. It blew me off the track and I got the bike up and tried to run it off but had to bunny hop the curbing, that didn't pay off and I high sided. I landed on top of the bike as it slide back onto the track. Which was good as I was not sliding on the ground myself. I eventually got pitched off the bike again and the bike rolled onto my back. So I am now pinned under the bike in the middle of the track. I know I am not hurt but I can't get up from under the bike. I eventually squirm out and get the bike up as the crash truck comes out to get me. The bike fired right up and I wanted to get to the pits to get the repairs done. I had two races before my next one so the wrenching began. I had to get the steering damper off which was destroyed. Also needed a new clutch lever which I had in the "Crash" Bin.
Got the bike back together and had to run it without a steering damper. That is OK.
Race two was just as bad of a start. This time I found myself behind a good friend of mine and we diced it out all the way to the finish line. I got him by a 1/2 second. What a good race.
Race 3 was the same as race 2 other than the grid was totally full. We did a 2 wave start for safety. My friend and I started just were we left off and going back and forth. This time amongst a crowd. Man it was fun. He had me for some time until we caugt a guy and he couldn't get by, and I went by both of them and that ended the battle. I eventually caught another guy right at the finish line and beat him by a wheel.
All in all a good weekend for the last ride I will have in California.
Thanks to all who have supported me!
Marc
Sunday morning decided to put new rubber on for the races. I was a bit rushed in order to make the practice session for the day. I got out and ran the tires as hard as I could to scrub them in. All went well.
Got on the grid for race one with one thought in mind...A good start. Well that DIDN'T happen!! Left the line in last place entering turn one. I ran up the inside of 3 riders on the brakes going into turn 2. I was starting to pick them off one by one when on about lap 5 I got hit by a huge gust of wind on my left side while knee down going to the right. It blew me off the track and I got the bike up and tried to run it off but had to bunny hop the curbing, that didn't pay off and I high sided. I landed on top of the bike as it slide back onto the track. Which was good as I was not sliding on the ground myself. I eventually got pitched off the bike again and the bike rolled onto my back. So I am now pinned under the bike in the middle of the track. I know I am not hurt but I can't get up from under the bike. I eventually squirm out and get the bike up as the crash truck comes out to get me. The bike fired right up and I wanted to get to the pits to get the repairs done. I had two races before my next one so the wrenching began. I had to get the steering damper off which was destroyed. Also needed a new clutch lever which I had in the "Crash" Bin.
Got the bike back together and had to run it without a steering damper. That is OK.
Race two was just as bad of a start. This time I found myself behind a good friend of mine and we diced it out all the way to the finish line. I got him by a 1/2 second. What a good race.
Race 3 was the same as race 2 other than the grid was totally full. We did a 2 wave start for safety. My friend and I started just were we left off and going back and forth. This time amongst a crowd. Man it was fun. He had me for some time until we caugt a guy and he couldn't get by, and I went by both of them and that ended the battle. I eventually caught another guy right at the finish line and beat him by a wheel.
All in all a good weekend for the last ride I will have in California.
Thanks to all who have supported me!
Marc
