ECK #187 - LRRS weekend #2 '09: The sliiiiiiide.

[OreoGaborio]

LRRS weekend #2 is in the books.

I arrived Friday evening & due to an iffy weather forecast I got my rains mounted over at the BostonMoto Pirelli trailer to please the sun gods... It worked! (at least when it mattered most )

Saturday morning I went out in Practice & continued working on turn 6 as well as my drive out of 2 and 12.

Saturday race #2, GTL - Lined up 2nd row and kept my streak going with another awesome launch off the line. I slotted into the front pack going into turn 1 and tried to settle into a rhythm. On lap 2 or 3 I was coming into the turn 3 chute and Andy Hull (I think) came up my inside to take a position away from me. He had about 1/2 a bike length on me when we got to the turn-in point. He began to tip-in and so did I... Well, apparently he thought he got in a little too hot cuz just after he tipped it in he stood the bike back up & got on the binders..... I do the same to avoid giving him a Suzuki Enema and *SQUEAK!* I clip his rear tire with my front.

I was swearin a little inside my helmet, irritated that he didn't keep the thing turned in after he committed, but we both manage keep it upright and I get right back on the gas. I tried to re-pass him going up turn 4 but wasn't able to do so, so I used him as a carrot for the rest of the race & he pulled me down into the very low 1:21's with a best of 1:21.045.... a new personal record.

Final "score": 12th place out of 18.... not as good as last weekend (10th out of 20) but I was happy having shaved off another 4 tenths off my previous best.

(Note to sb.net-ers.... Please, this time around keep in mind that the other racers on the grid that I'm racing against are some of the best lightweight racers in the entire North East corner of the country. The starting grids might be light on attendance, but there's some SERIOUS talent lining up.)


Saturday Race #7, Lightweight Superbike - Lined up 2nd row again & another great start. Not the best jump as my view of the flagger was a little obscured by the rider in front of me, but another great launch. My out-lap was a decent 1:24.324, one of my best out-laps, and I began chasing every rider that was able to get past me. I had a little trouble finding my rhythm in this race and ran a little wide in a few corners that I typically don't, but I was able to keep myself composed and knocked off four consecutive laps in the 1:20 range. I took another SIX tenths off my best & clocked in a 1:20.454. Better yet, I was able to keep out in front of my buddy "Jersey" who was trying to reel me in through the whole race. His rear tire ended up fading off on him at the end & I cruised to an easy 10th place out of 13 starters.



Sunday morning I woke up and after some HEAVY wind & rain Saturday evening, I could SMELL 1:19's.

I went out in first practice and used it to wake up my mind & body after a slightly less than comfortable night's sleep. When second practice came around I began putting my head down to see if I could get back into the 1:20's. I'm not sure what my practice times were but I sure hope they were good since I ended up loosing the front underneath the treehouse in turn 8, a right hander and the fastest corner at Loudon & threw the bike down the track at a SOLID 100mph or so (5th gear... probably close to 110-115mph).

I was working on taking a wider line around the outside of the bumps that can be felt under the treehouse. Going around the outside of them meant that you'd end up a little further to the left on your entry to 9 (a blind left hander) unless you really crank it around the treehouse. I think I was a little too tight & rolled off the throttle just as clipped one of the bumps, which overloaded the front causing it to wash out.

The bike slid from the bumps under the treehouse at an angle slightly to the left of the apex cone in turn 9, through the grass & back onto the edge of the track about 1/2 way through turn 9 and came to a rest on the inside of turn 9 after a little flip or two. I took a similar path and ended up just barely catching the last tire wall on the inside of turn 9, stopping short of the access road that goes between turns 9 and 4.

After a quick self-assessment I counted my blessings as the worst of it is a little whiplash & a bruised left knee. I'm in excellent condition, all things considered.

Probably gonna start making some calls today & placing some orders to fix up the bike. Gonna need all new bodywork, a fairing stay, tach, subframe, radiator hose, clutch lever, frame slider bolt, right side rearset assembly.



The thing I'm bummed about most is I didn't get a chance to give my buddy Oxx another run for his money like I did last race weekend


A big thanks to all my teammates & sponsors (Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | Moon Performance | RJ's Motorsport | Motorcycles of Manchester | BostonMoto-Pirelli) as well as all my friends & family that came up to support me.... See you guys in a few weeks assuming I can still afford my entry fees