- Joined
- Jun 21, 2012
- Messages
- 1,507
- Location
- Florida
Great start to the race weekend. I was able to get two good rounds of practice in the AM, and my times showed, shaving a full second off my times from round 2 at Roebling Road. Then, as my race was about to begin, the rain started and I was left with about 10 minutes or less to switch over to rains. Thanks to James Brock (Pirelli race supplier of the South East) and a few guys in the paddock, I was able to switch over and get to the grid on time.
As I started my warm up lap, I noticed the track beginning to dry and I was worried that I would burn thru the rear tire pretty quickly, so I had a strategy, just get out as quick as possible and see where I land. I was first row, middle for the novice race and there were 9 experts in front of me. As the green flag dropped, I pulled a little wheelie off the line and started short shifting to bring the front down while still trying to get upfront. I dove into turn 1 and was able to move into 5th place in the expert group. As we were enter turn 2, I got on the gas a little more aggressive than the experts in fron tof me since they were on slicks and jumped into 2nd place. I felt great but I knew some of those guys were coming for me and the track was drying quickly. I was able to get in 5/6 fast laps until my visor started to fog up and I couldn't see anything. Then, my buddy Tulio Pinto came past me going into turn 1 and quickly got ghost. I ran the next 10/11 laps with a foggy visor and as I got passed by one or to other novice riders, I thought of pitting in since my visibility was minimal. I decided to tough it out and see what happened. I came in after the race and everyone told me how good of a job I did and I was like, the rear rain tire was .... and my visor visibility was zero, I guess that was good. Little did I know that the two novice guys that passed me at the end of the race were down a lap since I lapped them. So, at the awards ceremony, I though I didn't place when they called another rider for second (I thought I came in second), then they called my name for first place. I had 3 races on Sunday and I hoped we could have a good showing on a dry track.
As we arrived at the track on Sunday, my fiance and I prepared for a great day of racing with great weather. I quickly changed back to slicks (a really old rear) and had a few decent laps and came in after 4/5 laps of practice to get mentally focused for the races. Race 1 was the HW Twins SB race. I was P1 for the race and the goal was to finish in front of all the experts. So, as the race started, I was able to get a decent start and jump into 2nd place by turn one. I passed him on the front straight and was leading the both the Ex/AM and I was smiling ear to ear. I focused and put in some good laps, 2 or 3 1.18s and thought I was good for the win. On the last laps, I backed off a little and the expert I passed got me coming out of turn 2 and I tried to stay on his rear wheel and pass him on the from straight. As we exited turn 9, a short straight before turn 10 leading onto the front straight, I tried to take a wider line and carry more corner speed to easily pass the expert. Little did I know there was no traction and bumpy as hell out there and I got no drive. I still walked him down but lost out at the line by less than a half bike length.
Race 2 for the day was the HW Twins SS race. I took no chances in this race and I got out front before turn one. I was able to set my best laps of the weekend with 3 1.17s in this race and finish in front of all the experts and novices.
Race 3 for the day was the A Superbike race. Once again I was able to jump into the mix with the experts, and although I didn't finish where I wanted with the experts, I still won the novice class.
I had a great weekend and thanks to my fiance for letting me race just two weeks before our wedding. My sponsors (RapidBike USA) had the 1199 humming and I was able to get 180mph going down the front straight for the first time at RRR. The Pirelli tires provided by South Central Race Center, MWR air filters provided by Bellissimoto, Chicken Haw tire warmers, Pit Bull stands and Dainese suit provided by Cycle Gear Orlando had me feeling like Andrea Iannone. I cannot wait until Cycle Jam at Road ATL. Stay tuned for video.....
Thanks for watching and subscribing everyone. I appreciate the support.
HW Twins EX & NV and C Superbike EX and NV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o4PQv26_nE
HW Solo 20 (20 laps), PT 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icG8Vitzv64
HW Solo 20, PT2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvkt4_s2cbY
A Superbike EX and NV - This is on my personal site. I'll move it later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4pLZg12Wiw
As I started my warm up lap, I noticed the track beginning to dry and I was worried that I would burn thru the rear tire pretty quickly, so I had a strategy, just get out as quick as possible and see where I land. I was first row, middle for the novice race and there were 9 experts in front of me. As the green flag dropped, I pulled a little wheelie off the line and started short shifting to bring the front down while still trying to get upfront. I dove into turn 1 and was able to move into 5th place in the expert group. As we were enter turn 2, I got on the gas a little more aggressive than the experts in fron tof me since they were on slicks and jumped into 2nd place. I felt great but I knew some of those guys were coming for me and the track was drying quickly. I was able to get in 5/6 fast laps until my visor started to fog up and I couldn't see anything. Then, my buddy Tulio Pinto came past me going into turn 1 and quickly got ghost. I ran the next 10/11 laps with a foggy visor and as I got passed by one or to other novice riders, I thought of pitting in since my visibility was minimal. I decided to tough it out and see what happened. I came in after the race and everyone told me how good of a job I did and I was like, the rear rain tire was .... and my visor visibility was zero, I guess that was good. Little did I know that the two novice guys that passed me at the end of the race were down a lap since I lapped them. So, at the awards ceremony, I though I didn't place when they called another rider for second (I thought I came in second), then they called my name for first place. I had 3 races on Sunday and I hoped we could have a good showing on a dry track.
As we arrived at the track on Sunday, my fiance and I prepared for a great day of racing with great weather. I quickly changed back to slicks (a really old rear) and had a few decent laps and came in after 4/5 laps of practice to get mentally focused for the races. Race 1 was the HW Twins SB race. I was P1 for the race and the goal was to finish in front of all the experts. So, as the race started, I was able to get a decent start and jump into 2nd place by turn one. I passed him on the front straight and was leading the both the Ex/AM and I was smiling ear to ear. I focused and put in some good laps, 2 or 3 1.18s and thought I was good for the win. On the last laps, I backed off a little and the expert I passed got me coming out of turn 2 and I tried to stay on his rear wheel and pass him on the from straight. As we exited turn 9, a short straight before turn 10 leading onto the front straight, I tried to take a wider line and carry more corner speed to easily pass the expert. Little did I know there was no traction and bumpy as hell out there and I got no drive. I still walked him down but lost out at the line by less than a half bike length.
Race 2 for the day was the HW Twins SS race. I took no chances in this race and I got out front before turn one. I was able to set my best laps of the weekend with 3 1.17s in this race and finish in front of all the experts and novices.
Race 3 for the day was the A Superbike race. Once again I was able to jump into the mix with the experts, and although I didn't finish where I wanted with the experts, I still won the novice class.
I had a great weekend and thanks to my fiance for letting me race just two weeks before our wedding. My sponsors (RapidBike USA) had the 1199 humming and I was able to get 180mph going down the front straight for the first time at RRR. The Pirelli tires provided by South Central Race Center, MWR air filters provided by Bellissimoto, Chicken Haw tire warmers, Pit Bull stands and Dainese suit provided by Cycle Gear Orlando had me feeling like Andrea Iannone. I cannot wait until Cycle Jam at Road ATL. Stay tuned for video.....
Thanks for watching and subscribing everyone. I appreciate the support.
HW Twins EX & NV and C Superbike EX and NV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o4PQv26_nE
HW Solo 20 (20 laps), PT 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icG8Vitzv64
HW Solo 20, PT2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvkt4_s2cbY
A Superbike EX and NV - This is on my personal site. I'll move it later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4pLZg12Wiw
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