D-wire
10-05-2009, 06:31 AM
WOW. Met a lot of guys from the forums this weekend.....wuzup sbkron.
This race was going to be a rematch between Michael Barnes and myself for the shootout win. Barney was on pace on Saturday and was trying some different tires, I was working on bike setup and not being so worried about setting a fast time in each session.
GTO.
Got a decent start in 3rd, but Tomas Puerta on a 1098R was out front. THe kid is quick, but probably not real used to the big bike, so I managed to get a good drive and draft by him and Gus Sanchez. I put my head down and did some consistent 16.8 laps before cooling it off to the low 17.s. I showed that I would have good pace in the shootout and got the win. The bike was really working well, with the small changes we made on Saturday helping with grip and feel
UNSB.
This time I was second into turn 1, but behind Gus Sanchez I couldn't get into a rhythm in the first few corners. Barney took advantage of that, and blew wide as he came past. I guess I didn't expect that and by the time I went for the pass, he was back on line. Later, I was really pissed at myself for that mistake. I take a lot of pride in the mental side of racing, and that was a stupid mental mistake. I should have looked to see if he was going to hold the line after an agressive pass. Anyway, we were behind Gus for a lap and a half and both got by with the double draft on the backstretch. Just then, Barney, myself the Gus all got into these lappers. This was a huge grid with a ton of amatuers. Barney and I were cutting threw these guys and scaring the crap out of them. I got along side him a few times, but he would slam the door shut on me. Good riding by him. Last lap, going onto the long backstretch we split a lapper, I powerslid by this guy sideways and right into Barneys draft, sucking up to him to make the pass.....I finally got the drive I needed.....and the red flag comes out. Gus, behind us, had come together with a lapper who apparently changed his line. The guy is in rough shape and we are praying he makes it. Very tough deal.
UNGP "Shootout"
Puerta with another holeshot, Barney then myself in 3rd into turn 1. I was very aggressive this time in the first few turns and into turn 4 pulled right to Barney's back wheel. Right as I got there he went wide, and remembering the mistake in the SB race.....I dove under him for the pass. I instantly went in hunt of Puerta and got the lead on the brakes for turn 6. I knew Barney was tired of this deal, and wanting a shootout win. During the next 6 laps, I don't know how many times I tucked the front and saved it. We were trading the lap record back and forth 4 or 5 times, all within 9 hundredths of a second. Ridiculous!!
I had to do 6 perfect "cookie cutter" laps. If I tried to be too aggressive in one section and moved off the line 6 inches he would have been there to block, but I didn't crack and because of that pressure this has to be my biggest win ever. Barney ended up beating my lap record by 1 hundredth of a second, but got the win and the $$ that Dani and I needed.
It has been a tough, tough time lately. Losing my main sponsor, work is slow, money tight....but I have a great bunch of people that pull for me and you all know who you are. It means a lot. Thanks Dani, your the best baby!!!
It was a honor to win the Leon Backus Memorial Race
This race was going to be a rematch between Michael Barnes and myself for the shootout win. Barney was on pace on Saturday and was trying some different tires, I was working on bike setup and not being so worried about setting a fast time in each session.
GTO.
Got a decent start in 3rd, but Tomas Puerta on a 1098R was out front. THe kid is quick, but probably not real used to the big bike, so I managed to get a good drive and draft by him and Gus Sanchez. I put my head down and did some consistent 16.8 laps before cooling it off to the low 17.s. I showed that I would have good pace in the shootout and got the win. The bike was really working well, with the small changes we made on Saturday helping with grip and feel
UNSB.
This time I was second into turn 1, but behind Gus Sanchez I couldn't get into a rhythm in the first few corners. Barney took advantage of that, and blew wide as he came past. I guess I didn't expect that and by the time I went for the pass, he was back on line. Later, I was really pissed at myself for that mistake. I take a lot of pride in the mental side of racing, and that was a stupid mental mistake. I should have looked to see if he was going to hold the line after an agressive pass. Anyway, we were behind Gus for a lap and a half and both got by with the double draft on the backstretch. Just then, Barney, myself the Gus all got into these lappers. This was a huge grid with a ton of amatuers. Barney and I were cutting threw these guys and scaring the crap out of them. I got along side him a few times, but he would slam the door shut on me. Good riding by him. Last lap, going onto the long backstretch we split a lapper, I powerslid by this guy sideways and right into Barneys draft, sucking up to him to make the pass.....I finally got the drive I needed.....and the red flag comes out. Gus, behind us, had come together with a lapper who apparently changed his line. The guy is in rough shape and we are praying he makes it. Very tough deal.
UNGP "Shootout"
Puerta with another holeshot, Barney then myself in 3rd into turn 1. I was very aggressive this time in the first few turns and into turn 4 pulled right to Barney's back wheel. Right as I got there he went wide, and remembering the mistake in the SB race.....I dove under him for the pass. I instantly went in hunt of Puerta and got the lead on the brakes for turn 6. I knew Barney was tired of this deal, and wanting a shootout win. During the next 6 laps, I don't know how many times I tucked the front and saved it. We were trading the lap record back and forth 4 or 5 times, all within 9 hundredths of a second. Ridiculous!!
I had to do 6 perfect "cookie cutter" laps. If I tried to be too aggressive in one section and moved off the line 6 inches he would have been there to block, but I didn't crack and because of that pressure this has to be my biggest win ever. Barney ended up beating my lap record by 1 hundredth of a second, but got the win and the $$ that Dani and I needed.
It has been a tough, tough time lately. Losing my main sponsor, work is slow, money tight....but I have a great bunch of people that pull for me and you all know who you are. It means a lot. Thanks Dani, your the best baby!!!
It was a honor to win the Leon Backus Memorial Race