News

576 - First Expert Weekend

Loudon, NH

July 21, 2008

I was able to successfully complete my first Expert weekend on 2wheels. Overall I'm happy that I have made the jump to Expert. It is very apparent that I have a lot to learn, but I'm pleased with how my first weekend went.

This was the first weekend ever that I have missed Friday Practice ... never again. Friday practice helps me get into race mode for the weekend, which I had to try to do first thing Saturday morning, all while I was anxious about this weekend as an Expert. I was about 1 second of my times from the last race weekend, but stayed somewhat consistent in the low 17s high 16s.

Saturday

Practice:
This felt just like AM practice ... went out and did my thing. Caught a few people, but overall felt like I had the track to myself to get up to pace. Did a couple 18s, but mostly 19s. I was using my tires which had the last LRRS Round, Summit Round, and two Tony's Track Days events on them. They were moving all over the place.

MWSS (12th/20):
First Expert race, Gridded 3B ... I hate the inside. I couldn't see the number board, and barely see the flag ... great. I see people shields drop and click into gear, must be the 2 board, engines rev, must be the 1, I catch a corner of the board as it turns side ways, kind of see the green flag, people go, I go ... wheel in the air ... oh boy ... lots of people pass me, I head into turn 1 around 9th or 10th I believe. This wasn't the start I was hoping for, but I just put my head down with the number 1 goal of getting through this first race. I was quickly over taken by a couple guys, but then settled in for most of the race. On the 2nd to last lap I came into turn 3, rolled off the throttle 10' sooner than I normally do, and the guy knocking on my back door was able to overtake on the brakes into 3. Lesson 1, don't make any mistakes .. hahaha. I ran low 17s for the race, to finish 12th out of 20.

MWGP:
Gridded 3D. I like the outside, and I could see the starter, so I was more comfortable. I got a decent launch .. but Kip (#10) next to me launched liked he was shot out of a catapult ... insane! I head into 1 on the outside, the two guys in front of me are bumping for position and I'm able to take a couple positions, then comes 1A .. the entire field tipped into where I was, I lost 1 position, but held it through turn 2. Couple guys got by me on lap 2, but I was able to keep in touch with some of the veteran experts, which was pretty exciting. The rain started to fall on Lap 4, red flag ... race will happen first thing tomorrow.


Sunday

Practice:
Was able to get out behind Wood, Greenwood, and Narbonne ... it lasted all of the warm up lap (=. Felt pretty good in both sessions and was looking forward to the races today.

MWGP Continued (14th/18):
We were gridded by our position yesterday, which actually put me in the same spot (3D). I got an ok launch, and headed into turn 1 on the outside once again, just to have the field fold in on me for 1a. I was in 8th for a couple laps, then slowly started to make some mistakes, and every mistake I made someone seemed to get by, by the end of the race I was pushed back to 14th. My times were in the low 17s, high 16s. Overall, not pleased with the result, but was pleased to have been able to run in the top 10 for a several laps and hold off some of the faster experts for even a lap or two.

MWSB (12th/20):
I had a 20 minute break before this race, which seemed to go by very quickly. Soon enough I was back on Pre-Grid. I was gridded on the inside once again, and once again I lofted the front at the start ... ugh. I was 10th into 1. I was quickly pushed back a couple spots. A couple off track excursions for two experts helped me out by getting me back up to 12th. I still could only manage low 17s for the race to finish 12th.

HWSS (11th/17):
Gridded 2D, got a good start and was 7th into Turn 1. I went into 1A 2 wide with someone, and all of a sudden I see a front tire where I didn't realize a front tire, never mind a bike could fit ... but it did. This made me check up a little with put me back into 9th into turn 2, 959 got around me and I get in behind #20 and followed him for the whole race. Trying to make a pass here and there, but I couldn't seem to pull one off. I would make up a bunch of time on the back half and reel him in, but then he would just pull on me down the front straight and back straight. 2nd to last lap I try to make a move around 11, but wasn't carrying enough speed, which required me to check up into 12 killing all my drive and allowing 701 to pass me putting me into 11th and allowing #20 to put even more of a gap on me down the straight. Low 17s again with a single 16.999 for 11th place.


It was almost surreal to be gridded up as an Expert this weekend. You just watch all of these guys run from the time you are a Novice and Amateur and then here I was gridded next to Scott Greenwood, Kip Peterson, etc;. It was a lot of fun this weekend, and I did as well as I thought I would do, but I definitely am looking for better.

My biggest issue right now is corner exit ... everyone is gapping me here and I can't make up that ground. I know a lot of it has to do with me not getting on the gas hard enough/soon enough, but I think it might partially be a gearing thing as well. I'm going to experiment with adding another tooth to the rear for next Friday practice to see if that helps at all.

I appreciate the thumbs up after the races from some of the guys that had to get around me. I don't think I've ever had to work so hard for 12th place. The expert class has always been impressive to watch from the sides, but to be apart of it is pretty exciting!

Thanks to the ECK-Racing Team, Pine Motor Parts, Phoenix Graphics, RJ's Motorsport, Woodcraft, Motorcycles of Manchester, Boston Moto Pirelli, and Tony's Track Days for their continued support!

See everyone in 3 weeks!!