News

May Race Report

May 13, 2006

Bought rain tires for this weekend, and made two good practices with them. Having never riden on the track in the rain, nevermind with rain tires I had no idea what to expect.

I talked with Paul a bit and he gave some helpful advice, which I wish I used later in the day.

I go out for race #2, grided front row. Got a good launch and ended up in 3rd going into turn 1 ... coming up 4 there was a red flag, restart.

Restart, got a better launch ended up 2nd into turn 1, then was passed, and held 3rd for abit. Ended up being 4th for laps 3-5. Lap 6 comes around, and I head into turn one, still on the brakes I turn in (paul told me not to do this), the front end just goes and the bike heads through several layers of tires in nascar turn 1. I slide past all the tire walls, stopping 5' short of the last one.

I was having so much fun, I clicked off a 1:42 on lap 5, and just felt great. I made a stupid mistake and just ruined it for myself. I was, and am still so pissed off, emotionally draining, and just mentally defeated.

I missed race 4, but was able to make race 13, I got an awful start and my best time was a 1:48. I couldn't get past the thought of the turn 1 crash. I was so shaken up, it was awful. Everyone was passing me in turn 1. I ended up 11th out of 16.

I am so upset with myself, I feel like I should be better than this. The mental game is what is killing me right now. I know I can ride the damn bike, but I have mental lapses and its costing me ... i'm so frustrated with myself.

Hotbodies bodywork holds up great, as it has taken a beating over the past two race weekends. I'll be learning how to fiberglass this week. Damage done to the bike is a broken instrument cluster, upper wireharness, and bent sairing stay (which we were able to bend back)

Thanks again to the crew, Mike, Mark and Tim for helping with the bike and being very supportive.

On the subject of rain tires, i'm amazed at the amount of traction they offer (when not braking or accelerating while leaned over). I look forward to some more wet weather track time to learn more about riding with them. For me, they almost provide a false sense of security because I had to continue to remind myself I was still in the wet, and was riding at times like it was dry (IE, turn 1 crash). I alwasy trail brake into 1, so I guess I was trying to do that again here.

Mentally I am spent right now ... time to focus on getting the bike together.

I hope I can be better than this.