The CEO Report #2

[ceo012384]

WOW, what a stressful weekend. If they all turn out like this I'm going to have a heart attack before I hit 26 for sure.

In the off time between race weekends I went to go practice my starts, since that's where I was lacking. Denno helped me and we did probably 20 practice starts in a parking lot one afternoon. By the end of that session, I was getting them pretty good. Packed up and went home. Fast forward,

Saturday:
Practice 1 was rained out, so I skipped it. Practice 2 I go out, 1st lap I pull out onto the straight and get on it, bike gets up to 12krpm and the motor starts spinning up. Wtf?!? Do another lap and it's happening elsewhere too. Pull in, make a clutch cable adjustment, go back out for the last lap. Happens again, session is over. Come back in, notice the adjuster is loose down near the clutch cover. Readjust and hope that was the issue, I have race 3, we'll see.

Race 3 MWGP: Grid up in 1C, good grid, praying the clutch is fine and not slipping. Try to get a decent start but the clutch doesn't feel right, go into T1 in 6th regardless. Yup, the clutch is slipping like a motherfucker. No drive anywhere, I'm basically racing an EX500 with nice suspension. Try to make up ground on the brakes and with cornerspeed, make a pass for 5th on the brakes into T3... the straight is absolutely killing me. I hold out the rest of the race getting passed twice on the straight and end up finishing in 7th out of a field of 18, not bad considering, and clicked off a bunch of 25's including a 25 flat. I'll take it.


So, time to rip the bike apart... take off the bodywork, wheels off and over to BoMo for new tires, drain the oil and take apart the clutch, pull the old plates out and HOLY SHIT are they toast. Four of us are working on my bike at this point, safety wiring, installing wheels, Degsy is putting in the clutch, I'm suiting up, the clutch cover is going on and they make 3rd call. There is oil everywhere, Oreo is putting the bodywork on, warmers are pulled GO GO GO GO GO GO they rush me through the 3-10 split and I barely make it in time. Hope this works.

Race 12 HWSB: I'm so friggin stressed! Start is decent but not great, adrenaline is way too high. Go into T1 in 6th or 7th. Click off a 27 out lap, 24 lap #2, James gets by me in 1a and we are through the traffic and off to the races. I am now calmed down and put my head down. I pass him in 8 but run wide in 9 and he gets by. We do another trade off in T1. I think I can get him in another two places but I pussy out and don't force it. I need to get better at this, being aggressive and RACING, not just passing. Last 5 laps were all consistent 1:21's including a match of my PB which is a 1:21.1. 5th place.

Sunday:
It's cold in the morning, mid 50's, track temps are down. 2nd practice was a crash fest, couple guys got tangled up in 3, couple other crashes, couple yahoos out there on the edge of disaster. I get by them with Justin (699) in tow and intended just to click off some 22's and get in a groove, nothing crazy. I am not pushing or leaned that hard, on positive throttle, and the front suddenly tucks in 1A. Still not sure I have an explanation for this besides the cold track temps, I don't recall having any handlebar pressure or anything. Anyways, I have an easy slide, bike makes it to the grass and has one little tumble. Shit. I have race 1 and I want to win it.

Back to the pits, grab a rearset bracket and brake reservoir bracket, handlebar tube, etc. Damper mount is broken and the damper is just lying there on the fairing stay. Exhaust can is absolutely smooshed and cracked. Denno safety wires it in place, Degsy is giving me a 45-second brake bleed as they make third call, tire warmers are pulled as I'm suiting up.

Race 1 GTO: I get a tech sticker slapped on as I roll out to hot pit, they tell me to do the 3-10 split again. I head out for a shortened warm-up lap and go into turn 2... WHOOP! front tucks again, WHAT THE FUCK!???? Later I realized that all the dirt and shit was still baked into the tires from the crash in practice, but for now I am wondering if something is wrong with the bike. Pick it up and barely make it to the grid, at this point I don't give a fuck about anything. I'm winning this race.

I get a great start and go for it, holeshot into T1. Bike is half put together, exhaust packing is shooting out the side of the can, lap timer and damper are hanging off, everything is wrong, and I don't care. Put my head down and get my first win. I know it's novice, I know I won by a lot, I know it doesn't mean much... but god damn did that feel good.

Race 13 MWSS: I am dead tired and the weekend's stress has taken it's toll. I get a good start and go into T1 in second, make the pass driving out of T2 for the lead. I can hear James behind me and I hold him off for a few laps. He takes me on the brakes into 3, I start to chase, and I just have nothing left. I cruise to a 2nd and call it a day.


Bottom line for this weekend, it wasn't pretty, but I got it done in certainly less than ideal conditions.

Basically, in my short career in races I've finished without mechanical issues (which are a DNF stupid crash out of 2nd on white flag lap and a 7th on a toasted clutch) I've gotten a 1st, two 2nds, a 3rd, a 4th, and two 5ths. Best lap time is a 1:21.1... I know where I can pick up time, I just need to do it. I easily can get into the teens, just need to do it.

A bunch of my competition is bumping and I don't have the races yet, so next weekend I expect I will have to push myself to improve without them there to push me. When I am on my game I am very consistent, so I'm hoping to show up rested and ready and drop some better times through self-motivation in preparation for bumping up.

And I would be a huge asshole if I didn't thank everyone who helped me this weekend:
- All my Zip Tie Alley teammates, especially Bergs, who is about to go race against me and is safety wiring my front end in his leathers, that's friendship right there.
- The whole Boston Moto crew for their quick tire service, especially Denno and Derek for working on my bike with me.
- Derek, you're the only crazy son of a bitch who can bleed brakes in under a minute and get a new clutch on in 10. You know how much I appreciate your help.
- All the other folks who lent a hand in the garage, including Alex for lugging my bike back from 1a, Fitz for some supplies, Oreo and Honkie for lending a hand with repairs, and everyone I forgot.
- All the sponsors as well (see sig).

Now I certainly have some work to do on the bike for round 3... :mope: