deathblow
05-21-2008, 06:26 PM
I will first begin by summarizing my Round 5 at WSMC, last month. It was my first race month, showed up on the practice Saturday, ran 1:40s and 1:39s in practice. Had two races, Middleweight and Heavyweight Novice. Came in 12th and 9th respectively, ran a best time of 1:35.3, and I felt like I was putting in maximum effort to do that.
For round 5, I decided to show up on Friday to see if the extra practice would prove to be helpful, it was. It was already uncomfortably hot, but hey, it is the desert. WSMC Friday practice days are nice also because they seem to be more chill, with less people and a relaxed atmosphere. I ran every session and was able to lap comfortably in the 1:34-1:35 range. As Saturday practice rolled around, I had little problem with my right knee, but luckily I downed some anti-inflammatory medication and was able to sleep for a couple hours, during the middle of the day. Went back out for the last practice session and did my practice starts, went a little slower, but I still felt a little medicated, so all in all, Saturday was not too productive.
I was totally unable to sleep Saturday night, due to nerves and from the fact that I took a toddler nap during the middle of the day, but I felt totally good Sunday morning. Put on some fresh tires and went out to practice. During my second practice session, I tried to keep BB and GP in sight and was determined to use their lines. I also kept in mind the lines Shaggy showed me a little more than a year ago.
1st Race - Heavyweight Novice
So against the big bikes, I was gridded 10th and got an okay start. Going into T1, it got pretty clustered and I had to brake pretty hard to not hit a couple guys, same thing for the entrance into T2. I kinda got stuck by a guy in a 1000RR and frustrated (relegated) myself to trying to get around him nicely, while the lead group simply disappeared ahead. I finally got around the guy on the 1000RR on lap 3 or 4, I forget, but by that time, I was pretty much doing a trackday as I was by myself. I was also surprised by the fact that this race was 8 laps, as opposed to 6. I finished this race in 7th, with the top 4 places doing sub-1:30 times. My best time was a 1:33.4, and I felt like I was not putting any real effort into this race.
2nd Race – Middleweight Novice
For this race, I was gridded 5th. I had an okay start again, going into T1, I lost a couple places, but I remembered GP’s sage advice, “Stay on the outside and get good drive” and it worked, I made back 3 places and was in 4th going into T2. As I was in T2, in 4th place, the combined voices of Sean, BB, Jason, and Jared started going through my head “Don’t be a *uss” So I decided to do all I can to try and win. I definitely was more aggressive and made a block pass going into 4a. I was able to make to 3rd on lap 2 going into T1 and then it was time to make up some time. I was about 2 seconds from second place and I concentrated on carrying a little more speed through 2, 8 and 9. After lap 6, I wheel to wheel with 2nd place and finally passed him going into T1. He repassed me going into T3, which I decided to concede to him as I thought I could set him up in 9 since I was carrying more speed than him there. On lap 8, I showed him a wheel in 3 and came right up on him on the entrance of 9. Unfortunately, he went a little wider than his last few laps at the apex of 9 so I had to close the throttle a little bit and lose my drive. I settled for 3rd and consistent 32s with a best of 1:32.2 on my last lap.
I can’t even begin to describe the high I felt after the race. I would have never imagined doing what I did on my second race month out there. I definitely still have much to learn, but I feel I can go out there and have fun again. I really appreciate all the help and support that Sean, Bengt, Bill, Theresa, Jason, Jared, Deno, Adam, Melissa, Janell, and Jerry.
For round 5, I decided to show up on Friday to see if the extra practice would prove to be helpful, it was. It was already uncomfortably hot, but hey, it is the desert. WSMC Friday practice days are nice also because they seem to be more chill, with less people and a relaxed atmosphere. I ran every session and was able to lap comfortably in the 1:34-1:35 range. As Saturday practice rolled around, I had little problem with my right knee, but luckily I downed some anti-inflammatory medication and was able to sleep for a couple hours, during the middle of the day. Went back out for the last practice session and did my practice starts, went a little slower, but I still felt a little medicated, so all in all, Saturday was not too productive.
I was totally unable to sleep Saturday night, due to nerves and from the fact that I took a toddler nap during the middle of the day, but I felt totally good Sunday morning. Put on some fresh tires and went out to practice. During my second practice session, I tried to keep BB and GP in sight and was determined to use their lines. I also kept in mind the lines Shaggy showed me a little more than a year ago.
1st Race - Heavyweight Novice
So against the big bikes, I was gridded 10th and got an okay start. Going into T1, it got pretty clustered and I had to brake pretty hard to not hit a couple guys, same thing for the entrance into T2. I kinda got stuck by a guy in a 1000RR and frustrated (relegated) myself to trying to get around him nicely, while the lead group simply disappeared ahead. I finally got around the guy on the 1000RR on lap 3 or 4, I forget, but by that time, I was pretty much doing a trackday as I was by myself. I was also surprised by the fact that this race was 8 laps, as opposed to 6. I finished this race in 7th, with the top 4 places doing sub-1:30 times. My best time was a 1:33.4, and I felt like I was not putting any real effort into this race.
2nd Race – Middleweight Novice
For this race, I was gridded 5th. I had an okay start again, going into T1, I lost a couple places, but I remembered GP’s sage advice, “Stay on the outside and get good drive” and it worked, I made back 3 places and was in 4th going into T2. As I was in T2, in 4th place, the combined voices of Sean, BB, Jason, and Jared started going through my head “Don’t be a *uss” So I decided to do all I can to try and win. I definitely was more aggressive and made a block pass going into 4a. I was able to make to 3rd on lap 2 going into T1 and then it was time to make up some time. I was about 2 seconds from second place and I concentrated on carrying a little more speed through 2, 8 and 9. After lap 6, I wheel to wheel with 2nd place and finally passed him going into T1. He repassed me going into T3, which I decided to concede to him as I thought I could set him up in 9 since I was carrying more speed than him there. On lap 8, I showed him a wheel in 3 and came right up on him on the entrance of 9. Unfortunately, he went a little wider than his last few laps at the apex of 9 so I had to close the throttle a little bit and lose my drive. I settled for 3rd and consistent 32s with a best of 1:32.2 on my last lap.
I can’t even begin to describe the high I felt after the race. I would have never imagined doing what I did on my second race month out there. I definitely still have much to learn, but I feel I can go out there and have fun again. I really appreciate all the help and support that Sean, Bengt, Bill, Theresa, Jason, Jared, Deno, Adam, Melissa, Janell, and Jerry.