|
||
|
Inside Line Motorcycle Racing | |
|
I put on a new pair of Bridgestone BT-56 tires and lubed the chain thoroughly since it seems to be getting stiff.
Saturday was a practice day. I got 5 20-minute sessions in, and with the hot weather, that was as much as I could handle! The first session didn't go too well -- I was trying to scrub in the new tires, but they didn't seem to want to start sticking. Part of the problem was that the chain lube was flinging off and getting on the left side of the rear tire.
I cleaned off the tire and wheel, then Les Green lent me his tire warmers. The tire warmers helped a lot, and the tires worked better in the second session. However, the tires never seemed to grip really well, and the pressure in the rear tire increased from heat more than it should have. I guess these tires don't like the hot weather, because I couldn't get the grip I have in the past for the whole weekend.
I led the 4 laps of the qualifier from turn 1 on. I thought I was doing great, but it turns out that my nemesis, Racer X, had his brakes lock up on the starting grid, and he stopped half way down the front straight. Leading the race is a little nerve-wracking because you're not sure whether you're keeping up the pace or not. Apparently I did, because no-one caught up. Yay!
I was glad to see that Racer X got his brake problem fixed over lunch. He started from the back row (3rd row) while I had the "pole position." It looks like I need to work on my starts, because while I was still in 1st gear trying to reel in Steve Supple, who's big single gives him a torque advantage on the start, Racer X flew by and began disappearing down the straight. Then again, with the apparent motor advantage that Racer X has, maybe working on the starts is pointless!
I did get past Steve. I managed to keep Racer X in sight for the first 5 laps. As we caught up to some SV650's in the 650 Production Twins wave, I thought maybe I could get some advantage in traffic, but Racer X put on the afterburners and disappeared. Oh well, 2nd place again.
In the 450 Superbike race I try to chase the SV650 superbikes around. I passed Brenda Wertman on her SV between turns 2 and 3, but she got me back on the back straight. I caught back up between 8 and 9, but she blew turn 9 and almost took me out, then disappeared down the straight. That was about it for passing, and for the rest of the race I tried to improve my times.
Unfortunately, the tires just weren't sticking like the usually do, and I couldn't seem to run quite as quickly as I have in the past.
I won $40 in the Team Fight Against Tobacco 450 Supersport class sponsorship -- thanks, Dave!
Thanks to all the OMRRA turn workers, registration folks, and other volunteers who make OMRRA race days possible.
Thanks also to my sponsors Bridgestone Tires and Lockhart-Philips USA.
Many thanks to my wife, Julie!
|
|||
|
Inside Line Motorcycle Racing Home | |
|
|
Previous (June) | Next (August) | |
|
|||
Copyright 2002 Inside Line Motorcycle Accessories LLC