Did a running thread of my 2011 season so figured might as well start up the 2012 season. Ill keep updating this thread as the season progresses, will include pics and videos of course. Here we go
Week 1 Carolina Motorsports Park. Twin sprint weekend and running just one bike in 3 classes. Same old 08 848 with just a new body and paint for upgrades.
Friday practice didnt go so well. New soft rear tire on a grippy track. Was feeling comfortable on the bike after not riding it for 6 months and dragging a knee by half way lap 1. Noticed the rpm's climbing the upper range a little quick. Couple laps later whacked it open onto the front straight and rpm's bounced off the rev limiter. Uh oh clutch slipping, stock with 6500mi including 4200 track miles. Ran one more session to get comfortable and rolling on the gas to keep it from slipping. Start calling around and luckily find a dealer with one in stock but 150mi away. So 6 hours and 300mi later get back to the track at 9pm and done by 930 heading to hotel.
Saturday get a medium rear and new front run practice and bike feels great, me too.
Race 1 Supertwins. Decent start and settled into 4th behind Barret Long a 1098 and buell 1125 with no one around, good start to the season.
Race 2 Middleweight F40 2nd into T1 but passed by 3 riders by half lap then again settled into 4th after the leader crashed and finished there. Was sliding a bit and with this the first of back to back races knew i was in trouble
Race 3 Open F40. This class is more of a get points and survive for me. Rear tire was shot. Only bike not a 1000 so i knew i was going to get beat. Decent start but as soon as we hit a straight it was all over. Finished 5th (last) but still decent points. Lots of sliding the rear and back in the pits the DOT rear looked like half DOT and half slick. Time for another rear tire.
Sunday. Slept in and skipped morning practice since first race wasnt till after lunch. Due to crashes they shortened the races to just 5 laps. So take it easy in the first race then let it rip in the last 2 back to back.
Race 1 Open F40. Here we go again little bike in big bike class. Actually got a really good start and was in the lead until 2nd gear. Finished 7th running all alone.
Race 2 MW F40. Hole shot and put my head down and pushed hard lap 1. Pulled a gap on 2nd and kept it around 30ft the entire race. First non rain win as an expert. Extremely excited and knew i was going faster and ready to go in supertwins. Rolled into pit lane got a drink and checked the rear tire, was all good. Game on
Race 3 Supertwins. Decent start and passed for 3rd into T4. Had an AMA pro and 1098 in front and buell 1125 behind me. Kept my head down and pushed hardright till i made a slight mistake in the last turn then false neutral on the front straight. Buell got by but stayed right on his ass almost hitting him a couple times in the corners. Tried hard but couldnt get around finished 4th again. Good thing was i managed to lower my lap times by over 4 seconds during the weekend and ran fastest lap of the weekend last lap.
NJMP in 2 more weeks and will be breaking out my little project lightweight bike to play with. will be doing LW, MW, Open F40, Supertwins and thunderbike. have 2 twin sprint weekends this season that should be very busy and cant wait