trey_loco
Mon 7/23/07, 4:21PM
Things just keep getting better. I'll say it again..making the switch to the SV has definitely been the right move so far. I'm having more fun, I'm higher in the ranks and as of this past weekend, I'm actually faster on my SV650 than I was on my 600rr. It was a hot weekend, but not the hottest I've experienced. Knowing that makes it just a bit more bearable. And now....on to the report.
Formula Twins Lightweight
This was the first race of the day. Conditions were great and overall the race was pretty uneventful. I was gridded on the last row as I haven't accumulated enough points yet to get me in the front group...yet. I had a pretty decent start and made it to the front half of the group. I had a couple good passes during the first lap, including Andy into turn 3, but by the end of the first lap, I was in 5th place, where I would stay for the remainder of the race. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was a second faster than I had been the month before, turning consistent 1:32's. Halfway through the race, I realized I was tired and still had 2 races to go. I looked over my shoulder a few times and saw two riders about half a lap back, so I decided to ease up a bit to save tires and energy. I relaxed a bit too much because Chris A. finished just two tenths of a second behind me. Had he beat me, I would have only myself to blame for relaxing my guard.
550 Superbike
I was dead tired after the first race, so I was unsure how this one would pan out. The first 2 seconds of my start were great, but then I was stuck in 2nd gear for a bit and had trouble getting up into 3rd. By the time I did, my great start turned into a Mat Mladin style start allowing Dixon, Armantrout and Galvan to fly by me into turn 1. But that's okay, because I was fired up and eager to mount my charge back to the middle of the pack. I made the pass on Galvan coming down the hill into 5 and found Dixon and Armantrout about a second or so in front of me. It took me a couple laps to catch up to them, but I finally made the pass on Chris and Johnny going through turn 6 and 7 on lap 3. I knew neither one would take being passed lightly and they were right on my heels the remainder of the race. From my understanding, Chris attempted to take the inside line coming through 9, but couldn't quite make it and ran wide in 9, giving me a bit of breathing room, but not for long. All three of us finished within a second of each other, making for another close, clean and fun race.
Battle of the Twins Middleweight
What an interesting race this would turn out to be. Another decent, but not great start found me yet again behind Chris. I tucked in behind him started around turn 5 but by the middle of 7, puffs of smoke were coming from his exhaust and quickly turned from puffs to full on billowing. I tried to get by him on the inside of 8, but he wasn't having it, so I backed off knowing that something was wrong with his bike and that he would get a black flag. Then, between 8 and 9, his exhaust can exploded into a myriad of pieces. He visibly lost some power and I passed him through 9. I saw them waving the black flag at him and it wasn't long after that when they through the red flag. They restarted the race for 6 laps and away we went again. I had a great start and I was using the Ducatis to pull me along. I dropped down into the 1:31's and felt great. Then coming out of 9, my rear tire broke free and almost threw me through the air. I figured the heat and multiple races on the tires had taken their toll and I was short of grip. I eased off ever so slightly, but going into turn 1 and 2, the rear tire was dancing all over the place. I knew something was wrong, but couldn't figure it out to save my life. Every corner felt different and seemed as if I was inches from being thrown into the dirt. I finished the race and limped back to the pits without even doing the cool down lap. Once off the bike, I realized the problem. I had a flat. It seems that a piece of the exhaust that exploded took a chunk out of my rear tire. I've never seen a tire look the way mine did and I hope I never do again. I was a bit bummed that I couldn't really compete in the race, but I later found out that I did my best time ever of 1:31.9. That time felt very comfortable to me and I know I can replicate and even surpass that the next race weekend.
Overall, it was a great weekend. My times continue to improve and I learn more and more about riding that beast of an SV. Special thanks to my girlfriend Stacy and Monica for being my two-girl pit crew. They completely spoil me...from putting the bike on the rear stand and putting on the warmers, to changing tires and packing up, these girls do it all. They fucking rock is what they do.
And of course, thanks to my sponsors: Motorcycle Performance in Los Angeles, Vortex Racing, LP, and Cali Photography.
Formula Twins Lightweight
This was the first race of the day. Conditions were great and overall the race was pretty uneventful. I was gridded on the last row as I haven't accumulated enough points yet to get me in the front group...yet. I had a pretty decent start and made it to the front half of the group. I had a couple good passes during the first lap, including Andy into turn 3, but by the end of the first lap, I was in 5th place, where I would stay for the remainder of the race. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was a second faster than I had been the month before, turning consistent 1:32's. Halfway through the race, I realized I was tired and still had 2 races to go. I looked over my shoulder a few times and saw two riders about half a lap back, so I decided to ease up a bit to save tires and energy. I relaxed a bit too much because Chris A. finished just two tenths of a second behind me. Had he beat me, I would have only myself to blame for relaxing my guard.
550 Superbike
I was dead tired after the first race, so I was unsure how this one would pan out. The first 2 seconds of my start were great, but then I was stuck in 2nd gear for a bit and had trouble getting up into 3rd. By the time I did, my great start turned into a Mat Mladin style start allowing Dixon, Armantrout and Galvan to fly by me into turn 1. But that's okay, because I was fired up and eager to mount my charge back to the middle of the pack. I made the pass on Galvan coming down the hill into 5 and found Dixon and Armantrout about a second or so in front of me. It took me a couple laps to catch up to them, but I finally made the pass on Chris and Johnny going through turn 6 and 7 on lap 3. I knew neither one would take being passed lightly and they were right on my heels the remainder of the race. From my understanding, Chris attempted to take the inside line coming through 9, but couldn't quite make it and ran wide in 9, giving me a bit of breathing room, but not for long. All three of us finished within a second of each other, making for another close, clean and fun race.
Battle of the Twins Middleweight
What an interesting race this would turn out to be. Another decent, but not great start found me yet again behind Chris. I tucked in behind him started around turn 5 but by the middle of 7, puffs of smoke were coming from his exhaust and quickly turned from puffs to full on billowing. I tried to get by him on the inside of 8, but he wasn't having it, so I backed off knowing that something was wrong with his bike and that he would get a black flag. Then, between 8 and 9, his exhaust can exploded into a myriad of pieces. He visibly lost some power and I passed him through 9. I saw them waving the black flag at him and it wasn't long after that when they through the red flag. They restarted the race for 6 laps and away we went again. I had a great start and I was using the Ducatis to pull me along. I dropped down into the 1:31's and felt great. Then coming out of 9, my rear tire broke free and almost threw me through the air. I figured the heat and multiple races on the tires had taken their toll and I was short of grip. I eased off ever so slightly, but going into turn 1 and 2, the rear tire was dancing all over the place. I knew something was wrong, but couldn't figure it out to save my life. Every corner felt different and seemed as if I was inches from being thrown into the dirt. I finished the race and limped back to the pits without even doing the cool down lap. Once off the bike, I realized the problem. I had a flat. It seems that a piece of the exhaust that exploded took a chunk out of my rear tire. I've never seen a tire look the way mine did and I hope I never do again. I was a bit bummed that I couldn't really compete in the race, but I later found out that I did my best time ever of 1:31.9. That time felt very comfortable to me and I know I can replicate and even surpass that the next race weekend.
Overall, it was a great weekend. My times continue to improve and I learn more and more about riding that beast of an SV. Special thanks to my girlfriend Stacy and Monica for being my two-girl pit crew. They completely spoil me...from putting the bike on the rear stand and putting on the warmers, to changing tires and packing up, these girls do it all. They fucking rock is what they do.
And of course, thanks to my sponsors: Motorcycle Performance in Los Angeles, Vortex Racing, LP, and Cali Photography.