Father's Day At Thunderhill!
After a wet, windy and dissappointing three days that were supposed to be fun practice for Sunday's races, we finally had a day that was a little more like a typical sunny, warm June day for raceday Sunday.
Oh man, was I READY to race. After Saturday's practice (which was shortened considerably due to the weird pop-up rainstorm), I KNEW I was going to beat the two racers I was pretty sure I could get. I was 6-8 seconds a lap faster than them both. Then the guy who I had a blast dicing with all season last year, but who has been overseas most of the season so far this year showed up to run half a day practice. Ooooohhh, maybe another I could get! I was so anxious to see what he had for me. Dude went out and crashed his first session out. Bike wasn't bad but he was a little banged up and decided not to risk racing Sunday. Damn, I was feeling really good and wanted to race with him so bad!
Then one of the other guys I had been beating all day in practice (the one who managed to beat me in the last race, who I vowed will never do it again!), crashed too. Again, not bad, but he was a little sore and stiff too. Well, if all the people I thought I might be able to beat crashed out in practice, I'd have no one to race with!
Sunday morning, I had a talk with the last guy who crashed. He was a bit sore, but I told him to try morning practice and see how he felt. After he came in, he said he felt considerably looser. I decided to give him some good race karma and give him some tips on how to be a little faster in his slow places and maybe beat the other novice that was racing (the one who didn't crash). It could've helped him beat me too, but I was running so good, I didn't care. I gave him a 'secret' tip that I learned last season at Thunderhill--short shift for Turn 5. It helped him a lot, as it had me.
Then it was time to race. First race for me was 500 Twins. Yes, on my EX250. We're elligible for that class (but not competitive), and I like getting an extra race in especially if it's before my main event. Plus, I have accumulated a good ammount of points in the class (I'm 22nd overall!) just by showing up consistently, and I knew I'd be gridded up from the back a bit.
Got an AWESOME start. In front of all but two or three of the other 250s. Most of them got back by me, but not the novices and not 628--Lisa! I have been trying to catch this girl all season. I've gotten her a couple times in practice, but she's always remained a couple seconds a head of me--but close, so close! I was so excited to have gotten ahead of her!
I saw no sign of Lisa all race, I thought for sure she was RIGHT behind me, but I didn't want to risk looking back. Finished the race thinking I had finally beaten her! But no, she pulled off after a couple laps with a mechanical. She'd been having motor problems and had swapped the engine the night before. DAMN.
Then came my main event, 250 Production. Got a pretty good start, not as good as in 500T, but not bad. Lisa and one novice were ahead of me. Got 'em both in Turn 1. Never saw either one again. For the first time, I was really focused on the group in front of me--they were close! Damn close! They weren't gapping me either, I might be able to catch them. Just about 4 or 5 bikes lengths ahead--and I managed to keep them there for the WHOLE race! I KNOW I can catch them now.
At the end of the race, I had beaten both my novice friends and Lisa--she finished the race and wasn't far behind me. What a good sport she is! I talked to her after the race and told her what a big deal it was for me to have finally beaten her, but that I wish it had been more legitimate considering her engine problems. She said, 'Of course it was legitimate! You were faster than me. The bike was running fine, and I just couldn't catch you.' That was very cool.
It was a great weekend all around, and a super exciting race. I have achieved another goal, now I'll work on catching that pack ahead of me--I'll get 'em next race for sure.
