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 2007 AFM Round 3: Infineon Raceway (Hodaka)
So, while my lap times didn’t really improve, my confidence going into T6 did. I figured this would be enough to get me ready for the race on Sunday. I skip Sunday practice – it was cold! Instead, I putted around on my CRF150 all morning, which by the way, counts as practice! I am now convinced that riding anything with two-wheels can put you in the right mindset. Riding the 150 around helps my balance, my vision (looking around, spotting things), and getting my body loose. It’s not like I’m sliding around and doing donuts, but I ride at a spirited “5mph.” Perhaps from now on, I will skip Saturday practice too to save some money!
Regardless, I roll into my grid position on the 2nd row with an empty slot next to me (Elaine). Green flag flies and the throttle is pinned. I’m moving! Wow, maybe 5mph! Jeremiah also got a bad start, but he can make up for it with his talent. Me on the otherhand, once I am behind, I am there for good. So I stroll up the hill through 2 and I see Jeremiah trying to make up some positions…he was riding very hard, very aggressive, the bike getting squirly every which way. By the fourth lap, I’m in a comfortable 8th position or so. I didn’t look back to see who was behind me, but I felt alone. Turn 4 comes up and I see Jeremiah taking the scenic route – straight down the hill bypassing T4! I come around T6 and I see black flags waving. Obviously, this was not because of Jeremiah as he didn’t crash. I see the front runners at a stop in the middle of T7, including Jeremiah – the scenic route took him straight to T7. We wait for about 5 minutes and get re-routed down the drag strip and back into the hot pits. The race was being re-started for 6 laps. GREAT I thought. I’m dead tired after 4 laps and now I have to do 6 more! Okay, so we restart – my clutch was still hot from the first start so my start was not so spectacular (not that it ever is) but I still maintain my position after the front runners get going. Fast forward to T9 and I see dust cloud at the exit. Oh no! It’s Jeremiah! Yeah, he was riding hard that day and I guess it was one of those things bound to happen. He didn’t look hurt, so that was good.
Alright, checkered flag! I’m done. I find out later that I got top novice…thanks Jeremiah! I never broke 2:00’s. Goodbye 125, hello 750. |
May 29, 2007 - Sonoma, CA -- The weekend started on Friday at Infineon Raceway. Keigwins was hosting the Friday “practice” so I thought this would be a good chance for me to get in some extra seat time before the real weekend began. Paul made the arrangements for the garage – this time only a few of us occupied the garage as opposed to last month when we basically had the entire motorcycle community decide to use up our garage space. On that note, Paul Yosh was back in business! After several months of recouping from a car accident, Paul had his 2006 GSX-R600 ready to rock. Dave helped us decal the baby up and my oh my, that thing looked sweet! All black…hmmm, you can never go wrong with black.
Friday and Saturday practices were uneventful, which is always good when we’re talking about a novice on a two-stroke. I got in enough seat time to know that A) my bike runs and B) I’m still slow. My goal was to get below 2:00, which I know, doesn’t sound like a feat, but for me, it was because I’ve been struggling all year trying to learn how to ride the midget bike that is the Honda RS125. I worked specifically on Turn 6 the entire day on Saturday, which has been my weakest area of the track among Turns 2, 3/3a, and 11…
FIII was race #3. The second call is announced and all us 125’ers get our bikes started and roll down the pits. I was behind Elaine when all of a sudden I see water spraying straight up into the air like Ole Faithful and then pouring from the underside of her bike. I think to myself, “not again!” She had a rough weekend and I’m really not quite sure why her bike keeps having problems.
Fast forward to lap 4 and my body is getting tight and I’m starting to lose focus. Turn 6, the turn I had practiced all weekend, was turning into a grueling one-on-one battle between the forces of gravity and my stamina. Luckily, I survived, but damn I was tired! I just wanted the race to end. Of course, I get passed in T6 too after I thought I was all alone. Oh well, such as it is and this is another reason why I should either lose weight or ride a bigger bike (hmmm…stay tuned).