| Author | Message | ||
     Firebolt428 |
Saturday Formula Thunder: 2nd With the bike running a 100% I was looking forward to getting it on the track at Pacific Raceways. I didn't change much with the suspension since the last race at Spokane and that hurt me a bit in this race. Starting from 2nd on the grid next to Darren Murray (Ducati 748RS #348) and Joshua Ellingson (Suzuki 650 #169) I knew it would be a battle mostly between Josh and I. Darren is running about 18 more horsepower than I am and more than that on Josh. Light goes out and coming into turn 1 I am in 2nd behind Darren. I hold 2nd for a couple laps then coming on to the straight away I see a big cloud of smoke. Darren was out with a mechanical failure and I moved into first. I had a tough time getting the suspension to settle down enough to get me into turn 10 before the straight away. Next lap and Josh passes me in turn 10. I had a couple big slides which put about a second or two down on Josh. Lap 7 I decided it was time to try and make my run at Josh. I closed the gap going over the start finish line for lap 8 and passed him on the brakes going into turn two. As we came around turn three going into turn four there is a bike and a guy laying in the track. This is the worst thing that could of happened for the guy that went down and for my 1st place. When they stop a race they go back a lap for the final positions which moved me back into 2nd place. I was a bit mad at myself for waiting to make my go with 2 laps left but things happen. #636 I believe was the guy that went down. He ended up with a couple broken ribs, collarbone and a possible punctured lung but he will be ok. Middle Weight GP Twins: 2nd I was really anxious for this race and was looking for a win. I got a average start and was 4th going into turn 1. By lap 2 I had moved into third and was chasing the front two guys. Coming onto the straight I passed them both before turn 1 to take the lead. I led for a lap or two and midway through turn 9 I pushed the front all the way to the outside. Alan Schwinn #124 went by on the inside. next time around it was a bit worse with my handlebars basically turning towards me. Which means the front tire had lost traction and I was about to tuck the front and crash. I was able to push the bars and keep my self upright thanks to my knee acting as a tripod. However Ian Dreycott #140 went by on the inside. As much as the weather was nice it was almost too hot on the track. The tarmac at Pacific Raceways is about 20 years old and needs repaving bad. Coming out of turn 2 every lap the back tire would break loose and buck me out of the seat and it literally felt like I was riding a bull trying to get the bike to settle down. Probably lap 7 I noticed Ian Dreycott's bike underneath of the air fence. So now it was a 2 way battle and Alan was about 1.5 seconds ahead of me and we were getting into lapped riders. I was hoping this would work to my advantage so I could close the gap on him but instead it worked against me as I got held up some more. Even when I saw the white flag out I was still thinking of ways to catch Alan although he had a 2.5 second lead. But in the end I had to settle for second place as there wasn't a chance for me to catch him. With the 2nd place points and with Ian # 140 not finishing (he was ok) I should move into 2nd place in the Middle Weight GP Twins Championship. As I told people in the pits afterward I have never crashed so many times and never hit the pavement. I had tires that had 15 laps on them so they normally would of been fine but the heat and lack of traction in turn 2 and turn 9 made it a very tough race. Thanks to everyone in the pits, Mom for cooking the good food and Dad (Crew Chief) for getting the bike ready, Jeff for doing everything he does as Team Manager and Lindsay for hanging out all weekend with me at the track! Thanks to my sponsors, Harley Davidson of Seattle, Phenix Group, Motul Oil, DP Brakes, Gaerne, Fulmer Helmets, Pirelli tires, Regina Chains, Utopia, Monster Energy, Fuel and everyone who supports Pushrod Racing. Next race is Sept 3-4 in Spokane. Brad Haley # 428 www.pushrodracing.com www.pushrodgear.com (Message edited by firebolt428 on August 16, 2005) | ||
| 99buellx1 |
 | ||
| Glitch |
 KICKASS!!! |
