HyerSide
09-22-2003, 05:13 PM
For those of you who do not race with the SMRI, I think it is important to mention that there are other riders other than Troy, Alex, Randy, and Phil out on the track...although it does not sound like it from reading their race reports. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/flipa.gif
See, in order for those guys to get podium finishes every weekend, they have to beat the slower riders...I fall into the slower rider category. Acutally, I fall into the REALLY SLOW RIDER category.
So I thought I'd entertain you all with my own little race report from the SMRI race #6.
Saturday practice: I have not been on the bike since La Junta (about a month), so I am eager to practice. I have new gearing since the last race on this track, so I experiment with my gears during the first practice until I find the right gear for each corner that will give me the best exit drive. Second and third practice sessions I follow Randy and Alex to get lines. I realized since the last time I was on the track that I needed to adjust my lines to allow me to carry more entry speed and exit with a better drive. Some minor changes in my lines cut a few seconds off my lap times.
The endurance race is a long 30 minute practice session for me and I work on braking later...accelerating out of the corners earlier. I only get lapped by the leaders twice. While this may shound bad, it is a major improvement from the 5-6 times I would get lapped at the beginning of the season! I come in last place - well someone has to!
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
Sunday...
Practice goes well. A good nights sleep has left me feeling strong and comfortable on the bike. The track is beginning to flow and I am having a blast!
Novice GTU and Novice Open...my goal is to make it through one of these heat races without getting lapped by the leader. I'm feeling good and so is the bike. I feel like Im getting faster. I see the white flag...one more lap. The leaders have not passed me yet so I push it a bit more to reach my goal. Coming out of turn two...there goes Alex right by me. Damn! Close! Im pretty sure I claim last place as usual. The second heats proceed just about the same with the leaders passing me on the last or second to last lap and me finishing last place. But on the bright side, ONLY the leaders lapped me...there were other riders who did not I guess I will wait until next race weekend to realize this goal. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Now for the Beginner Open race. This class is for true beginners (those who are new to racing and / or fall in the SLOW RIDER category). Ten riders grid for the race with me in the number one spot. My goal is to get a podium finish. I have been 5th and 4th, but never reached 3rd...today is the day. I rev my engine and start the race. I am in 1st place going into turn one...but between the apex of turn one and turn two I have dropped into 6th place. Discouragement hits in and I start to settle in for a comfortable coasting speed...then I decide NO! I want a damn trophy - Troy is hogging our trophy room and I want a trophy of mine in the room! I decide that I cant pass them all at once, but Im gunna try to pick off these riders one by one and work my way to the front. The first rider was easy...pass him in turn two....not my most comfortable turn, but he was slow enough that I felt ok... It takes me about a lap to catch the next rider. I ride behind him for a lap to watch his lines and plan my attach. Like many riders, he brakes way early into turn one, so the next lap I go wide and out brake him into turn one. I hit my apex and whack open the throttle ( cause I can on an SV650) before he even hits his apex. I successfully pass him on the outside of turn one and head for the next rider. I catch up quickly to the rider in third place. He goes into turn two slow, but I dont pass there since turn two is tricky. If you go into two too fast, you are not set up for three and run wide. I know this because I lowsided out of turn three before...not a mistake I plan to make again. So I wait and watch. I follow for about 2 laps trying to choose a good passing place. My usual places (turn one and turn 6) are not gunna work on this guy. About lap 7, I am behind him on the left. He looks over his right shoulder to see if anyone is behind him. He does not see me...or anyone else. YES! Now he will slow down, I think. Well, not only does he NOT slow down, but he decides to try out some new lines. So, the last two laps studying him is now totally worthless! He changes his line throught two, three, and four. I catch him in four, but dont have the speed and power to pass...but even worse, now he knows I am there! We finish the lap and see the white flag...last lap...it is now or never! We play tag at every corner with me out braking him, but lacking the power to overtake. I stick right on his ass waiting for my opportunity. We approach turn 5 (the double apex). I have to pass here so I can gain some distance in turn 6 to make up for my lack of horsepower on the final straight. Just as he did before, he takes a wide line into the turn...I stay on the gas and pass him clean on the inside. I trail brake to the apex and whack open the throttle for an awesome drive into turn 6. I go as fast as I can through turn 6...brake as late as possible and take a defensive line through 7. I have the throttle pinned as I head down the straight to the finish line - my head tucked down behind the windscreen - all I can do now is wait (and fantasize about having a bike with more than 70 horsepower). I only hope I gained enough distance on him in the corners where his 929 cant catch me on the straight. I look to my left and right just before passing the checkered flag and see nothing. I cross the line...OMG, I think I got third. I really dont care because I am so proud of myself for the work I just did...but it would be nice to win for a change. Third place is confirmed as I pull into the pits. I have a permagrin on my face that lasts well into the evening!!
While this may not seem as exciting as first or even second place...for those who know me and have raced with me from the beginning...it is even better!
Go me! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/banana.gif
See, in order for those guys to get podium finishes every weekend, they have to beat the slower riders...I fall into the slower rider category. Acutally, I fall into the REALLY SLOW RIDER category.
So I thought I'd entertain you all with my own little race report from the SMRI race #6.
Saturday practice: I have not been on the bike since La Junta (about a month), so I am eager to practice. I have new gearing since the last race on this track, so I experiment with my gears during the first practice until I find the right gear for each corner that will give me the best exit drive. Second and third practice sessions I follow Randy and Alex to get lines. I realized since the last time I was on the track that I needed to adjust my lines to allow me to carry more entry speed and exit with a better drive. Some minor changes in my lines cut a few seconds off my lap times.
The endurance race is a long 30 minute practice session for me and I work on braking later...accelerating out of the corners earlier. I only get lapped by the leaders twice. While this may shound bad, it is a major improvement from the 5-6 times I would get lapped at the beginning of the season! I come in last place - well someone has to!
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
Sunday...
Practice goes well. A good nights sleep has left me feeling strong and comfortable on the bike. The track is beginning to flow and I am having a blast!
Novice GTU and Novice Open...my goal is to make it through one of these heat races without getting lapped by the leader. I'm feeling good and so is the bike. I feel like Im getting faster. I see the white flag...one more lap. The leaders have not passed me yet so I push it a bit more to reach my goal. Coming out of turn two...there goes Alex right by me. Damn! Close! Im pretty sure I claim last place as usual. The second heats proceed just about the same with the leaders passing me on the last or second to last lap and me finishing last place. But on the bright side, ONLY the leaders lapped me...there were other riders who did not I guess I will wait until next race weekend to realize this goal. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Now for the Beginner Open race. This class is for true beginners (those who are new to racing and / or fall in the SLOW RIDER category). Ten riders grid for the race with me in the number one spot. My goal is to get a podium finish. I have been 5th and 4th, but never reached 3rd...today is the day. I rev my engine and start the race. I am in 1st place going into turn one...but between the apex of turn one and turn two I have dropped into 6th place. Discouragement hits in and I start to settle in for a comfortable coasting speed...then I decide NO! I want a damn trophy - Troy is hogging our trophy room and I want a trophy of mine in the room! I decide that I cant pass them all at once, but Im gunna try to pick off these riders one by one and work my way to the front. The first rider was easy...pass him in turn two....not my most comfortable turn, but he was slow enough that I felt ok... It takes me about a lap to catch the next rider. I ride behind him for a lap to watch his lines and plan my attach. Like many riders, he brakes way early into turn one, so the next lap I go wide and out brake him into turn one. I hit my apex and whack open the throttle ( cause I can on an SV650) before he even hits his apex. I successfully pass him on the outside of turn one and head for the next rider. I catch up quickly to the rider in third place. He goes into turn two slow, but I dont pass there since turn two is tricky. If you go into two too fast, you are not set up for three and run wide. I know this because I lowsided out of turn three before...not a mistake I plan to make again. So I wait and watch. I follow for about 2 laps trying to choose a good passing place. My usual places (turn one and turn 6) are not gunna work on this guy. About lap 7, I am behind him on the left. He looks over his right shoulder to see if anyone is behind him. He does not see me...or anyone else. YES! Now he will slow down, I think. Well, not only does he NOT slow down, but he decides to try out some new lines. So, the last two laps studying him is now totally worthless! He changes his line throught two, three, and four. I catch him in four, but dont have the speed and power to pass...but even worse, now he knows I am there! We finish the lap and see the white flag...last lap...it is now or never! We play tag at every corner with me out braking him, but lacking the power to overtake. I stick right on his ass waiting for my opportunity. We approach turn 5 (the double apex). I have to pass here so I can gain some distance in turn 6 to make up for my lack of horsepower on the final straight. Just as he did before, he takes a wide line into the turn...I stay on the gas and pass him clean on the inside. I trail brake to the apex and whack open the throttle for an awesome drive into turn 6. I go as fast as I can through turn 6...brake as late as possible and take a defensive line through 7. I have the throttle pinned as I head down the straight to the finish line - my head tucked down behind the windscreen - all I can do now is wait (and fantasize about having a bike with more than 70 horsepower). I only hope I gained enough distance on him in the corners where his 929 cant catch me on the straight. I look to my left and right just before passing the checkered flag and see nothing. I cross the line...OMG, I think I got third. I really dont care because I am so proud of myself for the work I just did...but it would be nice to win for a change. Third place is confirmed as I pull into the pits. I have a permagrin on my face that lasts well into the evening!!
While this may not seem as exciting as first or even second place...for those who know me and have raced with me from the beginning...it is even better!
Go me! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/banana.gif