Mark Tenn #22, Race update for Jennings GP April 5th, 2009:
The beginning of the 2009 Florida CCS Region has been a very disappointing one. With two crashes in the first two rounds means I gain no points towards a title defense of the Ultralight Superbike class. I revert back to the FZR400 that carried me through the 2008 season and I am determined to gain back my confidence during the PBIR round. With this choice to run the FZR400 I get back to the basics and a chance to ride again with my son Troy.
Going into this weekend of racing at Jennings GP finds my confidence low. I plan on making it through this round and just having some fun with my Racing Buds Tim and Tony along with my son Troy. Of course with this being Troy's last go around before he goes off to the Marines it is a last chance to ride together at one of his favorite tracks. We do the Friday track-day to get back to speed and learn how to ride again.
Saturday practice:
To my surprise Marc Miller with European Performance Cycles show up with two bikes and his family. It is a welcome advantage to have a whole family pulling for me. I have agreed to ride for Marc on his Ducati 748 in the Thunderbike race in which he has sponsored. Marc has been racing for some time now and knows more about these Ducati bikes than I could ever learn. I hope to learn the Ducati 748 in short order during this Saturday practice.
Saturday practice is a continuation of the day before with learning lines and sensing traction. I begin to gain some confidence and find my shift points. I am also on completely worn tires and so I only plan to do the early morning sessions. The remainder of the day will be used to get up to speed on the Ducati 748 as provided by European Performance Cycles. On my very first outing of the 748 I pull in early sensing trouble and find out that the bike has thrown a timing belt. Bummer, I break the bike on the first outing. At least I didn't crash it.
Sunday Race Day:
Early Sunday morning at Jennings GP we get prepared for a day full of battling on the track. I will be competing in Ultralight aboard my Ducati 800 and also Thunderbike aboard Marc Miller's prepared Ducati 900(ole' faithful). I haven't had any time aboard the Ducati 900 and I am a little tentative of riding a bike that isn't mine. We get the Ducati 900 prepared by doing some final prep to the machine.
Ultralight Superbike:
I am on the 3rd row of the grid for this race at 8A with Troy (8B) directly to the right. My main competition will probably come from local fast guy Duane Desouza (SV650) from the row behind and Mark Evry (SV650) on the row just in front. The front two rows are full of amateur riders with the exception of Mark Evry.
With a two wave start and the Ultralight Superbike class in the second wave, it is a slow green flag due to a limping 125GP bike. At the green I get a great jump on the field, click through the gears and I pass the group before turn 1. I get the hole-shot from the third row. All I can think to do now capitalize on my fortune and pull away from the field, hoping that Duane gets held up behind some of the amateur riders.
I click off the first two laps and get a good feel of the track and the traction. I am hitting all my brake and turn markers with no mistakes. I run the fast line to try and pull a lead, knowing full well that by mid-race I would probably see Duane come by.
At the beginning of lap 3 and entering T1 here he comes on the inside. I file in behind and all I can do now is to stay as close as possible for as long as possible. I hope to get a tow around the track and maybe pick up some faster lines. I hang on as long as I can and settle down to a manageable pace as he pulls away. At the end of lap 3 he looks back to see me some distance back. At this point I say to myself, "I got him now". My belief is that he will begin to slow so I put my head down again and pick up the pace.
Lap 4 and I am gaining ground. We get into the field of back markers and make quick work of them. I begin to carry more speed into the fast left hander of T3 which gains me a lot of the ground between Duane and myself.
Lap 5 and I gain even more ground. By the end of that lap there is the white flag signaling one more lap. At that moment we are also catching another 125GP rider on the front straight and come up on him as he is about to enter T1. I am hoping that Duane gets held up for me to close even more, but even more important I hope he doesn't get by and leave me to get help up by the back-marker.
Lap 6 and I am closing on Duane and the back-marker. Duane dives under him and I go to the outside. I leave my braking to the absolute latest as my past rival Scott Robertson has done to me. I pass them both into T1 and rail around the corner. Now this has got to be my fastest lap to pull away and not leave any room for Duane to come back. I am holding the throttle wide open through T2 and down the back straight, not letting off through T3. I grab the binders at T4 and catch a down-shift. I push the front around T5 and run wide around T6 but I don't let off. Coming out of T10 and I know I can't let off but put in the best drive out of the corner to get a good run to the line. I don't hear Duane behind me, but do I?
I rail through T11 only to have the motor lose power. I throw my hand up to signal that I have a problem. My first thought was that I hit the kill switch like some others have done. I check, but no it is in good shape. I toggle it anyway...nope not it. It fires back to life only to have Duane pass me having lost momentum. It is at full power again and I get back into the race. I get through T13 but lose power getting back into the throttle. I coast, bump start the motor and it fires. I take a quick glance behind me for Mark Evry. He surely must be close, but no. I motor to the finish for a second place finish.
What happened you ask? Not enough fuel even though we did put some in before the race, just not enough.
Thunderbike:
To be better prepared on the Ducati 900 I go out on a sighting lap of the GT lights race. This thing is fast and it is a beast of a bike. I come back in and make adjustments to the rear shock. I also notice completely different clutch actuation.
On the sighting lap of this race I test the clutch for the start only to pull a power wheelie down the pit-out road. I am going to have a handful at the start of this race. My best drag race experience has got to come into play here.
I am on the front row to the outside along with Bob Cole and Chris Sullivan. The Supersport class is directly behind us. The green flag drops and I release the clutch. BIG WHEELIE! Close the throttle and reopen only to have the front wheel never touch the ground but is lifting again to the sky. I grab a shift and the wheel comes down only to have most of the Supersport field pass me. I fall back to about tenth place but make up some ground making passes through T1. I make up time through T2 only to have this wicked tank-slapper from the "monster". It continues to buck and shake trying to fling me off to the side. I grab a hold of the monster and lock my leg around it. I move my weight as far forward as possible to try and tame the monster. It must have been a sight for the corner-worker to watch.
Did I tell you this bike is fast? I slowly make my way towards the Bimota of Bob Cole and Mark Evry. I am hard on the gas through T12 and this thing continues to growl. As I approach I notice my closing speed to T13 and Bob Cole setting up for the turn. I move outside to make a clean pass and there is Mark Every sliding across the track in front of me. I stay tight and keep my right knee on the ground to make sure I miss Mark and his bike. I quickly move into second for Thunderbike and third of the on track bikes. I hold this position throughout the duration of the race as I am unable to make ground on the faster Chris Sullivan and Duane Desouza.
I am satisfied with the results and so must Marc and Robin as they are both grinning from ear to ear. It was great having the whole family there cheering for their bike and my effort to "tame that monster".
Mark
CCS EX#22
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The new #22
I can't wait to get back on the track now. Thanks for a great post & congrats on the podiums!
now if we can only get some guys to show up for tbike we are actually paying money and still tiny grids i've paid 6 riders in two races and all different don't tell me you'all are afraid of mendez and sullivan.if this keeps up maybe a bounty well be in order
very cool read indeed. Thanks!
Sharing moments similar to this towards claiming an amateur and then an expert 2nd place in Unlimited Superbikes in the MW on a 600 I can sure appreciate the "digging in" that is involved in the grind. Good job roadracer22. And wishing your son a Safe Journey in serving our country!
Quote from: gntbldr on April 09, 2009, 01:47:55 AM
And wishing your son a Safe Journey in serving our country!
Both sons have joined, and I am glad you enjoyed the reading.
great read Mark. I too have had some bad luck this year. Missing two races due to a cracked piston. Fortuneatly I don't have a title to retain i just have one to gain! See you at PBIR!
Thanks Jim. PBIR on the Ducati will be a lot of fun. Stay tuned.
thats some report! i will post my video from the track soon.I'm thinking i went down from my tire wasnt fully warmed up???? I was mid corner on the gas,when i hit the turn 13 sign thats when i went down and the bike landed on me and not much damage at all except my new suit took the most of it.I have never slid the tire like that before.And you know my avg crashes are about 1 for every 2 years.
Mark- I'm glad you are ok. It looked like a front end tuck as we were all pushing it a little to catch the guys in front. I never did get a chance to come over and see how you were, sorry. We had to get out of there to get on our 6 hour drive back. Also had to make a stop for Troy. You're not supposed to hit the sign.
Mark
i didnt hit the sign as i got side by side with it on the track.
You realize it is a little bumpy at that point... right?
Your son's service, our freedom.
Quote from: Ducmarc on April 08, 2009, 10:01:08 PM
now if we can only get some guys to show up for tbike we are actually paying money and still tiny grids i've paid 6 riders in two races and all different don't tell me you'all are afraid of mendez and sullivan.if this keeps up maybe a bounty well be in order
Ben Jammin where are you ? !
Very nice write up Mark! Thanks for putting this out there.
Mark Miller - How's the hip? Think I saw you at JGP's CCS round, but didn't get a chance to say hello!
As for anyone else reading this: I raced with Kevin and Chris my AM year and they were alot of fun.
Kevin is a great rider and alot of fun to follow. Amazingly smooth and very professional.
Chris Sullivan gets very mad when you pass him and wave... even comes to your pit and yells at you afterwards... ask me how I know...
Carry on.. .
=)
Quote from: hamurobby on April 15, 2009, 10:43:11 AM
Ben Jammin where are you ? !
You know I'm out for the season right? Had two surgeries on the clavicle and still have broken screws and bone chips to deal with. If I were in working order, the plan was to run right up there with Chris & Kevin on the little 800ss.
Quote from: Been-Jammin on April 15, 2009, 04:54:17 PM
You know I'm out for the season right? Had two surgeries on the clavicle and still have broken screws and bone chips to deal with. If I were in working order, the plan was to run right up there with Chris & Kevin on the little 800ss.
I know, it kills me to think your out for the year, I think you would make it very interesting for sure!!!