Race report:
Best results ever for the team and new personal best lap at Homestead. Thanks to the Waterin' Trough and Dunlop Race Tire Services for supporting me. Also I have to thank Susan, my wife, and David Bruce, my mechanic, for their help. Without all the support this wouldn't be possible.
GTO - 10th: I wheelied off the line and hit the rev limiter before I could shift to 2nd. Jeff Holton, made contact with me because of that and moved my clip-on and repositioned my clutch lever a bit higher than I like it. I took a little bit of time in the first two turns to make sure I could still use the clutch and took off. I passed Jeff at turn 6 but was way too hot and he passed me back. I made the pass stick when he ran wide at 8. After that I did my personal best at Homestead, bettering my previous best by 1.5 seconds, a 1:29.073. If I had farted, I would have gotten a 1:28!
I caught up to Mavros and woke his ass up. Mavros is pretty fast at Homestead when he wants to be and we battled the whole race with him getting 9th and me 10th. Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOBezD5qJhc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOBezD5qJhc)
Unlimited Supersport - 5th: This race started with light rain falling but I still ran 1:29 laptimes. I got a much better start this time and was 5th into turn one. Mavros passed me at turn 6 and I followed him until we passed Brad Graham. Mavros and I then battled for 4th while catching up to 3rd. Mavros took 4th and cost me $100 of Kawi money - the bastard! :) Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dECxaMFV0K4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dECxaMFV0K4)
Unlimited Superbike - 3rd: Due to heavy rain, eight riders decided not to race making this a field of three. After the sighting lap, the race was delayed 20 minutes. My suspension was still set for dry and was just bouncing over bumps and causing huge slides. I couldn't keep Gus Sanchez and Brad Graham in sight after the first 2 laps. Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puwPiqmYOS8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puwPiqmYOS8)
Unlimited GP - 6th: Wet track with puddles. I was just not in this race. I could have gotten 5th but I just wanted to bring it home and get out of there. No video, it's boring as hell.
Thanks for the write up Greg. I forgot how much water was really on the track and your vid helped me locate the puddle I hit into T1 causing my crash.
Mark
yeah, you can't see the water for the rain in your face
Hahaha..it was literally in my face coming through the vent.
Something I noticed about T1 in the wet was that the bumps through there would cause the front to bounce and turn left. I should have softened the compression and rebound dampening. I rode around it by being on the throttle and letting the front turn left - it's a counter-steering motion and is forcing the bike more vertical. Trying to stop it will cause the front to tuck.
I didn't feel the bumps as I went hydroplaning over them.
Mark
OK, here's the GTO race in HD. AWESOME quality!
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1175074731245
For those few not on facebook, here's the link to youtube HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVzrMOB2-Tc
That GTO Race was a pretty slick ride. I especially liked where you lost the rear after setting up Mavros into T3..... I sucked up some of my couch cushion just watching that!
Greg, don't know if you saw yet but nice shot of you dancin in the puddle in the recent pics on ccs site
Yeah, got that. Lisa did a great job there.
Oh, I totally missed these... WOW!!!
What this looks like on video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PnAyXlza-w (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PnAyXlza-w) at 2:33-2:40 and the big one at 6:49-7:02
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yourracingphotos.com%2FHOMESTEAD%2FIMG_4010rain406.jpg&hash=d9abf410b04a5fb80746925d23463983d69cb210)
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ccsracing.us%2Fgallery%2F2009%2Fhmjun%2F44.jpg&hash=03c2a3792f017c499121b23d4982b572799fee91)
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yourracingphotos.com%2FHOMESTEAD%2FIMG_1600rain406.jpg&hash=7bc03f8d67515fe5d24121c1501daa7ddcb95213)
What are you doing to that tank? LOL
Mark