All knowing forum members. In 2010, after winning the F40 southeast regional championship, seconds and thirds in four other classes, I was promoted to expert. In 2011 and 12, I was only able to make one weekend each year (I was spending all my free time with my son racing in the dirt). I made no weekends in 2013. In 2014, I finally was making some track days at Summit and VIR and had a blast. I know I wasn't back to my race day speeds and times but felt great and had a blast. So I'm supposed to go to Daytona in March. The question I have is that I know I have to petition to go back to amateur should I decide to. I'm just curious what you guys would do? Stay expert or go amateur? Thanks in advance.
It depends why you're coming back.
If you want a trophy - sandbagging it for a year is a cheap way to get some tire money and a few plaques.
However, I'd rather go 3 wide into T1 with white plates on either side of me than have any yellow plate on my rear tire. [no offense guys]
Id say it depends on what you are riding. a 1000 a 600 a lightweight. what kind of laptimes did you get down to at summit and vir in 2014 doing trackdays
Not worried about getting a trophy. Just want to have some fun and compete. Although I have to admit that getting passed by a fast amateur isn't something I look forward to. Not sure on my lap times Arnie. I'll be running the same Ducati 999s I ran in the good ole days nut she's been freshened up nicely. I'll also be racing an uncompetitive SV650 in the lightweight races. I did poorly at Summit on Memorial weekend in 2013. On that weekend, it had been over a year since I had been at the track and I had very little practice.
Am vs expert has more to do with being safer, predictable and experienced.. Other than being slower you still know what you are doing and frankly I think it's safer running with the guys who also aren't prone to go full retard and stand a bike up in front of you mid corner.. That being said if you race LW before and are jumping into the deep end on a 1000 I could see an argument for either way. I was gone for 6 yrs and came back as an EX .. finished dead last for a few rounds then got back up to speed.
Just my $0.02