Have you thought about competing in Ultralight Superbike?

[roadracer162]

Mark Tenn #22: Race update for PBIR July 26, 2009.


For every racer there is always a track that he calls his "Home Track". Lucky for me I have just that right here in my backyard in the likes of Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) located Jupiter, Florida. Palm Beach International Raceway is newly renovated and the track is world class. There are still more improvements to be made over the old Moroso and certainly they will be a welcome addition. It has a ten turn road-course that the CCS Florida Region utilizes for its racing meet.

Saturday Practice:
On Saturday morning it was clear so I made a last minute decision to go racing with the Ducati 800. Tony Diaz (#618) was attending on Sunday only for the racing. At 11:00 Nancy and I are pulling out of the driveway to make our way to the new PBIR.

Once there I do my thing with registration, tech and I change to my practice wheels. I miss the first session and decide not to rush. The second session is coming up fast and now I am rushing to get ready, only to have a rain delay announced due to inclement weather that was expected to come through. The weather front did come and it never stopped. Even though I was under the canopy holding it down I got soaked. So I packed it all up and had no practice. I had removed the FZR400 from the trailer and left it at home (kicking myself). I made the decision to bring the FZR400 the next day on Sunday with the rain tires already mounted.


Sunday Race Day:
Sunday comes along and there is no rain. Nice and clear the whole day but I have no practice from the previous day, except the morning warm-up. Consider that I have also post-entered which means I will be at the back of the pack. Kevin Mendez (#91) a very fast Lightweight class rider will also be gridding in the Ultralight Superbike race on a Ducati 800. It is nice to see another Ducati 800 out there.


GT lights:
I am using this race as a warm-up race before the Ultralight Superbike race. The Ducati 800 isn't competitive for the front runners but it is good seat time. The previous race has a crash pick-up where some riders have crashed and can't get back under their own power so race control holds third call for the GT Lights race. Both Tony and I are using this race for practice.

Third call comes along and we start heading to pit-out. What we didn't account for was the long trek from our paddock and then adding insult to it we are stuck behind the crash truck weaving our way through the paddock. We are held at pit-out not able to do a warm up lap and thereby requiring us to start from pit out.

We get our briefing from the pit-out marshal. He informs it will be a two wave start, Expert, Amateur and then Tony and I will be the third wave. The 2 board goes up, and then the 1 board, half board and the green flag flies. Then there is a pause and the green flag flies again, except I notice that there is no second wave. The green flag waves again as I am frantically looking at the green flag, then Tony, and then again for the second wave. I am waiting for Tony to go and it turns out, he's waiting for me. I finally launch with the pack already in T3.

My expectations are pretty low here for a good result and so are Tony's. We blast through the first portion of the track and set out to have some fun. On the first lap I am catching and passing the back-markers. It comes pretty easy getting by them but I know that can be the most dangerous times due to the closing speed differences. Each lap comes along and I catch the faster amateurs. As I am catching a group of four I run off the track coming out of T10 leading onto the short chute across start/finish. I notice that there is a puddle of water from the previous two days of rain as I go splashing through it the water soaks half the width of the track and splashing the wall on the other side of me. I stay on two wheels and continue hoping the water dries off these racing slicks. In the end I catch a couple experts and make my way up to 8th for my class and Tony makes it to third for his.


Ultralight Superbike:
With the late entry I am posted on the 3rd row of the class. I think it was Brian Gordon (#39) on the front row, Kyle Keesee (#51) on the 2nd row, I am on the 3rd, with Kevin Mendez (#91) on the 4th row. We also have some other experts, Patrick Erickson (#510), Montenegro (#880), Gerald Young (#878)  and Carl Cohen (#650) thrown in there for good measure. Another factor is that Brian had crashed the day before although he was still in good health.

The green flag flies and I get a great start. I am on the outside and get by just about everyone as they congregate towards the inside of T1. Erickson is pushed wide by Kyle and I move around the other side putting me side by side with Erickson going into T2. Although I have the inside line Erickson (#510) has to pull up and let me by. I sure do appreciate the gesture. I am about ten yards back from Kyle and expect that he will make haste and leave me to contend with Brian. I also expect that Brian and Kevin will be making their way forward in fast fashion.

Lap 1 and Kyle isn't pulling away. In fact he seems to be coming back to me as I motor down the long back straight. It is either he is playing with me making a race of it, or his bike has lost power. We continue as I close the gap going into the hard braking of T9. I am right on his tail but he gets a great drive in the next corner. I follow and can only hope to stay within striking distance.

Lap 2 and I can keep pace with the leading bike of Kyle Keesee. I close up by T4 and I watch Kyle on his race lines. He is struggling in a couple of corners and I move even closer behind him. Down the back straight I easily motor by him but as I enter the hard braking area here he comes flying by me as we both dive into T9.

Lap 3 is much of a carbon copy of the previous lap. I push wide in T4 and Kyle pushes wide in T5. There is till no sight of Brian or the chasing pack. Apparently Kevin is making his way forward and battling his way with the likes of Carl Cohen and he is closing on Brian Gordon. The back straight is the same as before except there is John Long (#42) on his 125GP bike in front of us as we enter T6. I dive to the inside to attempt a block pass only to have Kyle close the door-more like slam the door. We move through T8 leading onto the back straight. I get no draft this time and I stay out of the draft just to compare the two bikes. I pass Kyle only to have him come back by me on the brake. I can only speculate on my strategy and if it comes down to the last lap like this Kyle will get the best of me.

Lap 4 Just before start/finish and at the start of lap 4, I follow Kyle through T10. I get an awesome drive and I pull up to his left by the start/finish line making a pass going into T1. Now I get to lead through the back section and see if I can pull away. I run hard into T4 and drift wide as Kyle takes a look up the inside. I catch a glimpse of his front wheel but stay in the throttle knowing that there is enough room for us both. I sweep through T5 using a defensive line and blast away down the short chute leading to T6. I make quick work through the short transitions of T6-T8 and get a monster drive down the back straight. Hard braking into T9 and there is no Kyle coming by. I put my second fastest lap trying to keep the lead.

Lap 5 and we are still dicing it up. For the most part Kyle follows as I plan my strategy. I can only guess he is making a study of me watching for a weakness to exploit. I can only hang onto the lead the best way that I know how. I try to put some fast laps in discarding any defensive lines for the faster line with better drives out of the corners and braking deep into T4 and T9. On this lap we close in on Morten Frederikson (#613) and this lap is almost half a second slower. I make a pass going into T1 and Kyle makes quick work also. I think that Kyle is slowed with his progress forward as he has to wait after T3 to make his pass.

Lap 6 finds me leading the last lap-something that I wasn't prepared for. I figure Kyle will draft me on the back straight and he will pass me where he is the strongest. I do my best to keep the lead taking the defensive line. Running down the back straight I am waiting to see Kyle come drafting by. I wait for the latest moment to brake and try to make myself as wide as possible. Getting in hot I try to keep a tight line feeling the front tire feel for traction. There is still no sign of Kyle as I motor for the win in Ultralight Superbike.

Mark
CCS EX#22
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Sponsored by; MotoCorse Performance, European Performance Cycles, Bridgestone, Street & Competition, Cycle Scene Magazine, Nancy.

[Gino230]

Congrats on a solid win in a deep field! I know how fast those guys are so I'm impressed!

[roadracer162]

There is a really nice 800 for you too Gino.

[Ducmarc]

just ride my old 900 clanker around there.    oh' should i have said that.

[roadracer162]

Marc,

Get the 900 boduwork here and I will get Paul to paint it, Ya know the European Performance Racing yellow.

Mark

[Ducmarc]

i'll start pullin it of tomarrow still think we ought to narrow it about 3" given your ancestory.  LOL.