Before I begin I really want to thank Steve & Chris Lily
for their continued support of my race programs and for bringing
down their motor coach for us to use for the weekend (I could
get used to having that thing at the race track). Also, I
need to thank Jeff and the crew at SG Power, along with Honda
Canada for helping so much with the SuperMoto program this
year, and thanks to my good friends Joe Keskeny & Marc
Burgess for helping me as well. And last, but not least, I
would like to thank the promoters and staff of SuperMoto USA
for putting on such an awesome event.
Well if it weren't for bad luck this weekend, I really wouldn't
have had any luck at all. I'm still smiling, although a little
sore. Hey, that's racing.
Friday Night
Marc ("Sparky") and I arrived later in the day on
Friday and decided to get a few laps in around the Pats Acres
facility as neither of us had been there before. As you can
see from the picture below this place is SuperMoto heaven.
The track is very technical with lots of flowing turns making
it an exciting and challenging track to master. By the end
of the first practice I was within one and a half seconds
of Jake Holden's times, so I knew we weren't too far off the
pace. All I needed was a good sleep and some new Pirelli's
- or so I thought.
Saturday - Practice
I spent the day working on setting up the bike to work with
me through the tighter turns. Despite all my changes the bike
still wouldn't get into the turns as efficiently as I knew
it could, but I had literally run out of adjustment and had
to settle with what I had. A little frustrating, but there
comes a time when you just have to make due with what you've
got.
Sunday - Practice & Heat races
Here is where my luck simply ran out, and as I look back on
it I can't help but laugh at everything that happened. In
every single heat race I either had a stall or was taken out
on the first lap. Luckily I wasn't injured in any of the antics,
but did manage to drag some poor soul for about twenty feet
when he became entangled in my rear wheel - no joke. This
lack of results in the heat races left me, let's just say,
at the back of the pack for the race starts (not something
you want to do when your hunting for a podium I assure you).
Race 1 - 450 Trophy
This was, in my mind, the best shot I would have at a podium
all day. Despite my third row start I managed to get into
fourth place by the third lap. Two laps later I could tell
that I was gaining heavily on the three lead riders and had
a shot at a podium. Then, on the exit of the dirt section
the little 450 coughed and stalled. I frantically attempted
to kick the beast to life, but it wanted nothing to do with
it. About twenty kicks later and I don't know how many positions,
I managed to get it started and finished the race.
Race 2 - Open Trophy
Because of the misfortune in the heat race for this one I
was slated in the "B" main which meant that I had
to finish in the top three just to make it to the back of
the grid for the "A" main. Not a huge issue, although
the "A" main was scheduled right after the "B"
main with no rest. Yep, you got it, I had to run an entire
race distance, and then proceed directly from the cool off
lap to the back of the grid for the next one (and people ask
me why I work out so much). Thankfully my training paid off
in spades and although I was quite tired afterwards, I had
still ridden fairly well to come through the field.
Race 3 - Open $$
Last race of the day and I was on the third row for the start.
I got a decent start, but got bumped around quit a bit going
into turn one and lost several positions. I calmed down and
started riding smoothly just focusing on hitting my apexes
and getting into a good rhythm. Sure enough the lap times
came down and I started to work my way through the field ultimately
finishing fifth.
What an awesome weekend. It may sound weird considering the
results as this is the first race weekend this year that I
haven't scored a podium finish, but I had an amazing time
riding, talking and hanging out with my friends. After seeing
the Pat's Acres facility, I'm further convinced that I want
to do even more SuperMoto. I just need some trick parts to
get our Honda around the track a little better. Best get on
that right away.
Stay tuned.
Oliver
Please click on image to enlarge
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Check out this gorgeous facility - what a track
(Larger file) |
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Our pits
(Note the HUGE motor coach) :o) |
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Sparky working on Joe's KTM |
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Joe & his daughter Kaitlin |
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Sparky "slavin" on my rims |
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Joe pretending to do some work |
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The bikes |
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"poser" |
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Chris Lily |
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Turn one - Jake Holden |
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Deluxe sleeping accommodations |
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Making a "stellar" breakfast |
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Tires anyone? |
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The 450 can be a bit stubborn sometimes |
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Talking "racing lines" |
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Chris Lily in the air |
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Local wildlife |
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Turn one |
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Into the dirt section |
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Bustin tires |
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Somehow someone caught me working on the bikes |
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Holden's 450 |
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Joe & Yogi |
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Sparky & I getting ready to go |
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Huge field of riders |
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The boyz |
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