[929flyer]

For any of you racer/track folk that want to read a little adventure racing. Here is my race report from this last weekend at the CRA races here at MAM.

Nice hot weekend (102 degrees), no tire warmers needed!!!! I did cornerwork on Saturday and kept open the option to race on Sunday. I just knew I'd have a hard time with temptation. I kept telling myself that it's too hot, I'm too rusty, I'm still healing and I just shouldn't risk it. WEEELLLL, after watching the action Saturday I just couldn't resist. Plus, there was a nice little turnout of ultralight bikes and I wanted to face some competition. So I entered two races, Ultralight Superbike and Ultralight GP.

Results, Good news or bad news first. I'll tell the good first. In the ultralight GP race I was 2nd (out of 9) novice, beaten only by an RS125. I was 6th overall out of 16 racers on the grid. BTW, I started at the back of the pack. Even though I ran a notch backed off of pushing it (I thought anyway) because I could not afford to go down, I ran my fastest lap yet at 1:46.1. Plus, the last part of the race I was trying to catch two experts that had a 50 yard gap on me. I just kept my head down trying to whittle away at the gap. Last lap I think they goofed up and a big chunk of it came flying back to me. I came around the outside of the second bike in corner 14 and dragged raced him to the line. Beat him by the profile of the tire evidently as I ended up placed in front of him! That was way cool!

The first race, ultralight superbike, was not the highlight of my day. Again, starting at the back of the grid, I passed a bunch of bikes in the first 6 corners. I was up to about 6th place going into turn 7. Discovered I have a bad habit. Due to the XR's great brakes I've been using 1 finger to apply them. Going into turn 7 the bikes in front of me braked a little harder than I was ready to, I kinda got startled, pulled the brake lever in a knee jerk type reaction and my finger slipped off. I stood the bike up and applied back brake, locking it up, sliding like a mo-fo towards the dirt/grass. I went flying off the track, back end locked up and it felt like I was sliding the rear on ice. The back end was just flinging back and forth in big slides. I dabbed at the front as much as I dare (not to tuck the front) and kept sliding this way and that towards the tire wall. The tire wall was rapidly approaching so I did a big slide to the left, released the brake, then a big slide to the right, parallel parking the bike right up to the tire wall. WHEWWWW!!!

I had killed the bike during this little ordeal so I sat there for what seemed like forever trying re-kick-start the bike. By the time I re-entered the track I was just in front of the first place bike (expert racer). He passed me one of the next few corners and, the frustrating part, I lapped just behind him the rest of the race. He could lap, by his best times, a second faster than me, but I was able to follow him the whole rest of the race because no one was close enough to push him to his best lap times. In short, I believe I would of been in the hunt for a 1st novice and a overall second, third or fourth if I hadn't done my little finger slip and slide game. My excuse, I was on a dirtbike and it had a flashback, making it head for it's former home.

I did at least keep it on two wheels and managed to once again have a great time. To bad no more races here this year. Still some track days to go though!!!!

[G-Force Junkie]

cool, you ever heard of 'lever skins'? Its like a rubbery tube you slide over the levers and they shrink around it, gives you a whole lont of traction. They are ment for when its wet or muddy, but the work well dry as well.

[tigerblade]

Sorry I wasn't there to see it Rob! Of course, the last time I was at MAM with you, we had to take that unfortunate little side trip up to Omaha...

[929flyer]

Hey, maybe it was good that you didn't come tiggerblade. Me doesn't need no more rides to said bad place!!!!

No I haven't seen those G-junkie. HHMMM, might be a very good idea. Especially if I can't 'brake' my habit!

[G-Force Junkie]

929flyer : Hey, maybe it was good that you didn't come tiggerblade. *Me doesn't need no more rides to said bad place!!!!

No I haven't seen those G-junkie. *HHMMM, might be a very good idea. *Especially if I can't 'brake' my habit!

I think they are made by the Roko or something, the same people that make the Quick Strap for off road goggles.