truespode
Moderator / Wheelie King
- Jun 30, 1999
- 7,980
- 249
I was really looking forward to Saturday's race. However, you wouldn't be able to tell by my actions. First, my bike fouls a plug and I was CONVINCED the valves were FUBAR. That led to me being totally pissed at the bike and then after Wrench, Gomer and James change the plug for me (while I was explaining why the valves were messed up) I rode tentative in plastic and felt the bike wasn't acting right and I was tentative as well. It was not a pretty site.
In the heat races I did ok (battling back of the pack but not as tentative as I was in practice). In the first heat race I rode better later in the race than I expected and gained some confidence in the bike and started feeling guilty for my earlier tantrum. Then I overjumped a table top. I landed flat and knew it wasn't going to be pretty. I locked up my legs out of stupidity and had my body all out of position (I call it spoding the landing). When I landed I felt major pain in my quadraceps where my Asterisk knee braces attach up top.
I am pretty sure the braces kept my legs from hyperextending. However, b/c of the pressure my quads felt bruised in a nice even band across the mid of my upper legs. I took my braces off b/c any sitting to standing movement caused a lot of pain. I was still in pain without them but not as bad. To make up for the pain I just seat bounced as much as I could so that I could use my momentum to help me get to standing a little easier.
In my second heat race I cleared the pit jump for the first time. It is a big jump and I was pretty stoked to clear it. Wrench's girlfriend's daughter even caught it on tape and it looked really cool. Then on the last turn before the checkerds a guy came all the way across and although I gave him the whole inside he made major contact and almost put me down. I knew he was coming and gave him all the room I could. We didn't make contact until about 2/3 of the way through the turn and he almost pushed me over the berm. I chased him down and yelled at him the entire time we were going off the track. Not usually my style. He finally threw his hands up and said he was sorry as I was yelling that I gave him the entire inside b/c I knew he was faster.
Then in the mains Wrench beat me in both the +30c/d and the 250D class. Not only did he beat me but he passed me early in the race and I couldn't recover. I caught him a few times but could not make any move to pass. He was moving really well and jumping a lot more than he did last year.
In the first main he took a great line and shot by James and I. James and I got caught up behind a few other riders that Wrench put between us. I hugged James tire and followed him to catch Wrench. We did really well for 3 laps and on the 4th lap James overshot a berm and I got by him. I said to myself to ride loose, get close to Wrench if I could and try to pass on the last lap.
I was feeling good as we were coming around for the white flag and Wrench was about 5 or 6 bike lengths ahead and I figured I would make up a lot of time over the pit jump that I was doing and he was just rolling. As I set myself up to take the finish line jump in a way that would give me a fast run at the pit jump a guy from the A/B race sneaks in front of me and my white flag goes away and turns to checkers. I had just been caught by the leader and had to pull off the track while Wrench went on another lap. Shoot... I lost my chance to catch him.
In the 250D race I got on the line and the guy who almost took me out from earlier pulled up and apologized. He said he went in hot. I told him no problem and apologized for yelling at him. It was not my style usually. We shook hands and I told him good luck.
When the gate dropped I got a good start and was doing good for 2/3'rds of the track but in one sweeper it was a little muddy coming out of it and I was very tentative. I did not do really well there. In that straight Wrench caught me and passed me like I was on a PW50. I tried to keep up with him the rest of the way and did well but could not put myself into a position to pass. I then had problems in the slick section on the last lap and Wrench put a good bit of space between us as he went to the checkers for 5th place and a trophy (way to go Wrench).
I on the other hand backed off on the last turn trying not to overjump and miss the berm which I was coming closer and closet to doing when 2 riders caught me really quickly. I thought they were in the A/B race that dropped the gate right before ours so I let them by. Turns out they were sandbaggers from our race who fell earlier and was just cathing me. Knocked me from 6th to 8th :( But, the guy who hit me in the heat race had problems and I finished ahead of him so I guess that is good.
Other noteables... Gomer took two 3rd places in a Herculian effort. He ran +30 (he wond the heat race) and +35 which were seperated by only one race so he basically had to run the races back to back!! I watched him in the +35 and he was moving really well. His speed is as good as I can remember but his form on the back is even better. It is so much fun watching him ride. I think that if he would not have had back to back races he may have won the +35 (he took the holeshot and led for half the race).
MikeT was flying in the +30c/d. I was behind him at once when he did the pit jump and told myself that I had to try it too. I was not matching the speed he had in the corners so he left me pretty well but I did get the pit jump. Billy got 3rd in the ATV race (yes we let ATV'ers ride with us as long as they do not have beer rack <g>). He was moving really well. John rode really well in his race and if it wasn't for a small spill in the main I think he would have done even better. I hope the bug bit him b/c he seemed like a nice guy and the more we have come regular season the better it will be.
James had a good outing but some bad luck kept him from riding to his potential. He overjumped one berm and then hurt his wrist on the pit jump in the last main. He and I usually have some really good battles and while most of my concentration were on Wrench, James was right there except for the times his luck turned poor. I am really looking forward to the regular season when James, Wrench and I get to battle a bit. I am sure James will start beating us pretty bad by mid-season though. He has better speed... it will only take a few more races for him to get back to the form he had at the end of last season.
Carp from DRN also came by but we did not get to speak to him for long. He never showed back up either :( We need a new recruit to harrass so maybe he'll be at the next one :)
Saturday was fun and I really appreciate everyone that gave me some help. I'm glad I shook off my early dissappointment and rode b/c it turned out to be a great night overall. Thanks everyone.
Till next time (possibly 2 weeks from now at Shelby or at least 3 weeks from now back at Top Gun).
Ivan
In the heat races I did ok (battling back of the pack but not as tentative as I was in practice). In the first heat race I rode better later in the race than I expected and gained some confidence in the bike and started feeling guilty for my earlier tantrum. Then I overjumped a table top. I landed flat and knew it wasn't going to be pretty. I locked up my legs out of stupidity and had my body all out of position (I call it spoding the landing). When I landed I felt major pain in my quadraceps where my Asterisk knee braces attach up top.
I am pretty sure the braces kept my legs from hyperextending. However, b/c of the pressure my quads felt bruised in a nice even band across the mid of my upper legs. I took my braces off b/c any sitting to standing movement caused a lot of pain. I was still in pain without them but not as bad. To make up for the pain I just seat bounced as much as I could so that I could use my momentum to help me get to standing a little easier.
In my second heat race I cleared the pit jump for the first time. It is a big jump and I was pretty stoked to clear it. Wrench's girlfriend's daughter even caught it on tape and it looked really cool. Then on the last turn before the checkerds a guy came all the way across and although I gave him the whole inside he made major contact and almost put me down. I knew he was coming and gave him all the room I could. We didn't make contact until about 2/3 of the way through the turn and he almost pushed me over the berm. I chased him down and yelled at him the entire time we were going off the track. Not usually my style. He finally threw his hands up and said he was sorry as I was yelling that I gave him the entire inside b/c I knew he was faster.
Then in the mains Wrench beat me in both the +30c/d and the 250D class. Not only did he beat me but he passed me early in the race and I couldn't recover. I caught him a few times but could not make any move to pass. He was moving really well and jumping a lot more than he did last year.
In the first main he took a great line and shot by James and I. James and I got caught up behind a few other riders that Wrench put between us. I hugged James tire and followed him to catch Wrench. We did really well for 3 laps and on the 4th lap James overshot a berm and I got by him. I said to myself to ride loose, get close to Wrench if I could and try to pass on the last lap.
I was feeling good as we were coming around for the white flag and Wrench was about 5 or 6 bike lengths ahead and I figured I would make up a lot of time over the pit jump that I was doing and he was just rolling. As I set myself up to take the finish line jump in a way that would give me a fast run at the pit jump a guy from the A/B race sneaks in front of me and my white flag goes away and turns to checkers. I had just been caught by the leader and had to pull off the track while Wrench went on another lap. Shoot... I lost my chance to catch him.
In the 250D race I got on the line and the guy who almost took me out from earlier pulled up and apologized. He said he went in hot. I told him no problem and apologized for yelling at him. It was not my style usually. We shook hands and I told him good luck.
When the gate dropped I got a good start and was doing good for 2/3'rds of the track but in one sweeper it was a little muddy coming out of it and I was very tentative. I did not do really well there. In that straight Wrench caught me and passed me like I was on a PW50. I tried to keep up with him the rest of the way and did well but could not put myself into a position to pass. I then had problems in the slick section on the last lap and Wrench put a good bit of space between us as he went to the checkers for 5th place and a trophy (way to go Wrench).
I on the other hand backed off on the last turn trying not to overjump and miss the berm which I was coming closer and closet to doing when 2 riders caught me really quickly. I thought they were in the A/B race that dropped the gate right before ours so I let them by. Turns out they were sandbaggers from our race who fell earlier and was just cathing me. Knocked me from 6th to 8th :( But, the guy who hit me in the heat race had problems and I finished ahead of him so I guess that is good.
Other noteables... Gomer took two 3rd places in a Herculian effort. He ran +30 (he wond the heat race) and +35 which were seperated by only one race so he basically had to run the races back to back!! I watched him in the +35 and he was moving really well. His speed is as good as I can remember but his form on the back is even better. It is so much fun watching him ride. I think that if he would not have had back to back races he may have won the +35 (he took the holeshot and led for half the race).
MikeT was flying in the +30c/d. I was behind him at once when he did the pit jump and told myself that I had to try it too. I was not matching the speed he had in the corners so he left me pretty well but I did get the pit jump. Billy got 3rd in the ATV race (yes we let ATV'ers ride with us as long as they do not have beer rack <g>). He was moving really well. John rode really well in his race and if it wasn't for a small spill in the main I think he would have done even better. I hope the bug bit him b/c he seemed like a nice guy and the more we have come regular season the better it will be.
James had a good outing but some bad luck kept him from riding to his potential. He overjumped one berm and then hurt his wrist on the pit jump in the last main. He and I usually have some really good battles and while most of my concentration were on Wrench, James was right there except for the times his luck turned poor. I am really looking forward to the regular season when James, Wrench and I get to battle a bit. I am sure James will start beating us pretty bad by mid-season though. He has better speed... it will only take a few more races for him to get back to the form he had at the end of last season.
Carp from DRN also came by but we did not get to speak to him for long. He never showed back up either :( We need a new recruit to harrass so maybe he'll be at the next one :)
Saturday was fun and I really appreciate everyone that gave me some help. I'm glad I shook off my early dissappointment and rode b/c it turned out to be a great night overall. Thanks everyone.
Till next time (possibly 2 weeks from now at Shelby or at least 3 weeks from now back at Top Gun).
Ivan