Hello everyone, on October 8th and 9th, 2011 I raced a double header race at Lodi Cycle Bowl. That means that there was a race at Lodi on Saturday night and on the very next morning on Sunday.
On Saturday we were racing the TT track at night under the lights. The track was looking pretty good and the turn out at the track was pretty good because it was one of the last races of the season. I was ready for the first practice but had new tires on the front and the rear so I knew that it was going to be really sketchy at first. I went out for my first practice and it was really slick because of the new tires. I didn’t know what to do to adjust the bike because I couldn’t tell what the bike was doing wrong because of how slick the tires were. So I just rode the bike as hard as I could to try to break in the tires. On the second practice the bike was still pretty slick and the tires still needed to be broken in. But after the 3rd practice the tires were broken in and I was able to make some adjustments to hopefully better the traction and handling of the bike.
Now it was time for the heat race. I was feeling good and was ready to go give it my all. I had second pick on the front row which put me pretty much right in the groove, so I had a good shot at getting the hole shot. Off the start I got the hole shot and was ready to protect the lead if I had to. After 2 laps I already had a nice sized gap and new that as long as I didn’t fall that my position was safe. But I still pushed as hard as I could for 2 more laps to get a pretty big gap. Then for the last 2 laps I just took it kind of easy to make sure I didn’t fall but mainly to save my tires for the dash for cash and for the main event. I won the race with a good size gap and was ready for the dash for cash.
In the dash for cash I had 3rd pick on the front row. I was kind of in the dust and was worried about getting a bad start. On the start I spun really bad and I ended up dead last and was kind of mad. I ended up playing follow the leader for 2 out of the 4 laps and then made a move on 5th place. Then on the last lap going into the second right hander I threw it in hard on 4th place and took over 4th spot. I got right behind 3rd and tried to make a pass but ran out of time and took 4th place in the dash for cash.
Now it was time for the main event. I had 3rd pick on the front row. Off the start I was 5th going into turn 1. I passed a guy on the inside and moved up to 4th. I passed another guy going into the hair pin and was now in 3rd place. I was trying to catch 2nd place but then 2 laps later the leader slides out into the fence and they red flag the race for a restart. After the restart I was in 4th place and couldn’t pass 3rd place. No matter what I tried I couldn’t pass him. I followed him around until the last lap and ran it in on him in the hair pin turn and passed him to take over the 3rd position. I held the 3rd spot and took 3rd place in the main event.
On Sunday was the short track. It was in the morning so the traction of the track is always a little different then it is when you race at night. This is the last rave at lodi for the season so I had to make sure that I could have the most fun I could. In practice the track was really slick as usual and had to be broken in before everyone would start getting traction. After practice was over I felt that the bike was working pretty good.
In my heat I had 2nd pick for the starting line. I always try to pick the spot where the most rubber is layed down on the track, because that’s where the most traction is for the best start. I got in the spot I wanted in the groove. The light turned green and I got the hole shot. My bike was hooking up pretty good and I was feeling comfortable on my bike. I got passed going into turn 3 because the track was dangerously slick. I started trying different lines in turn 3 and 4 so it wouldn’t be so slick but couldn’t prevent it. I went into turn 3 in the 5th lap and almost lost the front end and came in 3rd place.
Now for the main event. I was in the dust for the start because of my 3rd place finish. I got a bad start and was about 8th going into turn 3. Everyone was playing follow the leader and nobody could gain any ground on each other. I crept up the inside of 7th place coming out of turn 4. But all of a sudden he almost high sides and his tire whips back and hits my front tire. I started getting head shake and I got popped up to where my stomach was flat on my handle bars, which put my wrists in an awkward position and made me pin the throttle. I was headed straight for the huge bank of the track. As I headed for the bank I tried to reach my foot to the break pedal but ran out of time and hit the bank in 3rd gear wide open. As I launched into the air the bike got tangled in the fence. I kept soaring in the air and got some good air time. As I was flying in the air I thought I was a dead man so I decided to enjoy my time in the air and enjoy it as a once in a Lifetime experience. I ended up landing in the side of a truck bed and flipped over into the truck bed. I ended up messing up my pelvic bone pretty bad. I was able to walk away and felt like the luckiest man in the world for being able to do so. Also I had so much adrenaline that I decided to continue racing. I had to start in the back of a staggered line. I passed one guy right off the start and wanted to make up the ground that I had lost. I ended up picking off a few more riders with out even being able to touch my foot on the ground because of the pain.
Overall it was another fun race weekend. I cant wait for race season to start back up again. I’m so very grateful that I am still here after my crazy crash, and also grateful that I can still walk. Thanks a bunch to all of my sponsors for all of you’re help and support.
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