After a really difficult season with the fueling on the bike, I was really ready for the season to be over as I packed the trailer to head to the racetrack. The weather was cold most of Saturday, so i went out in endurance as practice for a bit. I put my head down and tried to work on entrances a bit. I chased Tim on his sv for several laps before i caught him, and then had burned up all of my energy. I put in a decent time catching Tim and was happy with that. Sunday morning was cold, but warmed up in the afternoon. By the time the Heavyweight race came around, it was warm enough to have pretty good grip and the rider wasn’t cold while riding. This was my last race of the last weekend of the season, and I needed to beat Mike Hawkins in order to beat him in the championship. We were racing for second place since Dave Peterson had put in a fairly flawless season. It was one of the most fun races i have ever had.
I got a mediocre start, and chased Nick into T1, with Hawkins way ahead. I chased Nick for about a two and a half laps, and then got him going down the hill to Agony and Ecstacy. I slapped my leg and the tail of my bike like a maniac on the way up the hill to the attitudes. I didn’t want to get held up battling with Nick, and i knew if we put our heads down we could catch Hawkins.
I put my head down and tried to make up as much time as I could to catch Mike. Nick tagged along for the ride and came back by me going into Tooele turn. Olsen scooted by me exiting Tooele, but he was racing Sportsman so not a big deal. Those boys both took off and I chased as hard as i could, unaware that James was behind me on his 675. He was attached with a very short piece of string for about a lap, and i have some great video of him in my rearview cam.
James finally went by me and lead me around for about a lap before having a spectacular highside exiting T5. He flicked himself off and rode sidesaddle into the infield. I rolled off, worried he was going to rejoin traffic exiting the corner. Once i knew he wasn’t on an interception vector, i went back to the gas and got Olsen and Hawkins! Mike was not having any of that, and dove back across me entering the double left. Him in front means a tie, but since he had more wins against me he would win for the season.
I put my head down and chased him for the last 5 corners of the race. I ran up on him in Clubhouse, but didn’t have the confidence on entry to get him. Almost out of chances, i tried to get a good run out of Windup so i could outdrive him through Release to the finish line. I entered Release, got the bike pointed and got the throttle open as quickly as i could to drive out of the corner. I grabbed several bike lengths on him and crossed the finish line in front. I secured second place for the season in heavyweight and rode the cool down lap in to reflect on my season. I congratulated Mike for a well fought season and packed up my gear with a smile on my face.
I got a mediocre start, and chased Nick into T1, with Hawkins way ahead. I chased Nick for about a two and a half laps, and then got him going down the hill to Agony and Ecstacy. I slapped my leg and the tail of my bike like a maniac on the way up the hill to the attitudes. I didn’t want to get held up battling with Nick, and i knew if we put our heads down we could catch Hawkins.
I put my head down and tried to make up as much time as I could to catch Mike. Nick tagged along for the ride and came back by me going into Tooele turn. Olsen scooted by me exiting Tooele, but he was racing Sportsman so not a big deal. Those boys both took off and I chased as hard as i could, unaware that James was behind me on his 675. He was attached with a very short piece of string for about a lap, and i have some great video of him in my rearview cam.
James finally went by me and lead me around for about a lap before having a spectacular highside exiting T5. He flicked himself off and rode sidesaddle into the infield. I rolled off, worried he was going to rejoin traffic exiting the corner. Once i knew he wasn’t on an interception vector, i went back to the gas and got Olsen and Hawkins! Mike was not having any of that, and dove back across me entering the double left. Him in front means a tie, but since he had more wins against me he would win for the season.
I put my head down and chased him for the last 5 corners of the race. I ran up on him in Clubhouse, but didn’t have the confidence on entry to get him. Almost out of chances, i tried to get a good run out of Windup so i could outdrive him through Release to the finish line. I entered Release, got the bike pointed and got the throttle open as quickly as i could to drive out of the corner. I grabbed several bike lengths on him and crossed the finish line in front. I secured second place for the season in heavyweight and rode the cool down lap in to reflect on my season. I congratulated Mike for a well fought season and packed up my gear with a smile on my face.