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Screamin YellO Race Report May 4,5,6 2007
The First Central Roadracing Association event of 2007 happened and so did the May Weather of Minnesota. We had High Winds, Rain, Storms, Cold, Sun, and just about every early Spring condition possible. Going into the event I new I may have a tough time, but it went worse than I expected. My surgically repaired elbow did not like the cold temps, combined with rain. I had 4 races scheduled Middleweight Supersport, and Unlimited Supersport on Saturday, and Middleweight GP, and Unlimited GP on Sunday.
MWSS was first up on Saturday. BIR’s Starting Grid is right on the Dragstritp, (part of the Straight Away) in the cold temps the VHT (traction compound for Drag racing) gets very slick, I spun up the 675 pretty good at the flag, and lost some time. The rest of the race did not go well as I struggled with some setup issues and finished 15 (out of 23 starters).
UNLSS I was gridded in the middle of the second row (the only place on the grid with good traction today). I got an okay start, and was in the lead pack entering BIR’s very Fast Turn #1, when it all of the sudden it started pouring rain (heavy stuff). I have to give a shout out to the skills of the CRA experts here. None of us had on rain tires as it was dry until we hit Turn #1, and every one of the bikes lined up nice and neat and slowed to what resulted in a very slow pace due to the extremely wet conditions. I was able to Tour around to 6th place finish, but came away with almost no data to fine tune the bike setup, which to this point has not been good.
Ahhhhhhhh! Sunday Morning, my favorite day to race. Everything comes together, and you get results. Except on this Sunday, I woke up and could not feel my fingers, my repaired elbow was swollen to twice its size, and the bike setup still had not come around, Oh and yea, it’s still cold and wet. My races were not scheduled until the afternoon, but if my arm cannot come around it would not be safe to run (can’t feel the brake in my hand). At Lunch the tingling went away (still swollen) but I decide to ride (we’re racers, we race).
The Sun actually makes an appearance and it warms up a bit. I grid up for the MWGP race and get a decent start but again the bike is not working great in the Turns, I am having trouble picking up the throttle mid-corner. I am able to finish with a 14th place but am very disappointed in the result, but I have one more race to go and am determined to improve.
UNLGP I made a suspension change after the MW race and got a good start, I was still with the lead group as we came around to turns 7 & 8 and the riders in First and Second positions simultaneously low-side and tumble across the track together (heal up quick Jace Porter #4). This Turn of events leaves me in fifth place, and the suspension change is working quite well as I am able to go faster this time around. I finished on the box in 3rd place this time and feel like I can come back next month and have much more consistent results.
I would like to thank all of my sponsors for their efforts to make this season possible.
Screamin YellO Racin’
Triumph 675.net
Leo Vince Exhaust Systems
Vortex
Sidi Boots
Engine Ice Coolant Products
Amsoil Lubricants
Manley Cycle/Roys Repair
Catalyst Racing Composites
Lockhart Phillips USA Racing
TankTredz
Vanson Leathers
Silkolene
Central Race Tire/Midwest Roadrace Trackside Services
Dunlop Tires
Studio299 Graphics
Headsweats
Momentum Photo
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