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Jake Frame - Round 1 – WMRRA and OMRRA – March 31 and April 1, 2007 Race Report
Weekend Results
WMRRA
1st – Lightweight Superbike
1st – Middleweight GP Twins
OMRRA
1st – 650 GP Twins
3rd – Middleweight Superbike
Championship Standings
WMRRA
1st – Lightweight Superbike
1st – Middleweight GP Twins
OMRRA
1st – 650 GP Twins
3rd – Middleweight Superbike
Oddly enough, Round one of the Washington Motorcycle Road Race Association and the Oregon Motorcycle Road Race Association landed on the same weekend this year. Being that Washington is the home club for me and Team XLSR Racing we wanted to race at home, but, since I am the defending OMRRA 650 GP Twins Champion, I wanted to defend my title. OMRRA is running only five rounds this year due to PIR getting resurfaced later in the summer so missing a round and still having hope of winning a championship just wouldn’t jive. I have to give a lot of credit to WMRRA. Team XLSR approached them asking if they would change their weekend schedule around to accommodate us racing in Washington and Oregon and they happily did it. So, we had a packed weekend of racing. We were at Seattle’s Pacific Raceways for the Lightweight Superbike and Middleweight GP Twins races and then loaded up and headed to Portland International Raceway for the Middleweight Superbike and 650 GP Twins races on Sunday.
Saturday, March 31st, Pacific Raceways
Rain was the only thing on the menu for Saturday mornings WMRRA season opener. I mounted the trusty Pirelli rain tires and headed out for a practice session with no problems. The bike had been shaken down at a track day a week and a half ago, so I knew that all was good. Thanks to MaxRPM Motorsports in Bremerton WA for building me a super fast motor! Saturday afternoon brought clear skies and dry asphalt for the actual races. Again, Pirelli tires and Tiger Shark Racing took care of me and set me up with a very nice set of Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks. New sponsor Chickenhawk Racing took care of the tire warmers for me this year so I hard hot tires each time I headed out on the track. I went out for three practice laps in the early afternoon and was ready to race.
Lightweight Superbike
Lightweight Superbike was the first race of the season. As I was sitting at pre-grid fighting off nausea, I was wondering why they had to put a money race as the first race of the season. Talk about pressure! All the regulars were present on the first grid of the2007 season with the exception of the #2 plate holder of Alan Schwen who has decided to forgo Super-biking this season. The regulars included Joshua Ellingson, Ian Draycot, Shawn Becker, and Allister McKinnon to name a few. The light went out and the season was underway. I settled in the top three and started to watch my competitors patiently. Shawn and Ian were riding great but I needed to hold back on the straight to stay behind them. On the 3rd lap, I decided it was time to go and made the pass for the lead. After a couple of position changes during the course of the race, I was able to take the lead back for the final time and bring home my first win and podium of the 2007 season.
Middleweight GP Twins
The weather held out again for us and the Middleweight GP Twins race. I was feeling pretty good going into this race but felt a little nervous about XLSR’s Brad Haley who runs the Buell XB9R in this race which is a really fast bike. The light went out and again I had a great start from the 2nd row of the grid. I was sitting in the top three during the first lap but didn’t waste much time going to the front for a majority of the race. With a lap and a half to go, I was passed going into turn 5 by Becker. My arm was super tired from pulling on my VERY sticky throttle and I had pretty much given up and didn’t think I was going to be able to get him back. Becker took a horrible line through the bus stop (turn 10) and I was able to over take him for the lead and lead us into the final lap of the race. I held onto the lead until turn 9 when Becker made a beautiful pass under me. I was able to keep my head and ran a nice line through the bus stop allowing me to take the win from him just as we came through the checkered flag and took my 2nd win for the 2007 season.
We loaded up our gear and bikes and hit the road for Portland. We managed to pull into Portland International Raceway at 10 pm. We found a pit spot and were literally 100% set up and had the BBQ fired up within 15 minutes. We ate a quick dinner and it was off to bed to rest up for Sunday’s full day of racing.
Sunday, April 1st, Portland International Raceway
It was cold! Our new weather station in the toy hauler told us that it was 31 degrees outside and wet. It also told us that it would rain in 12 hours. Perfect! We rolled out of bed, made breakfast and coffee, and were ready to take on the day.
OMRRA runs qualifying races in order to determine the grid positions for the main event races. My goal for the 2 qualifying races was to just finish in the top 4 so I could be on the front row of the grid for the main events. I was successful and finished 2nd in both races. One surprise for the day was during the first qualifier I was passed by Canadian National Champion and BMW Endurance Champion Oliver Jervis. I wasn’t sure what to think about having him out there but was thankful to know that there would be some stiff competition.
Middleweight Superbike
The middleweight superbike race got off to a quick start. Jervis took the lead into turn 1 and I settled in for second place. His bike was getting great drive out of the corners so I had my hands full. He and I traded positions a couple of times throughout the race before my throttle arm became too tired to turn my ever worsening throttle. I got passed by Cedric Smith and found myself in 3rd place without the arm strength to turn my stiff throttle to keep up. Luckily, the three of us had put in enough ground between us and the rest of the field I was able to relax and cross the line for 3rd place.
I came into the pits and began to dig into my throttle problem. I found that the housing on my throttle was split open and my cable was in really bad shape and ready to break. I did have another one handy so with the help of Joshua and his mechanic Tracy we were able to get the cable installed, carburetor springs lubed up, and the bike back together for the 650 Twins race.
650 GP Twins
I was pretty fired up going into this race. I was very disappointed that my arm had given up on the last race and wanted to redeem myself as a contender for the win and show these guys that I am the defending 650 GP Twins champ and still got it!
I think everyone fell asleep on the grid. The light went out and I got a great start and put my head down. I spent the entire race on the front and never saw anyone. On the fourth lap, going down the straight away, I looked back and saw nobody behind me. I couldn’t really believe that I put that much time between myself and everyone else so I was scanning the course for a red flag or meatball flag but never got either of them. A couple times, I even checked both sides of me looking for Jervis, but he was nowhere to be found. I had a huge lead and had to calm and slow myself down to make sure I didn’t throw the race away with such a huge lead. I settled in for the last few laps and successfully defended my 650 GP Twins Championship by taking the 1st victory of the season in the class.
Honestly, I shouldn’t complain about the weekend, but I am a bit disappointed that I didn’t pull the hat trick. I am very blessed to have had the success that I did on the first weekend. Three victories and a 3rd place is nothing to be ashamed of and I am very excited to see how things go over the next couple of months.
I want to thank those folks who took time out of their weekends to come down to the track and support my efforts. I really do appreciate your time and support of me in the sport that I absolutely love. As always, I couldn’t do it without my sponsors. Thank you so much for all the help and support and let’s keep things rolling in the same direction. Next up is WMRRA Round 2 on May 4th and 5th at Pacific Raceways.
Jake Frame
WMRRA # 6
2006 WMRRA Rookie of the Year
2006 OMRRA 650 GP Twins Champion
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