Dale Johnson earns a 6th in 600 Super Sport Senior and another 4th place in 600 Super Bike Senior.
Despite sweltering heat and a hot slick track, I managed to stay hydrated and focused as I reached out for my goals for OMRRA's July event.
For the 600 Super Sport qualifier, I was gridded in 4th position for my row. Since I like to brake deep and take the inside line in race traffic, this was fine with me.
I got a decent start and motored around a cluster of riders concentrating on each other to pick up several positions in the 600 field.
I got past a few riders in the braking zone for the first turn and settled into a position in the train of riders on the race line.
During the four laps, I made two passes and got passed twice to pick up a grid postion for the main. Position three, mid pack passing, this ought to be interesting.
I was also in position 3 for the Super Bike qualifier. I got a good start and started taking advantage of the confusion and weaker engines and shifting skills.
Not satisfied with entering the turn last, I leaned into my tank and pinned the throttle looking for holes to enter to pick up a few positions before the insanity of turn 1 with twenty eight bikes jockeying for position. I didn't get as far into the pack as I would have liked, but did manage to thread my bike into a hole in the middle of the pack and, after putting the outside rider's wheel behind my leg, I ran a hair longer before tipping in and dropping my front wheel right in behind the inside guy. I noticed a runoff on the outside a bike or two in front but outside my line. I kept my eyes on the apex of the next turn to hold a tight line and hopefully drive inside anyone careless enough to run wide. It wasn't to be, so I ended up in the train turning through the infield until the back straight, where motor and braking work to my advantage. I worked at a fella with clean bright leathers and a low expert number. It took some work, as he would motor away, but I'd reel him in through the infield. He was hooking up where I was spinning so I never found the opportunity to get by in the tight sections. So I resorted to drafting him and getting a pass on the brakes. It worked, but not without some additional work.
While I was concentrating on this guy, another rider dove underneath me just before the apex on the turn entering the front straight, a turn that I'm a little weak on. I've stepped out exiting it before so I've got some demons. This dive was superb. He didn't show me a wheel, he just arrived, and going for the same apex point I was setup for.
I left a few inches between my knee and the curbing and he took it. He didn't come by fast enough to allow me to stay on my line without intersecting it with his bike. I had no choice but to pick up the bike and adjust my line hoping dearly someone's wheel wasn't next to my rear. I managed to check up, and maintain traction with the front and fell into a line parallel his. We drag raced down the straight and I started to move away when I got 6th gear. I kept it pinned and held off braking as long as I could and, dove for the turn from the outside fast line. I didn't see him again. I'd picked up another grid position, only deeper into the fray. So much for starting from the outside…
On the Super Sport main, I didn't launch as strong as I'd hoped, but some of the guys in front lofted their front wheels, or just got off the line weakly.
I motored into the fray and found myself trying to out brake a deep braker, and lost. We went into 1 side by side and he had the room to open up and he gained a half a bike length. I dropped back to allow his wheel to clear mine on the tight right hander only to find he was slower than I would have liked into turn two. Getting stuck behind him, I had no chance as I noticed a wheel going by my outside as I got passed going into the left hander. Not only did he pass, but he decided to reclaim the inside fast line and chopped my line. I had to check up to keep from getting tangled, and managed to fall in behind without losing my front. It was the same shiny new leathers as before.
Wasn't I rid of this guy already? I went to work on him and drafted by him on the straight and went to work on the next guy. It wasn't to be. I concentrated on my pace, resting where I could and braking hard, muscling the bike where it needed it. I resorted to a 6th place finish, unable to pass the two targets I had set during the ten lap main.
The 600 Super Bike start went much better, all three times. Twice I gridded up inside the second to the last row in the main 600 grid, on position two, and twice we were red flagged on the first lap. Both multi-bike crashes one turn in front of me. I saw the crashes occurring before I saw the red flags. Both times, we were zigzagging to avoid riders and bikes on the track. I'm so thankful target fixation isn't an issue for me. All I could concentrate on was target avoidance. Chalk it up as more 600 series experience and a deeper appreciation for the inside line. On the final grid up, I was determined to launch, and I did. I got well into the pack and again, went for the inside. So many people come to this track, learn the fast line and line up single file only to leave a huge hole inside for late brakers. I love that pass. I gained a bike in the back straight after I tried drag racing a guy between our tightest turns, and backed down after he kept his position, knowing I'd be going into a severely disadvantaged position if I went outside to pass resulting in a bad setup for the back straight. I fell in behind him and matched his line through the mini chicane separating the infield with the back straight. When we motored into the straight, which isn't actually a straight at all, but a very fast, 150 mph right hander ending in a straight braking zone before two very quick turns, I pulled a draft pass and went late on the brakes going into the quick left hander and got the number 3 guy in my class. I rode my rear end off determined to not give him a chance to get by.
On the front straight, I felt the bike shudder and knew he was on my tail. I saw him swing by and pull next to me midway down the straight, going for the inside.
We went neck and neck into the braking zone and I watched him out of my periphery waiting for him to brake so I could grab the binders and swing into the turn.
I won the game of chicken and I went the deepest I'd ever done braking at the end of a 170 (indicated) MPH straight. I almost forgot to downshift I was so busy controlling my swaying back end. I went into turn one hot and just concentrated on holding the line and applying some throttle to keep the front. I reclaimed what I had thought to be my first podium finish on a dry track. Upon reviewing the results, I was disappointed to find that I had finished 4th. A visiting rider on a senior R6 clinched 2nd place.
So, on my second race weekend as a graduated novice, I have to settle for 4th place. Rest assured, I'm hungry to finish on that podium.
As I spent the morning reviewing my performance, I recognized a few places where I can pick up time. I'll be practicing attacking my weak corners, and continue to improve my body position go assist with rear wheel traction on the exits so I can win my passing attempts.
Look for my report from the August 20th race. Yes, its a Saturday. We'll only have one day to warmup and race, so I'll be working on my improvements during a trackday scheduled for that week.
Mucho thanks go out to Aaron and the guys at Team Privateer. They got my crash repair parts to me just in time. I'd like to also mention the guys at R&D Machine Racing. Sven, Steve, Dave, I always appreciate your help and support. Even when I have my *race face* on, you guys are right there. Thanks big !
Stay tuned!
Dale from 737Racing
For the 600 Super Sport qualifier, I was gridded in 4th position for my row. Since I like to brake deep and take the inside line in race traffic, this was fine with me.
I got a decent start and motored around a cluster of riders concentrating on each other to pick up several positions in the 600 field.
I got past a few riders in the braking zone for the first turn and settled into a position in the train of riders on the race line.
During the four laps, I made two passes and got passed twice to pick up a grid postion for the main. Position three, mid pack passing, this ought to be interesting.
I was also in position 3 for the Super Bike qualifier. I got a good start and started taking advantage of the confusion and weaker engines and shifting skills.
Not satisfied with entering the turn last, I leaned into my tank and pinned the throttle looking for holes to enter to pick up a few positions before the insanity of turn 1 with twenty eight bikes jockeying for position. I didn't get as far into the pack as I would have liked, but did manage to thread my bike into a hole in the middle of the pack and, after putting the outside rider's wheel behind my leg, I ran a hair longer before tipping in and dropping my front wheel right in behind the inside guy. I noticed a runoff on the outside a bike or two in front but outside my line. I kept my eyes on the apex of the next turn to hold a tight line and hopefully drive inside anyone careless enough to run wide. It wasn't to be, so I ended up in the train turning through the infield until the back straight, where motor and braking work to my advantage. I worked at a fella with clean bright leathers and a low expert number. It took some work, as he would motor away, but I'd reel him in through the infield. He was hooking up where I was spinning so I never found the opportunity to get by in the tight sections. So I resorted to drafting him and getting a pass on the brakes. It worked, but not without some additional work.
While I was concentrating on this guy, another rider dove underneath me just before the apex on the turn entering the front straight, a turn that I'm a little weak on. I've stepped out exiting it before so I've got some demons. This dive was superb. He didn't show me a wheel, he just arrived, and going for the same apex point I was setup for.
I left a few inches between my knee and the curbing and he took it. He didn't come by fast enough to allow me to stay on my line without intersecting it with his bike. I had no choice but to pick up the bike and adjust my line hoping dearly someone's wheel wasn't next to my rear. I managed to check up, and maintain traction with the front and fell into a line parallel his. We drag raced down the straight and I started to move away when I got 6th gear. I kept it pinned and held off braking as long as I could and, dove for the turn from the outside fast line. I didn't see him again. I'd picked up another grid position, only deeper into the fray. So much for starting from the outside…
On the Super Sport main, I didn't launch as strong as I'd hoped, but some of the guys in front lofted their front wheels, or just got off the line weakly.
I motored into the fray and found myself trying to out brake a deep braker, and lost. We went into 1 side by side and he had the room to open up and he gained a half a bike length. I dropped back to allow his wheel to clear mine on the tight right hander only to find he was slower than I would have liked into turn two. Getting stuck behind him, I had no chance as I noticed a wheel going by my outside as I got passed going into the left hander. Not only did he pass, but he decided to reclaim the inside fast line and chopped my line. I had to check up to keep from getting tangled, and managed to fall in behind without losing my front. It was the same shiny new leathers as before.
Wasn't I rid of this guy already? I went to work on him and drafted by him on the straight and went to work on the next guy. It wasn't to be. I concentrated on my pace, resting where I could and braking hard, muscling the bike where it needed it. I resorted to a 6th place finish, unable to pass the two targets I had set during the ten lap main.
The 600 Super Bike start went much better, all three times. Twice I gridded up inside the second to the last row in the main 600 grid, on position two, and twice we were red flagged on the first lap. Both multi-bike crashes one turn in front of me. I saw the crashes occurring before I saw the red flags. Both times, we were zigzagging to avoid riders and bikes on the track. I'm so thankful target fixation isn't an issue for me. All I could concentrate on was target avoidance. Chalk it up as more 600 series experience and a deeper appreciation for the inside line. On the final grid up, I was determined to launch, and I did. I got well into the pack and again, went for the inside. So many people come to this track, learn the fast line and line up single file only to leave a huge hole inside for late brakers. I love that pass. I gained a bike in the back straight after I tried drag racing a guy between our tightest turns, and backed down after he kept his position, knowing I'd be going into a severely disadvantaged position if I went outside to pass resulting in a bad setup for the back straight. I fell in behind him and matched his line through the mini chicane separating the infield with the back straight. When we motored into the straight, which isn't actually a straight at all, but a very fast, 150 mph right hander ending in a straight braking zone before two very quick turns, I pulled a draft pass and went late on the brakes going into the quick left hander and got the number 3 guy in my class. I rode my rear end off determined to not give him a chance to get by.
On the front straight, I felt the bike shudder and knew he was on my tail. I saw him swing by and pull next to me midway down the straight, going for the inside.
We went neck and neck into the braking zone and I watched him out of my periphery waiting for him to brake so I could grab the binders and swing into the turn.
I won the game of chicken and I went the deepest I'd ever done braking at the end of a 170 (indicated) MPH straight. I almost forgot to downshift I was so busy controlling my swaying back end. I went into turn one hot and just concentrated on holding the line and applying some throttle to keep the front. I reclaimed what I had thought to be my first podium finish on a dry track. Upon reviewing the results, I was disappointed to find that I had finished 4th. A visiting rider on a senior R6 clinched 2nd place.
So, on my second race weekend as a graduated novice, I have to settle for 4th place. Rest assured, I'm hungry to finish on that podium.
As I spent the morning reviewing my performance, I recognized a few places where I can pick up time. I'll be practicing attacking my weak corners, and continue to improve my body position go assist with rear wheel traction on the exits so I can win my passing attempts.
Look for my report from the August 20th race. Yes, its a Saturday. We'll only have one day to warmup and race, so I'll be working on my improvements during a trackday scheduled for that week.
Mucho thanks go out to Aaron and the guys at Team Privateer. They got my crash repair parts to me just in time. I'd like to also mention the guys at R&D Machine Racing. Sven, Steve, Dave, I always appreciate your help and support. Even when I have my *race face* on, you guys are right there. Thanks big !
Stay tuned!
Dale from 737Racing
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