AFM RD 3 #SLIPPING

I was very excited for AFM round 3 at Thunderhill Raceway! This would be my first race at Thunderhill in a year. I was very eager to see if I would be able to drop some time and achieve my goal and get under 2:01(my previous year fastest race lap time) and possibly get as low as a 1:59 with the off season training I was doing with Pacific Track time.

Saturday Practice

Saturday practice went well, I was able to get a lot of help from Jim and Nickie from catalyst reaction tuning to help set up the bike and take out the little tweaks and twitches I was receiving from the front end of the bike under braking and movement from the rear when accelerating out of a corner. This would my first time ever making adjustments to my suspension after ever practice session and it paid off with us being able to stop the front chatter and rear moving and get the bike stable.

Race 2 750 production

I started in 12th Position and was able to make up a couple of places with a good start, I was able to maintain that position for the first two laps until being passed by AFM #140 Dan Butler going into turn one on lap three. On the third lap coming out of turn 6, I noticed when I would try to get on the gas the bike would hesitate a bit before accelerating. I Thought that I must have not been twisting the throttle fully when exiting the corner but it kept happening on certain corners when and in certain gears for the remainder of the race. I finished the race in 10th Place with achieving my goal and constantly turning lap times of 1:59.

Race 5 600 Production

I started in 21st position and was able to make up about seven places by turn 2 and one more going into turn 3 and another coming out. I was able to maintain these positions into turn 5 and turn 6. While coming out of turn 6 I noticed the same problem with the acceleration hesitating as I did in the first race but this time it was a little worse. As I continued racing towards turn 7 and up towards 8 a rider passed me going into turn 9, I would maintain this position for the remainder of  lap 1. The Next 2 laps I would lose two more places to AFM # 17 Eric Kondo and AFM #619 Jennifer Lauritzen, After Jennifer passed me the Race was red flagged symbolizing the end of our race.In the first start I was able to dom y best lap time of the weekend with a time of 1:58!!
After a 10 minute break the race would be a full restart and would not turn out as good as the first. I was able to make up a few places on the restart only to lose them by then end of lap 1 by going into turn 14 to fast, I would finish my race in this position which was 19th

Race 11 600 SBK

Before this Race I had a talk with AFM# 140 Dan Butler and explained to him what was going on with me bike, He then told me that my clutch was going out,it was slipping and would continue to get worse. I knew that It would be a struggle being competitive in the race.
I would start this race in 14th position, I was able to gain a couple of positions going into turn one and maintain them until turn 5. There would be a series of crashes in turn 5 that resulted in a immediate black flag of the race that would be restarted as soon as the track was clear.This race restart would be challenging for me, I missed a lot of downshifts, struggled with what gearing,missed apexes and brake markers throughout the race. I was able to make up 1 position on the start and would finish there. I finished in 13th place. I was scheduled to do one race more race but decided it was best to sit it out knowing that my mind was not in it and I as having bike problems

Sponsors

I would like to thank all my sponsors and supporting companies Pacific Track Time, Munore Motors, Axo, Silkolene, EDR Performance, United Capoeira Association, Oxymoron Photography, GoPro, Bell Helmets, Optimal Racing, TTF, Catalyst Reaction Tuning, Moto-D.

Last but not least I would like to thank my friends and family for coming out and supporting me! I love you guys!

2014 AFM Round 1 Buttonwillow

AFM round 1 at Buttonwillow Raceway is finally here!! After a long offseason due to no racing in 2013 I was ready to get back to racing ,stepping up with the big boys and girls in the expert classes and being around all the great people of the AFM, this would be my second race and second time at Buttonwillow Raceway.This weekend would start off ruff but finish good,Before even getting to the track I ordered the wrong size sprocket and was unable to get the right size before the races, meaning that I would be going into this weekend with the wrong gearing.

Saturday Practice
Saturday practice did not start off so good,I went into my first practice session with new front suspension and on my second lap I missed my apex and ended up tucking the front going into cotton corners,luckily there was no damage to the bike.After getting my bike back to the pits and cleaning off all the dirt and getting ready to head out for my next practice session I realized that I had a loose for peg due to the stripping of the foot peg threads,AFM #4 Jason Lauritzen was able to help me retap the treading to secure the foot pegs. I also noticed a small hole in my break hose leading up to my reservoir that was allowing my front breaks to lose pressure, with the assistance of Jason Hauns (JPH suspension), Gary Guinn(EDR Performance) and Sam Romick (AFM #787) I was able to fix the problem, with the help of all these individuals along with jim and Nicky from Catalyst Reaction Tuning for setting my suspension I was able and get my last 3 practice sessions of the day with my fastest time being a 2:03.

Race #2 750 production 
I started in 15 position, I got a pretty good start putting me in 11th place by turn 1 but lost a place going into turn 2 slotting in behind AFM#619 Jennifer Lauritzen. I spent the rest of the race chasing her down but she was able to get a gap and maintain it throughout the race. I was able to set my fastest lap time at a 1:58.2 and finish in 12th place.

Race#5 600 Production
I started in 25th position, I had a great start and was able to make up a few places going into turn 1and a couple of more heading into turn 3 behind AFM #142 Andrew Lee were I would spend the remainder of lap 1, Lap 2 I was able to catch up to AFM #140 Dan Butler and make a pass in Riverside. Lap 3 I was able to catch up to AFM #17 Eric Kondo and make a pass heading towards turn 4,I remained in front of Eric the next two laps until he made a pass on me heading up to Lost Hills. After being behind Eric for 2 Laps I was able to get close enough to him to make a pass on the breaks heading into sunset corner on the last lap and inch out the position to the start finish line. I finished 17th with my fast lap of 1:58.8

Race#11 600 SBK
I started 25th and with a good start I was able to make up a couple of places heading into turn 1, heading towards turn 2 I almost had a incident with AFM#116 Keith Stie when I almost rear ended him. I was able to avoid running into the back of him but had to run a little wide in turn 3 that allowed AFM#999 David Labree to pull a inside pass. I stayed behind David for the first lap, heading into turn 2 on lap 2 I made a mistake and went into a false neutral that allowed 2 riders to go by. Lap 3 AFM #72 Sam Richards was able to make a pass on me going into turn 4, I was able to make a pass back going ito Lost Hilss But he was able to recover the position coming out of it. Lap 4 AFM #129 Ricardo Villegas was able to make a pass on me heading into turn 1. Lap 5 I was able to hang on to the group in front of me and make a pass on AFM #211 Sergio Fernandez in riverside and maintain this position until the end of the race, I finished 20th with my fastest time being a 1:59.4.

Race #14 750 SBK

I started 15th, I did not get a good start and was near the end heading into turn 1. AFM #72 Sam Richards was able to make a pass heading up to Lost Hills. I would remain in this position for the firs 3 laps of the race. Lap 4 I was able to catch up to AFM# 140 Dan Butler and make a pass on the outside of turn 9. Lap 5 Dan was able to pass me back going into turn 1, heading up to Lost Hills I was able to get him back but he was able to get a better drive coming out and heading towards the Sweeper we were side by side, I was just able to break a little later and keep the position. I would finish the race in 14th position with my fastest lap being a 1:59.6.

Recap

All in all it was a great weekend! I was able to complete all my races and get points,do my fastest times at this track with the lovely Pirellis on my bike and the chance to be around the great people of the AFM!

Sponsors

I would like to thank all my supporters and sponsors! Pacific Track Time,CT Racing Pirelli, Munroe Motors,Axo,Go Pro, United Capoeira Association,Bell Helmets,Moto-D,Catalyst Reaction Tuning, EDR Performance,Optimal Racing,Silkolene,Oxymoron Photography,GP Suspension, TTF,Robert brittian for letting me use his go pro, Craig mason for letting me use his rear tire warmer and all of my friends and family for their support!

2014!!

2014 Season is approaching and FAST! I had a great opportunity to start off my 2014 season with being interviewed on 2 wheel podcast for the AFM 60th anniversary. This episode included interviews by Rich oliver (ex AMA champion) Eric Kondo (ex AMA racer, winner of multiple California championships and current AFM racer), Berto Wooldridge (current AFM racer and AFM President) and Steve McLaughlin (ex AMA champion, Hall of Famer, Founder of World Superbike and Son of Hall of Famer John McLaughlin the founder of AFM). I was so Excited to be apart of this, take a listen to these great interviews that take you through the history of AFM,Road Racing in America at http://twowheelpodcast.podbean.com/2014/01/08/episode-37-afm-60-year-anniversary/!!!

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