Arizona Mile Race Report
This was the first motorcycle race at this horse track. The AMA did their best to prepare the track and get it ready for motorcycles. They used some kind of chemical to help pack the track down and get it to hold together. It seemed to work pretty well really. Turns one and two were kind of choppy and the surface broke up a bit, but turns three and four were great!
There was a really good fan turnout and that was way cool to see. Love to see the stands full of folks.
Steve Berg and I managed to get the ‘Zuk repaired and to the race track in perfect condition. I want to thank Pro Plates here as they delivered new plates to the races on a really short notice. Real racing professionals these folks are.
Berg and Greg Anderson made the trip over with me to help out in the pits. Jamie Nicely from Micah racing was there too and gave me outstanding support! He helped me with track reports between my events, watching timing and being an all round great coach. Jamie has been helping me with tires this year too and that has been a huge part of my program.
I found a decent line way down low through turns one and two. That line was so low that my handlebars were under the rail! In addition to being down low, I also had to be careful going through these two turns as there were some real slick spots. I would go through the corner on the gas and then have to roll off for the slick spots, get back on it where the traction would let me and then off again for a slick spot. Hey, that is part of racing, figuring out the best way around the track. Everybody rides the same track!
I was able to make all of this work for me, especially the first session where I was third fastest when the dust cleared. I was very happy with that! For the second session I went backward just a little and I finished eighth. With the second session being the fastest, my combined times left me in seventh overall. Not bad for stepping off the plane a week ago and working on the bike all week.
One thing about the surface of the track was that it was a tire eater! Everybody I talked to said that they were going through tires at a really fast rate. We had a fresh side on each time we went out. Ultimately that is the reason the Main event was shortened from 25 to 20 laps, concern for tire wear.
I was in the first heat race with Sammy Halbert and eventual winner Joe Kopp on his Ducati to name a few. I was excited to get out there and mix it up with these guys! I tried a second gear start and it was not entirely successful. Not terrible, but not great and I won’t do it again. Sometimes you just have to try something new. I went from second back to fifth as I learned about drafting. Once I got the hang of it, started moving forward. Passed Brandon Robinson for third with two laps remaining and then started to slowly reel Kopp in when the checkers flew.
Needless to say, I was happy with the results and looked forward to the Main event.
Because I was third in the fastest heat race, I had choice of position for the second row and picked the inside. After a good start, I was fourth going into turn one. Unfortunately it was red flagged immediately because of excessive dust. They had not watered the track and it had really dried out. They got some water on it and generally got it into decent racing shape.
On the second start I got away fairly well again, but was sprayed coming out of turn two and that dropped me back a couple of positions. Running into a big spray is like hitting a 20 mph headwind. You really feel it and it can stall a good run.
I had a good race with JR Schnabel and Don Taylor for most of the race. JR eventually got ahead of us, but Taylor and I continued to have a good battle. I got as high as eighth on laps six and seven before dropping back to tenth on lap 14. Though I continued to run well, that was where I finished. I fought hard with Taylor throughout the race, but couldn’t quite catch him at the end.
Though I wish it was better, the season is actually off to a decent start and I am excited for the rest. I really want to thank Steve Berg again for all of his help with everything and hospitality. Jamie and Johanna Nicely of Micah Racing have given me tons of support this year and I can’t thank them enough. The folks at Pro Plates are tops in my book for getting my plates to me so quickly. Thank you all for your help!
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