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Tom's Race Report from Arroyo Seco Raceway
04/10/05 Deming, New Mexico
ASMA Round 2
Right off the top have to thank Pat again. I was planning on racing
in Vegas, but since the CBR still needs parts, Pat offered me one of his
Ducati's to race at Arroyo Seco this weekend. Ducati pays contingency in
ASMA and not in WERA so off to New Mexico we went. My truck is still
being repaired in Palm Springs, so Allen said he would pull the trailer
down with the 3 bikes. Thanks Allen.
We actually got off on time and arrived at the track Friday night around
9:30, not bad.
Saturday morning, windy and mild. Pat is undecided which bike he wants
to race and I tell him I don't care. I would just like to make a
decision and ride the same bike to get use to it before the races on
Sunday. He says pick one and I pick the 749r he says ok fine. So I put
my numbers on the 749r, do the first session and after Pat comes in says
he likes the 749r better. I say fine I actually like the 999r better so
we switch (what a bunch of women!). Saturday I work on the stuff Matt
Hartlieb taught me. Braking markers, body position, and the right lines.
I get the shift points down and just work on being smooth. I never
really push the bike since I really don't want to crash this bike that
is worth 3 times what mine is. I get to constant:15's which I'm not too
happy with but I'm improving.
Race day windy and COLD, 5 races. Unlimited SuperSport, Unlimited
Superbike, SuperTwins, Formula 40 and the team race.
First race Unlimited SuperSport. Small grid, brand new tires, scrub them
in, have a small battle with Dean, the front keeps sliding have to back
off, afraid I'm gonna loose it. I come in 4th, I think and I'm starting
to think I don't like the new PR2 fronts. Turns out there was 39psi in
the front!!! and 33psi in the rear!!! Total miscommunication! Still my
fault, I'm riding the bike and should check these things!
Next race SuperTwins. Aaron has won this class the last couple of years
and knows the track well. Pat wants to get a first ($500) and second
($300). Aaron has a powerful Aprila but is on a new style of tires and
is still trying to sort things out. We have a chance. I'm starting to
feel good on the 999r although there are some front end issues. I get
off to a great start and push hard since I hear the rumble of a twin on
my ass. I put my head down and get a huge lead. Then I come around Yucca
and see a huge darkie, a bunch of scrapes and Pat crashed (he had a high
side). I loose a little concentration and see Aaron start to gain some
ground so I put my head back down and win with a comfortable margin.
Next race Formula 40, another great start, win by a large margin wire to
wire.
Last race before the team race Unlimited Superbike. Not a good start,
but stay with Dean the whole race, missed the white flag, thought I had
1 more lap would have been tough but I think I could have and was
planning on passing Dean and some other guy that I tailed the whole
race. Got down to a very comfortable :14.3.
Last race Team race. Pat asked Kane if he wanted to do it with me since
Pat's hand and foot were hurting. Problem; it would be back to back
races for me and Kane. Since Kane is in just a hair better shape than me
he would ride first. Kane would do the warm up lap to get used to a bike
he hadn't ridden. He said "2 Italian's on and Italian bike, I want to do
this to win" jokingly. I was going to be at the end of the pit, he would
try to get a large lead and fly into the pit. It took him every lap to
get in front of Rob the first place team with 3rd way back. He passed
him on the last lap before the rider exchange. He had 2 bike lengths on
him when he came into the pits, we had a good exchange and as I left the
pits I saw the front wheel of the second place bike on my right.
 Now
I'm thinking Kane just worked his ass off to get the lead I'm gonna put
my head down and ride the son of a bitch. I have such a hard time
looking back, I never do it I just assume there is somebody always on my
ass. I know that first lap was the fastest I had done that weekend, I
felt good. I come down the front straight purposely braking deep into
Turn 1 and just as I brake I hear a squeal and the wind pushes me and I
loose concentration for a split second. I don't brake hard enough,
realize I can't make the corner and stand it up. The last thing I see is
the edge of the track as I go off and crash Pat's second Ducati of the
weekend. The worst part is I had a 5 sec lead on second place on the
first lap! I had no idea I had that much of a gap. A pit board would
really help.
Anyway thanks to all our sponsors, Pat, Allen, Rian and see you at the
next races.
Tom Savoca
#151
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