Pikes Peak International Hill Climb additional practice weekend, June 2-3

So last weekend this happened. It was 2 days of really short test times up the mountain. Saturday morning from dawn till 9am we rode the top half of the mountain, from Glen Cove up to the summit. Sunday morning from dawn till 9am we rode the bottom half of the mountain, from the start line to Glen Cove. This race is going to be crazy and I can't wait. I learned a lot in testing about tire pressures and gearing that needs to change, but most importantly I started learning the road. It was fast, it was fun and it's only going to get faster! Thanks Marty for teaming up with me to do this, having someone else in the same boat of now knowing shit makes things a bit easier!

Round 2, PPIR, May 19-20

Write up is a little late. I'm going to keep it short but picture heavy thanks to John at Wicked Photo. Pikes Peak International Raceway doesn't really get used a whole lot any more which made it really green (no rubber down on the asphalt) so it's kind of slippery and was really hard on tires. I practiced on Friday and only got about 4 or 5 short sessions on the rear tire I had for practice. I went through a whole rear tire on Saturday during one short practice session and 2 sprint races. I got 5th in Middleweight Supersport and 4th in Heavyweight Supersport. I decided to use Middleweight endurance to set up some suspension changes and get the bike to feel ok and stop eating rear tires. It worked. Sunday the bike felt great and I was able to get 3 sprint races and still have life in the tire. First was Middleweight Superbike and I fought my way up to my first podium in that class and got third. Second was Thunderbike, I got the whole shot and lead most of the first lap only to have Dave Gallant come around me in the last corner of that lap and lead the rest of the race. Dave is a really good rider and I was happy I was able to stay right with him for the whole race although there was no way I could get around him. Last race of the day for me was Heavyweight Superbike, I rode ok but my head wasn't' quite in it and I finished in 5th. Fun weekend, but a lot of hard work. Big thanks to Dave Rose again from STM Suspension for setting the bike up for a better run on Sunday.

Dave Rose Helping my giant ears out.

Gallant and I.

Stop looking back!