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2008 Season Wrap
Its now a week past the CMRA double header and the last racing of the season (for me). I wanted to take stock of what we (yes we... team effort 110%) accomplished and didn't accomplish this year and to begin planning for next year.
As a team our goals this year were:
Top 5 finishes in Open Thunder and Ducati Cup
Lap times down to 1:27
Arianna to get Novice License
Arianna to compete in Novice races and select track nights.
We did finish in 5th place in Ducati Cup and I did get my lap times down to 1:27's and further dropped them to a few laps in the 1:26's.
We finished 6th in Open Thunder and I'm pretty happy with that result. The field was much stronger than last year and it showed in everyone's times.
We had no mechanical issues this year and no crashes. On that I feel incredibly good as I was certainly pushing past my limits on several occassions during the season.
I am disappointed that we were unable to get Arianna on the track this year but several things combined to make it impossible for us to make it happen. We will try again next year.
To our sponsors:
Sport Cycle: Brian, Yukiya thank you for building me an absolutely bulletproof bike this year. The work you and your shop did over the winter to the bike was amazing. I had many comments this year from people that were more than impressed with performance put out by the 749 this year.
Renfrew Chrysler: Your sponsorship made it possible for the team to run this year. Thank you very much!
Stephen B.: Thank you for the use of your trailer. It made such a difference having a stable "base" to run the team out of each weekend. Thank you also for the opportunity to purchase said trailer for next year! Needless to say we are taking you up on it.
Jason L.: When my tire warmers went MIA you generously lent me yours without hesitation. I hope I'm able to return the favor in the future in some way!
Mike Q.: Every weekend with the generator. Everyone that pitted near me owes you a thanks as well for that little generator. Pizza lunch for you and your crew at Stuart Olsen is on me!
Reel Rydes: Mike, Terrence, Joel; Thank you for partnering with Ducati Cup this year and for fitting the cameras on my bike. You and your team delivered exactly as promised and your level of service was absolutely the best. I hope we can work together again in 2009!
To my family:
Arianna: Even after we knew you wouldn't be riding this year, you pitched right in for the season and looked after me, the pit area and the other Ducati Cup racers. That takes class to do that when you want to be racing!
You were right there race after race with encouragement, reality checks and a level of enthusiasm that rubbed off on not only me but the other riders as well. Thank you kiddo! Love you!
My kids and friends in general: Your encouragement after rough weekends plus smiles and indulging me with all the bench racing on good weeekends was really appreciated!
To my fellow racers and competitors:
I can't think of a sport where I've had more challenges to keep me going and developed more friendships so quickly. Each weekend we are pushing each other to do better, go faster, ride smoother. All in competitive and yet completely fun environment.
A special thank you to:
Eric G.: Thank you for taking the time to reply to a little club racer in Canada. I hope things go MUCH better for you in the future and I hope you wont mind if I pester you a bit more for some of your great experience and race craft. Thank you!
Now we get set and start the process all over for 2009. We already have some neat things in the works so stay tuned!
Round 6
For all the marbles
Sunday dawned under rainy and overcast skies. It wasn't a surprise as I'd kept an eye on the weather for the week leading up to the double header. A tire change first thing to the rains and I was set for practice.
Practice went VERY well and I was feeling very positive about the races. By the time Open Thunder rolled around, the skies were still overcast but we had not had any rain. Just little smatterings here and there. I decided to leave the rains on and see what the track was like.
On the warm up lap, the race line was COMPLTELY dry and my first thought was "So much for the rain tires, boy are they going to get chewed up!". At the flag drop I got a good start. and was in 5th going through after T3.
That didn't last too long as Bill Gerber got around me and that put me in 6th. I hung with 3rd through 5th for several laps with my buddy Paul hot on my heels. As the race progressed, we the pack of 4 gapped Paul and then it became 3 as I was getting gapped as well.
I decided late in the race that I just wouldn't be able to hang with the lead pack and finished the race in 6th (good result for me) with Paul a good ways behind in 7th.
Back in the pits everyone evaluated their rain tires after Open Thunder and everybody had just chewed the tires to shreds. A quick tire change saw everyone go back to slicks and/or DOT's.
About 10mins before the start of Open Superbike (race just before Ducati Cup), it had started to sprinkle on and off and Race Control ended up declaring the Open Superbike a wet race.
I had a tough decision to make. If the track stayed dry I could run slicks and do well but if it began to rain during the race, it wouldn't be stopped and I would be done. If I went out on my already chewed rains and the track stayed dry, I'd do ok but maybe not as well as I could but if it rained, I'd be in perfect position.
At the last minute, I told my crew we were switching to rains. End of the year, last race... I figured it was worth the gamble. It was lightly "misting" but not full on rain. I was hoping the weather would turn for the worse and help me out.
At the flag drop I got another horrible start (story of my season) and found myself in 8th behind Paul and Brad. Brad had really stepped it up for the last race and was setting a good pace. I still knew we could get around him but it needed to be Paul and I going around him at the same time.
Going into the carousel, on lap 2, Brad went a little wide and Paul executed a PERFECT pass. There was just enough room for him to go through, and then Brad shut the door on me. I was swearing!
I knew Paul would put his head down and hope he could gap me and by the time I could get around Brad, I wouldn't be able to catch Paul. I was thinking to myself, Ok..here we go!!
I tried draft passing Brad down the front straight on that lap but his 998 just had a bit too much. I thought to take him through 5 and 6 where I'm strong but Brad had his head down and was riding very well.
Rather than try another draft pass on lapt 3, I decided to try him on the brakes going into T1. It was really dicey as the bike was moving around on me pretty good due to the thrashed rains but no guts no glory.
Things worked perfectly, soon as Brad popped up to brake, I didn't and zipped right by him and then I was HARD on the brakes. The rear end was really thrashing around but everything stuck and the pass was done. I put my head down to go after Paul.
It took a couple of laps to catch Paul and then set the pass. I got him going through T6 on Lap 6 and then just pulled away a bit to about a second gap. Brad also got around Paul about lap 8. For myself, I just prayed the tires would hold.
At the checkered I crossed in 6th place, with Brad right behind me and Paul rounding out for 8th.
Great finish for the year and the 6th place solidified my points for 5th overall in Ducati Cup.
Thank you to my daughter Arianna for being my motivator throughout the year as well as to my Sponsors for backing me during the racing season! I've said it before and will keep shouting it out. We can't run without your support and we so very much appreciate it!
To my fellow racers in Ducati Cup, and the CMRA in general. Thank you for coming out and mixing it up weekend after weekend. I LOVE the competition and the dicing up we do at the track. There is no better feeling!
Round 5
Go big or go home!
Rounds 5 and 6 comprise the double header weekend of racing for the CMRA. I knew going into this weekend that I needed to post some good points. I was sitting tentatively in 4th overall in Ducati Cup even with my dismal finishes.
I had been calculating points based on which Majik rider would be riding in the Cup so I knew where I had to finish for a good result overall. I was coming of a nasty flu but was feeling great for the weekend.
Saturday opened for me with Open Thunder. I got a great start and was with the mid pack right off. I picked off a couple of riders and went after the llead pack. I was able to hang with the top 5 for a bit but slowly they started to pull away.
I didn't let up but I was feeling very sick to my stomach towards the end of the race and was definitely losing focus. I kept the Top 5 bikes in sight but couldn't make any progress at catching them.
I finished strong in 6th place and was both happy with my best finish of the year as well as my new personal best lap of 1:26:579
I was feeling completely drained after the Open Thunder Race and didn't want to risk not being 100% for the Ducati Cup race so I opted not to race the Senior Open race.
The Ducati Cup race saw me gridding up and feeling particularly aggressive. After all the drama I've experienced over the last few rounds, I just wanted to pull the pin and go!
The flag dropped and I got an amazing start. I was with the lead pack right off and quickly found myself in 4th place. The lead 3 bikes pulled away from me and a quick glance behind me showed nobody in sight so I settled into run a consistent pace.
On Lap 7, I could feel my energy levels dropping and I knew I was off my pace. Same with lap 8 and lap 9. On lap 10 with the last lap flag out, I glanced behind me to see that #67 Paul Slack had been reeling me in and was coming hard down the front straight.
Sure enough, he passed me under brakes going into T1. Paul and I had been working together on different strategies and he and I both knew where we were strong. I was determined not to lose my best finish of the season and kept on Paul's rear tire.
I was hoping to take him in T5 but he took a blocking line through there and I figured my only shot at him was up the hill behind the control tower. As we went into the bus stop, I took a shallower line letting me carry more speed.
Coming out of the Bus Stop, I had more than enough speed to take him going up the hill. I took an aggressive line and late braked going into the carousel in effort to block Paul's line and keep him off my tail so he couldn't draft me out of the Chute.
Coming up to the finish line, there was nobody beside me and I glanced back after crossing the line to see Paul a good ways back.
That was one of the best races I had all season. Hat's off to Paul for staying focused and reeling me in!
That 4th place was just what I needed to finish the day and I was revved for Round 6 on Sunday. My time was a solid 1:27:895 so no complaints.
To my sponsors; I'm happy I was able to deliver a good result and keep us in the Top 5! To my crew; I can't do it without you and your support and advice keeps me grounded and motivated.
Round 4
This was the round I deliver a great result in Ducati Cup... or not!
Practice went amazingly good on Saturday. #12 Chris Istace and I were just ripping up the track. We were right on our race pace all through practice and I couldn't wait to hit the races on Sunday.
Sunday races came around and first up was Open Thunder. I was very nervous about my starts. I had sent an email to a fellow racer in California that I respect very much, and asked him for help with my starts. I was very tired of always battling from last place.
Eric was kind enough to reply back with a detailed process of how to start. I had been going over it in my head for the weeks prior to the race but with no ability to actually PRACTICE the starts live, I was worried about stalling the bike.
As the flag dropped on Open Thunder, I just flew of the start line and was able to stick with the bulk of the pack all the way into T1. I was ecstatic as this was a big plus for me.
I was passed by a few faster riders but also did some passing of my own and got around both my friends and rivals Chris and Paul. I also managed to stay ahead of Bill who is a consumate rider. I finished the race in 9th and with a flying fast lap of 1:28:228 just OFF my year goal of a 1:27. SO CLOSE!!
Senior Open was next and something just "clicked" for me in that race. I got a blazing start and off we went! I was passed by several of the faster riders (1000cc vs 749cc...not really a contest) and settled into getting around my friend and rival Paul.
That took a couple of laps but I eventually passed him in Turn 5/6 which is my usual spot for making good moves like that. There was a GSXR (600/750 not sure) that was in front of me and I realized that I could catch him.
I was able to glue my front tire to his rear tire and stayed with him for the bulk of the race. I was able to show him a wheel a few times in a couple of corners but wasn't able to make a solid pass.
When we came around onto the front straight I saw the last lap flag and made the decision... I was taking him this lap period. He was able to gap me on the front straight but I went in deep on T1 hard, hard on the brakes and caught him
I set him up in T2 and T3 and just pulled the pin on T4, I got along side him on the outside going through T5 which set me up for the inside pass on T6. I got by him and I kept the throttle on hard. I knew if I could hold him off on the back straight I would have him
I did hold him off and to make sure he couldn't draft me into the chute and onto the front straight, I went hard into the carousel and took a wide fast line out. I finished in 8th, my best to date and also met my 2008 time goal of 1:27:099... almost a 1:26!
This set the stage for Ducati Cup and I have never been more psyched for a race than I was for this one! We gridded up, the flag dropped and again I got a blazing start. Everyone was in a large pack going into T1 and nobody wanted to give up a spot.
Exiting T3, #24 Yukiya had a violent highside which caused 4 other bikes (myself included) to do some very quick dodge maneuvers. I was pretty sure that incident would bring up a red flag and sure enough, we were halted at the bus stop.
As the ambulance tended to the downed Ykiya we were brought back and re-gridded and waited while the ambulance and recovery truck were back in place. All the bikes were in place, revving and I was staging for the launch, as the starter raised the flag, my bike just died. Poof, nothing.
I quickly raised my hand so I wouldn't get run into/over and frantically tried to re-fire my bike. It wouldn't fire and I finally had to unplug one of the onboard cameras in order to get the Duc to sputter to life. I abused the clutch hard when I launched but I was just FURIOUS! I put my head down determined to just ride as hard as I possibly could
Ultimately the gap between myself and the mid pack was just too great for me to make up. I caught up to and passed the back markers and never once left off on the throttle. I rode as hard as possible but had to settle for 9th again. To frustrate me even more, as hard as I was riding, I didn't set any better times than Open Thunder and Senior Open
One good thing that came from the race was that on average, I lapped around faster than my friends and rivals Chris and Paul. You guys are awesome but of course we all want to beat each other!
This was not the result I was hoping for to say the least but we'll rally for the final 2 rounds in September.
Thank you to my sponsors and my crew. I appreciate your faith in me and I will deliver a good result yet!!
Round 3
I went into Round 3 feeling very positive. I had installed new rearsets, the bike was working great and I'd done a couple of track days specifically to work on Turn 1, the Carousel and Turn's 5 and 6.
I was confident I could now hold my own in Turn 1 and not get passed like I was standing still each race.
Both my Open Thunder and Senior Open race netted solid results. In Open Thunder I was able to get around the Buell of Chris Crump and put him solidly behind me. After that I went after, caught and passed the 749R of Norm Reed.
I was making good headway and catching the 749 of Derek Sandilands but unfortunately ran out of laps. The 9th place finish was good and I was pleased with how I ran. I also set my fastest time to date at 1:28:741!!
The Senior Open race was another fast one for me though not quite as fast as the Open Thunder race. I lapped pretty much on my own after having passed some of the back pack. I finished that race in 11th with a flying lap of 1:29:092.
This brought me to the Ducati Cup race and one that I was VERY stoked for given my results earlier in the day. At the flag drop, I got another horrible start and was in 10th spot going into Turn 1.
I quickly made up ground passing 4 riders to take over 6th. I battled on and off with Amy before putting her and the 848 behind me for what I thought was the rest of the race.
I put my head down and gave chase after Yukiya and Derek and was making great time and was reeling them in. Going into lap 8 though, my shifter bolt backed out (yes on my newly installed rearsets) and I found myself stuck in third gear.
Rather than pull off, I put my head down and was determined to collect some points. Amy, Chris, and Don all blasted by me on the front straight. At the south end of the track I was able to hang with them a bit but knew on the short and long straights they would gap me.
I finished in a very frustrating 9th place but at the same time somewhat pleased that I was able to set a good lap of 1:28:584 but more importantly, my last 3 laps of using only 1 gear, I STILL posted lap times of 1:30 and change.
Round 3 ended for me with some ups and downs but I am determined to make up for it in Round 4.
Thank you to my sponsors, pit crew and other racers that make it so much fun to race (even when its frustrating). Also huge shout out to the race fans that come specifically for the Ducati Cup and make a point of stopping by to chat!
Round 2
A fast practice day leads to a solid result in Ducati Cup
The 2nd round of the CMRA was held under sunny skies and a blissfully dry track. The bike was dialed in VERY well thanks to Sport Cycle and our practice times were just hovering above our best time of last year.
Several of the lap times were in the low 1:31's making me confident that I could easily get into the 1:30s for race day.
Sunday saw me running in 3 races: Open Thunder, Senior Open and Ducati Cup. Unfortunately a very poor entrance strategy into Turn 1 resulted in my being in virtually last place for both the Open Thunder Race AND the Senior Open race.
All of the passes made on me were done going into turn one clearly highlighting a weak spot for me on the track. I would be working on this on a later track day.
The Ducati Cup race saw me in a great 3 way battle for 5th place. I was dicing it up all race with #12 Chris, and #24 Yukiya. To say we were all over each other was an understatement. We were passing each other like crazy lap after lap.
At the finish line there was less than a second between us but I ended up taking 7th. Round 2 was both good and bad for me. Good in that my times hit 1:30's on a pace I was more than comfortable with, AND I completed a back to back race keeping that pace.
The round was bad in that there were some clear weaknesses that I need to work on for Round 3 but a track night or two between rounds will be the ticket to getting some of the bugs worked out.
Thanks again to all my sponsors who make it possible for me to go around the track grinning like a madman!
Wet CMRA Round 1
Kelly gets some excellent experience racing for the first time on rain tires.
The weekend of May 24/25 showed no signs of letting up on the rain that had been coming down steady for almost a full week.
As a result, Saturday practice was cancelled as there was simply too much standing water on the track to ride safely according to the Race Course Clerk. BGPR and Hard Knox Racing stepped in and brought in pumps to pump the water off the track over Saturday night.
Thanks to their efforts, racing was a go for Sunday. There were only 2 practice sessions available to get used to the rain tires but I spent both sessions out on the track making the best use of the time.
My first race was Open Thunder and my pit crew and I decided it was best to go out, circulate the track and not get too aggressive and finish the race on two wheels. We did exactly that and finished in 9th place.
Our last race of the day was Ducati Cup and I knew from the Open Thunder race that I could definitely pick up the pace substantially so that is what I did. At the flag drop, the 3 lead riders lost me through Turn 1 but I was determined to give chase.
Unfortunately I ended up running a lonely race in 4th place as I couldn't catch the lead riders. I ended up lapping the 5th place through 8th place riders towards the final laps.
Due to 3rd place #56 blowing over on the dyno after the race, I moved up one position to take 3rd. Not how I wanted a podium spot but I'll take the points.
I want to thank my pit crew, the other riders of the Ducati Cup, and especially the volunteers that braved the foul weather so we could race!
Our sponsors: Renfrew Chrysler, Sport Cycle and our partners. I cannot race without your support! Thank you!
New Race Bike
At the 2008 Calgary Motorcycle Show, Arianna chose her race bike for the 2008 season. She will be developing her skills on the new Kawasaki 250R.
We still have a lot of work ahead of us to get the bike into race trim but we are confident it will be ready for the CMRA Race School on May 17th.
Website Live!
We are proud to have our website up and running. We feel it is important to present a professional image for both our race team and our sponsors.
This website accomplishes both and we are pleased to be able to present our team in this fashion. Please take a look around the website to learn more about our team.