| Author | Message | ||
     Firebolt428 |
This season hasn't gone as planned that's for sure but it appears that Harley Davidson of Seattle (Cycle Barn) was finally able to get the bike back together and have it working great. Thanks to Scott Zollars there for getting it all sorted out. I left Thursday night with my good buddy JesseG to head to Spokane and do the Friday track day. It was nice to have JesseG on the track again with his Buell. Congrads to him as he is getting Married in Sept!! The track day was good and the bike was working great. I had some major problems with my front suspension coming into turn 4 and kept missing the turn and running off into pit exit. I had some severe chatter and couldn't get the bike settled down enough before the corner. So I finally got the front suspension done right. It solved the problem for the most part and it was better in every corner. Saturday: Formula Thunder 2nd Place The race went well and Darren Murray #348 (Ducati 748 Rs) got the hole shot into turn 1. Joshua Ellingson (#169) came by a lap later to move me to 3rd. This is the class that Buell pays in so I wanted to finish well. Josh put together some fast laps and put a little bit of a gap on me for a couple of laps. I reeled him back in and passed him on the straight away. A lap later we were elbow to elbow leaned over in turn 8 and stayed that way until turn nine where he took over 2nd. I followed him around the track for about 4 laps or so.. He was real fast in turns 6-7 and that's where he would gap me me every lap. I had a big slide in turn 6 with 3 laps to go and he put about 2 seconds on me. I put my head down put together some fast laps to catch back up and pass him on the straight away to hold him off at the line for 2nd place. It was a fun race. Sunday: Open Gp Twins: 6th Place This was more of a test race for me to make sure the changes we made after the Formula Thunder race to the suspension were good for the Middle Weight GP race. For the most part everything was ok but could always be better. Sunday: Middle Weight GP Twins 1st Place This was such a tough race. I came in after the Open GP race changed the front tire, sucked down as much water as I could, rested for 15 minutes then got back on the bike for the Middle Weight GP race. The temperature was in the high 80's. Before the race I was in 3rd for the Championship and 56 points behind the leader Alan Schwinn #124. I got a ok start but there were still about 4 guys that went by me. The straight away in Spokane is a mile long so you get up to top speed before turn 1. It was mayhem on the straight with everyone jocking for the best position for turn 1 . I could see Thomas Lynn #4 got out to a great start and was pulling away from everyone before turn 1. I was able to get by the traffic and move into 2nd place before turn 1. For the next 9 laps I was in 2nd place chasing Thomas. I really have a tough time in turns 6 & 7 which are slow second gear corners. I can't seem to get out of them fast enough and Thomas Lynn would walk away from me every lap. Coming into turn 2 which is a real fun double apex corner as I was getting back on the gas and my back tire broke loose and got me up out of my seat. Not a big moment but enough to let me know that the rear tire was just about done. The next couple of laps were tough with the back tire sliding around in every corner. As we came around turn 11 white flag is out and I am closer than I have been all race but unable to get close enough to draft him. Going into turn 2 Thomas changed his line in the corner to try and block me from getting by. I went real deep into the corner to try and get the corner squared off and get the bike back on the big part of the tire. This worked to perfection as I was able to get a real good drive and get right behind Thomas. Turn 3 is a full throttle blind left hand corner. I was able to draft by him coming through turn 3 heading to turn 4 to move into 1st. Jeff Wieand (Manager) was corner working all weekend in turn 4 so it was cool to pass Thomas for the lead on the last lap right in front of him. The next few corners were pretty nerve racking. Turn 11 checkered flag is out and I take the win. I was pretty excited and exhausted. The Middle Weight GP Twins Championship is getting interesting now as I later found out that Alan Schwinn #124 finished in 5th place which means I moved within 34 points of the Championship leader with 3 rounds left for this season. Thanks to everyone who is involved in Pushrod Racing and has helped this year. Especially my sponsors. Make sure to go check them out I have a pretty wide variety, from the local motorcycle dealer, motorcycle apparel, clothing, sunglasses, Energy drinks, to Employment background checks and screening services. Harley Davidson of Seattle (Cycle Barn), Phenix Group, Fulmer Helmets, Monster Energy, Fuel, DP Brakes, Gaerne boots, Utopia, Motul Oil, Regina Chains, Rich at racingmotorcycles.com and Pirelli Tires. Next race is Aug 13-14 hope to see some of you locals out there. Also make sure to check out the new Planet Pushrod tee's at www.pushrodgear.com Pushrod Racing Team Brad Haley #428 Jeff Wieand Rob Haley Picture of the bike will be posted soon! Take care everyone | ||
| Blake |
Wow! Outstanding! Made me feel like I was riding on back with you. Way to go Brad! | ||
| Firebolt428 |
Thanks | ||
| Ebear |
Awesome Brad!!!Great race recount....Go for the GOLD!!! | ||
| Rick_a |
Cool, man. Keep up the good work. | ||
| Dsergison |
best post I've read in a long while! thanks | ||
| Firebolt428 |
Thanks... I will be posting another one after the Aug 13-14 race. Hopefully very similar results...  | ||
| Firebolt428 |
Here is a picture from the weekend of the bike. Should have some cool actions shots here shortly  | ||
| Eeeeek |
How large are the clases? What is your competition? Vik AFM 188 | ||
| Firebolt428 |
Formula Thunder I race against superbike Suzuki 650's and Ducati 748-749's. Middle Weight GP Twins: Superbike Suzuki 650's Open GP Twins: RC 51's, Ducati 998-999's, 748-749's My 108 horsepower can't compete in Open GP twins against 120+ horsepower so I mainly concentrate on the first two classes. |
