6/2-3/07 WERA @ Roebling Road Raceway, GA
By: Tony Pavilonis #554
Tropical Storm Barry arrived just in time for our race weekend. Bringing rain, wind, and more rain, with more wind.
This was my first race weekend on the new 07 GSX-R 750, and only my second time riding the bike.
Sunday:
I awoke at 6:30 am to the sound of heavy rain on the roof of the race trailer and wind so strong that it was rocking the trailer. What really got me out of bed was the sound of Adam banging on the trailer door at 7am. Adam is a friend of mine who helped me get this new bike from in the crate to race ready in less than a month. He showed up as a crew member Sunday morning despite the bad weather.
I decided to skip morning practice due to the rain. I have rain tires, but the forecast was calling for the rain to end by my first race and I only have one set of rims. I played a game of chance and hoped the sky would clear by my first race so I could run the new DOT Race tires I just had mounted instead of my rain tires. My gamble paid off.
First Race; Formula 1: 3rd Place
With the rain barely stopped and the wind even stronger than before, I headed to pit out for my sighting lap. This was the first time I had been on the track since arriving Friday evening. I took it easy, scrubbing in my new tires. I rolled into the grid area and looked for my starting position. Row 13, outside spot.
I got a decent start and spent most of the race in 2nd place until I was passed on the last lap at the start of the back section. I felt pretty confident that I could pass back to regain second place and I formulated a plan. Unfortunately , my plan did not include running into lapped traffic right where I was going to make my pass! I was on his back wheel and about to make my pass to re gain second place when we came up on a slower rider. The rider I was chasing got around the slower rider and I got hung up behind him in the last turn of the last lap. I took 3rd because I made a mistake, do you know what that mistake was? I do, and I have already learned from it.
Second Race; A Superstock: 2nd Place
After starting on Row 13 in my first race, starting even further back on Row 14 was no big surprise. I would have to play catch up once again.
I got another decent start and was in 2nd place chasing Russell Wikle most of the race until we came up on a slower rider. Russell got around him, but I got held up behind him long enough for Russell to pull too far away for me to catch. I finished 2nd despite having turned the fastest lap of the race at 1:16.144.
Third Race; B Superstock; 2nd Place
Think starting on Row 13 or Row 14 was bad? Try starting on Row 17 , the LAST Row.
Yep , I started on Row 17 out of 17 Rows for this last race of the day.
My start wasn't so good this time, I spent the race working my way up through traffic and trying to run people down. I managed to push from the last Row and finish in 2nd place.
3 Races, 3 Podiums, 3 trophies and setting a new personal best lap record of 1:16 my first race weekend on the new bike ......... I'm happy with that.
