I've been working ten hours day at the shop 7 days a week 
plus school so, I'd beeen really looking forward to this 
weekend if only to get a chance to sleep in to 6 AM. 
Consequently, my bike & mental prep weren't what they 
usually are.

Saturday
--------
I couldn't get the clutch to work right all day and that 
greasy rear tire Pirelli sold me was practically useless. 
So, I was running a few seconds slower that last time and 
couldn't hold a line to save my life. Other than that it 
was a pretty mellow day.

I did have one notable moment while Jay and I were 
weaving through some traffic. Someone highsided in front 
of us exiting turn two. Jay aimed between the sliding 
rider and his still heavily tumbling/exploding bike. 
The bike bounced strangely and shot back at Jay, clipped 
his rear tire and down he went. I swerved to avoid 
running over Jay and consequently collided with someone's 
tail section which launched me into the air. ...Yehaw! 
Jay and his bike were thankfully more or less okay and I 
got off easy with a tank slapper upon landing.

It wasn't until after the last session of the day that I 
heard about Jim Groshong. :(

Then I hung out at the Jay/Lisa/Tom/Vince/Doug/Chip/Etc. 
Ghetto for Dinner and went back to bangin' on me Ninja. I 
totally blew it here - the clutch was acting up big time 
last month but I just wrote it off as a side affect from 
racing with a broken hand. My dumb.

Sunday
------
We had our much deserved ass chewing from Barbara first 
thing and heard about the additional evil's from Saturday 
(see Denise's email). :(

Morning practice confirmed that the bike was still in no 
shape to race so, I tore it apart again. By lunchtime 
we'd finally diagnosed the clutch issue and, thanks to 
Val, swapped in another one. I was threading in the last 
bolt as they made first call for our race. Suited up, did 
a couple launches in the hot pit to test the clutch and 
went out on the hot lap.

Going into turn two I realized that my head was still
miles away from being race ready and that the last
minute suspension adjustments we'd made to try and get
some traction out of the rear sucked. Damn.

As were were gidding up I mused with the idea of
climbing off the bike and going back to my base 
supension settings but figured that wouldn't go over to 
well with the race officials. At the green flag I threw 
all my weight onto the front end, hoping to avoid a new 
clutch/Tom Hicks moment, and ended up with my worst start 
of the year - Even Jay beat me into turn 1! Now, that's 
embarassin'.

Yoav was doing his trademark first lap break away 
while we were bunched up behind Val. I was hovering back
in fourth, looking for a way through Val and Jay 
(instead of trying to make one) when David got in front 
of me. Oops.

Still, David was riding awesome and we fought tooth
and nail, never giving the other person an inch and all 
the way to the end.

At one point I was making an inside pass on 11, started 
loosing the rear (as in most every corner, stupid tire) 
and had to widen my line to keep it upright. Normally, 
I'd just let it slide but for some reason I felt strongly
disinclined to let the bike get that loose this weekend. 
Unfortunately, I drifted right into David and clipped his 
front wheel with my rear. David masterfully kept his bike 
upright and, unfazed, was right back into our battle for 
4th. Wheh!

Every time we went through the 9/10 complex we were 
shoulder to shoulder, tucked in as tight as we could and 
daring the other one to balk.

On the last lap I was ahead, I think, into 11 and decided 
to go wide to get the better drive out for the finish 
(and hopefully keep the rear under me) - bad strategy. 
David went tight and came out a couple of bike lengths 
ahead of me as I ran wide again. I punched it for all 
I was worth to the finish line but was half a bike short. 
Phooey.

That was my worst AFM finish since last year but, 
possibly one of my hardest fought battles ever so, it's 
all good!

Afterward I went to apologize to David for banging into 
him but, he was super nice about it saying, "Nothing bad 
happened so, it's just racing. Besides, I beat you 
anyway." Yay! That really made me feel alot better 
about it - thank you David!

Then I loaded up and started my 7 hour trip home. Got a 
call from Jonah on the way saying he was closing the 
shop so, no more speedshop and no more sponsorship for 
me. Ugh, this weekend really was turning into the 
suckiest suck that ever sucked. :(

I understand where Jonah's coming from and this is 
probably the best decision for him to make at his point 
but, it sucks to see someone's dream not quite work out 
the way it was supposed too. He's been such a great 
source of moral suport, advice and super dooper go-fast 
mojo that I don't think I can really ever fully thank 
him for all he's done for me.

Not just with the racing either - he was one of the first 
people to help me out when Janice left last year. He's 
just plain been there for me all the time and for about 
anything and I can't imagine what the last year or so 
would've been like with out him.

*sigh*

I also really want to thank everyone that helped me out 
with the bike. I don't think I've been on the recieving 
end of so much 250p family support before and it really 
meant alot to me. Thank you all sooooo much!

See y'all next month!
-Rick
 #219