Race Report
AFM Round 2
Sonoma Raceway April 29 - 30, 2017
After much needed maintenance on the bikes after Round 1 was finished, we were off to Sonoma Raceway to take Round 2 head on.
Saturday Practice went well, the track was slick as this course is known for being, the morning left me with a headshake issue and chasing tire pressures, but the bike was dialed in by the afternoon with a compression adjustment by JPH Suspension. The 250 was also sporting newly re-done forks with brand new fluid by JPH Suspension for this weekend, and the bike has never felt better. There was only one Saturday race for me, a class I had not yet entered in – 350 Superstock. Still learning the track, the race was mostly uneventful and I was able to take a 5th place finish.
Sunday would see three races, 250 Superbike, Lightweight Twins and 250 Superstock.
250 Superbike was another smooth, clean fought race ending up in a 6th place finish.
As I was learning the track better, laptimes were falling slowly but surely, and I gridded up for the novice Lightweight Twins race. I had a great start, and was able to hold off most of the Feel Like A Pro, LLC Ninja 300’s on my 250. Coming out of turn 1 on lap 2, I was chasing Chris Ackerman when suddenly I realized there was a person spinning on the ground in the track heading up the hill, #973 had crashed out of the race and luckily I was able to avoid both him and his machine. The race concluded with my first podium of the weekend and a solid 3rd place.
The last race of the weekend, 250 Superstock saw me with another solid start to the race, able to make a couple passes heading out of turn 1. I had dropped many seconds off my lap from the beginning of the weekend, and was managing low 2’s before the race was ended one lap early due to a red flag from a violent crash. I was able to take a 1st place finish in novice, and 2nd overall in the race. The weekend was a success and I’d like to thank all my sponsors, friends and crew for the continual support.
Watchdog Armory Watchdog Armory Racing #725
AXO
Armour Bodies
Atlas Brace
Braven
Bell Powersports
EVLsports
Forcefield Body Armour
Fun Track Dayz
Galfer USA
JPH Suspension
Matrix Racing Concepts
Motion Pro, Inc.
MOTUL
ODI Grips
OGIO
Racetech
Shorai
SpeedMob
Vortex Racing Fan Page
Woodcraft Technologies
Wicked Audio
Better late than never!