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* Phoenix 2005 Race Report * |
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I made a deal with Allen Nusbaum in Gainesville to trailer my bike to Phoenix, then on to Dallas. This would be the second time I raced at Phoenix and the second time I would fly to a race. Wonder if John Force does this? It almost didn't happen as my flight from GSP was cancelled an hour before departure. The flight continued to Phoenix from Charlotte, so on the road I was to Charlotte. After a long 5 hour flight, I was finally in the desert. Then after missing the exit (then comes 36 miles across an Indian reservation, and back) I finally made it to the track. Allen already had the bikes unloaded and all i had to do was put the bars on, air up, gas up and go! With the Friday night test and tune session costing $7.00, I was in for sure. I only got 2 passes in, but learned what I needed to learn. For once, I was over the index. I know I can make it a little faster. The first pass on Saturday was a good one at 10.40 seconds netting us the #4 spot. Two more rounds later and we didn't improve because I just couldn't find the right combination to go .1 second faster. I got a real scare on the 3rd pass when I launched without the air turned on for the air shifter. When I hit the button to shift into 2nd nothing happened. Then I saw the air valve and instinctively reached to turn it on. Bad move. The bike immediately went into a violent tank slapper. Man, when go wrong, they go bad really fast. It took me to the 1/8 mile mark to get control. I was determined not to come off that bike. For most of that time, I could not see where I was going due to the vibration and fortunately did not hit the wall although I got as close a look as I ever want to while being on the bike! I did cut a great light though at .002 seconds. I finally caught a break on Sunday morning in the first round when my opponent could not run due to his break. What a pass, 10.297, only 3 thousandths under the index. Now I knew I hit the combination! In round 2, my opponent went deep (and I actually saw the red light, normally I don't) and that gave me a free pass at 10.24 seconds. Round 3, the money rounds start now. I launched really hard and immediately knew I'd have to be out of the throttle at dome point. I turned to look for Julia at half track and she was was behind, must have bogged, so i let out the throttle a bit for the win. In the semi I had Greg Krenik, the #1 qualifier. I knew this would be a very tough and close race, maybe even a double breakout. As it turned out, it was a double breakout with me coming out on top by a very skinny .0011 seconds. What a nail biter. As always in SS, the deeper you go in the program, the harder it gets. I had Burdynski in the finals. Again, I knew it could be won or lost by the slimmest of margins and he got me this time. Runner-up was where I finished. After Friday and Saturday troubles, I was plenty grateful to be that far in the show. I left Phoenix with renewed confidence and #4 in the points! A special THANKS goes out to Allen for his encouragement all weekend and also to Cliff Dwy who I met for the first time at dinner Sunday night. Thanks for dinner, Cliff! What will the "Big D" hold for us? Stay tuned for more! And THANKS for visiting the MAVRIK Racing pages!
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