Kalen
Well-known member
AFM 2019 Round 1 Buttonwillow.
There's nothing quite like jumping on a bike you have not been on in 4 months and racing on a track you don't know. The only time I'd been on this track was for my NRS and one race a year ago.
During the first practice session I felt very much out of practice and didn't start feeling with it until the races.
My first race of the weekend was Afemme Lightweight. I had a pretty good start, but my inexperience with the track left me racing pretty reserved. I improved my lap times during this race to pretty consistent 2:21 - 2:22 on the last three laps. I managed to get third place.
https://youtu.be/6PPpzOhgplk
Sunday my plan was to just go out for a couple sighting laps during practice, but I ended up staying out the whole session. Though lap times didn't show up so I have no idea what I was running, but I was able to work on reference points and get warmed up.
My first race of the day was Lightweight Twins. The grid was much bigger than Saturday's race and I ended up towards the front of the Novice group. I still have a lot to work on, but I managed to shave 6 seconds off my best lap time from the previous day. After the main pack left me I pretty much had clear track until the leader lapped me on a 450 towards the end. I had lots of time to just work on getting the track down.
https://youtu.be/_-cR7DdW7hA
Formula 3 was my final race of the weekend. This was probably the most fun in turn 1 that I've had. So many bikes with some very talented people on them. I managed to keep the pack in sight for a lap before they pulled away. I kept my mind in race mode and pushed myself each lap. My last 4 laps were all less than a second of each other, I felt proud to have been consistent even if I wasn't that quick.
https://youtu.be/6v9BcjBLdtI
Overall it was a very productive round 1 for me. I have a lot of notes to make while reviewing my footage. I feel like I have a much better idea of the flow for this track. My parents made their first trip to the track to watch me race Sunday. It was nice getting to share that with them.
I couldn't do what I do without some great support from my team, friends, family, and sponsors. Big thanks to Kazman for help in the pit with the bike and my mind, and for those energetic signals from the wall to keep me pushing. Much appreciation to my teammates and support crew for everything on and off the track. My boyfriend for his support during the last year of racing and also taking care of me when I crashed in August as well as helping me in the pit this round (including helping me get my Helite vest on and off, have not quite got that down on my own yet). I'm glad the next Z2 Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park event is next week because I can't wait to get back on the bike and get ready for round 2 next month.
https://imgur.com/a/kngALbb
There's nothing quite like jumping on a bike you have not been on in 4 months and racing on a track you don't know. The only time I'd been on this track was for my NRS and one race a year ago.
During the first practice session I felt very much out of practice and didn't start feeling with it until the races.
My first race of the weekend was Afemme Lightweight. I had a pretty good start, but my inexperience with the track left me racing pretty reserved. I improved my lap times during this race to pretty consistent 2:21 - 2:22 on the last three laps. I managed to get third place.
https://youtu.be/6PPpzOhgplk
Sunday my plan was to just go out for a couple sighting laps during practice, but I ended up staying out the whole session. Though lap times didn't show up so I have no idea what I was running, but I was able to work on reference points and get warmed up.
My first race of the day was Lightweight Twins. The grid was much bigger than Saturday's race and I ended up towards the front of the Novice group. I still have a lot to work on, but I managed to shave 6 seconds off my best lap time from the previous day. After the main pack left me I pretty much had clear track until the leader lapped me on a 450 towards the end. I had lots of time to just work on getting the track down.
https://youtu.be/_-cR7DdW7hA
Formula 3 was my final race of the weekend. This was probably the most fun in turn 1 that I've had. So many bikes with some very talented people on them. I managed to keep the pack in sight for a lap before they pulled away. I kept my mind in race mode and pushed myself each lap. My last 4 laps were all less than a second of each other, I felt proud to have been consistent even if I wasn't that quick.
https://youtu.be/6v9BcjBLdtI
Overall it was a very productive round 1 for me. I have a lot of notes to make while reviewing my footage. I feel like I have a much better idea of the flow for this track. My parents made their first trip to the track to watch me race Sunday. It was nice getting to share that with them.
I couldn't do what I do without some great support from my team, friends, family, and sponsors. Big thanks to Kazman for help in the pit with the bike and my mind, and for those energetic signals from the wall to keep me pushing. Much appreciation to my teammates and support crew for everything on and off the track. My boyfriend for his support during the last year of racing and also taking care of me when I crashed in August as well as helping me in the pit this round (including helping me get my Helite vest on and off, have not quite got that down on my own yet). I'm glad the next Z2 Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park event is next week because I can't wait to get back on the bike and get ready for round 2 next month.
https://imgur.com/a/kngALbb
ort
