sckego
doesn't like crashing
Mid-way through January, with the chaos of the Christmas season behind us, I broached the topic of going racing a few rounds this season with She Who Holds The Purse Strings. Wifey knew this was coming ever since I took NRS last year at Sonoma Round 6, and my promises of bringing her home a shiny trophy won over her reservations, and I got a tentative OK. YES! I immediately booked a Kawasaki Ninja 400 with Feel Like A Pro and started daydreaming about the green flag flying. There was a bit of nervousness hovering in the background; Buttonwillow is my least familiar track, it’s been over a year since I’ve ridden it in the dry, and I’ve never ridden it on a lil’ Ninja. Whatever. I’ll figure it out. Let’s go.
I was up at 3am Saturday for the dark run down I-5 to Buttonwillow; with a quick stop at Kettleman City for a car charge and breakfast, I rolled in at just past 7. Got settled into the oh-so-convenient Feel Like a Pro pit and met my race-mates for the weekend, including familiar faces Lupe, Matt, and Andrew from last season, and single-digit plate holder Marc Edwards. Hm, maybe I can try and learn some things.
Saturday practices went pretty smooth, just getting reacquainted with the track. It took pretty much no time to get comfortable on the bike; for some reason the small-cc Ninjas just seem to fit me, despite me being 6’1” and 180lb. Everything is in the right place (except for the shift lever, which led to a few false neutrals before being adjusted) and the way it handles matches my riding style really well. I started with a 2:23 best lap and rapidly shaved off time down to a 2:10 fast lap, with consistent :11s and :12s to back it up. I know there is still time to be had, particularly in Turn 2 and the second part of Bus Stop, but I can't seem to find it. Am I ready? As ready as I’m going to be…
350 Superstock Nv / Saturday Race 2
DQ Drama For Your Mama
Wait, why is a 400 running in 350 superstock? I had that same question, but per the classing guide on the 2019 race registration website, it’s legal. I emailed the AFM and asked about it, and got a response (on Monday night, one day before registration cut-off) that said (exact quote) “Your Ninja 400 is eligible to run in 350 SS.” When the 2019 rulebook was released a few days later, sure enough, still legal in there too. Seems a bit odd to me, but whatever - classing guide says it’s OK, 2019 rulebook says it’s OK, AFM explicitly confirms it’s OK - I’m signing up for it.
I was pretty conservative off the start and got shuffled to the back through the first corner, rather than dicing with the pack. Stayed loose and comfortable, managed to stick with the riders in front of me and make a few passes, and hung on to 3rd to the checkered flag. Ended up taking a second off of my practice time, down to a 2:09, and best of all, I snagged a shiny trophy for wifey! Now she won't be mad at me for going racing.
But, wait. "Number 895, report to race direction." Head down to chat with Barb. Get told I can’t run a 400 in 350SS, and will be DQ’d. I point out the section in the rulebook that says my bike is legal. I show the email I have from AFM explicitly confirming my bike is legal. Confusion begins. Call in guys from Tech, Rider Reps, Kondo and Dave Seyl, everybody is down here puzzling this out. They decide that the rulebook is in error. “That line shouldn’t be there.” Somebody grabs a ballpoint pen and literally crosses out the line that makes my bike legal. The email I received? “Sorry about that… still have to DQ you. We can refund you your entry fee if you want.”
I don’t want to be mad about it - I’m not mad about the protest, or even the rulebook error - mistakes happen. But DQ’ing me after I double-checked and was told in absolutely clear terms that I was legal for that class is, not to put to fine a point on it, absolute bullshit. I still can’t believe that was the call they made.
…and I didn’t get a trophy.
Saturday night I stayed down off of the Hwy 58 exit in Buttonwillow, and wandered across the street to the Willow Ranch BBQ restaurant for dinner. Ended up walking next to an older gent who I thought looked familiar - it was the start/finish marshal from the races, Pete. He insisted on buying me dinner (A++ brisket, delicious!) and we traded race stories (he had way more of them than me) and had a solid bitch session about my DQ. Good times. Thanks again for dinner, Pete!
400 Superbike Nv / Sunday Race 1
Morning Warm-Up
First race of the day - this is going to be tough. Track’s cold, I’m cold, and I’m not sure where “the zone” is, except that I’m certainly not in it. I was all over the place, couldn’t keep a line, missing markers… I felt like I was trying to go faster but actually going slower, the exact opposite of where I wanted to be. I got passed by #755 Aden Thao with a few laps to go, couldn’t stay with him, and finished in 4th, four seconds out of a podium spot. I decided to not let myself get frustrated, and just pretend that was the warm-up for the rest of the day, since I sure needed one.
Lightweight Twins Nv / Sunday Race 3
Finding the Zone
I got gridded all the way inside against the wall, and decide to try and hold that through T1. It worked pretty well and I picked up a few spots by time we hit the short straight towards Cotton Corners. I immediately felt much more comfortable on the bike and was coming through the fast Club Corner section carrying a lot more speed than previously. #771 Matthieu Massicotte started challenging me by the second lap, and we had a nice side-by-side battle through the entire first half of the track. He eventually won out, but I was able to stay on his tail and pulled off a fast inside pass into Sweeper with two laps to go. From there on it was head down and GO GO GO! - I knew he was right behind me, but I managed to keep it in front to the finish. It was some really great, close, super fun racing.
Turns out that there were three bikes right on my ass, we all crossed the finish line within half a second. #867 Krissie Coseteng had managed to get past Matthieu on the last lap, and #858 Kimie Sako was right there as well - she was the rider who protested me in the 350SS race to steal my trophy, so beating her had an extra bit of zing. I ended up in 4th, again just a few seconds off the podium to Aden, with a fast lap of 2:07 - definitely moving in the right direction!
Formula III Nv / Sunday Race 8
The Pass That Wasn’t
I gridded on the outside, with Matthieu and Kimie next to me on the inside. Managed to stay even with Matthieu through T1, and was in position to stick an inside pass into T2. He got me up the inside into Sweeper (same spot I’d passed him the last race), but I was able to stay with him and return the favor into Sweeper again the next lap. On Lap 3, he made a really nice pass around the outside of Riverside, and then went into Sweeper from the far right-hand side of the track - I think he was tired of me getting him on the inside there! I kept riding hard, but he was putting a gap on me. I was getting tired, fading. Somebody showed me a wheel into T1, and again into Phil Hill. White flag. Last lap. Krissie got me on the brakes into Cotton Corners (DAMN!), and then Kimie pulled the same sweet around-the-outside pass in Riverside that Matthieu had done (DAMN x 2!). I’m still right on their butts, and I have the power to drive off of the hill and get them into Sweeper - that seems to be my favorite spot to make a pass. Coming up to the hill - standing yellow. DAMN x 3! It’s OK - we’ll pass the incident just over the hill and I can still get them back as planned. Over the crest, hard on the throttle - waving yellow at Sweeper. DAMN x 4! I have to roll off to stay behind Kimie, and I don’t know that I’ll be able to get them into Sunset or at the finish line. I’m sticking as close as possible through the esses, making up ground towards the final braking zone, but I don’t think I’m gonna do it (DAMN x 5!) - and then - at the final flag station - RED FLAG! Saved at the final corner! Finishing order resets to the end of the prior lap, and I end up in 7th, with both Krissie and Kimie half a second back. Fantastic racing from everybody, I was downright giddy afterwards. So fun!
Feel Like A Pro Ninja Cup / Sunday Race 11
Don’t Run Over That Dude’s Head!
Last race of the weekend for me, last chance to take home any hardware. It’s a small grid (guess people aren’t interested in winning a new motorcycle?!?), so I’ve got a shot. No drama through the first few bends. Everybody is running in a nice tight line up to Cotton Corners, I’ve tipped in to the first right and am heading for the apex, and I see a cloud of dust and a bike and rider on the ground just ahead. The rider directly in front of me stands it up and brakes hard, but runs right into the first rider/bike and goes down as well. I’m going right, further right, second rider is sliding across the track towards my path, and I juuuust managed to mostly get around him - I think he may have actually contacted my rear tire. As I come around the left bend there is already a red flag flying at the flag station (and Koi with a camera pointed right at me, at least those guys will have some great pics!). Back to the pits to regroup for the restart.
Photo: James Carr / Oxymoron Photography
The restart goes off smoothly, and the expert riders in my wave quickly leave me behind. The first few laps are basically me riding around by myself, but then I start getting caught by the faster 300WSS riders, and passing the slower 450SS riders, so at least there is some racing action going on. Made it to the finish uneventfully, and claimed… (drumroll please)… 2nd place! Podium! Shiny presents for wifey! WOOHOO!
The Blank Trophy Round
Actually the ladies up at the registration office took pity on my situation from Saturday and gave me a (blank) trophy for that, too. Oh, and because the Ninja Cup race came together on such short notice, they didn't have plaques made for it, so my 2nd place trophy is also blank. LOL, whatever, I'm not even mad. Wifey probably won't even notice. Maybe my kids will have fun decorating them for me.
It was still the most fun I've ever had to win a blank plastic trophy.
Overall it was an awesome weekend. The Ninja 400 felt great and confidence-inspiring the entire time--it's clearly still much more capable than I am, and is just SO MUCH FUN to ride. The Feel Like A Pro team put on their usual great show; literally all I did was show up with my gear and ride. It can't be emphasized enough how easy and stress-free they make it for their riders. No packing up means I even made it back to San Jose for 8PM bedtime.
It was great seeing a bunch of my old moto buddies around the pits, and making some new ones, too -- Matthieu, Kimie, Krissie, it was a blast dicing it up with you all, hope to be out there to slow you down again sometime.
And finally, thanks to the AFM and all the staff and workers for putting on an awesome event so that we can all come out and do this crazy thing. Disagreements about that one call aside, you guys and gals are awesome, and I appreciate all the hard work you put in for us. Oh, and Pete: next time dinner's on me. I've got a great story about the time I saw some dude running into the T1 braking zone of a Formula Pacific race trying to push the guys doing a buck fifty to the inside of the corner...
Till next time,
I was up at 3am Saturday for the dark run down I-5 to Buttonwillow; with a quick stop at Kettleman City for a car charge and breakfast, I rolled in at just past 7. Got settled into the oh-so-convenient Feel Like a Pro pit and met my race-mates for the weekend, including familiar faces Lupe, Matt, and Andrew from last season, and single-digit plate holder Marc Edwards. Hm, maybe I can try and learn some things.
Saturday practices went pretty smooth, just getting reacquainted with the track. It took pretty much no time to get comfortable on the bike; for some reason the small-cc Ninjas just seem to fit me, despite me being 6’1” and 180lb. Everything is in the right place (except for the shift lever, which led to a few false neutrals before being adjusted) and the way it handles matches my riding style really well. I started with a 2:23 best lap and rapidly shaved off time down to a 2:10 fast lap, with consistent :11s and :12s to back it up. I know there is still time to be had, particularly in Turn 2 and the second part of Bus Stop, but I can't seem to find it. Am I ready? As ready as I’m going to be…
350 Superstock Nv / Saturday Race 2
DQ Drama For Your Mama
Wait, why is a 400 running in 350 superstock? I had that same question, but per the classing guide on the 2019 race registration website, it’s legal. I emailed the AFM and asked about it, and got a response (on Monday night, one day before registration cut-off) that said (exact quote) “Your Ninja 400 is eligible to run in 350 SS.” When the 2019 rulebook was released a few days later, sure enough, still legal in there too. Seems a bit odd to me, but whatever - classing guide says it’s OK, 2019 rulebook says it’s OK, AFM explicitly confirms it’s OK - I’m signing up for it.
I was pretty conservative off the start and got shuffled to the back through the first corner, rather than dicing with the pack. Stayed loose and comfortable, managed to stick with the riders in front of me and make a few passes, and hung on to 3rd to the checkered flag. Ended up taking a second off of my practice time, down to a 2:09, and best of all, I snagged a shiny trophy for wifey! Now she won't be mad at me for going racing.
But, wait. "Number 895, report to race direction." Head down to chat with Barb. Get told I can’t run a 400 in 350SS, and will be DQ’d. I point out the section in the rulebook that says my bike is legal. I show the email I have from AFM explicitly confirming my bike is legal. Confusion begins. Call in guys from Tech, Rider Reps, Kondo and Dave Seyl, everybody is down here puzzling this out. They decide that the rulebook is in error. “That line shouldn’t be there.” Somebody grabs a ballpoint pen and literally crosses out the line that makes my bike legal. The email I received? “Sorry about that… still have to DQ you. We can refund you your entry fee if you want.”
I don’t want to be mad about it - I’m not mad about the protest, or even the rulebook error - mistakes happen. But DQ’ing me after I double-checked and was told in absolutely clear terms that I was legal for that class is, not to put to fine a point on it, absolute bullshit. I still can’t believe that was the call they made.
…and I didn’t get a trophy.
Saturday night I stayed down off of the Hwy 58 exit in Buttonwillow, and wandered across the street to the Willow Ranch BBQ restaurant for dinner. Ended up walking next to an older gent who I thought looked familiar - it was the start/finish marshal from the races, Pete. He insisted on buying me dinner (A++ brisket, delicious!) and we traded race stories (he had way more of them than me) and had a solid bitch session about my DQ. Good times. Thanks again for dinner, Pete!
400 Superbike Nv / Sunday Race 1
Morning Warm-Up
First race of the day - this is going to be tough. Track’s cold, I’m cold, and I’m not sure where “the zone” is, except that I’m certainly not in it. I was all over the place, couldn’t keep a line, missing markers… I felt like I was trying to go faster but actually going slower, the exact opposite of where I wanted to be. I got passed by #755 Aden Thao with a few laps to go, couldn’t stay with him, and finished in 4th, four seconds out of a podium spot. I decided to not let myself get frustrated, and just pretend that was the warm-up for the rest of the day, since I sure needed one.
Lightweight Twins Nv / Sunday Race 3
Finding the Zone
I got gridded all the way inside against the wall, and decide to try and hold that through T1. It worked pretty well and I picked up a few spots by time we hit the short straight towards Cotton Corners. I immediately felt much more comfortable on the bike and was coming through the fast Club Corner section carrying a lot more speed than previously. #771 Matthieu Massicotte started challenging me by the second lap, and we had a nice side-by-side battle through the entire first half of the track. He eventually won out, but I was able to stay on his tail and pulled off a fast inside pass into Sweeper with two laps to go. From there on it was head down and GO GO GO! - I knew he was right behind me, but I managed to keep it in front to the finish. It was some really great, close, super fun racing.
Turns out that there were three bikes right on my ass, we all crossed the finish line within half a second. #867 Krissie Coseteng had managed to get past Matthieu on the last lap, and #858 Kimie Sako was right there as well - she was the rider who protested me in the 350SS race to steal my trophy, so beating her had an extra bit of zing. I ended up in 4th, again just a few seconds off the podium to Aden, with a fast lap of 2:07 - definitely moving in the right direction!
Formula III Nv / Sunday Race 8
The Pass That Wasn’t
I gridded on the outside, with Matthieu and Kimie next to me on the inside. Managed to stay even with Matthieu through T1, and was in position to stick an inside pass into T2. He got me up the inside into Sweeper (same spot I’d passed him the last race), but I was able to stay with him and return the favor into Sweeper again the next lap. On Lap 3, he made a really nice pass around the outside of Riverside, and then went into Sweeper from the far right-hand side of the track - I think he was tired of me getting him on the inside there! I kept riding hard, but he was putting a gap on me. I was getting tired, fading. Somebody showed me a wheel into T1, and again into Phil Hill. White flag. Last lap. Krissie got me on the brakes into Cotton Corners (DAMN!), and then Kimie pulled the same sweet around-the-outside pass in Riverside that Matthieu had done (DAMN x 2!). I’m still right on their butts, and I have the power to drive off of the hill and get them into Sweeper - that seems to be my favorite spot to make a pass. Coming up to the hill - standing yellow. DAMN x 3! It’s OK - we’ll pass the incident just over the hill and I can still get them back as planned. Over the crest, hard on the throttle - waving yellow at Sweeper. DAMN x 4! I have to roll off to stay behind Kimie, and I don’t know that I’ll be able to get them into Sunset or at the finish line. I’m sticking as close as possible through the esses, making up ground towards the final braking zone, but I don’t think I’m gonna do it (DAMN x 5!) - and then - at the final flag station - RED FLAG! Saved at the final corner! Finishing order resets to the end of the prior lap, and I end up in 7th, with both Krissie and Kimie half a second back. Fantastic racing from everybody, I was downright giddy afterwards. So fun!
Feel Like A Pro Ninja Cup / Sunday Race 11
Don’t Run Over That Dude’s Head!
Last race of the weekend for me, last chance to take home any hardware. It’s a small grid (guess people aren’t interested in winning a new motorcycle?!?), so I’ve got a shot. No drama through the first few bends. Everybody is running in a nice tight line up to Cotton Corners, I’ve tipped in to the first right and am heading for the apex, and I see a cloud of dust and a bike and rider on the ground just ahead. The rider directly in front of me stands it up and brakes hard, but runs right into the first rider/bike and goes down as well. I’m going right, further right, second rider is sliding across the track towards my path, and I juuuust managed to mostly get around him - I think he may have actually contacted my rear tire. As I come around the left bend there is already a red flag flying at the flag station (and Koi with a camera pointed right at me, at least those guys will have some great pics!). Back to the pits to regroup for the restart.
Photo: James Carr / Oxymoron Photography
The restart goes off smoothly, and the expert riders in my wave quickly leave me behind. The first few laps are basically me riding around by myself, but then I start getting caught by the faster 300WSS riders, and passing the slower 450SS riders, so at least there is some racing action going on. Made it to the finish uneventfully, and claimed… (drumroll please)… 2nd place! Podium! Shiny presents for wifey! WOOHOO!
The Blank Trophy Round
Actually the ladies up at the registration office took pity on my situation from Saturday and gave me a (blank) trophy for that, too. Oh, and because the Ninja Cup race came together on such short notice, they didn't have plaques made for it, so my 2nd place trophy is also blank. LOL, whatever, I'm not even mad. Wifey probably won't even notice. Maybe my kids will have fun decorating them for me.
It was still the most fun I've ever had to win a blank plastic trophy.
Overall it was an awesome weekend. The Ninja 400 felt great and confidence-inspiring the entire time--it's clearly still much more capable than I am, and is just SO MUCH FUN to ride. The Feel Like A Pro team put on their usual great show; literally all I did was show up with my gear and ride. It can't be emphasized enough how easy and stress-free they make it for their riders. No packing up means I even made it back to San Jose for 8PM bedtime.
It was great seeing a bunch of my old moto buddies around the pits, and making some new ones, too -- Matthieu, Kimie, Krissie, it was a blast dicing it up with you all, hope to be out there to slow you down again sometime.
And finally, thanks to the AFM and all the staff and workers for putting on an awesome event so that we can all come out and do this crazy thing. Disagreements about that one call aside, you guys and gals are awesome, and I appreciate all the hard work you put in for us. Oh, and Pete: next time dinner's on me. I've got a great story about the time I saw some dude running into the T1 braking zone of a Formula Pacific race trying to push the guys doing a buck fifty to the inside of the corner...
Till next time,
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