Grove City, OH

I am not going to lie. I felt more nervous wanting to do good at Grove City then I have all year. Last year was a disaster for me at this track. I didn't feel comfortable with the bike or the track and it was one of the most miserable days all last season. We got to the track saturday night and I went to bed getting ready for an early morning. The next day came around and before I knew it we were out for practice. I am not a huge fan of day races and this was going to be a hot one. The first session, my bike ran well. I got out front and just set a pace where I could figure the track out. It was rough everywhere. In the turns and down the straight-away. The first qualifying session, my bike started making weird sounds in the practice shute. Rich quickly grabbed my back up bike and I rode that. It wasn't running right and I had to even clutch the corners to keep it on the RPM's. I didn't have a good lap doing this for obvious reason. Qualifying round number 2, they fixed the problem, which turned out to be a simple electrical problem and went back out. My bike was handling and running great, but still couldn't figure out the track 100% and I ended up 24th overall. I never qualify good and this needs to change if I want a chance at running up front every weekend.
 
I started on the 2nd row in heat number 1. Weidman, Taylor, Schnabel, Russell, Murray, Robinson and some more were in this one. On the first start I was up to a battle for 3rd when the red came out on lap two, so they could water the track. Dumb mistake by the AMA on this one. Anyway, on the 2nd restart I wasn't so lucky and I was about 7th or 8th coming off turn two. I put my head down and slowly started picking off riders on the high line. First it was Murray, then King who was riding really well on the Aprilia all day, and then I reeled in and made a pass on Russell. I put down some hard laps and before I knew it was right on Schnabels rear wheel for 3rd and Weidman was fading I guess because he lost his brakes. I thought I was going to make my first dash for cash. I started noticing something weird with my motorcycle. It was swerving weird down the straight-aways. I started loosing ground on Schnabel and there was nothing I could do. I was getting really frustrated and I came off the track and everyone was pointing and hollering. I had broke a swing arm pivot and my back wheel was kicked out the last three laps of the heat. I was glad they didn't black flag me, and I still ended up making a comfortable direct transfer to the main event.
 
I lined up for the main event on the bottom of the 2nd row. I knew this wasn't going to be the best spot because it was so dry down there, but I had last pick on the row, so I had to take what I could get. I got a crappy start, and was probably 12th-14th off turn two. I got passed by one or two guys early on. I tried to pace myself because it was going to be a long final and I had never ran 25 laps yet in one of these GNC races. All the main events I have been in before, I have broke or they got shortened to rain. I passed King and made a run at Bergen before half way. I was exhausted and rode a smart race to finish 11th. A few guys had mechanicals. It wasn't what I wanted at all, but ill take it. It was my fault, that my endurance wasn't there and now I know what I need to work on with my training to go the distance in one of these. I will work my tail off to make sure this doesn't happen again. To go from how I did here last year, to the struggles we had in qualifying and almost loosing my swing arm in the heat race, I think the day turned out ok. I expect more out of myself, but I just want to thank Rich Hanson a lot for everything and also my girlfriend Amber made the trip out again and she did a lot as well. Most importantly my Dad and it was cool having him out there with us. I moved up to a tie for 19th in points and I am withing close reach of a few spots in front of me, so I need to do my job and keep on climbing up these standings.