AFM Rounds 3 and 4
Round 3 at Infineon started off like Round 2 ended--at the front of the pack, leading the 750 Superbike race! Entering the bus stop for the last time, with only two turns and a gaggle of lappers to go, we could taste another win! Hahaha, not so easy!
Fist full of brake, converging lines and big speed differences resulted in our downfall. We lost the front as our tire just "kissed" the rear of the wandering back marker knocking us down and sliding right out of the win and breaking three ribs and a scapula (aka shoulder blade) in the process!
Ice, Motrin, a healthy dose of adrenaline, and quick work by Scott to get the 749R race-ready, and we were back out there an hour later in Open Twins struggling to get through the race and collect some valuable points. It was a rough ride but we sucked it up and managed a 2nd place finish which was enough to keep us in the championship lead. Next stop, Thunderhill Raceway for Round 4.
Three weeks isn't much time for an old boy when it comes to ribs and a scapula! Although I could handle the ribs, the scapula was very sore under hard braking (turn 10, turn 14) and the combination of pain and weakness meant that I was only good for about seven laps of practice over two days! I had to save whatever I had for the race and that wasn't much! We limped around, stayed out of trouble and brought it home in 4th place which keeps us in striking distance of the Open Twins championship points lead, but unfortunately it meant we had to pass on 750 Superbike and Formula Pacific. We left the track sore but still in the game and hopeful that four weeks would be enough time to heal up and fight for more wins.
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