Well, figured since everyone else is sending out their race report, I had to do a little one of my own.  I guess we should start putting these on the race section of DC Cycles!

Well, this was my second official weekend of racing, and the first weekend on my new bike, an Aprilia RS250 (Thank you, Brian, for my new toy!!!!!).  Brian signed us up for a practice day on Friday, and after we finished getting the bike safety wired and all of that good stuff, I went out for my first practice session, the final "break in" of my engine.  I had to keep the bike under 8,000 rpms for this session, which I gladly didn't mind.  I came back in a little weirded out...new bike, first time out on the track in a while, etc. etc. etc.  But decided to breathe deep and get ready for my next time out. 

I only got one more practice session in and man let me tell you....WOW is all I can say.  Once I was allowed to take the bike over 8,000 rpms, my whole track experience changed.  That bike is a total blast to ride!!!! It only weighs 295 lbs and corners like you wouldn't believe...I hate to see that bike once I *actually* learn how to ride it.  I had a blast. 

Saturday I had one race.  It was only my third race ever, and my first at summit.  I walked up to get my grid positions and I was in horror.  Not only was I in the third row, but guess who was gridded directly next to me?  Roach!  That's right, they mixed amateurs and experts and didn't do a wave distinction between them.  We were all just mixed in together.  I could have thrown up!  We finally get out there for the race and I'm out on the line...somehow, I missed the green flag...everyone else started taking off and after a 2 second lag, I cranked the bike up to 10,000 and dumped the clutch...OOOPS...wheelied a bike for the first time ever.  After I get through that, one of the experts stalled his motor and had his hand up, people start darting left and right to get around him.  I didn't know what to do, and slowed down...DUH!!!! ok, so once I got through turn one, it was off to the races. 

I felt pretty relaxed after the first lap...and held off getting lapped until lap five, I believe...which was an accomplishment for me.  The whole race I kept thinking I was last, but turns out that I beat three other people, and only one of them was another shirt like me.  That made me damn happy!

Didn't get to race sunday because of mother's day.  boo hooo! but off to keith code this wednesday and thursday. 

I, too, want to thank all of the DC Cycles gang that came out and supported us this weekend.  It's great to have you all around!

I want to thank Roach for all of his help.  I couldn't do any of this without him, and I probably would have given up by now, too, because it's not as easy as it looks!!!!  His encouragement and "den mothering" has helped me (and jordan, and many others) out. 

Congrats to the other DC Cycles riders out there! You all did a great job.  It's going to be a great year!

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