Race 2...Things out of our control
I was coming into this weekend confident and ready to hit my targets. I felt the most prepared mentally and physically than any other round in my career. I had many phone calls with Coach Torres before the weekend working on strategy and preparation. During the track walk I noticed the track had been resurfaced and I was even more excited to get on the track in the morning. Donington park is one of my favorite circuits and now with it being paved I was excited to ride it! A new smooth surface was just a added perk to my preparedness for the weekend.
Free practices were really positive with a good feel in the front which is what we had been searching for the previous round. After the FP’s, I sat down with the team to debrief and build a plan for qualifying in the morning. Qualifying is still a something that I am working on. Trying to plan and organize that one fast lap still eludes me. It's like the more we plan to be in a certain group or spot in order to get that tow or chase that one racer to get that lap it never truly pans out that way. Or something else throws it out of control and it is missed completely. I am getting better with each one...but it is a tactic I still need much more practice on. Qualifying in the morning wasn’t ideal, qualified 8th but ready to fight in the lead group during the race.
Got an amazing launch off the line and slotted into the lead group, battled the entire race up in the top 6 but unfortunately the rider in front of me highsided out of the last corner on the last lap forcing me off the track. I managed to not run over the rider and keep the bike up; but, I lost 2 more positions and finished 6th. It was frustrating but there was nothing I could of done in that situation. I was working my plan and making my moves to those podium positions. This is one aspect of racing that is just out of my control and I was able to deal with it as best as I could. I came away with some good points, no damage to the bike or myself. After the race I got the news that I was starting from pole position in race 2 and that put the biggest smile on my face after the poor end to the race. In the BTC, the grid for Race #1 is based off of qualifying. The grid for Race 2 is based on the lap times from Race #1. So even though you may not get a great finish in race 1, it makes you keep pushing cause you know you can better it for Race #2 with a fast lap time in the race.
Now I had this built up fire under me and ready to take on race 2 from the front of the grid. Just like in race 1 I got an incredible start and lead the race for about 3 laps in the beginning and fighting at the top for the entire race. We battled through the entire race and on the last lap I began to execute my attack to the podium positions. If you were to ask me whether another crash would happen in front of me in the same corner, I would of laughed and said "IMPOSSIBLE"!! Well, lightning does strike twice sometimes. I wanted to get on the podium without someone crashing. With this mentality, I was right on the rear wheel of 3rd place on the last lap last corner and once again, the rider in front of me high sides out of the race and forces me off the track. Same exact corner and I was coming HOT...this time I couldn't manage to avoid hitting the rider. I did manage to keep the bike upright again...but lost my chance at another podium.
Overall the weekend was an enormous step in the right direction with me as a rider and the bike. The team at home (Tim & Buch) along with Alan (Microlise) have done so much work behind the scenes to make sure I had as close of a bike here in the US as I do in the UK....so the transitions between rounds would give me the best chance possible. Racing abroad and living in the States always puts you at a disadvantage on the track. Atleast having a similar feeling machine allows me to train hard at home and with the theory of showing up to race weekends ready to push.
We leave Donington 5th in the championship and a head full of steam. The hard work at home is paying off now. Between the preparation program with Coach Torres, the rider coaching from SDK and the seat time with Tim & Buch...I couldn't be more excited for the season. Looking forward to Knockhill in a handful of weeks...but before that...more training and a wild card in Spain JuniorGP European Talent cup....stay tuned for that one!
