Howdy,
The
Pikes Peak hill climb is my big race of the year. With my win last year
I felt some pressure this year. Lack of funding left me with my used
take off tires that were handed down to me last year. All week in early
morning practice I was having issues with my front end, I crashed once
in a tight corner in a section called the "W's" and on the final day of
practice during my fastest qualifying run I lost the front on a fast
corner and with some weird luck I got it back and kept it on the road. I
ended up qualifying 5th way off pace of the leader. I went through two
front bake rotors before Saturday, the day before race day I figured out
my stock brake set up was dragging on the rotor because the pads were
warped causing heat, more drag and eventually trying to lock my front
wheel when I was turning hard
needing front end grip most. I was glad to get that figured before race
day (the only time a full course run is ever made).
With
the added media coverage this year for the french rally guy and red
bull and all the pit row was a cluster fuck on race day. The race has
lost a lot of it's romantic grass roots luster along with the gravel
surface in the last few years. Now that the course is all paved a lot of
big sport bikes showed up and despite having over twice as much
horsepower the 450cc bikes are still finishing in the top ten over all. 3
of the first 5 bikes (big sport bikes) that left the line crashed hard.
Two of them required flight for life. There were many bad bike crashes
this year and they were all bigger displacement bikes. I worry about the
future of this great race.
I
finished 4th in class and 14th over all bike, 2 seconds slower than
last year. The factory Honda team took my class record by over 30
seconds and their CBR1000 rider took a helicopter ride. His condition
did not sound promising the last I heard.
I
am very motivated for next year. This race brings such amazing emotions
after crossing the finish line. It is just magic. I recommend entry to
anyone who loves to go fast on a road course. I am going to start saving
for new tires and a front brake and get my record back. Peace!
Newbold #747
P.S. This video makes me laugh. black sheep. FTWco patches on my leathers got a lot of international camera love. Much!