June 2004 Race Report - The Beginning

June 20, 2004 - WSMC Novice Middleweight

Yup...I went and did it - went to WSMC Race School on Saturday, Raced my very first race on Sunday.

Here is my very first race report.

So the whole week prior was spent stressing out about getting my bike ready for WSMC tech inspection. I had no idea what I needed done and the rule book was very vague to me. After spending a g'zillion frustrating hours that almost ended up with me in tears on my garage floor...I finally asked for some help.

Great Big Thanks to GixxerJ for coming out and helping me with getting my bike race ready!! I cannot thank you enough.

Great Big Thanks to Highdiver and Chucky for coming out to help as well...although Chucky spent most of his time just laughing at me and how funny my numberplates looked...yes, I discovered and proved that I have no creative/artistic talents AT ALL. I cannot make numberplates look nice on my bike.

So...Saturday comes around and I had planned to be at the track at 7am...meaning I have to leave my place at 5am. Why is it that almost at every single major event - I oversleep? So I wake up at 5:45am...and FREAK OUT!! I'M SO FRIGGIN' LATE!!!! I manage to make it to the track right before 8am...just in time for the New Racer School...but no time to unload my bike, much less take it into tech inspection. I'm at the track, alone, hungry, stressed, confused....it was not a pretty picture. They tell me to just go into class and worry about my bike at the break. At the break - the 5 minute break! - I unload my bike and run to WSMC office to register and get my tech inspection ticket. I think I'm down to only 2 minutes left out of my break and I'm worried about how I'm going to make it to tech and still get back to the class in time...when I see Ickysticky!!! I give her a big hug, she's the first friendly, familiar face I had seen and I was so relieved! I explain quickly that I cannot linger to talk because I had ALL these things to get done, yet no time to do it - and she graciously offers to help out - I'll go back to class on time - and she'll take my bike to tech inspection. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Hmmmm...I guess I should just get to the Race...
Okay, speed forward to Sunday. (Yes, this means I did pass the New Racer School and got my Novice Middleweight Race License).

The Novice Middleweight Race was Race 15. The whole day was a big downer - it was so hot and there were a ton of crashes. I've never been at the track where there have been soooo many crashes...so many multiple bike pileups, etc....it was really scary. They are calling out for the racers to go out for the warm up lap and I'm lagging! Someone yells at me - DAWN! GET ON YOUR BIKE AND GO!!! He points at the riders racing down the front straight to T1 and goes - THAT'S YOU!!! GET YOUR *&% OUT THERE!!!
Me: Oh, sheit ....I'm late!!!
So I jump on my bike and almost fall on my face...someone else grabs my helmet and says - Dawn! Stop, Calm Down!
Me: Ok. I try.

The Race is a 2 wave race...and since I have no prior points, I'm in the second wave. For those of you who don't know. This means that it's one race, but there are two groups. The first group goes out and when they are past T2...the second group is allowed to go. This gives the first group a 20-30 second head start. Hmmm....is that fair? grrrr......

Fast forward to the results:
In the Second Wave - I was second place.
In the Race - I was 15 out of 30. (Ickysticky was 10th out of 30 - CONGRATS!!!!)

Most proud moment of the day:
Will Eikenberry comes up to me after my race and sits there looking at me.
Me: Did you see? Did you see? I raced!
Him: Yes, I watched your whole race.
Me: So what did you think?
Him: You made me proud.

Whoooooohooooo!!!!!

Weirdest moment of the day:
When everyone came running up to me after the race yelling out - "Hey, the announcer guy said you crashed in T3!!!
Me: wow? I did? How am I doing? I hope I'm okay.....
I went up to the announcer's tower later on that day and the announcer guy apologized for the mixup. Danny (top dog of WSMC) had walked into the booth at the beginning of my race and told Mr. Announcer Guy that "Look out for Dawn Champion, #648. She did really well in school, so I want you to keep an eye out for her." So....Mr. Announcer guy had my name and number stuck in his brain and when the guy went down on T3...he spit that name and number out over the intercoms. He apologized and cleared up the mixup as soon as he realized his error. But not before my friends had a moment where their hearts leaped into their throats. Niiiiiice....thanks a lot for scaring my friends, Mr. Announcer guy!

Most embarrassing moment:
Saturday - Race School - First Practice Start.
I hear everyone revving their engines. Not holding it at a steady rev, but going "vrroooom, vroom, vrooom, vroooom!" So I shrug and do that too! The green flag goes...and I think I let go of my clutch right when I let off the gas too. My bike stalls and I throw up my right arm while throwing up my left arm to cover my head - as I'm totally expecting someone to smash me from behind. After a few second, I lift my head and cautiously look back behind me. To see ALL these Pros and Expert riders in a huge group, waiting on the grip behind me. ALL LOOKING AT THE ONE NOVICE RIDER WHO DIDN'T GO.

Biggest Pucker Factor moment:
In the beginning of the Race, someone passes me on the outside of T3...smashing my outside leg as they pass (I'm already leaning in the turn). My bike and I swerve from the impact and my inside leg falls off the peg and I'm dragging my leg behind me. I throttle out of the turn, straighten my bike, and get my damn leg back on the peg...then proceed to pass him on the outside of T5 and get on the throttle quick to get the hell outta there before he has a chance to EVER pass me again!!!
My outside ankle was throbbing the whole race, and I had to limp back into the pit after the race, but everything was okay, just a bruise.

All in all... this weekend was an awesome experience. There is an ambience about the weekend that I've never experienced before. Racing weekend is a totally separate creature than trackdays. I must thank all my friends for coming out on Sunday to watch me race: Eric and Susan, Chucky and Ed, Kenzo and Kato.

Ickysticky - You're awesome girl!! Thank you and your team sooo much taking me in and helping me not get too lost out there! You've got a great setup with your Race Team and I'm so happy for you, you definitely deserve it!!!

Big thanks to GP suspension, Ruben from Mototechnica Race Team (Icky's Team) and Will Eikenberry for helping me try to figure out my suspension problems...I still have problems...but at least now I can go a little faster than before. lol

A little note about racing. As most of you know...I spent the whole 2.75yrs of my riding career trying to be smooth. Racing takes a little sacrifice of smoothness and that is an adjustment that I'm having to make. My riding style thus far has been to be able to just about guarantee that I will not crash. Therefore, I do not make ballsy moves, I do not try to be fast, I don't take unnecessary risks. But now in a RACE!...hehe...all the rules change. To be a good racer, I think, has nothing to do with your lap times. It's about:
1. Pulling off the perfect race start.
2. Having the ability to read other riders and anticipate their next move.
3. Being able to make those split hair second decisions and then have the balls to carry that manuever out - NO HESITATION!! COMMIT!!
4. Having the skillz to carry out that manuever flawlessly.
5. Having the strength to back off the throttle if you're pushing over your limits and entering the realm of stupid fast.

I learnt a lot this weekend...and I finally found a new challenge to undertake. I can't wait til I'll be in the first wave and I can really see how I am in a race. I guess I did well...I didn't crash...I made it out alive. yay!