A whole gaggle of pics from my pocono east race - Sportbike Addicts

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:19 PM

On this weekend, 1 year ago, I entered my first gp moto cup race with TPM at pocono east. Back then I could run consistent 1:13's at pocono, I ran a 1:11 every once and a while but never consistently. I always passed guys in blue group, I thought I was gonna win! Up to and including the race I got a good dosage of what fast guys can do. I remember Antal Halaz (the 2005 gp moto champion, currently 2nd in points now) passed me in the morning, damn I thought, that guy is fast, I couldn't hang with him! Then there was the race I managed to get 6th overall and 5th in my class. I remember zsolt veres won that race, he was running 1:09's. All I thought after the race was how the hell is it even possible to go that fast on pocono east? Later that day my f4i water pump blew and it was to be my last trackday in '05.

So here I am 1 year later, coming off a 1st place overall at beaver 2 weeks prior, and a 2nd overall finish, 1st in class at VIR a few days earlier. I felt pretty confident driving to pocono sunday morning, and looking foward to racing with some fast tpm regulars.

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:22 PM

In the morning I mounted on some pirelli dragon superbike slicks. It was my first time running them. The bike seemed to turn in a little slower, so it took me 2 sessions to get a feel for them. On saturday I took apart my front end and reassembled it because my forks were still a little tweaked after taking the bike off the stands wrong at beaver. Being on straight now, I was happy the bike was stable again like it should be under hard braking!

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:26 PM

In my first session it was pretty cold out, ran 1:20's. 2nd session it was a little warmer, I was a little more confident and ran 1:12's. Afterwords, Martin Lazor (smiley face guy, 1st in points in gp cup), jokingly told me Antal was here today, he is fast, aggresive, and could kick my ass. Big Ivan though, said I could win. 3rd session I ran with Martin, I passed Martin and led for a while, made a little mistake going around the kink before the bus stop, and Antal passed me, I found that I had no trouble staying behind him and running his pace! 4th session before lunch/race, I was doing consistent high 1:10's. I felt ready and excited!

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:31 PM

Onto the race, there were a ton of people entering it! Found out I was starting from row 4c, luckily a few people never showed so I wouldn't have too much traffic in front of me. (I am behind the orange bike in the picture) Martin #871 and Antal #720 (riding jeremy;s r6) were starting from row 2, I knew right away that I would have to get around traffic immediatly after the start to hang with them. If I let them get away and get up to speed, there is no way I could catch up. Race starts, I get a decent launch and motor past everyone on the outside, and take a wide outside line into the left hander, coming out of the turn I am on 3rd, right behind martin and antal! Then red flags, I was pissed! There was a 6 bike pile up I managed to miss. So the race restarts, then time I botch the launch, manage to pick off a few riders in the first turn, and few more under braking for the bus stop, coming out of the bus stop I am in third place.

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:33 PM

Soon I am right on Martin and Antal.

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:34 PM

2nd Lap Antal takes Martin, then I pass Martin and am in 2nd.

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:36 PM

3rd lap I get around Antal, and lead the race!

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:38 PM

Unknowingly to me, Zsolt Veres started from the back, but worked his way right up to my rear tire. All I remember was this guy comes outta nowhere and passes me on the brakes going into the bus stop, I was pissed!

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:41 PM

Zsolt managed to gap me a little in the last two turns before pit in, but I would catch right back up to him taking a bonzi line going into turn 1. He also got great drive going onto the back straight and braked hella late to stay in front. Antal is still in hot pursuit. Martin is falling back, and the rest of the field is seconds behind us.

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:44 PM

Going onto the back straight before the final lap I though Zsolt made a mistake because he went wide (later found out he let Antal pass him so Antal could collect points). But who cares! I was gonna try a pass on the brakes anyways, maybe it's better that happened

So I led the final lap.

pillaka · 10-12-2006, 08:46 PM

4 gear pinned on the back straight, I crossed the finish line first and won the race overall. It all felt really good after such a great battle. Not sure of my times, but Antal and Zsolt were both running low 1:09's, Antal had a best of 1:09.06.