Tom's Race Report from Arroyo Seco Raceway

06/12/05 Deming, New Mexico

Well, the last of 7 straight weekends! This will be a much needed rest, for me and the bike. The weather was perfect, 83 and sunny. It was going to be a funny weekend because I wanted to finish on a good note yet not crash, which I have the last 3 times here. I brought Pat's749R to race in SuperTwins and I would have 4 races on the CBR 1000RR. Decided to leave Saturday morning at 4:30am. It worked out well, Rian and I arrived at the track at 10:30 in time to do the last morning session. I had the DOT's on from the last SuperSport race at Firebird East the weekend before that only had 15 laps on it. I did 2 sessions on the CBR and 2 on the 749R. I got used to the 749R quickly and had fun with it. The CBR could not hook up the med/soft Power Race at all. I almost high sided 3 times. The best I could do was a 1:16:00! I was pissed, I have ran consistent 14's and blipped a :13 the last time here. On the 749R I had constant mid 16's. Also learned I don't get up to speed fast enough, my best time being the last few laps on Sunday.

Sunday morning, scrub in new slicks, get right back out, warm-up on the 749R, while Rian puts the DOT's on the CBR for race 3. I do high 14's scrubbing in the slicks!

First race on the CBR with DOT's, don't get out of the 16's finish 5th and happy not to crash.

Second race after lunch, SuperTwins. I get the hole shot and lead the first 2 laps with Aaron and Roger on my ass. Aaron gets around and Roger goes dirt tracking. I try to keep with Aaron and do, for a few laps then realize to get by him I would need low 14's maybe high 13's which is not what I want to do on Pat's bike (we all know why). So I settle for second running high 14's and feel good.

The next 3 races were almost back to back to back. It was Formula Arroyo (20min) then vintage (2 lap race) Then F-40, then unlimited Superbike. Took 5th in Formula Arroyo, 1st in F-40 and 2nd in Superbike. Had a great race with Dean (ZX10) and with a little more experience should have gotten him, next time! Wanted to get to the 12's but only got to 1:13:23 which still feels pretty good. It was a good way to end the first half, no crashing! It was a nice relaxing weekend, not one to push. Let's face it, I was drained, that's why this break is good.

This first half I concentrated on 2 things, corner exit and body position. I know I should have been working on other things like brake markers but I guess I am just not smart enough, I couldn't do all of it. I wanted the body position and corner exit to be locked into my brain without thinking, you know, for it to be natural. Not that I'll ever stop working on it, but I think I am ready to put in the next piece. Braking markers. I felt that when I got the other stuff down that getting these markers down would be easier, we'll see. I started a little this past weekend and I already see the difference. I can't wait for the second half to start now! The next race is at Thunder Hill in Cali on July 17th and 2:01 is my goal. The bike needs new bodywork, and it's getting a new full Ti exhaust system. I'm also mounting up the fork and shock sensors to complete the data acquisition system. Hopefully that will help with set up for those last few seconds to run up towards the front.

It's been a crazy 2 years, last year the first year racing and exactly 2 years ago the first time on a bike, January 03, my new RC51. Before the 51, I hadn't been on a bike since I was 21, my 76' Kz900. I have no regrets (other than wanting a younger body!) and still have a lot to get done!

OK, some thank-you's for the first half. First and always #1 Sally, for totally supporting the adventure I am on, thanks Baby!! Pat, what can I say? A friend, teammate, bike lender...er bikes lender, mechanic, promotions guy, unlimited garage use, running to Indio in the middle of the night so I can do my first AFM race in Buttonwillow, etc., it goes on and on, thanks buddy! Rian, for driving and all the driving your gonna do , Repairing the bike many times, maintenance, running around all day getting supplies and parts and changing all those tires! Brian for all the web site work, Mike for always willing to lend a hand and doing whatever needs to be done, Gianni for the great bodywork repair, Mark Ledesma for his genuine interest in helping me get faster, Matt Hartlieb for his valuable lessons and no shit get it done attitude, Stone for being a rabbit, Dale Keifer for making sure I have the Michelin's I need, my dad for all the work on the trailer, and then repairing it twice, Roger at Arroyo Seco Raceway for running a great race series and really caring about us road racers, and AFM for just being there. There are so many at the track that are part of our "race family" that I can't name them all, but thank you.
 

Tom Savoca
#151