|
Who's Online
We have 90 guests and 30 members online
|
|
|
|
Carver Claims 1 and 2 in Daytona |
|
|
|
|
Written by Jeffrey Carver
|
|
Saturday, 20 March 2010 |
|
 Jeffrey Carver #24p, Alton, Illinois My dad and I decided to go solo this year on our trip to Daytona FL. The night before we left town Bill Stewart from Ted’s Motorcycle World in Alton, was generous enough to let us use his dyno for some well needed runs on the new 2010 Van’s Yamaha 450. Kenny, Van’s mechanic worked hard to get the new bikes ready and the dyno was the last step. We took notes, but didn’t really know what to do with them, until I raced.
After practice at Volusia, I was still having problems with my suspension. My dad called up Davie Durelle and asked for some pointers. The bike was working better, and I won my heat. Before the main I took about 2 degrees out of my swingarm angle to lower the bike and lengthen it out in the process. Ended up getting a terrible start and found myself in about 11th in the first corner way high. I knew there was no time to waste so I buried it into 3 hard, up high, then moved down to the bottom of the track where I found a great line. This gave me the opportunity to stick it under people going into turn one. While I was working my way thru the pack, I was battling with Rispoli. He was glued to my outside or inside. I slowed down all my control and really focused on staying hooked up. I started catching Baker who was in the lead, when his bike broke and I almost ran into him wide open down the back stretch. Whew! Didn’t want to do that again, (it happened on the Du Quoin Mile) so once I got by I just stayed focused and took the checkered flag and my first All-Star series win.
I decided to take Monday off and let my body heal and get bikes ready for the new Daytona short track practice day. On practice day, I made quite a few adjustments to dial in my new 2010 YZs for the slippery track, and was feeling really good buy the end of the day. I was really excited to race Wednesday night.
Wednesday morning, I set my alarm for 6:45am to get the motor home in line while my mom, dad and sister slept in at the hotel. Qualifying was crazy, the track had golf ball size rocks all over it coming up from the base I’m guessing. It was the roughest track I’ve ever been on but at the same time it was fun, even though I qualified 16th. Surprisingly, I wasn’t too worried about the race.
First heat, I started second from inside back row. Got a killer start launching into the group of front row riders, ended up passing for third place last lap getting me front row in the main and into the dash. We had some things to change before the dash and after finishing second, I was very happy. With just 5 minutes to spare, Patrick from Rekluse came over and helped readjusted my clutch before the main event, nothing like a last minute adjustment to speed up the heart rate. Unfortunately, I was given the outside for the start. Next thing I know, I was jumping threw the grass on the outside, barely missing JD Beach after he tucked the front going into 3, taking out several with him.
On the restart, I was in third running the high line chasing the tacky racing surface. On lap 6, I came in high and got a run under Rispoli, taking the lead. After that I just focused on all my key points and kept charging. The track started getting slicker and was making my front tuck under so I couldn’t let off, which in the end helped out. After grabbing the checker, I pulled around and picked up my dad for a well deserved victory lap. I was so excited to win the first GNC Pro Single race of the year and to be the first winner on the new Daytona short track!
The second day went a lot smoother. I qualified 3rd and took the win in my heat over Vanderkuur and Beach. In the dash, Baker was running the low line and I jumped up and started running the high line trying to get by. Every lap I was off the edge of the track, side by side with Baker. He kept drifting up into my line trying to block me. I got a drive out of two, getting around him and came down into the low line. Before I knew what happened I was sliding across the ground. I was pretty pissed-off after that and got throttle happy on the restart, ended up riding the air fence in three and four, but was able to keep it up. Game on!
In the main I got a bad start, I was in about 6th. I slowly started passing people riding on the very bottom of the track just trying to stay up - it was soooo slick. Last lap, coming out of 3 I got a great drive and passed Baker and Vanderkuur claiming second place. Thanks to Steve Nace for running the indoor races all winter in Du Quoin, IL. It really helped me when the track got very slick.
Taking First and Second at Daytona was a great way to start the 2010 season. Better yet, this was the first year my sponsor, Van Hammel was able to be in Daytona and I gave him the podium both nights. Also, Mo Murray from Yamaha Motor Corp. for was there to catch some of the action – and his photos are priceless.
It takes a dedicated team to be successful – and all the hard work from my team paid off. Thanks to Van’s Yamaha, Yamaha Motor Corp. GYTR, Moose Racing, PMP Sprocket, Steve Nace Promotions, Kal-gard, Scott USA, Rekluse Motor Sports, Lightshoe, Durelle Racing, Motion Pro, and the family business, Carver’s BBQ, I was able to claim 3 wins out of six races – success!
My goal going into Daytona was to put the new fuel-injected Yamaha on top the box in a sea of red – and that we did.
|
|
Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 August 2010 )
|
|
Newsflash
|
Dalton Gauthier Amatuer National Champion Dirttracker from Pine Grove, PA. got his 40th victory of the year at Shippensburg, PA. Speedway 1/2 mile Sunday 8/5/2010. It wasn't easy, as a missed shift off the start left him in second place playing catch up! Never one to give up, Dalton chased down the leader and in last turn, last lap, Dalton chose the inside of a lapped rider as the leader went around the outside, Dalton got to the line first for the win. Win # 40 of this season! Henry Wiles won one class at Shippensburg on Sunday, and finished second in another to hometown racer Jake Shoemker. Bob Mundy/Media Marketing
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
cell# 732 485 3380 |
Archive
-
May, 2010
-
April, 2010
-
March, 2010
-
February, 2010
-
January, 2010
-
December, 2009
-
November, 2009
-
October, 2009
-
September, 2009
-
July, 2009
|
