Mettet Race Report
October 3-5, 2014
My international experience started in Mettet, Belgium for the 28th annual Superbiker Mettet. This was my second time participating in this race and this year I was racing for the same team, IFG Gazza. The track layout was a lot different this year, making it smaller for some close racing.
The first time on the track was Friday afternoon for Practice 1. The weather was perfect, which was a change from the year before. I went out and got a feel for the track and the bike. We had one other practice session after that and I used it to make some suspension changes and get more comfortable on the track as it came in and got faster.
The next day was qualifying. The weather was nice just like Friday. We had three sessions throughout the day. The first session was in the morning so I decided to leave my used tyres on from the day before. I ended up 12th in the first session. For the second session I put on a new rear Metzler slick and I was running around in 7th then I got bumped back to 9th at the last minute. We decided to put on a fresh front tyre for the final qualifying session. I went out and did a few laps then the bike started making noises and shut off going down the back straight. I was able to restart it and ride it most of the way back to the mechanics area, then got a push from a fellow rider the rest of the way. The mechanical ended my qualifying session early; the team went to work and did a motor swap to be ready for Sunday’s races.
Sunday was the day of the final. The weather was completely different, it had rained most of the night, which meant the track was wet and totally different. It continued to rain in the morning. Everyone had to qualify their way into the final through one of two semis or the LCQ. We had one warm up session in the morning and I used that session to break in the new motor. My grid was on the second row of the first semi. By mid day the rain had died out but the track was still wet because it was cold and cloudy. I got a good start and came out of the first corner in about 7th. I got through the first few laps before things spread out and I just held my position. We came upon a lapper pretty quick, in the dirt he was going slower than me and when we exited the dirt I had to get on the brakes so I wouldn’t hit him, and I tucked the front. I got up quick and had only lost a few positions. I made some passes and started to make ground on the riders in frontof me when I noticed my bike handling really bad. I went into the dirt section and came to the conclusion when I jumped the big double… my tyre was flat. I rode around for a few laps with the flat tyre, but I was unable to go fast so I pulled in unable to finish and ended up with a DNF. That caused me to have to go to the LCQ.
To be ready for the LCQ we put on a fresh Metzler rear rain tyre. Because of the DNF in the heat race I started in position 36 of 40 for this one. They transferred only the top 4 riders to the final, but the race was 15 minutes + 2 laps so there was enough time. I was cautious going into the first turn because the tail end of the field was kind of squirrelly. Sure enough a few guys went down, I was able to avoid them and go around the outside of about half the field in turn one. In the first dirt section there was a tight turn and there the riders in front of me went down causing a pile up, I got stuck in a rut unable to move until the rider in front of me moved his bike. When I finally got going I was running just about my starting potion 37th. I began passing riders but was still being cautious because I needed to finish. After a few laps I found myself closer to the front. The top six guys were all racing each other so I had to be patient with mypassing. I finally made my way to the front and began to pull a gap. I ended up winning the LCQ by 10 seconds. I had made the final, but unfortunately I would be starting from the last row.
The final wasn’t until the end of the day and by the time it rolled around so did the rain. Starting from the back row in a 30 minute + 2 lap race, I knew I had to be smart and not rush things. I got a great start and was trying to make passes, but also not wanting to crash on the first lap. After a few laps I was unaware of what position I was in and was just trying to find some clear track. I made the mistake of wearing tear offs, the rain got in between them and I had to take them all off. Dirt/mud was getting flung up making it difficult too see, I tried to wipe off the dirt/mud with my glove but that made it even worse. For the next two-thirds of the race I struggled to see and contemplated taking off my goggles. I finally took them off and was able to see and go much faster, but regretted it because the rain felt like rocks hitting my face going down the straight away. I was able to make some more passes toward the end of the race and finished 17th, which is where I finished last year. Having the fastest lap time of the American riders, my lap times would have put me in the top ten, had I not had to start from the last row.
Big THANKS to those who supported me, making it possible for me to race in Mettet again.
IFG Gazza for a great Honda 450 to ride, CT Racing/Metzler Tyres for giving me awesome tyres to use, Arai Helmets for the amazing helmets, MVD for hooking me up with the gear in time, Intents Racing for their solid support, California Supermoto Schools, Hareline Graphics, D&W Images, Works Connection, Smith Optics, Sidi Boots, and everyone who made a donation to help get me there!
