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The ever elusive, G-Spot

I know... same way I feel. Yea we hit the deck again in that last race, while we were going two seconds slower than the previous race, but the bike felt better than it ever has this entire year. It's always been cranked so stiff up front to "keep it from tucking" that I actually think that's what caused it to tuck. And it's definitely what caused it to be so unstable. Front tire would always just skip across the pavement, rather than absorb the energy. Now that it's way better balanced front-to-back with spring rate, we just need to fine tune the valving - which we didn't have time to do before the race.

No worries, there are other series. AND there's a race at Laguna I hear? :thumbup


Ian408 - the AFM very closely monitors, and passes judgment on, how each rider does throughout the year in a manner not unlike Gymnastics judges score performances - you start with a perfect 10, and they deduct from there. And just like in Gymnastics, they never add points for anything - only subtract.

You should read the letters they send you, about warnings or suspensions. I've never experienced anything like it in my twenty years racing anywhere else in the US. Actually since 4th grade. Their opinions are formed with highly analytical processes as well - by someone who doesn't ride motorcycles.


It's all good though. I've bit my tongue and took it on the chin mostly, on what's really been behind our struggles this year. But I won't for long. Looks like we're finally going to print - in Roadracingworld magazine, starting this fall.

See you all there.. :teeth
 
All the more reason, Eric, for you to show up and parade around the pits on a pit bike nekkid!! It is tradition, afterall, at the last round.
 
Great writeup, GoGo! It's amazing that you won the race even though the bike was apparently not much fun to ride. Just one thing though... that crash didn't make sense to me! Am I missing something?
 
Yeah it kind of sucks actually. What was so unstable before - was fixed in that last race. But apparently that screwed something else up.. What I got from Phil was, now that the front and rear are balanced right with spring rate, they are NOT balanced with valving. I think that means with the front still valved to control such stiffer springs up front, it limited the forks ability to follow the undulating pavement under the front tire. Kind of like when a rear shock has too slow rebound, it packs (doesn't come back down to the ground fast enough after a bump, so your ass steps out). Well, I guess our nose stepped out.

SUCH an odd place to lose the front end, right? :wtf
 
To be honest Eric, from my vantage point behind you, it looked as if the bike drifted off it's line in the the center of the corner and lean angle + bar input was added just as we were starting to roll on to the exit of the carousel. It wasn't anything dramatic, but may have been the culprit. Course, I wasn't crazy enough to ride the damn thing like you!

I didn't see any bumps or undulations. Seemed more like the tire just let go on the edge...
 
Thanks brother but that's my line through there. Every time, same thing, all weekend long. And our front tire had nine laps on it - eight of which were two seconds faster than that - and one of which was run up UNDER Matt Green on a mid 43s pace in THAT turn. Then we made the change, then we crashed - doing mid 45s - without running up under anyone.

Bike was spot on line, but thanks for the two cents.

On the subject of two cents - I think THIS is one of the lamest parts of racing in the AFM: Other people (AFM board members) theorizing/judging/or even discussing among themselves just what it is that "honestly" happened to YOU, on YOUR bike, in YOUR crash (or crashes).

Back east if a known rider was having obvious struggles, you know what the rider reps did sometimes? They helped you fix your bike so you could get out there again and sort it out. Sometimes they even helped you sort it out. Rider reps back east raced, and usually won.

This element of the AFM - analyzing riders crashes from afar, and theorizing amongst yourselves about things like how much bar input they gave mid turn, like you have even the slightest clue as to what went on, or why - is totally inaccurate, and completely Castro.

Holeshot, I like you. But front tires only "let go" mid-turn if your setup sucks. If your setup is right, first they push.


Funny thing about "honesty". It really just means you're telling the truth. It's got nothing to do with being right.
 
GoGo said:
Funny thing about "honesty". It really just means you're telling the truth. It's got nothing to do with being right.
Click to expand...

quoted for being an awesome quote!
 
I can't put in two cents because of the economy. I will put in a "two cents Free!" coupon though.
The problem is that you aren't supposed to race a SD. Racing a bike that is a blast to ride is sheer madness! Only a nut job would attempt to beat or compete with bikes that are clearly track superior. Oh wait! Um....didn't you just beat a "superior" bike? Wasn't that you making qualifying lap times at Laguna? A dirt bike with road racing tires? Kooky!
Funny how you get shit-canned for the 7th and final round of club racing with the AFM just when you beat the top guy in Twins. Clearly you are making solid progress with the Tri-Valley Moto team and the set up of your scooters. Did you crash a lot this season? Uh, yes. Was it from squiddly behavior? No f'ing way. Was it due to mechanical issues? No doubt since you have been making MECHANICAL progress! Kills me to not have you out there on my second go around. Wanted to be at least on the grid with you for 750 SB and to see how cool it would be to get lapped by another SD! Wish you would win a protest but I doubt I would protest. I hate politics and especially when they involve something I pay dearly for to try and have a good time. BARF sure doesn't shine a positive light on the AFM. Guess they won't let you run the last round because like JR Page "you are not the show". Hope you are there anyway. I value your presence.
Go Go Go GoGo!
 
Don't want to start my relationship with the AFM giving me a stink eye for my comments so I must inform everyone that I came into my office just now and found my dogs typing away on my computer. It seems that they posted under my username on BARF. They don't like it when I am away at the track and they may be trying to disrupt my racing career. Please disregard (especially if you are the AFM watchdog).
Yo, Respect!:)
 
Ah the AFM's made up of strong voices Swade! Don't go away from that!

Eric, from my vantage point, if you re-read my coment, it did appear the front may have pushed. Course I was half concentrating on that as it seemed there might be an opening to slip into. Your reply was the exact reason I didn't say anything orignally about your crash cause I didn't want some banshee response...just a theory man from the guy right behind you...and he's crashed and been wrong quite a few times. If you were runing 45's, you know how that goes: slow down and for some reason THEN things go wrong!

Anyway, good luck with the bike man and Laguna. If you don't like people talking about others crashes, then don't race or don't crash. I can do neither, so I give a shit when people talk about my crashes...the worst of course was rear ending Bell in the hot pits! That one stings! It's fun racing with you man...the rest of your comment? A bummer!

BTW: I think that 45 of yours was your first lap, from a standing start? That's hauling ass if true man!
 
Holeshot. Sorry you think the rest of my post is a bummer. I stand behind it.

You're still sure I was off line though, hu? If you like, maybe I'll show up for practice next round and you can try your pass then. After all you can do that in the AFM you know - practice all day long even though you're suspended, like suddenly nothing ever happened, suddenly you're not irresponsible, suddenly you're not dangerous, even like suddenly you've never had a crash all year. In practice you don't "pose a threat to yourself or to others" because after all, nothing bad ever happens in practice. Its only when the flags drop that we all turn into raving maniacs... Tell me how in the love of balls that makes sense.

By the way I practice within a second of my race times, always.

Hey I have an idea, maybe I'll file an appeal saying "someone screwed with my suspension settings." You guys ever get an appeal like that before?
 
GoGo said:
Hey I have an idea, maybe I'll file an appeal saying "someone screwed with my suspension settings." You guys ever get an appeal like that before?
Click to expand...

:rofl :rofl Classic! Funny story... a few years back one of the AFM's fast guys went out in morning practice at Thunderhill and
turned a couple of laps in the 1:52 range... then fell down on his own... and back then the AFM "crash rule" was even more lame so he would've been suspended for having a "3rd crash" and knocked out of a championship... so he came to the AFM board with a laughable excuse that somebody messed with his suspension settings and that's why he fell down... and fortunately for him he had enough friends on the AFM board that he got a majority vote to grant his crash appeal so he could continue racing, even though most of us knew he was full of $hit and we still voted to grant the appeal. We knew the rule was lame so we didn't want to screw up the guy's season. He went on to win the championship that year. He'll probably read this and get his panties in a bunch about it - I think to this day he sticks to his story which makes the whole thing even funnier - but if anyone thinks you can go that fast at T-hill for a couple of laps on a "screwed up suspension" and then magically fall down on the 3rd lap due to that horrible suspension settings that allowed you to do 1:52s the previous two laps... well, then I have a bridge to sell you... no money down, easy payments! :laughing :twofinger
 
afmotorsports said:
:rofl :rofl Classic! Funny story... a few years back one of the AFM's fast guys went out in morning practice at Thunderhill and
turned a couple of laps in the 1:52 range... then fell down on his own... and back then the AFM "crash rule" was even more lame so he would've been suspended for having a "3rd crash" and knocked out of a championship... so he came to the AFM board with a laughable excuse that somebody messed with his suspension settings and that's why he fell down... and fortunately for him he had enough friends on the AFM board that he got a majority vote to grant his crash appeal so he could continue racing, even though most of us knew he was full of $hit and we still voted to grant the appeal. We knew the rule was lame so we didn't want to screw up the guy's season. He went on to win the championship that year. He'll probably read this and get his panties in a bunch about it - I think to this day he sticks to his story which makes the whole thing even funnier - but if anyone thinks you can go that fast at T-hill for a couple of laps on a "screwed up suspension" and then magically fall down on the 3rd lap due to that horrible suspension settings that allowed you to do 1:52s the previous two laps... well, then I have a bridge to sell you... no money down, easy payments! :laughing :twofinger
Click to expand...


"you son of a bitch!"
predator_handshake_0.jpg
 
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