Springfield, Illinois
 

Springfield TT

After almost making the national here my first time last year, I was real excited to come again. I opted to try my 06' and keep my 09' as a back-up. My 06' was struggling all day. I couldn't get the usual traction on the track. I had a bunch of slower riders in front of me in qualifying and I couldn't manage a solid qualifying lap. I ended up just making the night program. I was really bummed about our efforts in qualifying. We decided to try some changes to the 06'. I stalled the motor in the heat race but managed to get it started a run a few laps in my heat. I caught the pack but didn't want to cause any comotion, because I was a lap down still. I decided I had nothing to loose so I jumped on my 09' and started alone on row 4 for my semi. The bike felt great and I passed a few guys in the semi, but I wouldn't have a chance at the main event as they only took 3 and I started in 18th. I really wish we would of rode the 09' early on because I know the outcome of the night would of been a little better. Were gonna focus our attention on our 09' for the short tracks and TTs and I think its a step in the right direction for my singles program which has been a struggle all year. I just got to work harder and it will come.

Springfield Mile

This would be the 2nd year racing the Springfield Mile. I really enjoy this track a lot and I knew we could go real well here. This was round one of the twins series and I was excited to get on the Screamin Eagle/Lancaster HD/Syn 3 oils bike again after a long layoff on it. I didn't feel too great in qualifying. I ended up 21st which was a big let down in my eyes and that put us on the inside back row for the heat race. I had a really stacked heat with Smith, Kopp, Coolbeth, Johnson, Weidman, Atherton, J.Halbert, Bergen, Mataya, Cheza and a few others. I had a descent start and started picking guys off. I gained half a straight-away on Weidman and drafted him at the line to finish 5th in my heat, one spot out of the main event. My lap times were good, only 2 tenths off the 4 leaders who were drafting each other and I ran by myself the whole race. I had pole in semi one. I choose the outside to start and it was a bad call. I got a horrible start as people on the back row passed me. I was around 8th or 9th into turn one. I passed like 3 guys on the outside of one and two and quickly passed some more into 3 and settled into 2nd place. I ran 2nd the whole race and tried to break away from the pack of riders behind me. I couldn't shake the draft and I kept loosing a bunch of momentum when the riders would pass me into the turns. I had to slow down so much in the corners to avoid from running into their rear tire, id loose my drive off the corner. I got a pretty good bump into turn one on the last lap, that mostly everyone there noticed and I got pushed way off the racing line into the dust and marbles. 6 or 7 guys passed me. I ran it into turn 3 on the outside and passed 2 or 3 guys back but it wasn't enough. What a complete bummer. We easily and I mean easily had a top 10 bike. Bad starts on the mile kept me from a solid finish once again along with some bad luck. Nothing I can do about it though but move on. Noone likes excuses and I needed to control the outcome and I let this one get away. I feel bad for my whole team and sponsors there but I learned quite a bit and I have my confidence back I have been lacking all year. We have a whole season to go and are slowly starting to put the pieces together. See everyone in Quincy for our first hot shoe of the year..