2nd. 2nd. DNF(crash)
3rd. DNF(crash)
3rd. DNF(crash)
| Road America Thunderbike highlights Start, the battle with Key, interview, and post race dyno run at105 h.p. Video taken by Jeff Johnson |
| Race Summary |
| 05' SCHEDULE RESULTS |
Formula USA Qualify.....Time....Result
March 4-6 Daytona 2nd. 1:50.767 DNF
April 22-24 Road America 1st. 2:37.032 2nd.
May 28-30 Summit Point 1st. 1:19.460 2nd.
June 16-19 Loudon 2nd. 1:16.196 3rd.
June 24-26 VIR 1st. 1:33.605 1st.
Aug. 12-14 Barber 1st. 1:34.908 1st.
Sept. 9-11 Autobahn 1st. 1:31.314 2nd.
Oct. 21-23 Daytona
March 4-6 Daytona 2nd. 1:50.767 DNF
April 22-24 Road America 1st. 2:37.032 2nd.
May 28-30 Summit Point 1st. 1:19.460 2nd.
June 16-19 Loudon 2nd. 1:16.196 3rd.
June 24-26 VIR 1st. 1:33.605 1st.
Aug. 12-14 Barber 1st. 1:34.908 1st.
Sept. 9-11 Autobahn 1st. 1:31.314 2nd.
Oct. 21-23 Daytona
| Parts Canada Superbike Championship Canadian Thunder |
July 15-17 Mosport
Aug. 5-7 Atlantic
Motorsport Park
| Daytona |
The weekend started off good, we were doing
good lap times, and won both the CCS
Thunderbike and Lightweight Superbike races.
My Buell ran great, and we kept getting faster.
Qualifying went well, second just behind Mike
Barnes. The race started off good, working my
way to second after a couple corners, then the
race was red flagged. Our second start was
better, again in second, then after one full lap,
another red flag. We took our third start, and
exiting the horseshoe our clutch went out, so I
coasted to a halt. I guess I slipped the clutch
too much at the starts, and the third start was
one too many. Not a good start to the season,
but I plan on training hard in the next month to
ensure a good result at Road America.
good lap times, and won both the CCS
Thunderbike and Lightweight Superbike races.
My Buell ran great, and we kept getting faster.
Qualifying went well, second just behind Mike
Barnes. The race started off good, working my
way to second after a couple corners, then the
race was red flagged. Our second start was
better, again in second, then after one full lap,
another red flag. We took our third start, and
exiting the horseshoe our clutch went out, so I
coasted to a halt. I guess I slipped the clutch
too much at the starts, and the third start was
one too many. Not a good start to the season,
but I plan on training hard in the next month to
ensure a good result at Road America.
| Road America |
Road America is one of my favorite tracks,
and being in Buell's backyard, I wanted to put
on a good show. I had some new help this
weekend, Bill Veatch was my crew chief and
he did a great job for the team. The bike felt
good first time out, and the lap times were
good, fastest in the morning sessions. On
Friday afternoon, we had a good battle with Ed
Key in the CCS Thunderbike race, which we
came out victorious. Saturday morning was
terrible, our Buell ran great, the lap times
were good, but it was snowing, way to cold for
this Florida boy. By the afternoon qualifying
session, it had warmed up some, and we put
the Evo-Racing Buell on the pole with a time of
2:37.032, a new class record, and over two
seconds ahead of the second best qualifier.
For the F-USA Thunderbike race on Sunday,
we led the most laps, had the fastest lap time
of a 1:32.6, but came up a little short, loosing
the race to Ed Key, by .011 of a second. We
had a good battle, every time I was passed, I
could retaliate quick, and re pass by the next
couple corners, but I couldn't loose him.
Second was good, it earned us some good
points in the championship, but I'm going to
have to start winning races if I want to be the
champion at the end of the year.
and being in Buell's backyard, I wanted to put
on a good show. I had some new help this
weekend, Bill Veatch was my crew chief and
he did a great job for the team. The bike felt
good first time out, and the lap times were
good, fastest in the morning sessions. On
Friday afternoon, we had a good battle with Ed
Key in the CCS Thunderbike race, which we
came out victorious. Saturday morning was
terrible, our Buell ran great, the lap times
were good, but it was snowing, way to cold for
this Florida boy. By the afternoon qualifying
session, it had warmed up some, and we put
the Evo-Racing Buell on the pole with a time of
2:37.032, a new class record, and over two
seconds ahead of the second best qualifier.
For the F-USA Thunderbike race on Sunday,
we led the most laps, had the fastest lap time
of a 1:32.6, but came up a little short, loosing
the race to Ed Key, by .011 of a second. We
had a good battle, every time I was passed, I
could retaliate quick, and re pass by the next
couple corners, but I couldn't loose him.
Second was good, it earned us some good
points in the championship, but I'm going to
have to start winning races if I want to be the
champion at the end of the year.
We had another good weekend of racing at
Summit Point. We were up to speed right of
the bat. After a couple of practice sessions
on Friday, I was getting used to the rough
track. Then we loosened the suspension
some to keep the wheel on the ground
instead of skipping across them. We
started from the forth row in the CCS
Thundebike Race, had a bad start, but then
worked my way through the pack to the lead
with two laps to go. From there we pulled
out a five second margin on second place to
take the victory. Qualifying went great, we
put our Buell on the pole for the second race
in a row to receive the extra point needed
towards the championship.
For the race, my start was terrible, couldn't
keep the front wheel down, so I was around
fifth to sixth going into the first corner. I
worked my way into the lead by the third lap
when a red flag came out and the race was
stopped. The restart wasn't much better for
us, about the same except this time my
teammate, Brian Bemisderfer was in the
lead, and was pulling away. It took me three
laps to get to second place, and by this time,
Brian had a huge lead over us. I put my head
down and started to catch him slowly, but it
took another four laps, and by this time, I had
greased my rear tire, I chose a soft
compound for the race, should of went
harder. I passed Brian, then he would pass
me back, and it went like this for the
remainder of the race, we swapped the lead
about six times. Going into the last lap, I was
in the lead, but I went into turn five a little to
hard, and by the time I got the bike slowed
down, I lost my corner speed, which allowed
Brian to get next to me on the drive out of the
corner. That put him on the inside for the
next corner, where he took the lead. Coming
into the last corner, we caught some lapped
riders, and he got passed one, putting him in
between us, so I couldn't get a good drive.
He also was able to draft the remainder of
the lapped guys down the straight, which
gave him a good pull, and he beat me to the
line. The margin of victory was 0.198, so it
was very close, but for two races in a row, I
came up the looser again.
The weekend was good, we moved up to
third in the point standings, and if I'm going
to loose to anyone, my teammate not too
bad. Really, I let him win because I was
staying at his house, so I didn't want to get
kicked out............... but don't tell him!!
Summit Point. We were up to speed right of
the bat. After a couple of practice sessions
on Friday, I was getting used to the rough
track. Then we loosened the suspension
some to keep the wheel on the ground
instead of skipping across them. We
started from the forth row in the CCS
Thundebike Race, had a bad start, but then
worked my way through the pack to the lead
with two laps to go. From there we pulled
out a five second margin on second place to
take the victory. Qualifying went great, we
put our Buell on the pole for the second race
in a row to receive the extra point needed
towards the championship.
For the race, my start was terrible, couldn't
keep the front wheel down, so I was around
fifth to sixth going into the first corner. I
worked my way into the lead by the third lap
when a red flag came out and the race was
stopped. The restart wasn't much better for
us, about the same except this time my
teammate, Brian Bemisderfer was in the
lead, and was pulling away. It took me three
laps to get to second place, and by this time,
Brian had a huge lead over us. I put my head
down and started to catch him slowly, but it
took another four laps, and by this time, I had
greased my rear tire, I chose a soft
compound for the race, should of went
harder. I passed Brian, then he would pass
me back, and it went like this for the
remainder of the race, we swapped the lead
about six times. Going into the last lap, I was
in the lead, but I went into turn five a little to
hard, and by the time I got the bike slowed
down, I lost my corner speed, which allowed
Brian to get next to me on the drive out of the
corner. That put him on the inside for the
next corner, where he took the lead. Coming
into the last corner, we caught some lapped
riders, and he got passed one, putting him in
between us, so I couldn't get a good drive.
He also was able to draft the remainder of
the lapped guys down the straight, which
gave him a good pull, and he beat me to the
line. The margin of victory was 0.198, so it
was very close, but for two races in a row, I
came up the looser again.
The weekend was good, we moved up to
third in the point standings, and if I'm going
to loose to anyone, my teammate not too
bad. Really, I let him win because I was
staying at his house, so I didn't want to get
kicked out............... but don't tell him!!
| Summit Point |
| Click on links for track info |
| Loudon |
I Switched teams, I am now racing for Innovative
Motorcycle research, Millville & Wildwood
Harley-Davidson. Loudon was the first race after
the switch, and things went well. I qualified 2nd.,
and was ahead of all the F-USA regulars. In the
race I got a terrible start, like most of them this
year, I was 7th into turn one. The pole sitter
Doucette was pulling away fast, and I knew Eric
Wood was coming from the back of the pack
quick(he had the fastest time in qualifying but
displayed the wrong number, so he was put to the
back of the grid). After three laps, I moved to third,
then Eric passed me, but one rider crashed in
front of us, moving me back to third. I ran with
Eric trying to catch the leader, but I didn't have
enough speed to keep up. So I had third secured,
and I was ahead of everyone in the point chase, so
we brought it home in third for this weekend, not
as good as I would of liked, but we moved up to
second in the points chase, just 13 points out of
the lead. We'll go to VIR next weekend and try to
make up more, try harder for that win.
Motorcycle research, Millville & Wildwood
Harley-Davidson. Loudon was the first race after
the switch, and things went well. I qualified 2nd.,
and was ahead of all the F-USA regulars. In the
race I got a terrible start, like most of them this
year, I was 7th into turn one. The pole sitter
Doucette was pulling away fast, and I knew Eric
Wood was coming from the back of the pack
quick(he had the fastest time in qualifying but
displayed the wrong number, so he was put to the
back of the grid). After three laps, I moved to third,
then Eric passed me, but one rider crashed in
front of us, moving me back to third. I ran with
Eric trying to catch the leader, but I didn't have
enough speed to keep up. So I had third secured,
and I was ahead of everyone in the point chase, so
we brought it home in third for this weekend, not
as good as I would of liked, but we moved up to
second in the points chase, just 13 points out of
the lead. We'll go to VIR next weekend and try to
make up more, try harder for that win.
| VIR |
VIR was a great weekend for us, I'm feeling
good with my new team. We were fastest in all
the practice sessions, and kept finding more
speed. In the ccs Thunderbike race on Friday, I
was trying real hard to improve on my starts,
well I tryed too hard, and jumped it. I jumped a
little early, then had to stop, then take off again.
I caught the leaders, passed them, and waited
for my stop and go penalty, which came at
about half-way. I came in and served my
penalty, took back out to still find myself in
second. After a lap and a half, I retook the lead,
and won the race. We qualified on the pole at a
1:33.605, which broke my previous
Thunderbike track record set in 03'. The rain
came on Sunday, so we mounted our Pirelli
rains, and got ready. Then in between race one
and ours, the rain stopped, and it looked like
the track might start to dry. F-USA gave us two
sighting laps before our warm-up lap to ride the
wet track for the first time, but there were
spots starting to dry out, so after the session,
we decided to switch to an intermediate rear
tire for the race. This is what brought the win
to us, everyone else was on full rains. I was
fifth off the start, passed a couple guys, then
sat in third waiting for the surface to dry,
hoping the two front runners would cook their
tires, which they did, I passed Danilowicz first,
about three laps in, then Bilanski right before
half-way. Once in the lead, I took it easy on the
front tire, and would hammer the rear on the
drives. I caught a couple lapers in good places,
and put them between Dan and myself, and at
the end, we won by 14 seconds......Finally a
win!!!! We are also tied for the points lead with
Yaakov @ 123 points, so with some more good
results, maybe we can pull this off.
good with my new team. We were fastest in all
the practice sessions, and kept finding more
speed. In the ccs Thunderbike race on Friday, I
was trying real hard to improve on my starts,
well I tryed too hard, and jumped it. I jumped a
little early, then had to stop, then take off again.
I caught the leaders, passed them, and waited
for my stop and go penalty, which came at
about half-way. I came in and served my
penalty, took back out to still find myself in
second. After a lap and a half, I retook the lead,
and won the race. We qualified on the pole at a
1:33.605, which broke my previous
Thunderbike track record set in 03'. The rain
came on Sunday, so we mounted our Pirelli
rains, and got ready. Then in between race one
and ours, the rain stopped, and it looked like
the track might start to dry. F-USA gave us two
sighting laps before our warm-up lap to ride the
wet track for the first time, but there were
spots starting to dry out, so after the session,
we decided to switch to an intermediate rear
tire for the race. This is what brought the win
to us, everyone else was on full rains. I was
fifth off the start, passed a couple guys, then
sat in third waiting for the surface to dry,
hoping the two front runners would cook their
tires, which they did, I passed Danilowicz first,
about three laps in, then Bilanski right before
half-way. Once in the lead, I took it easy on the
front tire, and would hammer the rear on the
drives. I caught a couple lapers in good places,
and put them between Dan and myself, and at
the end, we won by 14 seconds......Finally a
win!!!! We are also tied for the points lead with
Yaakov @ 123 points, so with some more good
results, maybe we can pull this off.
| Barber Motorsports |
Barber was a great weekend. To start off, I finally
got to wear new leathers. I know my team was
happy, no more stinky leathers in the trailer. My
new sponsor comes from Komodo Leathers, they
provide great leathers, boots, and gloves, thanks
guys. We were running good right out of the box,
my Buell ran great, and they were able to shed
more pounds off it for me back at the Innovative
shop. To start things off, we won the ccs
Thunderbike race on Friday. Then on Saturday we
were able to earn pole position for Sundays race,
earning that extra point needed in the
championship. For the F-USA race, I was able to
pull off my first holeshot of the season (about
time!). I rode hard to pull away from the field,
which I did, except for Bilansky. He was on me for
the entire race, The most I ever had was maybe
10 bike lengths. He tried to pass me on the
brakes into turn four at about half-way, but I was
able to let off the brakes, and stayed ahead. Then
about four laps later, he tried again, he definitely
out broke me, but then ran wide at the apex, so I
tucked it back up inside him. After this I knew he
was going to be there to the end, so I tried to work
the lapped traffic to my advantage. I received a
couple lucky breaks and put some riders between
us, and at the end came out victorious. It was a
great battle with Dan, he rode great, I had a lot of
fun racing with him. So we left this weekend as
the points leader with a 10 point margin over
Yaakov, who placed third in the final.
got to wear new leathers. I know my team was
happy, no more stinky leathers in the trailer. My
new sponsor comes from Komodo Leathers, they
provide great leathers, boots, and gloves, thanks
guys. We were running good right out of the box,
my Buell ran great, and they were able to shed
more pounds off it for me back at the Innovative
shop. To start things off, we won the ccs
Thunderbike race on Friday. Then on Saturday we
were able to earn pole position for Sundays race,
earning that extra point needed in the
championship. For the F-USA race, I was able to
pull off my first holeshot of the season (about
time!). I rode hard to pull away from the field,
which I did, except for Bilansky. He was on me for
the entire race, The most I ever had was maybe
10 bike lengths. He tried to pass me on the
brakes into turn four at about half-way, but I was
able to let off the brakes, and stayed ahead. Then
about four laps later, he tried again, he definitely
out broke me, but then ran wide at the apex, so I
tucked it back up inside him. After this I knew he
was going to be there to the end, so I tried to work
the lapped traffic to my advantage. I received a
couple lucky breaks and put some riders between
us, and at the end came out victorious. It was a
great battle with Dan, he rode great, I had a lot of
fun racing with him. So we left this weekend as
the points leader with a 10 point margin over
Yaakov, who placed third in the final.
| Heat race...Results...Double Header Result |
| Autobahn Country Club |
A new race track to ride at is always fun, but
to call this place a country club is a joke. They
say its a new track, but its as rough as a ten
year old facility, and there is no viewing area's
for spectators or racers, the place needs
work. But enough complaining, we started off
pretty fast, learning the bumps. We won the
CCS Thunderbike race on Friday, then later in
the day, Dave Yaakov crashed out of his race
breaking his collar bone. Dave was the only
person close to me in the point chase, so I
only needed to place third or better to lock the
championship. On Saturday I qualified on the
pole for Sundays main race at a 1:31.314
earning an extra point towards the
championship. I was confident going into the
race, but was thinking of the championship as
well, and Dan Bilansky was matching my
times all weekend, so I had my hands full. For
the race, another bad start, I was third, behind
Key, then Bilansky. Dan passed Key half way
through the first lap, then I did the same a lap
later. I caught up to Dan within another lap,
then just sat there and finished second behind
him, thinking of the championship. I could of
passed him and won but it wasn't worth the
risk. Yeah, Right!! What really happened was
I was riding way to tense, and this made my
arm's pump up majorly. I did sit behind Dan to
pressure him in the beginning, trying to ride
easy for a couple laps to let my arms rest,
then I was hoping to make a move on him at
the end. But my arms just got worse, it was
the worst arm pump I have had in five years or
more, so I just started to fade. But no
excuses, Dan rode a great race, beating me by
10 seconds or more, then I had about the
same gap on Ed Key who got third. So I was
pissed I wasn't able to battle with Dan until the
end, but we did lock the championship!
2005 Thunderbike Champ sounds good!!!
to call this place a country club is a joke. They
say its a new track, but its as rough as a ten
year old facility, and there is no viewing area's
for spectators or racers, the place needs
work. But enough complaining, we started off
pretty fast, learning the bumps. We won the
CCS Thunderbike race on Friday, then later in
the day, Dave Yaakov crashed out of his race
breaking his collar bone. Dave was the only
person close to me in the point chase, so I
only needed to place third or better to lock the
championship. On Saturday I qualified on the
pole for Sundays main race at a 1:31.314
earning an extra point towards the
championship. I was confident going into the
race, but was thinking of the championship as
well, and Dan Bilansky was matching my
times all weekend, so I had my hands full. For
the race, another bad start, I was third, behind
Key, then Bilansky. Dan passed Key half way
through the first lap, then I did the same a lap
later. I caught up to Dan within another lap,
then just sat there and finished second behind
him, thinking of the championship. I could of
passed him and won but it wasn't worth the
risk. Yeah, Right!! What really happened was
I was riding way to tense, and this made my
arm's pump up majorly. I did sit behind Dan to
pressure him in the beginning, trying to ride
easy for a couple laps to let my arms rest,
then I was hoping to make a move on him at
the end. But my arms just got worse, it was
the worst arm pump I have had in five years or
more, so I just started to fade. But no
excuses, Dan rode a great race, beating me by
10 seconds or more, then I had about the
same gap on Ed Key who got third. So I was
pissed I wasn't able to battle with Dan until the
end, but we did lock the championship!
2005 Thunderbike Champ sounds good!!!
1st. 1:50.865 4th.
| Daytona |
Daytona bad luck again. I broke my ankle two weeks before the Daytona races training on my moto-x bike. Came up way short on a
jump. A little bit of hesitation before I hit it, and I got hurt. Never hesitate, just gas it!!! So the ankle was sore to say the least, but I got
used to it throughout the weekend.
At the speedway, we never quite got the set-up this weekend. For the CCS Thunderbike race, we ended up third, I had a good battle
with Dan Bilansky, but he got me at the end, with the win going to Ed Key. We qualified first on Saturday with a 1:50.865, then raced in
the CCS Lightweight Superbike race, losing again to Ed Key. He jumped out in the beginning with his pole position starting grid, I
started on the fourth row and had to work my way through traffic. He had a good gap by the time I got to second, but I reeled him in,
but came up short at the end. His bike is a rocket on the banking, and the fact that he weighs about 105 lbs soaking wet doesn't hurt
him either. But taking nothing away from him, he rode a great race, I just went too slow and lost.
For the F-USA final, I had the pole, but Ed still hole shotted it from the second row, if he ever wants to quit roadracing, he'll make a great
drag racer. I was about fourth of the start, then had a great battle with Ed, Dan Bilanski, Derek Keys, and Matt Carr. I led many laps
through the infield, but would get passed on the banking by all. I didn't have enough power to pass Ed on the Banking even with the
draft. So the white flag came out, one lap left, and Dan was leading into turn one. I was happy there, not in first so I would get drafted
by everyone on the final straight, and ahead of Key. Going through the last corner exiting the infield, Dan ran wide, and I had nowhere
to go but into the lead. Now I was where I didn't want to be. I let off some and broke early into the chicane, but nobody would pass me.
So I had to put my head down, try to get a great drive out, and break the draft. Didn't happen, about half way to the finish, everyone
passed me, and I was fourth at the finish. One big looser. Ed Key won, Matt Carr got second, and Bilansky third. Next year will be
different, they embarrassed me in my back yard. Look Out for next year, I'll be on the gas!!!
jump. A little bit of hesitation before I hit it, and I got hurt. Never hesitate, just gas it!!! So the ankle was sore to say the least, but I got
used to it throughout the weekend.
At the speedway, we never quite got the set-up this weekend. For the CCS Thunderbike race, we ended up third, I had a good battle
with Dan Bilansky, but he got me at the end, with the win going to Ed Key. We qualified first on Saturday with a 1:50.865, then raced in
the CCS Lightweight Superbike race, losing again to Ed Key. He jumped out in the beginning with his pole position starting grid, I
started on the fourth row and had to work my way through traffic. He had a good gap by the time I got to second, but I reeled him in,
but came up short at the end. His bike is a rocket on the banking, and the fact that he weighs about 105 lbs soaking wet doesn't hurt
him either. But taking nothing away from him, he rode a great race, I just went too slow and lost.
For the F-USA final, I had the pole, but Ed still hole shotted it from the second row, if he ever wants to quit roadracing, he'll make a great
drag racer. I was about fourth of the start, then had a great battle with Ed, Dan Bilanski, Derek Keys, and Matt Carr. I led many laps
through the infield, but would get passed on the banking by all. I didn't have enough power to pass Ed on the Banking even with the
draft. So the white flag came out, one lap left, and Dan was leading into turn one. I was happy there, not in first so I would get drafted
by everyone on the final straight, and ahead of Key. Going through the last corner exiting the infield, Dan ran wide, and I had nowhere
to go but into the lead. Now I was where I didn't want to be. I let off some and broke early into the chicane, but nobody would pass me.
So I had to put my head down, try to get a great drive out, and break the draft. Didn't happen, about half way to the finish, everyone
passed me, and I was fourth at the finish. One big looser. Ed Key won, Matt Carr got second, and Bilansky third. Next year will be
different, they embarrassed me in my back yard. Look Out for next year, I'll be on the gas!!!
(mechanical)
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