- Joined
- Mar 27, 2005
- Messages
- 57
- Location
- Algonquin, IL
Hey all,
I saw Brett's brief report before I was able to get this out, but I thought you might like a few more details so here goes:
Round 2 of the AMA Pro Racing Supermoto series went off this past weekend just a couple hours north of the Loire Racing Aero P.A. home base of Salem, WI / Elgin, IL. Having this round so close to home was certainly a welcome change from the 4000 mi round trip out to California in late April. Adding to our enthusiasm was the fact that both team riders are very familiar with the track from local races, including one just 2 weeks prior to the AMA event.
Lead rider Robert Loire did not disappoint, immediately setting competitive lap times from the start of timed practice, and ultimately qualifying in 9th position. From his spot on the third row, Robert got a good jump on the start, only to be pinched off going through the ultra tight chicane at the top of the hill. Robert quickly set to work picking off riders one by one after finishing the first lap in 12th place. Just before the mid-point of the race Robert found himself in 9th behind Factory KTM rider and round 1 podium finisher John Lewis. After a good battle for a couple laps, he made a pass stick in the dirt section and headed off after his next victim who would be multi-time GNCC and Enduro National Champion Steve Hatch. With 3 laps to go Robert was right on his tail looking for a way around. Unfortunately, lappers would allow Hatch though, but held Robert up enough to put a gap back between the two riders. Robert closed the gap back down with half a lap to go, but was unable to find a way past the veteran racer and came home with a very satisfying 8th place finish.
The teams second rider, Colin Horn (me), had what we will call at this time a "learning experience" :? . Initially things looked good in timed practice, setting 16th fastest time of the 31 competitors in the Unlimited class. However, from there my position would fall faster than a fat man skydiving without a parachute! Though the exact reason (excuse?) for my slide down the ranks is not completely understood, I seemed to develop a significant front end push that made some of the tight infield corners at Road America very difficult to navigate (it could also be that I am just that bad, we'll hopefully be able to determine a more definitive answer next weekend!) Prior to the LCQ, thanks to some very helpful advice from Walt Schaffer at Michelin, we made some changes to the suspension and put on a new front tire. Unfortunately, I was unable to see the benefits of the improvements as I tangled with a couple other riders in the dirt section on the first lap. After picking up the bike from the bottom of the pile, straightening up the handguards so that I could reach the controls, and getting it fire up again (2 kicks!) I found myself over a half lap behind. On a good note, I decided to ride out the final 5 laps, and the front end push is gone, so something we did helped.
This week, we would like to send a big thank you to Michelin Tires and especially Walt Schaffer. Walt's knowledge and advice proved invaluable throughout the weekend, and Michelin has really stepped up to help Robert out with some top quality tires.
After 2 rounds, Robert is in 6th place, just 4 points out of 3rd, and the team is in 7th, 6 points out of third. OLN has announced that the Road America round will be televised on June 16th, please check listings for exact times and set your DVR's to record the action.
In the next 2 weeks, we have Round 3 this coming weekend again here in the midwest at Shawano, WI, then its off to Salt Lake City for Round 4 on June 17th.
Talk to you all soon,
Colin Horn
804
I saw Brett's brief report before I was able to get this out, but I thought you might like a few more details so here goes:
Round 2 of the AMA Pro Racing Supermoto series went off this past weekend just a couple hours north of the Loire Racing Aero P.A. home base of Salem, WI / Elgin, IL. Having this round so close to home was certainly a welcome change from the 4000 mi round trip out to California in late April. Adding to our enthusiasm was the fact that both team riders are very familiar with the track from local races, including one just 2 weeks prior to the AMA event.
Lead rider Robert Loire did not disappoint, immediately setting competitive lap times from the start of timed practice, and ultimately qualifying in 9th position. From his spot on the third row, Robert got a good jump on the start, only to be pinched off going through the ultra tight chicane at the top of the hill. Robert quickly set to work picking off riders one by one after finishing the first lap in 12th place. Just before the mid-point of the race Robert found himself in 9th behind Factory KTM rider and round 1 podium finisher John Lewis. After a good battle for a couple laps, he made a pass stick in the dirt section and headed off after his next victim who would be multi-time GNCC and Enduro National Champion Steve Hatch. With 3 laps to go Robert was right on his tail looking for a way around. Unfortunately, lappers would allow Hatch though, but held Robert up enough to put a gap back between the two riders. Robert closed the gap back down with half a lap to go, but was unable to find a way past the veteran racer and came home with a very satisfying 8th place finish.
The teams second rider, Colin Horn (me), had what we will call at this time a "learning experience" :? . Initially things looked good in timed practice, setting 16th fastest time of the 31 competitors in the Unlimited class. However, from there my position would fall faster than a fat man skydiving without a parachute! Though the exact reason (excuse?) for my slide down the ranks is not completely understood, I seemed to develop a significant front end push that made some of the tight infield corners at Road America very difficult to navigate (it could also be that I am just that bad, we'll hopefully be able to determine a more definitive answer next weekend!) Prior to the LCQ, thanks to some very helpful advice from Walt Schaffer at Michelin, we made some changes to the suspension and put on a new front tire. Unfortunately, I was unable to see the benefits of the improvements as I tangled with a couple other riders in the dirt section on the first lap. After picking up the bike from the bottom of the pile, straightening up the handguards so that I could reach the controls, and getting it fire up again (2 kicks!) I found myself over a half lap behind. On a good note, I decided to ride out the final 5 laps, and the front end push is gone, so something we did helped.
This week, we would like to send a big thank you to Michelin Tires and especially Walt Schaffer. Walt's knowledge and advice proved invaluable throughout the weekend, and Michelin has really stepped up to help Robert out with some top quality tires.
After 2 rounds, Robert is in 6th place, just 4 points out of 3rd, and the team is in 7th, 6 points out of third. OLN has announced that the Road America round will be televised on June 16th, please check listings for exact times and set your DVR's to record the action.
In the next 2 weeks, we have Round 3 this coming weekend again here in the midwest at Shawano, WI, then its off to Salt Lake City for Round 4 on June 17th.
Talk to you all soon,
Colin Horn
804
