After an engine blow up at AFM’s first round in Buttonwillow, a clutch explosion at Round 2 at Infineon, and a front brake lock up this Friday practice, Round 3 at Infineon actually ended up amazingly event free for me and my Motion Pro SV650!
The weekend started with AFM’s ladies class: Formula AFemme, which is always great fun. It’s quite exciting starting on the first row, and good preparation for my future! It was exhilarating to see Shelina Moreda blow by me between 2 and 3 on her ZX6, but also disappointing to see Christie Cooley down in turn 7. When Cassie and Jenn both passed me at once into 7 I realized I needed to get back in the game, which I proceeded to do, passing them both back and finishing fourth. The podium is in sight.
It was an amazing relief to actually finish all of the races I started, even though it was bit frustrating having to start from the back of the grid with 40 or so bikes in front of me. Despite the disadvantage of starting in position 40 in Formula IV, I worked my way up to 21st by turn 2 and then peeled off a handful more in the next seven laps, finishing 16th.
Still figuring out my Pirelli tires gave me some trouble in Open Twins when I should’ve been a pound down in the rear. I was, therefore, sliding all over the place coming out of every turn, most notably and frighteningly, turns 5, 6 (the carousel), and 8/8a. But I held it together and finished the race, though behind some of the 1098s that I’ve beaten in the past.
With that pound out, I entered 650 Twins with my game face. Starting on the last row all the way on the inside (yuck!), position 45, I put my head down and hit 19th by the first lap. Every couple laps I dropped a couple of positions, finishing up in 13th. I don’t remember passing all these people, but it was probably because I was taking them in twos and threes into turn 9, which was working quite well for me. Not only did I make up a bunch of much needed points, but I got a new fast lap time as well: 1:51.6.
My weekend certainly wouldn’t have been possible without all my fantastic sponsors: Motion Pro, JST Racing, Catalyst Reaction, Pirelli Tires, Suomy Helmets, Amsoil Race Oil, City Girls Guide, Munroe Motors and Lockhart Phillips. I was unimaginably blessed this weekend with a guest appearance of Peter Lenz’s mechanic Brian Ens, who made my brakes work. So super special thanks to Big B Racing!
Zöe Rem
AFM #925
zoegoesracing.com
