Mikey Martin Race Report April 22, 2010

This last weekend was the season opener at Lodi Cycle Bowl, with Saturdays race a TT and Sundays a Short Track. Ive been waiting all winter to race at Lodi and the TT track is my favorite. Practice was great, our modifications to the suspension were perfect, and I couldnt wait to race."

Photo by SteelShoePhoto.com

I was in the second heat race for the Open A, with Chad Cose, National number 49. He looked to be the fastest guy on the track. I got off to a good start and Chad was pressuring me so I was protecting all my lines closing every door, not giving him any room to pass. I led every lap but I knew it was going to be a hard battle for the main event."

I had fastest qualifying time for the open A main., and there were some fast guys out there: Danny Casey, AMA Supermoto Lites champion, Tony Meiring, Pro AMA Road Racer and Tyler OHara plus Chad Cose. The dash was the next race and was just 4 laps I got a bad start and was second with Danny in front. I pushed and pushed but there was nowhere to pass. Lap three I ran it up into turn two really hard and was going to square him up in the right hander. I went for it, but it just wasnt to be. I knew the main was going to be hard."

We were in race 1 for the main. I got a great start but Chad got the hole shot. We gapped the whole field, and were putting down lap times that were unbelievable. Chad started pulling away by the 5th or 6th lap. I started pushing harder than ever knowing that there were only 6 laps left. I caught up to Chad, squared him up in the right hander, and grabbed a handful of front brake and went under him we banged bars. It was the white flag lap and I knew he would be unable to catch me with only one lap to go. . I was so happy I won. Chad even took a victory lap with me."

Day two was short track and I felt really fast in practice. The track was really messed up and slippery as ice. I was in the third heat race out of four. The luck of the draw put me on the total inside of the track, the worst possible place to start since there was no groove to start on. I came off the line in 3rd, but could not hook up anywhere. I ended up second, going strait to the main. The main was next, and since I got second in the fastest heat, I had fifth pick on the front row, but the only two spots left were back down in the dust, I just could not catch a break today. I just spun off the line and was about 6th into the first turn. I pushed and pushed but there was no passing, I got up to 5th and just stayed thereI couldnt gain anything. I was still happy I got 5th, and had done all I could."

Next week is an Eddie Mulder race in Willow Springs. I cant wait."

91Y Mikey Martin

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