Ready for the Track
We’re ready for this weekend at Auto Club Speedway with FastrackRiders and WERA Motorcycle Road Racing. Are you?
Laguna Report
After a good showing at Miller we were offered another go at Laguna. Daniel had not ridden Laguna but he has now ridden a KTM Cup Bike. One practice then Q-1 on Friday. Q-2 super early on Saturday, then race late in the day. Only four times on track, we need to make every lap count.
Picked the same bike up from KTM on Thursday after getting set up in the paddock. Prepped the bike and made some changes based on what we learned at Miller.
I won’t bore you with the details. Daniel has already shown his speed, his professionalism and this weekend he showed how well he deals with disappointment. He was caught up in a T-2 pile up after making a great start. The bike was too damaged to fix and his hand was broken.
Despite the stress and pain he posted a video thanking his supporters while on the way to hospital and another once he got home after having his hand fixed.
Thank you to my friends Bill Wickersham and Scott Reavey who watched Daniel on track then joined in our debriefs. Their observations and Daniels ability to apply these points helped us improve quickly.
Thank you to KTM USA and MotoAmerica for supporting this class. It’s a great way to go racing at the best tracks in America with the most Air Fence and it’s professionally run.
Thank you to Daniels sponsors: RoadracingWorld.com , FastrackRiders, Arai Helmet Americas, Cycle Gear.
I have some Lindemann Engineering work to do here in the shop. My next event is in less than 2 weeks at ACS with FastrackRiders and Wera Motorcycle Roadracing.
While Daniel’s hand is healing, we will be working on what’s next. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Shave Those Sideburns! #85
In Episode 85 of Deep Thinking, the motorcycle road racing podcast that just likes using the word “Mungo,” racers Michael Gougis and Ed Sorbo discuss punctuation, throttle steering and the 500cc GP race from Laguna Seca in 1988. A discussion ensues about British Superbike and traction control. Another discussion takes place about a listener’s request for advice on switching to a bigger track day machine. Gougis demonstrates that he has at least one more functioning brain cell devoted to memory than Sorbo.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Video & Song from Miller
Too Much Of A Good Thing Is Wonderful #84
In Episode 84 of Deep Thinking, racers Ed Sorbo and Michael Gougis discuss the MotoGP race at Assen, with Jack Miller’s maturity level getting mixed reviews and a retro set of Dainese leathers coming in for universal criticism. A discussion ensues about a racer named Daniel Costilla, with the young racer getting positive reviews. Sorbo unleashes a pun that’s a way homer – you get it on the way home. And then you still don’t laugh. Gougis once again illustrates that he watches too much racing.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Loan Me Your Bike
Anton loaned his KTM Cup bike for testing with Daniel. Â He’s getting a clean bike back with a better set up based on what I learned racing one. Â Tony is benefiting the same way because he loaned his wheels. Â I’ve raced a lot of people’s bikes, they always get a faster bike back.
Fast Blue Spring
The guy at my Powder Coating shop missed a chance. I called to see if a spring was blue and ready to be picked up. He said it was not but they would get it done today. Five minutes later he called back to say it was ready! I said “Really? You can do it in 5 minutes.” He said no, it was ready yesterday but I didn’t know. I said, “You should have told me we did it in 3 minutes.”
What Comes After Goldfinger? #83
In Episode 83 of Deep Thinking, which is just like every other motorcycle road racing podcast on this and every other planet, racers Ed Sorbo and Michael Gougis debate what metric to use to determine how well your team, your motorcycle and your rider are doing. A discussion ensues about garlic, vampires, diamonds and why Sorbo is in possession of what may be the worst motorcycle fork spring created since the Big Bang. Sorbo debunks another bit of suspension BS.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Scrappier
Deus Ex Machina USA’s Michael Woolaway’s latest build:
Race Two with Daniel
In the Warm Up we were 4th fastest with a 2.16.761 and he did some practice starts. Â In Race Two he made a good start from row three and held onto the leaders to cross the line in 4th. Â Lap two was a 2.15.782, our best yet. Â We dropped to 5th for the next 3 laps running mid 2.16’s. Â Back to 4th in the last turn of lap six followed shortly by a red flag which backed the scoring to the last full lap so we got 5th.
We went testing and made a plan. Â We executed our plan and were faster every time we went on track. Â A new team with a new bike. Â Put together in just two weeks. Â Inside the top ten all weekend long. Â Recovered from bad luck in Race One to take 5th while fighting for 4th in Race two. Â And we had fun!