06-11-2009

Ready to Race at Gateway

It has been a real long time since I have been to St.Louis to go racing at Gateway International Raceway. So long, that the track I last rode on has been bull-dozed and made into a NASCAR Speedway. 1990 was the the year, and it didn't end good. My 1987 600 Hurricane back then left with less bodywork, bent forks, and a little part of St.Louis in it.

That was then, and this is now, I love a new challenge , but I was a little skeptical of riding in a NASCAR Bullring of a track.. they are always dangerous and full of walls. We (I brought the family along for this road trip) arrived a little late on Saturday for practice which meant that I would only be able to get in two 20 minute sessions to learn the track before Sundays races. No big deal really, I've been to lots of tracks and a few of these bull-rings as well. The only difference come to find out.. THIS TRACK HAS A NO PASSING ZONE! WHAT?! This is racing, not driving down the highway. I guess that says it all for how dangerous this track can be. Anyway, practice went well, and armed with the data from my Starlane GPS back at the hotel I made a plan to get up to race pace on Sunday.

Sunday morning I decided to enter an extra class for a bit more track time. I entered the Solo GTO race (25 minute timed race). The race went great. I hole shotted the start, let through turn two and got passed by the 1000cc bikes that GTO allows in the class. No big deal, this is practice anyway. I ended up dropping my times another four seconds from Saturday, and with one rider crashing out ahead of me I finished a respectable 2nd Place for my first race at Gateway.

Leading out of Turn 2 at Gateway

Next up was Heavyweight Supersport. I changed my gearing and added some new Michelin Tires from Mason Racin Tires and was set for the race. Once again I got the hole shot and the lead. Short lived it was, but it was an uneventful race and I brought it home once again in 2nd Place.

After lunch was my championship race Formula 40. I'm leading the points in the class and am planning on keeping my lead. The second place points holder was at the event and I was focused on keeping my lead. I started the race with my 3rd hole shot of the day. YES! From there I lead the first two laps and found myself underpowered as a Ducati 1098 passed me down the front straight. The Ducati has long been considered too big of a bike for this class and I know why now. My 600 was no match for the 1098's Horsepower or the local guy who was riding it's track knowledge. At least I now know what I am up for come Daytona in the fall. I finished 2nd, and beat the people I needed to to hold on to my number position in points.

My last race of the day was Middleweight GP. Just before the start of the race the sky opened up with a little sprinkling of rain. Gateway is too dangerous of a track for me to race without rain tires, and I had no time to get them put on. I sat out the race, loaded up early, and hit the road happy with my 2nd place day full of great starts. Next up is back to Heartland Park July 10-12th. ----> jimmy

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05-29-2009

Turn 12 at Heartland Park

Back at Heartland Park once again, but this time the rain stayed away. May 23-24 was a beautiful weekend at HPT. Saturday was all day practice and Sunday all day racing. What more could you ask for? How about my mojo back please...

Sunday morning started out with the Heavyweight Supersport race. I had a great start, ran at the front for a couple of laps, and slowly went backwards. I don't know why, but I just was not comfortable. I brought it home in 8th place.. ouch, that hurts. Not where I like to finish.

Next up was Middleweight Supersport. Once again, I've got my starts back where they need to be. I can launch just like I used to on the drag strip. But after a couple of laps I found myself grasping for some sort of comfort level to be able to continue the pace that the leaders were putting down.. I just didn't have it for some reason.. I know my bike is stock, and others obviously are not, but I've got more game than this. I came home in 7th place.

So I sat down and thought about changing a whole bunch of stuff on the bike, rear shock clicks here and there, gearing changes.. nope, I just decided that it's not the bike, it's the rider. Focus.. that's what I needed, and the next race was my championship hope, Formula 40, and I focused and won. And, I did faster laps than I had in the previous two races.. go figure.

The last race of the day was Middleweight GP. Again, I got a great start, kept the leaders in sight, and finished in 5th place. I feel like I could have rode harder, but it just was not my weekend outside of the Formula 40 class. I need to work on getting back into a better frame of mind, cause my bike is running as good as it is going to. Focus, hit the bicycle a little more, and head to the next race weekend.. June 6-7 at Gateway in St. Louis. See ya there ---> jimmy


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05-14-2009

2009 Union Pacific Motorcycle Safety Day

On May 9th, 2009 the MilroyRacing.com bike was on display at Union Pacific's Harriman dispatching center. It was their motorcycle safety awarness day.

One of more than 20 bikes on hand, the #61 Milroy Racing machine stood out like a sore thumb in a crowd of street cruising machines.

----> jimmy




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04-28-2009

It's racing season and with one race weekend under my belt for 2009 I would like to take a moment and thank the company's who are making it possible for me to continue to make podium finishes:

Clifford Cycles, Michelin - Mason Racin Tires, DP Brakes, Woodcraft, Triangle Body Shop, Sidi Boots, Pilot Leathers, Penski Shocks, Visionsports Riding Schools

Turn 8 in the lead at HPT

Heartland Park, Topeka, Ks was the first stop for the 2009 Championship Cup Series Great Plains Region. My plan, dominate the Formula 40 class and back that up racing in the Heavyweight Supersport and Superbike classes as well.

Everything was going to plan except for the weather outlook for the weekend. Friday practice was good, I worked out the winter bugs and got right up to speed by the end of the day. The only weather issue on friday was the big headwind down the front straight.

Saturday morning I mounted up the new Michelin Power One Race Tires and instantly dropped my times. I couldn't be happier as I had already bested my fastest lap time ever at HPT in two laps on the new Michelins!

My first race of the day on Saturday was Formula 40. I got a good start, and so did Ron Mears, except by the end of the first lap he had to exit the track with bike issues. So I put my head down and lead the race for the next few laps until it started to rain. I backed it off a little, but that was not enough.. as I started to power out of turn 8 I lost both the front and rear and almost hit the ground. I don't know how I saved it, but it came back and that was it for my mixed weather race. I backed it off more and unfortunately gifted my huge lead to the 2nd and 3rd place riders. I finished 3rd, not happy, but glad I didn't crash out. Dueser got the gift from me, Merry Christmas John. Next was Heavyweight Superbike, an uneventful race I finished 4th. Then the rain really hit, without time to change wheels with my rain tires mounted on them, I went out on dot race tires.. it was slippery, we'll say I rode very safe, and brought the bike home in 5th place in Heavyweight Supersport.

Sunday, it was the same story.. weather.. off and on rain, the worst conditions to race in. This time my first race was Heavyweight Supersport, I got a miserable start, and really didn't feel like pushing it in the wet/dry conditions, I brought it home safely in 11th place. Next up was Formula 40 again, and it was dry. Same deal as Saturday, I got a good start, chased Mears down by the end of lap one, he pulled off once again, and I ran away with my First Win of the Year! That felt great! I had back to back races so I didn't even get a chance to relax,I stayed out on hot pit and went right into the next race, Heavyweight Superbike. I got a decent start, got stuck behind a couple slower riders, and by the time I got past them and started charging to the front the race was over, I ended up in 6th place.

Not too bad of a start to the season. I got my first win this year already, and will kick myself all season long for giving away the other one. See you all next time! ---> jimmy

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01-04-2009

It's 2009 and time to work on a new championship!

My plan for 2009 is to become the Formula 40 National Champion. Along with that I will pick up the regional title as well. Also, I'm working on trying to find a Lightwieght Formula 40 racebike so that I may attain that title too! I'm as excited for a new season of racing as I ever have been, so look out!

-->Jimmy


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MilroyRacing.com 2009 Tentative Schedule

*Along with the above schedule I will be racing BMX every Friday night schedule permitting along with my boy at Omaha BMX April - November.

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