Raid72

Had never ever ridden a grastrack or even at gras to begin with. I'm more of a TT/SuperMotard/IceRacing-person myself.

A friend of mine convinced me to race, so I did. Had to do some last minut adjustments, including changing the gearlever to a Roll Design one which in my case was a very bad choice, but more on that in a while.
I also had to change my rear motocross tires and some other maintanence stuff. As always everything takes longer then planned and you/I always start in the last minut so it was quite hectic at the end...


Anyway, I got there in time at the end. I warmed up for the practice season still riding my suspension setup for SuperMotard racing, meaning quite stiff. For a grastrack race, that in this cas existed of a field overgrown with grass. Bumpy to say the least and quite wet in places.
The trainings season consisted of three flying laps, after 1 1/2 my googles where all covered in mud and I had a hard time to see where I was going. The bumpy track made me spend more time in the air then on the bike.

Oh well, determined to do my best. I had imagined that we would have some time to play with the setup of the bike, but this was not the case. I had to ride it out with this setup.
During practice I had an extremely hard time to change gear upwards, couldn't get my boot in the proper position because the Roll Design gear lever was to short for my taste. Crap!

For the first qualifying session I decided to try to start in second gear, quickly shift to fourth and stay there the whole lap around. Far from optimum but I though it to be the best option.

Pic from the start of the first qualifying.
Me, #33, 4th quad from the right:



Starting in second wasn't such a bad idea. The start when great and I was in second! I kept that position until a banshee pased me on the last lap on the long straight. But I was very pleased! Third position in my first ever grastrack race with the problems I had...

The second qualifying went similar to the first, got away as third and kept that position for the four laps the qualifying consisted of.

Me leading the pack:



Great start! I automatically qualified for the A-final! My body started to protest though. I had some serious pain in my rearend from all the bouncing around and my arms where in bad shape as well, but I was in the final. But how would I stand six laps?


The start of the final was very tight and I got away as 4th but was very close to the 3rd place.

Pic of the start, me 4th from right:



After three laps the 3rd placed guy drifted wide and I was able to pass him on the inside. 3rd place! I couldn't belive it! My body was aking from the abuse but I just had to keep it together for another three laps. I had my tactics ready: Keep to the inside. I managed to hold it until the last lap and last bend. I didn't have the strength to keep it on the inside track for all the bumps and I drifted wide letting the 4th guy an opportunity to come up on the inside.

This is how tight it was over the finishing line:



I did it! I managed to keep third place in my first ever grastrack race! I couldnt belive it, despite all my problems I did it. The feeling was unbelivable the true underdog...

Me on the podium to the right:



Yes, no right leg.
So despite the fact that I had the wrong setup, no experience, no rear brake and couldn't shift gears I managed third. I was extremely pleased, but very bruised and battered.

Big fun and a great experience. Next weekend it's a SuperMotard race and if my body has healed enough until then I will race that as well.


/R

TILLER

nice story bro.. get them pics fixed though

250Rrider

That was the first long post that I actually enjoyed readin. Nice job racin too man. :YEAH

Raid72

Thanks guys!

My *** is black and blue but it was wort it.


Doesn't the pics work? They work for me. Anyone else have that problem?


/R

mmeastcoast

That's a great story with great pics, I've heard of grass drags but never grass moto's, looks fun. Congrats on the podium, and I can't wait to see those motard pics next week...

Catman

Pics. are fine he probably means thier Blurrry

You kick *** :YEAH Tell me that wasn't vet class
J/K My buddies are always teasin me about that. They just don't like racin the old man.......................... Way to represent

fastkawasaki454

sweet pics and story man! congrats on 3rd place!!! :YEAH

TILLER

pics work from home

work firewall was messing em up


congrats again

Raid72

Thanks Guys!

Catman - No vet class. Sorry.
We only have Open (tuning is free) and Stock (where u're not allowed to open the engine).

I race Open.


I took a pic of my bruised inside thigh:


The more genuing parts have the same color, but I'll spare U those pics..

Buying a jockstrap for next event, that's for sure.


/R

Catman

Dayum playa

It is alot harder for you to keep your *** off the seat than the rest of us i'm sure.
If your suspention was set up for TT that also explaines it.


Ya'll got any flat tracks over there ??

snyder

That's the way man! Don't let nothin' hold you back!!

Raid72

Sorry Catman, missed your reply there..

It's not called flat track, we call it SuperMotard. It's a mix of gravel and tarmac with only one smaller jump. Then you have the grastrack above, ice racing and motocross of course (I don't do motocross though).


L8r!

/R