The reality of Saturday is starting to sink in....it is a different feeling when you accomplish something that at the start of your career was a goal. A true heartfelt, gut check goal. Growing up in a Harley-Davidson environment, if you were talking racing, it was dirt or drag. There was a class HD 883 Racing in the AMA. But then the Buell Motorcycle Company came along. With it, came racers such as David Estok, Michael Barnes, Mike Cicotto, Tripp Nobles and Shaw Higbee. My first race, way back in August of 2000 at Shannonville Raceway was aboard a Buell S1 Lightning a Twin cylinder Motorcycle. By then the racers above were winning AMA Pro Thunder Races and Championships, also FormulaUSA had the Buell Lightning Series, all of them competed in both series. A long story short, when I started racing, I honestly had posters of Estok, Barney, Cicotto and Tripp hanging in my shop and race trailer. These guys were the reason I was driven to win! When I finally made it to the Pro ranks the AMA had ended Pro Thunder, so one of my goals....”To stand on the Box at the Top National Level on a Twin” was not to be. I have been very fortunate to Race Twins all over the World. Buell’s in the Canadian SuperBike Series with 2 National Thunder titles, as well racing Buell’s in Formula USA, Championship Cup Series and the AMA. Also Aprilia Tuono in the Endurance series Moto-ST. XR1200 Harley-Davidson in the British SuperBike Series, in the CSBK, AMA and Moto America. Overseas riding a Kawasaki ER650 in the International North West 200, also the Isle of Man TT. All of these motorcycles are Twins.
So fast forward to present: MotoAmerica’s announcement a Twin Cylinder Championship for the 2018 season. The bikes participating are the Kawasaki 650, the Yamaha 700, and the Suzuki SV650. I never thought I was going to get a chance to ride in this Championship, especially after loosing my finger tips on my left hand, at the North West 200 in Ireland. This was a last minute opportunity and I have to thank Jon Cornwell for making it happen. The weekend went real quick, as the Twins Class has practice and qualifying Friday, and Saturday has a second qualifier and then the Race. When I arrived at Sonoma Raceway on Friday, it was the first time I had ever seen the Yamaha FZ-07 let alone ride one. We ended up getting along great!
I’m so thankful that half the Ruthless Crew Jon Cornwell, Dave Estok and Jim Dickenson were able to drop everything and come Crew for me last minute. The Yamaha I was riding is owned by Andy Palmer of AP Moto-Arts. Andy had done a great job preparing the bike. The first session was all about learning the new Yamaha. Friday am we were first on track, so the track was really green. My first impression was good. Besides slipping and sliding around the motor and brakes felt solid, but we needed to do some work on the geometry and suspension set up. Corndog, Estok and Jimmy made a bunch of changes.... a lot. First Qualifying went well, we ended the session in P5. I wasn’t overly concerned as I knew we had another Qualifier and the bike setup was getting better, but still a ton of room for improvement. We sat down and discussed the plan for Saturday. Again Corndog, Jimmy and Estok made a ton of changes, front end and rear shock, ride hight and balance. Balance was a key to really start getting comfortable on the bike.
Saturday was the 2nd Qualifying session and the Race was in the late afternoon. The 2nd Qualifying went well, we dropped more time but I was starting to actually get some ‘good feel’ from the bike. The changes we had made in the front end and balance of the bike was starting to give me some really ‘positive feel’ from the front end.
We ended up in P3 putting me on the front row! The last time I had a front row start at a AMA/MotoAmerica National was way back in 2011. Riding at Daytona on a HD XR1200. So I was pretty excited and a little nervous for my front row start. Especially since right at the end of Qualifying 2 my shifter had fallen off so I was not able to get in a practice start! It was about 6 hours between Qualifying 2 and the Race. I dropped into my routine of reading and having a solid nap, followed by a complete roll out before race time. I won’t lie, I was a little concerned about the dexterity in my fingers but up to that point they really had not bothered me. Initially sore, stiff and swollen once the hand was warmed up, no issues at all.
We lined up on the starting line.....and away we went. I got a good start, not great but good and slotted into 3rd place running up the hill into turn 2. Dropping into the carousel I got a little anxious and turned in about 3 feet too early, this caused me to be way inside going over the ripples and bumps and it hurt my drive down to turn 7. On the drag race down to turn 7 I was out motored by the rider behind me. So I was slotted into 4 place and started to study the rider who had passed me, he definitely had motor on me. It took me a little too long to figure my way around him. Probably two laps to long. He made a mistake running into the final 180 degree turn and I got up inside of him. We ran side by side down the front straight into turn 1. I out braked him into turn
1 and just put my head down. There were 4 laps to go and the rider in 2nd position had just over a 7 second gap. That’s an absolute eternity! Regardless, I just put my head down and charged. I managed to close the gap down to 3 seconds but I just ran outta laps! I finished 3rd on the podium!
Since 2000 I have been fortunate to be racing motorcycles, chasing my dream and passion. So 18 years after starting this journey I can FINALLY say I have stood on the Podium at the MotoAmerica AMA Level....on a TWIN! For me standing on that podium looking out and seeing my hero’s and some of my closest homies Dave Estok, Michael Barnes, Jim Dickenson, Danny Eslick and Jon Cornwell all clapping, smiling, and cheering me on is a memory I will hold close to my heart and never forget.
But in my moment of pure happiness and clarity I felt a sting in my heart....my wife Caroline James was not out there with the boys cheering and busting out her crazy whistle!! In that moment of moments all I could think about was her. Caroline has been part of my life since I was 14. She has been part of my racing career since day 1. She IS the real head of the Ruthless Crew. Caroline has been through it all, the most amazing victories and happiness. To the utter devastation of loosing a loved member of the team. Caroline has traveled the world with me, she has seen me at my absolute best...but also lived with me thru the pain, suffering, rehabilitation and my intense mood swings during all those tough times. For all she has done for the Ruthless Crew and me, in particular, it was a tough pill to look out over that crowd and not see her beautiful face. This Podium is for you, my love, I would have failed at this years ago without you by my side. Thank you for being you. To my Ruthless Crew all of you. Thomas Morin, Jim Dickenson, Dave Estok, Glen Veatch, Jon Cornwell, Corey Warren and the boss lady Caroline. For the bottom of my heart and soul thank you. It is not often you get to accomplish a life goal! Without each and everyone of you it would not have been possible. Love you all. BRAAAP
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