It's been quite some time since I put out a blog post.This year was a tough year. We came into the season with high hopes of a new race bike for the MotoAmerica Super Hooligan series, and a goal of improving on the 3rd in the championship we got in 2023. Unfortunately the season started out with me having to race last year's bike at Daytona, which has proven to be at a major disadvantage in the class.
The goal for Daytona was just to collect any points we could and come back to the next round a few months later at The Ridge Motorsports Park with a new KTM 990 Duke and a vendetta.
As I am sure some of you know reading this, I broke my leg in race 1 at Daytona, and things really went sideways for my team and I. I woke up in an ambulance getting rushed to the hospital. I broke my left tibia and fibula, injured my knees, and had a nasty concussion that knocked me out for over 2 minutes. The season was basically over as soon as it started for me.
Mission Super Hooligan Race 1 at Daytona 2024 - FULL RACE | MotoAmerica
I was eager to get back to racing though, and the recovery process was in full effect. I started physical therapy as soon as I could, and had a goal of getting back on the bike about 2 months after being hurt. I didn't meet the goal, but I did ride a track day on the new 990 Duke at the end of May. And for reference, I got hurt on March 9th. It was definitely too early to be riding. All the goals I had set got shifted back further and further. I tried to return to racing two different times in June, but was unable. Finally, I began to realize the injury was pretty serious and it was going to take more time and more work to heal. I had not suffered an injury this large before, and even though I had a titanium rod in my leg that got me walking, the bones were slow to heal.
My first race back was at the end of July on a Kramer Motorcycles GP2RR, which is a purpose built race bike. I was able to win a club race at the Ridge and get some confidence back. After not racing for so long, or really being able to ride with any speed or comfort, it was good to know I had it in me. But still, I was far off my normal pace and my fitness and strength was terrible. I felt crippled after a day at the track.
With more time passing, I felt more ready to make my MotoAmerica return for the Super Hooligans finale at Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The new race bike still wasn't ready, and I was going to have to race the bike that I crashed at Daytona. I didn't know if I'd be physically able to match my lap times I did in 2023, but the goal was to try. I went down a week early for a Ridesmart trackday at CoTA, and I felt great. My confidence was coming back.
My MotoAmerica return ended up going better than expected, as far as my physical fitness and feeling on the bike went. My knees weren't bothering me, and my still healing leg felt plenty strong. I was able to go faster than I had in 2023 by almost a full second! I qualified 10th, which doesn't sound good, but given the competition and faster bikes I was up against, it was great.
Race 1
I got a lot of nerves, and just didn't ride like myself. I was conservative on the start, which made me lose a couple of positions and get stuck battling with guys I normally beat. But I finished the race and faced my demons, which felt great. I got 11th and it gave me motivation to do better in race 2 now that I got a race under my belt.
Race 2
I was definitely more aggressive. I was charging hard and trying to run with the pack ahead. It was tough though given their bikes were all 10mph or faster down the big straights, leaving me in the dust. I'd brake as late as I could into corners, and try everything possible to make time up where I could. On lap 2 I almost high-sided out of turn 12, and by a major stroke of luck I was able to gather myself as I came flying out of the seat and on the side of the bike, and ride it out without falling. The moment definitely made me pucker up, but I went back to trying to charge forward. A lap later my bike started getting hot and losing power. It got so bad that I had to pull in. It felt unsafe and something felt really wrong. So that was the end of the weekend for me and ultimately the road racing season.
I am not too bummed out on the race weekend. It felt really good to know I still have speed. To ride as well as I did given what I went through this year was motivating for me. At times I thought I may not even come back. Just thankful I got back out there and raced, regardless of the result. I know I can race for the podium and win once again when I have the right bike underneath me.
Right now I have some plans to do a couple of supermoto races this fall, and maybe go down to Chuckwalla to race my ZX-10. Lots to figure out with regard to my MotoAmerica program for next year. I am just happy to be back in a better headspace to where I am thinking about this type of stuff again. It was a tough year for me for a variety of reasons, and I am glad I still got a passion for motorcycles and racing.