Wow! I don't even know where to begin this one. It's gonna be long, so grab a bag of popcorn and sit a spell. I'll try to push some of the more detailed bits into a couple of different pages.

Road America comes at a very peculiar time within the Midwest. Mid April tends to have some VERY interesting weather, and this weekend would be no exception. A mere 5 days before the event, the area was experiencing 80 degree days that were second to none. However, the weather gods would have none of that for us. We had 3 days of 28 degree nights, and 40 degree days with some snow flurries, a couple of light showers and extreme winds.

Weeks & months preceeding:
We picked up the new 2005 Honda CBR600RR from Action Power Sports (new ownership from the former Lake Country Powersports) in Waukesha, WI. Hundreds of hours of prep work paid off 10-fold, in getting on the best setup and feeling bike I've ever been on in my life.

We also ordered a new 32' diesel RV for a bit of comfort at the track, but things ran a bit long on the build of it so we didn't end up getting it for this weekend.

Thursday 4/23/05:
I took the day off as we were supposed to get the RV today, but things just didn't pan out, so I spent the day finishing packing and getting the final bits on the bike. We made it to the track and through registration by around 7:30pm, and completed setup.

Friday 4/24/05:
We woke to a VERY chilly morning in the mid 30's, but the sun poked out here & there throughout the day, warming the track up a bit and warming the air to about 50.

This year, I have decided to switch tires from the Dunlops I've been running for 5 years, to Bridgestones. However, my new 'stones' weren't at the track yet, so I went out for the maiden voyage on a set of last years dunlops.

Initial impressions.

The 2005 Honda CBR600RR turned out to be a huge difference over the 03/04. The thing falls into turns with ZERO effort, and the midrange power is absolutely incredible. Everything about it screams perfection.

The new Translogic Quickshifter is magnificent. Hold the throttle pinned and tap the shifter. That's it. The only catch? Don't touch the shifter between shifts! That was a new experience. (read more)

The new Yoyodyne slipper clutch proved perhaps one of the best inventions in history. I didn't realize it was working, but through the weekend, it became absolutely apparent when I knocked down 4 gears as quick as I could pull the clutch and toe the shifter without the slightest wheel hop or waggle from the rear end. (read more)

I ran my second round of practice scrubbing in the new Bridgestone BT-002 tires. I'm a creature of habit, so this change from dunlops was HUGE to me. I immediately noticed the bike turned in even QUICKER which was almost scary. However, they seemed quite stable, so let's see how they do in a race.

Middleweight Superbike:
The first race of the weekend, first race of the season, first race on this bike. This should be interesting... 2 years ago, I almost made it to the apex of turn 1 on the start of my first race with the new 2003 bike when I was taken out, run over and left for dead. This weekend thankfully would not have the same cruel fate.

My start was beyond poor. It's like I found a reverse gear in the bike. Most of it was fear of looping the bike as the midrange power is VERY strong. Anyhow, I ran through the race without incident. I ended up 19th on a grid of about 40 riders, so I didn't feel too bad. My times were all consistent in the 2:41 range. Not the greatest, but consistent nonetheless.

Friday night the wind set in, as did some VERY cold weather. The RV sure would have been nice, but at least the trailer had heat, so we were all comfy.

Saturday 4/23/05:
Welcome to January in Wisconsin (in late April)! Yes, those are snow flakes!! And TERRIBLE wind...

I ran 1 lap in practice, just to make sure that a change I made to the bike would work. It did, so I came in.

The sun came out, but the temps remained in the low 40's and the wind was a brutal 25-35mph.

Middleweight Superbike:
1st race of the day, confidence is coming up. My start was still poor, but I did get into dicing with a few folks and picking up my lap times. I had a photo finish with Johnny Moore which visually everyone said I had him, but the clock showed him a mere couple THOUSANDTHS of a second faster... ouch... This put me 16th which was about mid-pack.

Middleweight GP:
This would prove to be one of my best races of the weekend. I still lagged on the start, but began picking off people left and right. I got hung up behind a couple of guys with extremely fast bikes, but extremely low corner speeds. Ultimately I got around a handful of them and managed my best lap time of the weekend with a 2:34.5. Looking back through my times, this is the best time I've run at Road America since they changed the track in 2003. I'm quite pleased with this time and with this race.

(Insert harrowing moment #1 of the weekend here) Around lap 3, I was picking off slower riders. Turn 1 was a great place for me to get around people. I came up on Lithium Motorsports rider Mark Schnettler in T1. Mark broke early, and I shifted over to the center of the track to set up the pass. As I came up on him, some guy splits the two of us like we're standing still. There was *NO WAY* this guy was gonna make T1, and unfortunately my attention went to him for just a fraction of a second. As I looked back up, Mark tipped in to T1. I'm closing on Mark probably 20mph faster than him, and there's nothing I can do but jam under him and hope he gives me the line, or we're both going down hard. I threw the bike under him and saw him give an inch. Then it was up to a quick, "please GOD let these tires stick" as I opened her up. Sure enough, the new 'stones stuck like glue and I was through the corner without hard contact.

I landed a top 10 finish in it which was impressive for the turnout. After the race, I went over and apologized to Mark who was smiling about it and was cool with it. I'm glad he was so understanding. It really was a tight situation.

Heavyweight Supersport:
600's are no match for 750's on a 4 mile track with long flowing straights. I did manage to pick off a few 750's to not finish dead last, but I was WAAAAAAY down in the rankings. Really, I only ran Heavyweight Supersport this weekend for the points. The track had also cooled off a LOT, and was getting slippery. My times were consistent which was good, but again, I was no match for the extra 25hp of a 750.

Another cold cold cold night with wind blowing the trailer around and making noise all night. Somehow though, I managed to sleep like a baby.

Sunday 4/24/05:
The morning was in the high 20's and it was still windy as all get out. Nobody went out for practice so they opened it up to anyone who wanted to go for about an hour. I stayed in because there was little I could learn on a "glass track".

Heavyweight Supersport:
The sun came out and stayed out which was nice as it warmed up the track, but the winds continued to be brutal. This race was more of the same from yesterday. Nothing I can do to make up on the lack of power, so I held off those that I could and settled for a position near the back.

Middleweight GP:
Last race of the 1st weekend. The track is in the best condition it will ever be in this weekend. It's showtime...

I went out in this race with one intention. Win it.

My launch was the best it had been all weekend, (insert harrowing moment #2 of the weekend here) flying down into T1, I am pretty good at out braking people during the 1st lap. Well, I didn't plan on having a WALL of riders (like 4 wide) all check up on the brakes VERY early. I grabbed a fistful of the new radial mount brakes on the bike and managed to shave off an incredible amount of speed while throwing the bike to the outside of the track to get around these guys. Head down, I can see the leaders and they're within reach.

I held my own and whipped off a 2:40 lead lap. Now for those who don't race, your lead lap is the slowest as you have to get up to speed from the start. Typically at a big track like Road A. lead laps are 8-10 seconds slower than your normal track pace, so 2:40 was smoking.

On lap 2, I held the top couple guys within sight and possible reach, but coming into T8, I grabbed the clutch and pulled it to the bar with literally no feel. It worked, but there was no feel of tension in the lever until it got right to the bar. I made it through the carousel fine, but began thinking about the expensive new slipper clutch and expensive new motor, and considered bringing the bike in. I then took my attention to the new adjustable CRG clutch lever. I clicked the adjuster all the way out and I again had feel in the lever. I put my head down and hunted down the last couple of experts in the pack.

A definite disappointment to go from a very high spot to the bottom of the list so quickly, but at least I didn't have any serious mechanical problems and finished the race upright.

I'll be cracking the motor open again this week just to get a look inside to make sure everything is still well, and get my confidence back in it. As best I can tell, I must have clicked the lever to the closest position somehow, but I don't know...

We packed up and made it home around 7:30 on Sunday night. All in all a very successful weekend.

This race report is already too long, so I'll forego the wrap-up, but gotta get the "thanks" list in.

Much thanks for this weekend goes out to:

1. God - for being with me and bringing me home with a smile on my face and a bike and body in one piece.
2. MD Racing - Matt Drucker. Thanks for the new Bridgestone tires. They're better than I dreamed they could be.
3. Lithium Motorsports - Rob Oliva. Thanks for the Arrow Full Competition system and the other miscellaneous small stuff you do for me.
4. Action Power Sports - Ron Kmichik. Thanks for the incredible new 2005 Honda CBR600RR.
5. Moto-Heaven - Phil Caudill. Thanks for the XES leathers which are absolutely perfect. Thanks too for the Thrust gearing and chain.
6. Yoyodyne - Fred Renz. Thanks for the slipper clutch. This is my favorite new gizmo by FAR. A definite *MUST HAVE* for all racers.
7. EMA-USA - Greg. Thanks for the Translogic Quickshifter. Also on the list of *MUST HAVE's* for racers.
8. Trackside Engineering - Ed Kwaterski. Thank you for the greatest suspension setup a guy could ask for. This bike felt 10x better than the 03/04.
9. John & Jesse Petta & crew. Thanks for joining us this weekend and the loan of the tire warmers.
10. Jen, Tori & Queue. Last, but certainly not least. I can't thank you enough for living my dreams.

Many other thanks to the friends, fans, sponsors and contributors making this possible for me. You are all in my thoughts.

Next race weekend 5/7-8 Blackhawk Farms - Rockton, IL

So? What do you think? Am I great? Do I suck? Let's hear it... Post your comments in the Forum