nklr sears point beer and racing report

[billmonahan]

Got up this morning and called in sick to work.....had one of those nasty two minute headaches you can get on a Friday morning. Rode the beemer out to the track (Sears Point). I was hoping the Yamaha truck would be there, so I could try out the R1, but all they had to ride was Triumphs and Buells. Since I had ridden enough Buells to give me an idea of what I was missing, I rode a new RS Sprint and then a new Daytona 955i. I really liked the Sprint RS....comfortable ergonomics and a quick spinning and powerful three cylinder motor -glued to the pavement with a very firm but supple suspension. I don't know why they have those six gears, though.....you only need maybe the first three or four of them. They have a nice 20 mile test loop, with several miles of fast twisties. Nobody was riding the Buells. Hmmmmm. The Daytona had even more power, but less comfort, and a stiffer suspension. I have to say I could use the Sprint RS as a daily bike very easily. It's Friendly! (quick, too). Then, since it was Cinco de Mayo and I had stopped at Safeway on my way in, I washed down my lunch with a couple of Tecates...the beer, not the Kawasaki. That's when I started paying attention to the racing...Friday is all qualifying heats, and I got to watch Rich Oliver on his two stroke 250.....he's fast and smooth. After that it was 750 Superbike, with Matt Mladin on the GSXR lofting the front wheel heading up the hill after turn One.....the RC51 was also moving along nicely, and making lots of nice noise...then there was Scott Russell on the Harley VR....still not fast like other bikes. Lots of people from rather far away this year, too....the event is growing in popularity. Last week the AHRMA races were there, old guys my age, with stickers on their 50's machines that said "it seems fast to us!". All in all, it sure did beat working for a living. Hope I don't get fired Monday!