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The Beast Report

Team: 2up Racing By Myself. / Event: CCS/SW – January 12^th and 13^th, 2008 – Round #1

Sponsors: Kurveygirl.com / M4 Exhaust / Euro Motorsports of Scottsdale

Preferred Tire Vendor: / Jim Cox Racing (Dunlop Racing Tires)

Spring time temperatures fell upon the Phoenix Arizona area for the first round of the 2008 CCS/SW racing series. Many would find racing in January a bit strange, but for phoenix this is the norm not the exception. The weather was a near perfect with clear skys and a high of 65°F.

As with any start of a new season the days running up to the first race is filled with expectations and challenges. The big change for the 2008 season is that only the SV650 will be raced leaving the older GSXR750 parked. With this new focus, it was felt that the SV650 needed some minor improvements and upgrades. But as the 2007 season had just ended in December, time was very tight.

My team mechanic Brice had just a two short weeks to complete a seasons worth of neglected maintenance. New plugs, chain, shift star, FI tune, brakes and fluids were put in and the bikes was prepared for the upgrade of a new exhaust and VP U4.2.

The most important upgrade for 2008 is the addition of a M4 Full Exhaust system to the SV650. The general opinion is that the M4 Exhaust provides the best power and midrange performance for the SV650. While talking to the staff about a M4 Exhaust, an opportunity for racer support for 2008 became available. 2up Racing by Myself is excited to carry M4 as one of its sponsors for the 2008 season.

While time was tight, M4 exhaust was able to get a complete exhaust system for the 2003 SV650 in time for the first race. The system fit and finish is first class and the installation was quick and painless. A big thank you to all at M4 for their quick action over the holidays, as this is most companies down time.

Euro Motorsports in Scottsdale, AZ continues its efforts to become phoenix Arizona’s, performance powerhouse. Euro Motorsports has just installed a new Dynojet Dyno, and was able to get it running by 4pm Friday night, right before the race weekend. Euro Motorsports staff went above the call of duty, and arranged a midnight dyno tune session for the SV650. The staff at Euro Motorsports worked late into the night building FI Maps both Pump Fuel and VP U4.2.

The first event of the CCS/SW season was run on Firebird Internationals Main racetrack that uses the Dragstrip as the main straightaway. Within the first few laps, it was obvious how much of an improvement in power the new M4 Exhaust system created. I was able to keep in touch with racers that I never could before. Considering my sizable girth many people were impressed by my new found speed.

Mark Weiss, my very trusted advisor and mentor provided some invaluable advice on where I was losing some valuable time. I spent my Saturday practice time applying his advice and improving my corner exit speed.

For 2008 I have decided to run the best race tires Dunlop offers for the SV650. The UK Made Dunlop D209GP provides improved front end grip over the US Made Dunlop D209GP tire I ran last year. The confidence to trailbrake into turns and get on the gas sooner while leaned over helped a lot this weekend.

The first race of the weekend was the Lightweight GP, which is the premier race for the SV650 class. A grid of 16 racers lined up for the 12 lap race, and the first turn was crowded but all got through cleanly. After a few passes in the first two laps, I settled into 11^th place. All the while just a few feet behind me lurked Alan Chook waiting for his chance to pass. Unfortunately for him I did not put a wheel wrong for the rest of the race.

The next race was Lightweight Superbike with a larger grid of 17 racers. This turned out to be my best race of the day with a 6 lap battle for 10^th place with Paul Patterson. Paul and I swapped places several times and drafted each other going into turn #1. Unfortunately I forgot to make a downshift in one of the last corners and that derailed my attempt for a final turn pass.

Lightweight SuperStock was the third race of the day. The start was less than spectacular, being too aggressive with the clutch and to much throttle, created a wheel stand start with a second wheel stand after the first recovery. Running dead last into turn #1 and a good 250 feet behind the next competitor, some hard racing was to follow. When I reached 8^th place, I started battling Devin Hymer, and got around him on lap 6. I was not able to hold off the charging Devin Hymer on the last lap going into Turn #1, and again a missed shift derailed plans for a final turn charge.

The Final race of the day was Thunderbike. After my best start of the weekend, I was able to get around two racers in the first turn. Again I found myself battling with Devin Hymer for 4^th place. Unfortunately I could not keep up with Devin and settled for a strong 5^th place finish.

Overall this was a good start to the 2008 season. My lap times have improved, and I am now able to keep with all my competitors down the long straightway due to the power combination of the M4 Exhaust and Euro Motorsports tuning of my motorcycle.