Just got back from our last race of the year out in Deming NM, at Arroyo Seco raceway with Jett and Garrett. I even got to ride the spare 600 in the formula 40 race with some good guys from out there and had some fun. Garrett’s progress through the year has been incredible. It has been really great to watch. He did his first road race out there in NM and now finishing his last one of the year and seeing his progress was great. I think he picked it up by about four seconds and is a front contender in all the classes, even against the guys on 1000s.

Jett has made some good steps forward as well, just not as big as Garrett’s, but considering his crashes earlier in the year to finally get some weekends behind us without any incidents, is a good way to finish. His times have dropped at all the tracks and I think he is back to where he was at the beginning of the year with his confidence and desire.

Their first race was the middle weight supersport, they both got good starts and had one other local rider to race with, they both where able to get by and run their own races. Garrett got though first and pulled out a gap and Jett was in second a lap later and pulled clear of third place.

Their second race was the money race for all the experts so they were gridded with some of the local fast guys on 1000’s and had to start on the third and fourth rows. Jett got a good start and was up to fourth out of the second corner and Garrett was sixth. Jett move past the guy for third on the second lap and Garrett up to fifth, The first two guys where out front and Jett was pulling away from the race for fourth with Garrett running fifth trying to get by the guy in fourth on a 750. When Garrett finally got by for fourth Jett was about 1.5 to 2 seconds out and Garrett set out after Jett, Garrett did his fastest lap of the day chasing Jett, a 1.08.8 was his best. He worked on Jett a couple of laps setting up a pass going into a sweeping left hand corner. Right before that the guy who was running second had gone off the track so the boys had a rabbit right in front of them, when Garrett got by Jett the second place rider ran off again and now Garrett was right with him, Jett was trying to hang but slowly lost touch and Garrett hounded second the rest of the race, White flag lap the second place rider went off the track again moving Garrett and Jett up one spot each, finishing second and third.

Last race for the boys was middle weight superbike, Jett got the whole shot from the middle of the front row with Garrett going through the first turn in third after coming off the second row. Jett did his best to keep his head down and put some good laps together but once Garrett got into second he was right with Jett. Jett did his best time of the day trying to make a break getting a 1.09.2. Garrett got by Jett and slowly pulled away, Jett got hit and had to run off the track in one of the tighter corners and was down in fourth. Garrett had a comfortable win with Jett trying to get third at the line and just missed by half a bike.

I did the formula 40 race on the spare 600. I did it just to have some fun and run with some of the guys who have ridden with me in the school, so I got a chance to put up some times and try the Pirelli tires on the 600, ended up doing a 1.08.6 and still felt there was more there but also putting up a time with the boys, with all of us with in a second I feel the boys are progressing very well and hope they will get their chance in the AMA and maybe even beyond.

Thanks to all that have helped us have what I feel was a very successful year…

DC

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Buttonwillow went well for me. I had raced there earlier this year but this time we raced the track the opposite direction. The back straight was one of the fastest of the year and my Champ racing Roseville Cycle Honda CBR600RR ran great. We started off the weekend with Saturday and with a few minor adjustments the bike was working great, I was ready for Sunday.

My first race of the weekend was 600 superbike in which I had to start from the fifth row since AFM grids by points and it was only my second AFM race of the year. I didn’t get the best start and was run wide in the first turn; I think I was about 15th. On the second lap there was a red flag due to a crash so the race was re-started. After the first lap of the re-start I was able to work my way up to eight place. There was a lot of traffic and I had someone to pass every lap. This allowed two guys at the front to get away so I knew I had to ride pretty hard to catch them. With two laps to go I finally had some clear track and I was able to close the gap to second place rider Jeff Tigert. On the final lap I tried to draft by him for second place but came up a half a bike length short. So I ended up finishing third claiming the final spot on the podium.

My second race of the day was 600 production and again I was gridded on the fifth row. I made a decent start and spent a good part of the race fighting my way through traffic. By the time I had moved up to third position two guys had gotten away. I put my head down and I was able to close the gap to second place with one lap to go. My Pirelli tires were working so good I was able to go underneath the second place rider and claim the position with only two corners to go. It was my second podium finish of the day.

In my third and final race I would ride my Honda CBR600RR in the 750 production class. For this race I was gridded on the fourth and I knew I would have my hands full trying to pass 750’s with my 600. However my Champ racing Roseville Cycle Honda was up to the challenge I made a good start but it took me awhile to make my way though the 750’s. By the fourth lap I had made my way up to second position and had my sights set on first. With two laps to go I had closed the gap to first place but I was still two seconds behind. Once again I put my head down ran my fastest lap of the race and caught the first place rider. Going into the last corner I was able to out brake him, turn underneath and take the position. Surprisingly the 750 couldn’t draft by me and I held on to win the race.

At the end of the day I had competed in three races and stood on three podiums. 6oo Superbike 3rd place, 600 production 2nd place and 750 production 1st place.

I really want to thank all of my sponsors, Honda, Pro Honda Oils and Chemicals, Roseville Cycle Center, Champ racing, Pirelli tires, Dainese leathers, Arai helmets, Leo Vince exhausts, Rod Lake and the Roseville Cycle Performance Center for giving me a winning bike.

Thanks to everyone the weekend was a success.

Garrett Willis #981

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