AFM Buttonwillow 10/21/07
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