Scarrott Racing 2014 Round 2 Race Report

2014 AFM ROUND 2
RACE REPORT
Sponsored by:
Dr. David Benkle Optometry
2nd Place, Open Production
6th Place, Open Grand Prix
17th Place, Formula Pacific
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Scarrott Racing 2014 AFM Round 2 Report
Dear sponsors, fans, racers, family and friends,
The Scarrott Racing 2014, American Federation of Motorcyclists Round 2 Report is brought to
you by Dr. David Benkle Optometry. I would like to thank Dr. Benkle for his support and it was
fantastic to see him at the races during the weekend. The Benkle Optometry website is located
at: http://www.drbenkle.com/ and there are 2 Stockton area locations to serve you!
The AFM Round 2 event was combined with the GEICO Superbike Shootout and Supermoto
USA. I was one of the project managers on the AFM side and I am thrilled to have the
opportunity to work with everyone on the event. The event was a tremendous success and a lot
of fun for the racers and fans. I prepared early for the event, making sure my bike was ready and
cross training with dirt biking and supermoto practice. My weekend was hampered by a fuel
issue and I appreciate the help of all involved to solve the problem. I am very happy with my
results from the weekend and reduced my personal best laptime at Sonoma raceway to 142.9. As
always, I’ve got a ton of news for you, so let’s get to it!
SUPERBIKE SHOOTOUT
The GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout event has actually been in the works for quite some
time. I can’t tell you exactly when we started working on this concept but I will say that we
started during 2013. When the AFM Board of Directors began discussing the potential for a
west coast shootout type event I was thrilled and immediately volunteered to assist with the
project. The entire AFM organization should be absolutely proud of this event and the AFM
Board of Directors and staff have worked tirelessly to make sure the weekend was a success.
I was also fortunate to be provided an opportunity to give a video interview during the race
weekend, which can be viewed here: http://www.superbikeshootout.com/video-behind-scenessuperbike-shootout-round-2/
www.ScarrottRacing.com
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Scarrott Racing 2014 AFM Round 2 Report
AFM SOCIAL MEDIA POST
I’d like to share a post I published from the American Federation of Motorcyclists Facebook
page and I’d like to make sure everyone has an opportunity to read it, if you don’t keep up on
Social Media. I am conducting the Social Media project for the AFM for 2014 and if you are
interested in knowing more about the project you can read about it here: AFM Social Media
Project
“What an absolutely fantastic and amazing weekend! The American Federation of Motorcyclists
would like to thank everyone who was involved in the combined AFM / Superbike Shootout /
SupermotoUSA weekend.
This project has been a tireless work effort of everyone involved. We would like to thank John
Ulrich, the Ulrich family and RoadRacingWorld.com, AFM President Berto Wooldridge, the
AFM Board of Directors and the board members who specifically assisted with the project,
SupermotoUSA and Brok McAllister. We would like to thank the entire AFM staff, technical
inspectors, turn workers and support staff for making the weekend as safe as it possibly could be.
Many thanks to Sonoma Raceway and their staff for the planning and hard work through the
event!
A special thanks to the factory teams and racers, some of whom drove and flew across the United
States to be at this event. Your excitement and interaction with the fans and AFM racers was an
amazing experience for everyone. We appreciate you coming to race with us.
The event would not have been a success without:
- The racers, we appreciate each and every person who makes the grid, from the
professional to the novice racers
- The vendors and support services who we could never
thank enough
- The sponsors of the AFM, the Superbike Shootout and Supermoto USA
- The fans, because you bring the excitement and energy to the event. We appreciate your
support and we hope to see you at an AFM event again soon!”
– Tim Scarrott
www.ScarrottRacing.com
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Scarrott Racing 2014 AFM Round 2 Report
RACING WITH THE PROS
Yes, the AMA Professional racers are as fast as they look on TV and the factory team
motorcycles are everything we think they are. This is a photo from practice on Saturday, with
#13 Cory West, #35 Benny Solis, #91 Jeff Tigert and # 74 Bryce Prince. If you want to be a
better rider, having the opportunity to ride with experienced professionals will teach you a ton in
just a few laps.
Fast guys, everywhere. #488 Chris Siglin, #26 Michael Earnest, #11 Chris Fillmore, myself,
#740 Darius Kashabi, #98 Jake Zemke #63 Devon McDonough & #194 Deion Campbell.
www.ScarrottRacing.com
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Scarrott Racing 2014 AFM Round 2 Report
SATURDAY PRACTICE
My motorcycle experienced significant performance issues during all of Saturday morning,
leaving me exhausted and frustrated. My friends and fellow racers Tyler Wolters and Ryder
Morrison assisted me with several fuel pump swaps and Eric Dorn busy on his laptop plugged
into the motorcycle. With all of the preparation leading to the race I felt my bike was in absolute
top shape and the fuel issue left me with almost no practice time. During the 3rd practice, the
bike bogged enough to actually slide the front wheel and nearly caused me to crash. I was near
to making a choice to race my backup bike if we couldn’t solve the issue. After several
measures of troubleshooting failed, we switched fuel as a last resort and solved the problem. On
the bright side, my tires were very fresh for the 1 full practice session I did get before the
Formula Pacific Race. For 2014, Formula Pacific grid positions are set by best practice times
during Saturday practice and the fuel issue left me in a less than ideal grid position.
FORMULA PACIFIC
I had no illusions about the challenge presented by Formula Pacific during this weekend. With
10 additional AMA racers on the “FP” grid, I added that number to my FP goal of a top 10
finish. Top 20 was a very realistic goal for the 41 racer grid and considering these are the fastest
racers in the nation I was thrilled to be out there in front a few thousand fans. A very respectable
laptime of 144.4 earned grid #21 and with my warmup lap complete, it was time to race! With
such a full grid, a clean race start and first lap is very important for the race and safety of the
racers and the race quickly stabilized. I lost several positions at the start, typical for such a large
grid of racers and not enough room on the racetrack for everyone. Knowing that I was probably
in the mid 20’s, I started pushing immediately to make up ground, making several passes during
the first 2 laps of the race. Racing against riders who are all within a few percent of each other is
thrilling and will definitely test your skill. If you wait for someone to make a mistake, it
probably isn’t going to happen and you’ve got to fight for position every moment of a race. I
finished 17th in Formula Pacific, meeting my goal within the top 20 and had a great race.
Close racing action in Formula Pacific!
www.ScarrottRacing.com
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Scarrott Racing 2014 AFM Round 2 Report
OPEN PRODUCTION
I enjoyed hospitality of friends and racers and Lagunitas Brewery on Saturday evening and
turned in early for a good night’s sleep. I woke up feeling refreshed, excited to watch the pro
races and ready to reduce my laptimes from Saturday’s races. The Open Production race was my
first race for Sunday morning. The Open Production grid had a number of talented racers
including my friend and motorcycle stunting legend Darius Kashabi of www.servinitup.com in
addition to Saturday Formula Pacific winner and AMA Superbike racer Dave Anthony. “Aussie
Dave” was racing a Superstock / Production legal bike and I was excited to see his potential on
the limited machine. I started in pole position with Ken Casey and Joy Higa taking the holeshot
and David Anthony making several passes into turn 2 and 3. I passed Joy during the first lap and
rode somewhat defensively behind Ken Casey until he ran wide in Turn 11. Darius Kashabi and
I were able to make passes taking positions #2 and #3 behind race leader Anthony. Darius and I
began to change places and I did my best to pressure Darius while he was in the lead. The race
intensified between us with Darius in the lead with 2 laps to go, changing positions #2 and #3, 4
times in the last 2 laps and racing all the way to the checkers. I finished in 2 nd, only a few bike
lengths in front of Darius and Ken Casey shortly behind us. Race winner Dave Anthony’s fastest
time on his Superbike was 137.9 on Saturday in comparison to a 141.7 in the Open Production
race. My fastest lap was 142.9 and I was thrilled to be within such a short gap of such a talented
racer.
Close battle with my friend and motorcycle stunting legend Darius Kashabi, with his first Expert
Podium during the Open Production race. Great job Darius!
www.ScarrottRacing.com
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Scarrott Racing 2014 AFM Round 2 Report
PRO SUPERBIKE & SPORTBIKE
I strongly considered racing the Pro Superbike race during this event and ultimately based my
decision on tires. I am sponsored by CT Racing / Pirelli and the Pro Superbike & Sportbike
races were conducted on the AMA spec Dunlop tires. Racing in the pro races would have meant
practicing, qualifying and racing on Dunlop tires and potentially using Pirelli tires for my AFM
races. I felt overall, it would be better to focus on the AFM races for the best possible finishes
and fulfill my obligation to race AFM races on Pirelli tires.
The Pro Superbike & Sportbike races were absolutely thrilling with an amazing amount of talent
on both grids. A number of AFM racers did participate in these races and I conducted Social
Media posting during both races. The grandstands had several thousand fans including
motorcycle enthusiasts of all disciplines and racers and fans from the Supermoto USA event
going on at the Sonoma Kart Track. I felt a fantastic sense of accomplishment for the west coast
motorcycle community, sharing the racetrack at such a fantastic event.
OPEN GRAND PRIX
My last race of the day was the Open Grand Prix and I was excited to conclude the day of racing.
I started in 3rd position based on my finish at Buttonwillow Raceway and I knew that Martin
Szwarc, Steve Metz and Greg McCullough would be hungry for a strong finish. I was very
pleased with my race start in 4th position into Turn 2. I could hear Steve Metz potent Ducati
behind me and did my best to hold him off at the beginning of the race. Steve and Greg were
both able to make passes with a very close race from start to finish. My goal for this race was as
strong a finish as possible and laptime reduction. The temperature had definitely cooled by this
race and while I was motivated to go faster than earlier in the day, the track conditions weren’t
going to support a faster pace. I really enjoy riding and racing with Greg and this was a fantastic
way to conclude the day, finishing 6th.
Close racing in the Open Grand Prix!
www.ScarrottRacing.com
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Scarrott Racing 2014 AFM Round 2 Report
IN CLOSING
I can’t thank my partnering companies enough, I wouldn’t be able to race at this level or produce
these results without them. These products and services are the best in the industry and I highly
recommend them for your inside and outside industry needs.
Please go to my website at www.ScarrottRacing.com, check out the latest news, tech reviews and
information, track maps, pictures and videos; and on the front page of my website you’ll find that
if you click on the logos of my partnering companies, you’ll be taken straight to a point of
purchase.
Please let me know what I can do to assist you on and off the racetrack!
MANY THANKS TO :
Pacific Track Time
EDR Performance
KFG Suspension
Motorcycle Superstore
David Benkle
EBC Brakes
Driven USA
Bell Helmets
CT Racing / Perelli Tires
Optimal Racing
Rev’It
Sidi Boots
Forcefield Armor
XT Racing
Leo Vince
Lagunitas Beer
GP Frame & Wheel
Rock Oil
Bazzaz Performance
GU Energy
Western Sign Company
Racer Gloves
Badfish Imagination
Carousel Embroidery
John's Welding
NGK Spark Plugs
Von Zipper sunglasses
K&N Filters
MOTO-D
Napa Auto Parts
OxyMoron, GotBlueMilk & 4TheRiders Photography
www.ScarrottRacing.com
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