Press Release 03.29.2006

Weekend Race Report

by Bruce Miller
WV squad - Mazza Vineyards /Inferno Racing Team

Event: Mid-Ohio Tour ; Sat.3.25.2006

Once again the weekend started out with an early wake up.  I got up at 5:30 am.  I ate, finished packing and getting ready just in time for Billy to show up at my door at 6:30 am.  We loaded up his jeep and headed north.  We were thinking we were pretty lucky since the ground wasn't white like the weather people had predicted.  It was actually relatively warm, the temperature was 38 degrees.  

The further we drove the colder it got.  By the time we arrived at the race around 10:30 it was 30 degrees.  It was dry at least. We went ahead and registered and then watched the cat 3/4's start at around 11:00.  The promoter was nice enough to drive us around the course a couple of times.  The course was awesome!  Forty feet wide and approximately 2.4 miles long.  First time I had ever been on an indy course.  

We went back to the car and started getting ready for our race (cat 4/5) which would start around noon.  We got dressed, did a lame excuse of a warm-up riding around the parking lot then lined up.  The promoter decided there were enough of us to seperate the cat 4's and cat 5's.  That's a nice change.  The cat 1/2/3's took off.  A couple minutes later the 4's took off.  About two minutes later we started.  I would say there were approximately 25 - 30 cat 5's.   

As we were standing at the start line the snow started.  By the time we made it to the first turn you could see tire marks on the track, not a good sign.  I ended up up front for about the first 1/2 lap or so.  I took it relatively easy just to see how the tires would hold, they did alright.  Luckily the snow stopped within about five minutes.  

Our race was seven laps around the course.  Everything stayed pretty civilized for the first 4 1/2 laps.  Everyone just trying to get a feel for everyone.  Then in the fifth lap something happened.  Someone up front slowed down rather abruptly for some reason causing the rider in front of me to touch wheels with the rider in front of him.  His reaction was to get on the brakes and swerve to the left.  This caused him to take out my front wheel at about 25 - 30 mph.  My handlebars turned approximately 30 degrees and my left foot came unclipped.  Next thing I know someone hits me from behind.  At this point I am all over the place.  Somehow I survived, I have no idea how but I didn't go down.  The guy three riders back wasn't so lucky though.  In the middle of my struggle I heard metal on asphalt.  When I did get a chance to look back I saw him getting up so that is a good sign.  

Once I recovered I got back in the pack I got a few attaboys for staying upright then things just went back to business as usual.  Billy told me about the rider doing the circus act, at the time he didn't even realize that hit was me.  The next lap was pretty uneventful until about the halfway point.  I attempted to do a breakaway.  I didn't really think it would work but it couldn't hurt to try.  I also wanted to get an idea of how the others were feeling.  I didn't get too far before I was caught.  I did get to find out who was serious though so I guess it did pay off.  

Once the play time was over it was time to get serious again.  We crossed the start/finish line and started our last lap.  A bunch of us tossed our bottles and then started our chess game.  Billy came up to the front at this point and started pulling the group around.  About 1/4 way through the lap I ended up front somehow and remained there for the majority of the remainder of the race.  I would try to give up the pull but I still haven't gotten the hang of that.  I would go off to the left and people would just drift up beside me and stay there.  About 1/4 mile to go I decided to go for it.  We were coming up on a sweeping turn and some lap traffic, best opportunity I had.  With about 100 yards to go two riders flew by me, I didn't have much left to chase them.  I just gave it everything I had and maintained my third place finish by about 1/2 a wheel.  Not a win but I'll take it.  Billy finished 9th.  Overall a pretty successful race.  My prize for third was a handful of Clif Bar samples.  

Now to get back in the car and start our drive to Sunday's race.