07/20/2020
Jinba Ittai Motorsport: Weekend Recap at Roebling Road Raceway
After many team conversations the team put their heads together to come up with a race plan. The team decided since Ryan had the faster pace for the weekend that he would start the race and try and stick with the leaders. Joel was not used to not starting the race and had some nerves from the previous DNF at Summit Point. Ryan not only hung with the leaders he lead the race after the first three laps and he hung around in the top three until he brought the bike in for fuel around lap 40
This now meant that it was Joel's turn to take to the track. He hopped on and dipped into the mid 16’s and ran consistent quick laps until a rain shower broke out about lap 60. The team did not have rain tires mounted and did not yet have a front quick change kit from fast Frank’s racing. However, Harlan Barnes a hometown Marion crew volunteered his R1 wheels and we quickly mounted rains all the while Joel continued to ride in slicks.. By the time that was done the rain had stopped and the track was drying quickly. Joel continued through the rain on slicks and brought the bike in on a red flag at about lap 86.
WERA does not allow work on bikes during red flags, not even tire warmers. This meant the plan was to set Ryan out with the remaining fuel in the tank and then come in for fuel and a rear tire. Four laps later Ryan was back in the pits and we quickly sent him back out with a full tank and fresh rubber. He continued to keep us in the hunt for the win until about lap 115.
Joel took over for the final 30 minutes of the race and we were able to secure a second place overall and second place in the heavyweight class just behind Army of Darkness, America’s longest running and most successful endurance Racing team.
The podium finish was a huge confidence boost and we are eager to make a couple changes to the bike and compete again at Nelson ledges Ohio in mid August.
This team and this result would not be possible without our crew chief Mack Laughridge and crew Jason Pipes and Harlan. Many thanks goes out to Ryan Jones for being such a great teammate.
And lastly thank you to all our great sponsors who make this racing effort possible:
Eurosport Asheville
Lee's Performance Center
Cogent Dynamics
Macks Cycle repair
Dunlop Motorcycle Tires
IOneMoto
Tri-County Cycle Sales Hart
Vortex Racing Fan Page
Attack Performance
Motorex USA
Fast Franks Racing
Race&Ride Motorsports