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Taken from "Racing with the Rocket at Daytona 2008" by James "the Rocket"
Savannah, Georgia
My first stop was the head to my sponsor in North Carolina. AB-1 Motorsports. My dad had some business to do in Orlando and I would meet him for the Thursday night practice at Savannah when he was finished. At the practice, I tested both my 450 framer and my 505 Rotax framer. The Rotax was never run on a stock car track and we wanted to see how well it would handle so we could use the frame for a special project. Both bikes worked awesome. I only did two practices with the 450 because I wanted to save the motor and I ran several practices with the 505 so I could get the cob webs out from the long winter lay over. Dad wanted to see that my head was on straight in the practice and that I would be smart and safe racing.
Friday night was the first hot shoe event and I was ready. The track was too wet to race on and we had to wait around (2) hours or more before it dried up enough to get out for practice. Mike Varnes was working with me and I was riding out of the White’s H-D tent. My road race crew was doing the wrenching and Mike helped with set up, times and on track tactics. This was the first time Mike and his dad ever watched me race and it was cool to have an experienced dirt track chassis guy in my corner to work with me.
I ended up winning my scratch heat, heat race and ultimately the final. I had to come from behind in the final because I had a bad start, but once I caught the leader, Shayna Texter I was able to gap her and hold on for a solid win. I wheelied the length of the front straight on the last lap for the checkers and knew this was the not only the first win of the season, but a great win that I dedicated to my mom.
Volusia Pro-Am and Moto-ST practice
The next race was Friday night at Volusia Speedway Park. This is another clay stock car track that is known for not being the smoothest track to race motorcycles on. I had to pull double duty because I had a Moto-ST practice between 3 PM – 6 PM. The Moto-ST practice went well and the bike felt quick and nimble. My team Cycle Dynamics and owner Charlie Benton had the Kawasaki 650 running smooth as silk. My team mate Ted Cobb, who is an instructor at the Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School went out first and brought in some good feedback. I got out for my practice and needed some time to get use to the new track configuration since I never ran it before. It was a fun time and our team was looking pretty good. The dirt track pro-am was also running that night and while I was p ractic ing at the Speedway on a road racer, they were already practicing on the Volusia track. I knew that if I was going to race dirt track it was going to be tough to make my heats since I was about 35 minutes away.
Well we hopped in the motor coach after the Moto-ST practice and high tailed it out to the Volusia track. Mike Varnes had cleared the deck for me and had the bike through tech and me registered in. We got to the track just as the scratch heats were starting and mine was up in two more. I was catching my breath as I ran up trying to get my leathers on at the last minute. It was pretty cool being able to get there, but I didn’t get a chance to practice, so I had no idea if my gearing was going to be right or if the suspension was going to work. I managed to get off the line OK in the scratch and win it and while the track was rough and tumble, I felt that the bike was geared good and ready to rock. In my heat I spun on the line and didn’t get a great start. I was like third out of turn two and managed to catch the leaders and make a pass for the lead by the end of the second lap. The bike and tire were working but Mike saw some hopping and makes an adjustment to the suspension. In the final I had a good pick on the line, but again I just spun getting off. I was like second to last going around the outside of turns one and two. I knew I had to get it on and I went for it diving down to the bottom going into turn three, way under everyone and I passed like five riders in one shot. I passed another going through three and four and came out on the front straight in third. I settled in for a lap to catch my breath before I made a run in the leaders on lap three. I passed the second place rider and was now setting up the leader by the half way point of the race. I got another great drive coming out of turn f our and laid the bike in deep at turn one. I slid up into the groove and held it there forcing Shayna up and outside. I was in perfect position to come off of turn two and from there on I was able to gap the field a little and hang on for the win. It was really cool to get my second win in two attempts. I dedicated the race to my mom and thanked all my sponsors, especially Mike Varnes and the White’s Harley Davidson’s Dirt Track Team. Mike and his dad took my bike from Savannah, serviced it and got it ready for me to just show up and ride. They went out of their way to help me and I just can’t ask for a better team to dedicate the win to. Thanks guys!!!
To win at Daytona is such an accomplishment for anyone, but for me being only 16 years old and having the opportunity of a lifetime is almost too good to be true. I know I am blessed to have such great supporters around me helping to guide me and my career as a professional motorcycle racer. It is the coolest job there could be in the whole wide world and I intend to keep working as hard as I can and continue to win as much as I can to make it in the business.
Again I just want to thank all my sponsors and supporters for all their help over the years and especially all those companies and people who believe in me today. I won’t let you down!
AGV, AGV Sport, AB-1 Motorsports, Bettencourt Suzuki, Cycle Dynamics, Coolskunk Racing, Interstate Cycles, Sunnyside Cycles, White's Harley Davidson, Motion Pro, Raceimage.net, Wicked Quick, TOP ONE OIL, RHC, VFORCE, K&N, Durelle, Aprilia USA, West Coast Hot Shoes, Powerstands, Pirelli tires, Trackside Racer Supply, Performance Friction Brakes, Brembo, DeJarnette Research Systems, Mom and Dad
James “the Rocket”
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