http://picasaweb.google.com/haynesrocks/Mosport?feat=directlink
CBR 125 Challenge Rookie Debut for Cody Conrad onboard a Durham Honda race weekend was a thrill! Cody's first National event, first time on a big track, first time to Toronto area, first sponsored ride. A little overwhelming at times, eye-opening at others, and a great maturing experience as Cody continues to come out of his shell and feel comfortable at a Race Track.
Arriving at Mosport and driving into the pits does not really show you what you're about to experience once you throw a leg over a bike and hit the track. All the tracks we've raced on, except the once a year experience at the marvellous Quesnel track, has little, or no elevation changes or blind corners. Mosport is full of them!! The blind downhill corner two was just about everyone's favourite and the hairpin in mos-corner was just fun.
Cody was introduced to "his team sponsor" Friday afternoon and was quite excited to put some thirty Durham Honda Powersport stickers all over his bike, and never was shy showing them off to his friends. After Race 1 Saturday he was so excited about beating AMRA President Jay Fox that he forgot he was suppose to attend a radio spot with fellow Durham sponsored rider Pro Rookie Jodi Christie. He ran over after the race and disappeared in the motorhome getting the chance to chat racing with the good folks over at Durham for some time, causing the rest of us to wonder where he went and sent out search and rescue teams in all directions. Only to find him gleaming from ear to ear upon his descent from the coach. (This is a child that wouldn't talk to anyone at the track a year ago, and now he is running off on his own to a sponsor's trailer)
Saturday's race saw an improvement from his 14th spot qualifying grid position up to 11th. The race itself was exciting from beginning to last lap draft passing as Cody continually battled with the group of three riders that included the AMRA President. Riders Kim Young Jae, Nicole Pilkington, Jay Fox and Cody battled lap after lap with Cody typically passing on the back straight away, only to be passed on the entry to turn 3, only to do it all over again down the straight, lap after lap. On the last lap, Cody found himself the fourth rider heading out of Mos-Corner, tucked his head and began picking off each rider up the hill on the back straight away. One by one they all fell victim to the draft, and Cody crossed the line a mere .2 seconds in front of the man who had invited Cody to Mosport in the beginning, Jay Fox.
Sunday morning brought air of anticipation for the final round, last chance race to beat his uncle. The morning practise was Cody's fastest for the weekend with an overall improvement from Thursday afternoon of 8 and a half seconds! Each time Cody was on the track he would improve on his initial 2.19min lap time. The jump from Thursday to Friday was an expected 7 second improvement, but he continually improved on that from 2.12 Friday, to a Sunday best of 2.10 was excellent. Cody was not as disappointed as some when the rain started to fall as the riders made their way to the starting line, as he had practised at the Varsity Chrysler go-kart track in Calgary in the rain only a week earlier. It is always unfortunate when a rider falls, and there was plenty of that Sunday afternoon. At the end of the day five riders had succumbed to the slippery conditions, and every lap was an achievement in itself to stay atop the CBR 125. Not getting a great start Cody put his head down and just tried to be smooth through the corners and let the race come to him instead of pushing to hard. Passing his uncle atop Mos-Corner he waited for the return draft pass down the straight... and waited, lap after lap of the rain soaked track, waited for the pass that never came. Never looking behind him, he just kept going as fast as he dared, until finding another rider to pass. On the last lap, Leah fell victim to Cody's onslaught and he brought home his Durham Honda CBR in 7th! and more importantly beating his nemesis uncle Robert Haynes.
Cody will now be off to Quesnel BC to compete in the 4th Round of the Midwest Motorsports Canadian National Series aboard yet again a CBR 125 where he'll be able to take this exceptional experience and apply all he's learn-ed from the weekend back to the AMRA and hopefully continue his excellent results there.
Once again Cody would like to thank all those that made it possible for him to compete in the series, from the Canadian Superbike Series, Honda Canada, Durham Powersports, the AMRA, his mom, and most likely even Uncle.
CBR 125 Challenge Rookie Debut for Cody Conrad onboard a Durham Honda race weekend was a thrill! Cody's first National event, first time on a big track, first time to Toronto area, first sponsored ride. A little overwhelming at times, eye-opening at others, and a great maturing experience as Cody continues to come out of his shell and feel comfortable at a Race Track.
Arriving at Mosport and driving into the pits does not really show you what you're about to experience once you throw a leg over a bike and hit the track. All the tracks we've raced on, except the once a year experience at the marvellous Quesnel track, has little, or no elevation changes or blind corners. Mosport is full of them!! The blind downhill corner two was just about everyone's favourite and the hairpin in mos-corner was just fun.
Cody was introduced to "his team sponsor" Friday afternoon and was quite excited to put some thirty Durham Honda Powersport stickers all over his bike, and never was shy showing them off to his friends. After Race 1 Saturday he was so excited about beating AMRA President Jay Fox that he forgot he was suppose to attend a radio spot with fellow Durham sponsored rider Pro Rookie Jodi Christie. He ran over after the race and disappeared in the motorhome getting the chance to chat racing with the good folks over at Durham for some time, causing the rest of us to wonder where he went and sent out search and rescue teams in all directions. Only to find him gleaming from ear to ear upon his descent from the coach. (This is a child that wouldn't talk to anyone at the track a year ago, and now he is running off on his own to a sponsor's trailer)
Saturday's race saw an improvement from his 14th spot qualifying grid position up to 11th. The race itself was exciting from beginning to last lap draft passing as Cody continually battled with the group of three riders that included the AMRA President. Riders Kim Young Jae, Nicole Pilkington, Jay Fox and Cody battled lap after lap with Cody typically passing on the back straight away, only to be passed on the entry to turn 3, only to do it all over again down the straight, lap after lap. On the last lap, Cody found himself the fourth rider heading out of Mos-Corner, tucked his head and began picking off each rider up the hill on the back straight away. One by one they all fell victim to the draft, and Cody crossed the line a mere .2 seconds in front of the man who had invited Cody to Mosport in the beginning, Jay Fox.
Sunday morning brought air of anticipation for the final round, last chance race to beat his uncle. The morning practise was Cody's fastest for the weekend with an overall improvement from Thursday afternoon of 8 and a half seconds! Each time Cody was on the track he would improve on his initial 2.19min lap time. The jump from Thursday to Friday was an expected 7 second improvement, but he continually improved on that from 2.12 Friday, to a Sunday best of 2.10 was excellent. Cody was not as disappointed as some when the rain started to fall as the riders made their way to the starting line, as he had practised at the Varsity Chrysler go-kart track in Calgary in the rain only a week earlier. It is always unfortunate when a rider falls, and there was plenty of that Sunday afternoon. At the end of the day five riders had succumbed to the slippery conditions, and every lap was an achievement in itself to stay atop the CBR 125. Not getting a great start Cody put his head down and just tried to be smooth through the corners and let the race come to him instead of pushing to hard. Passing his uncle atop Mos-Corner he waited for the return draft pass down the straight... and waited, lap after lap of the rain soaked track, waited for the pass that never came. Never looking behind him, he just kept going as fast as he dared, until finding another rider to pass. On the last lap, Leah fell victim to Cody's onslaught and he brought home his Durham Honda CBR in 7th! and more importantly beating his nemesis uncle Robert Haynes.
Cody will now be off to Quesnel BC to compete in the 4th Round of the Midwest Motorsports Canadian National Series aboard yet again a CBR 125 where he'll be able to take this exceptional experience and apply all he's learn-ed from the weekend back to the AMRA and hopefully continue his excellent results there.
Once again Cody would like to thank all those that made it possible for him to compete in the series, from the Canadian Superbike Series, Honda Canada, Durham Powersports, the AMRA, his mom, and most likely even Uncle.
Comments