Racing Nortons at Mid-Ohio

Tough weekend for me at Mid-Ohio this year. This track is so treacherous in the rain the AMA will not race here once the track is wet. At the start of the twins race it was raining lightly and got heavier and wetter as the race wore on. I was in 2nd place and inches off the rear wheel of Martin on the Big D Triumph on the last lap- I had intended to outdrive him from the Keyhole onto the straightaway, where he was weak but as I rolled on the power the front tucked and I slid into the gravel unhurt. I sat there for the next race where 4 more bikes crashed in the exact same spot, and then they red flagged the track and all racing was halted for the day. Kenny gave me a hand repairing the mangled right side shifter and sheared off footpeg (until he fell asleep in his pit chair somewhere in the wee hours), I went out in practice Sunday morning- the bent up ghetto shifter stuck on with a two inch stack of washers wasn't perfect but but worked OK. Went out in the GP750 race, got a pretty average start and then, a few laps in I felt the motor tighten up coming down the back straightaway, it wouldn't rev over 6000. I knew something was up, I cruised through the next few corners and had a big look back coming through Thunder Alley- there was a long, thick plume of white smoke pouring off the back of the bike- I pulled off line and killed the motor. The back of the motor was covered in oil. I believe I holed a piston, but I won't know until I get it apart next week. No doubt the absolutely brutal 100 degree+ heat had something to do with it- I have never raced in such brutal heat and humidity before.
At least Kenny and I got to do our traditional Amish buffet Saturday night!
I had a video camera on the bike mounted on the back of seat pointing forward and have the absolute perfect shot of the crash- I will edit a video together and post it up later.

Pressing dangerous spots in the wet, crazy and should go on your permanent records!
The Heat Wave was injurious to man and machine so lucked out nothing blew in your own circulation system. Don't your sphincters make ya back off or do you just learn to ignore those deep seated pangs?

Wetness is my last mystery surface to not wipe out on.

Here's video of the wet turn dumps. Its something similar i face and was wondering if anyone would feel their looseness and just head off road upright like a man and maybe save it and at least one did. Someday with crash bars on bike and pillow on my hips I will try to see if Gravel skiing works similar on wet stable surface. At Empire rally on the wisely sluggish group ride I took a sharp 30 mph corner too close to the pavement drop off out of habit to avoid Ozark wild flyers and hit an ice heave diagonal rut that shoved front tire over edge into the V ditch - which sent zings up my groin- so sorta locked arms and stayed on some power till road angled less parallel to tires then gave extra thrust and aimed a slight hi side back up onto road surface and toddled along with everyone else, intact. You NY riders sure have your hands full to ride the heaving and missing surfaces. I ride flats out on fairly even roads here but don't think I'd have nearly the same success if a blow out in many NY surfaces.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyqdJytwqEY&feature=related[/video]

Doug MacRae said:

a few laps in I felt the motor tighten up coming down the back straightaway, it wouldn't rev over 6000. I knew something was up, I cruised through the next few corners and had a big look back coming through Thunder Alley- there was a long, thick plume of white smoke pouring off the back of the bike- I pulled off line and killed the motor. The back of the motor was covered in oil. I believe I holed a piston.

Click to expand...

Probably holed it or ring seized it

Sounds like its time for a JS lightweight piston upgrade - give the poor stressed out beast a break.
Jim