Words by David Podalsky

Images by E-Tech Photography

We rolled in to Nelson Ledges with a totally new set up on the rear shock on our Ducati 1198S. The problem we had been having was that we had too much weight transfer to the rear when I was hard on the throttle coming off the corners and the bike wanted to wheelie. Well, sometimes the front would only get light and do a little nervous dancing around, but it would be enough to keep me from opening the gas 100% until the bike settled.

I’ve only been Nelson Ledges once before and think it is a great layout; but the track surface is a mess. We figured that with all the bumps, seams, patches and a high average speed (we averaged over 100 mph), this would be a great place to dial the rear suspension in.

The first spring we tried was too long, and we could not get the 22-32mm of sag we wanted in the rear. With an over-night shipment from Ohlins and some help in the pits from fellow racer Matt Lynn and his spring compressor, we got it changed. We were still a bit on the stiff side at just 22mm of sag with me on the bike but we were at least in the ball park. 

We needed to be close to optimum to be able the big sweepers in turns 5 and 8. They are so big and wide that it is hard to ride through them at 100%. If you get it right you run through there between 100-120 mph while the bike soaks-up big bumps. Actually the bumps are bad enough in those corners that you begin to think you are still on the piss-poor road that leads up to the track itself. 

I did alright in the Saturday’s HWT Solo which I use as a warm up race using the Michelin Power One tires from the weekend before. I was feeling pretty good but still about 4 seconds off the pace of the fastest guys which is a ton.

SUPERBIKE - Sunday morning we mounted new rubber and I put the bit between my teeth. The first race was the HWT Superbike race. I had watched the Starter throw the flag in a race earlier in the day so that I would be able to anticipate his arm movement. The #1 board turned sideways and as soon as the Starter moved his shoulder I went and got the jump into turn #1.

Being at his home track, Tom Hughey on his Triumph flew into the first sweeper with much better entry speed than I did; track familiarity is so very important. I got on the gas and tried not to let him get away.

Stewart was ready with Pit Signals and showed me plus 0 meaning someone was right on my ass. I kept pushing and after a few laps Tom was squeaking out a bit more each lap now had 3-4 seconds on me as I held onto sat in 2nd place watching my pit signals which showed that I couldn’t shake the guy in 3rd place.

With three laps to go, Mike Flis aboard a Ducati 999R made a move and got past me as entered Turn 5. I was fine to follow and see where I might get past taking a lesson on where I was stronger/weaker compared to someone who knows the track well. I was stronger into the two scary fast corners, turns 1 & turn 11 but Mike was stronger into the two sweepers (5 & 8).

I knew if I could get a good drive onto the back straight I could get by before the fast kink, turn #10. I set it up by taking a wide approach to turn 9 and screwed the gas on and was accelerating fast enough to get him by the apex of the kink.

Mike started to drift over before the kinks apex and I was getting pushed over and squeezed out. He didn’t know I was there and there was no choice but to go for it and try to get by before the apex. I made it to the apex first, but since I was so tight upon entry I exited wide. I was only half past Mike’s 999R and my rear wheel made contact with his front fairing. I felt a little wiggle, but knew that can mean the other guys front end has been taken out.

I listened and didn’t hear any bike following me….”did I just take him out?” Thankfully as I went past the Finish line Stewart was showing me a +0 so I knew Mike was still on my tail. One more lap and I guarded the corner entries to protect from leaving the door open.

As we drove onto the front straight I accelerated hard, maybe too hard since the bike wheelied and I short shifted into 4th. Mike drove hard on the inside and beat me to the line by just a few feet.

It was a good race and Mike and I were going over it afterwards excitedly, but honestly I apologized for the pass that caused contact at over 150 mph.

SUPERSTOCK – With Tom and his Triumph not eligible for the HWT Twins Superstock and I figured Mike and I would be at it again for the lead of this one.

When I saw the lap times I figured I could put down a string of laps faster than Mike and my plan was to get the hole-shot and try and get a gap. Somehow I felt so confident that I could get the jump on the start and was wrong. Mike beat me off the line and into Turn #1.

Again I was content to follow and see where I was stronger. I following him along and tried to improve my speed into the big sweepers. I tried lining Mike up for the entry into turn #1 since I was faster into there, besides the turn #10 move almost worked out all wrong in the last race. It is pretty narrow and with only one line and speed is just over 90 mph at the apex.

I tried to actually line a pass into turn one and then again before the kink, but they were not there for the taking and I wasn’t going to push the issue. Mike also made no mistakes and didn’t “give” me any gifts.

Last lap I planned to make the pass into turn one, but decided to back out as we entered. Which was really a mistake I had the position and speed, but after hitting the poor guy in the last race I didn’t want to cause an incident.

Now or never, I had to do it again before the kink. I took a wide approach again and got a good drive and thought I’d line it up to be on the outside this time. I was faster and lined up on Mike’s left. As he rolled off for the turn #11 I went past thankful he left enough room for me to get by. With only a few turns left, I held Mike of and took our first win of the season.

Feeling really good about the weekend, we set our sights for the long drive home and the next round at Summit Point.

Thanks to our Sponsors: Chicken Hawk Racing, Ducati NA, Michelin, Seacoast Sport Cycle, MarkBilt, Catalyst Bodies, Heroic Leathers, Speedy Moto, Ferodo, Shoei, Sidi Boots, DucShop, Ohlins