Salinas, California kicked off the national flattrack series for rounds 3-4. Dick Weirbach made the drive out with the bikes and it felt great to get back on the bike after a short week off. After getting everything unloaded and through tech, I took a nice look at the fresh track. The track was certainly different then anything the national series had ever been to; reminded me of a track we would lay out on the ice more then a track that would be laid out on the dirt. First practice was my first time out on our new 2009 honda and it felt really good, but it was tough to get all that power to the ground. Switched bikes back to the stock for the two qualifying sessions and finished up 18th, the final spot on the front row for heat race number 1.

The inside spot for the heat race turned out to be a great spot to start. After some warm up laps on a wet track, the track was good to go. Pulled the holeshot and headed in to turn 2, but got bumped around from someone on the bottom of the track. Came off turn 2 in a sandwich between Carver and Schnabel and was shifted back to 5th. Made the move on Carver a few laps into the race and settled in to 4th slowly realing in Schnabel. Finished out the heat 4th, a direct transfer to the main event.

Lined up on the middle of the 2nd row and after a decent start I settled in around 10th. I was struggling with the drying track and went a few spots backwards but mid race I found some decent lines. I found myself in 11th place and started realing in Jethro Halbert for 10th. I started making some serious ground around lap 20 but just ran out of time and finished .8 tenth off the top 10 finish. A pretty promising start to the weekend.

We showed up early sunday morning for the freshly built short track. After tech I took a look at the track and things were looking up from the day before. A different water truck and a nice looking shorttrack I was hoping for a good day. Qualifying went less then stellar with a 30th overall. A 2nd row start for the heat after I was struggling for traction all morning. I was in heat race 1 and hoping for a fresh track for a little more traction. I had another tough heat race but got a great start from the 2nd row and filed in behind Jd and Chad Cose. Unfortunetly I couldn't hold pace with them and dropped back a little bit which would leave me with a good starting spot on the front row for the semi. I was excited for my semi after a few changes and a good start, I would maybe make my 3rd main event in a row.

That all ended quickly with a bad start I dropped back and couldn't make up the time and spots to make the main this time. All and all it was a great weekend of riding and more important learning. Our next national will be in Springfield for the tt and our first twins race on the mile. I'm going to head back home and do a few local races and keep up the training and hope for better results! Thanks Dick and Ted Weirbach for all the support out in California. We now sit 20th overall in the points.

Until the next round,
Jesse Janisch #45