1st AFM weekend of the year at Buttonwillow, and our own Richard Barnett grabs the top step in 250 production:

250 Production: 20090321 - Official
Pos Number Lic Name Best Lap Points Points in Class Make
1 800 E BARNETT, RICHARD 02:14.630 (lap ) 40 40 Kawasaki
2 893 E MC KINNEY, MARK 02:14.796 (lap ) 33 33 Kawasaki
3 925 E REM, ZOE 02:19.662 (lap ) 27 27 undefined
4 153 E MAZURKIEWICZ, LISA 02:21.039 (lap ) 22 22 Kawasaki
5 972 N DANIELS, KRISTOPHER 02:25.259 (lap 6) 17 17 Kawasaki

He also won 250 Superbike, but he was on an Aprilia for that win... ;)

Thanks! Great time out there!

cool man!

[threadjack]
hey richard, do you ever drag your woodcraft pegs? i havent' yet, but was wondering if its possible. i'm still trying to find the limits of these bikes.

No, haven't dragged the pegs, but there are some turns where I really have to put my toes on the pegs or I'm dragging the boots. Turn 9 at Willow especially. So, its very close, but so far, no dragging.

thanks [/threadjack]

Congrats Richard! Way to go!

High Five !!

You get any video of the race? :D

1 800 E BARNETT, RICHARD 02:14.630
2 893 E MC KINNEY, MARK 02:14.796

Now THAT is a close win :) Great job Richard

Thanks :) My head was so big last night it was pushing my wife out of bed and you guys aren't helping my cause any :)

No vid, unfortunately.

1 800 E BARNETT, RICHARD 02:14.630
2 893 E MC KINNEY, MARK 02:14.796

Now THAT is a close win :) Great job Richard

I think those times are that rider's fastest lap of the race; the times being that close show that Richard and 2nd place had about the same fastest lap. It doesn't represent how much they were apart at the finish line. But if it was like most other 250P races, I'd bet they were pretty close.

True dat. I don't know what the margin was, but within a second. In October at Willow Springs, we had the top 5 finish within .6 seconds.

Nice job Richard!!

True dat. I don't know what the margin was, but within a second. In October at Willow Springs, we had the top 5 finish within .6 seconds.

man, i wish we had enough 250s enter to have a top 5 in texas :(

so far we had 2 entries for the first round, and 4 for the second. i still have hopes that by next year we have a decent field of bikes. tons of people seem interested in building one, but i don't think anyones actually doing it right now.

Looks like a whole bunch of crashes this past weekend at BW, some with some reasonably significant injuries. Here's some footage of a crash in one of the 600 races. Loses it in the 110-120 mph range coming out of Riverside. Rider is bruised all over and broke his sternum, but otherwise OK:

s_Bc4A73I5g

that guy who crashed in T1 was being a jackass from the drop of the flag....

Agreed, he was weaving way more than necessary, although the 1st turn in 600 prod is pretty much guaranteed to be the last turn for at least 1 or 2 of the entrants each week.

I hear a lot of racers don't like buttonwillow for the bumps and such. I've never had a problem with it but maybe my bike doesn't go fast enough for that to matter much. :p

man, i wish we had enough 250s enter to have a top 5 in texas :(

so far we had 2 entries for the first round, and 4 for the second. i still have hopes that by next year we have a decent field of bikes. tons of people seem interested in building one, but i don't think anyones actually doing it right now.

The economy is really keeping things down right now. I think once it starts picking up & the credit card companies start backing off on the interest rates, we'll see more and more 250s on the grids. Can only get better from here, hopefully :)

Here's a relevant thread (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287751) about the bumps at Buttonwillow on BARF.

Looks like a whole bunch of crashes this past weekend at BW, some with some reasonably significant injuries. Here's some footage of a crash in one of the 600 races. Loses it in the 110-120 mph range coming out of Riverside. Rider is bruised all over and broke his sternum, but otherwise OK:

s_Bc4A73I5g

It was a CRAZY weekend for crashes. I pushed HARD in our race, which was Race 1, lucky us. The track was very cold, it was damp and the wind was whipping. The little Ninja was doing 2 wheel slides everywhere. It was nuts! Lot of damaged hardware from that weekend.

I hear a lot of racers don't like buttonwillow for the bumps and such. I've never had a problem with it but maybe my bike doesn't go fast enough for that to matter much. :p

Yep, only turn 3 is a problem with the Ninjas. On my Aprilia, it was a bit, uh, scarier... can't imagine on a really fast bike.

Is turn 3 the first or second right hander? Do they count the little kink after turn 1 as a turn?

I believe turn 3 is the 90 degree right before another quick 90 degree left. I think Turn 2 is the 180 degree right turn prior to that. Last time I was there turn 3 was quite bumpy, right on the racing line.

(I believe turn 3 is the first turn in "Cotton Corners" as described on the trackmap below)

You got it, Alex. The trick for turn 3 is to come into the corner mid track, instead of over on the left, where you really should be. You won't execute the corner as well as you could, but at least you won't crash. I've been all out of shape there and it ain't fun.

OK. gotcha. I think I've been coming into T3 midtrack and maybe that's why I don't really have recollection of the bumps.

Way to go, Rich!! :thumbup: ... ya' lucky bastid!! :D

Good jarb Richard. I can't wait to ride BW on my Ninja...it'll be a humbling experience.

:allhail: well done Richard!

i know im a bit late but, props Richard.