As usual, you can follow Valentin Debise's adventure in the MotoAmerica Supersport category here in preview.
Today, the ex-Moto2 rider tells us about his third race, at the end of which he got closer to the leader of the American championship…
Valentine Debise: “I write my news to you in the air. I slept 4 hours because of the circuit-hotel-airport journeys, but the satisfaction of having overcome this weekend allows me to keep a big smile on my face.
This circuit reminded me of the English circuits; no grip in the rain, bitumen which only sticks once the track temperature is high, rainy weather, the air temperature which has never exceeded 10°, and a paddock game in the grass (very green, I can confirm it).
I suffered from the lack of driving this weekend, even if the circuit was much easier to understand than Atlanta. The usual plan is simple: we fill up with gas, and I drive for 40 minutes without stopping during the first session, then, during the second, I stop to put on the soft tire halfway through the session and do the maximum lap with it, to see how it reacts over the distance of a race. This allows me to gain as much experience as possible before the first race on Saturday.
This time, nothing worked as planned; on Friday, I did 3 laps in the dry, and three in the rain, that's it! I didn't have the chance to ride in the mixed conditions because we were too limited by the number of wet tires for the weekend, and the goal is to leave with fresh tires for the races which are more important. as free trials.
One of the qualities you need to win a championship is adaptation to the challenges you go through, right?
Saturday, qualification, then the first race straight away; no time to breathe! It keeps coming, especially when you still have zero experience in dry conditions. I preferred to take my qualifying session as a practice session, and stay on track to learn the specificities of the circuit. The race, I'm not going to lie to you, I had a bad experience. I wasn't yet comfortable with the track, and very quickly, while trying to follow the leading group, I detected a problem with my fork. Somehow, I managed to bring the bike back to 5th position, disappointed to miss the podium for the first time this year; I had gotten used to it. lol
On Sunday, the rain made its appearance again, but this time, there was no doubt that you had to put on rain tires because the track was flooded! The race was crazy from start to finish. Departure at 14:45 p.m., I take the lead of the race on the first lap, I fight for 6 laps, I see motorcycles on the ground at each completed loop and the rain intensifies. Gerloff overtakes me and falls in front of me, I lose control of my bike, I manage not to fall, shoots into the grass (believe me, there was more grip in the dirt than on the track lol), I get back on the track, the red flag comes out because three drivers fell behind me. New rapid procedure initiated after 20 minutes of track inspection by the marshals. At the start of the warm-up lap, I go through this famous corner again, almost fall again and we arrive on the grid; everyone makes big signs to warn of the lack of grip! It's the panic! The start of the race is delayed. We waited 20 minutes on the gate before we were finally evacuated. The bend is cleaned for a good half hour. The race management decides to start the Superbike race, then to start our race at 18:30 p.m. for 6 laps. I'll spare you the details of my wet suit that I kept on for 4 hours...
The third start is finally underway, and even though it was long, I'm excited to get back on the handlebars. I take the lead at the first corner, then one of my competitors passes me like crazy; there, I say to myself “no, that’s not for me, go run your race, I’m not following you”. He falls a few turns later. My teammate overtakes me, he pushes really hard. I followed him for a few laps to distance the third, then I secured my second position.
To tell the truth, it's the race that gives me the most satisfaction since the start of the year. It was not won in advance; I was able to stay on my wheels all weekend (the only one in my category), and even if I dropped to third position in the championship, I am only 6 points closer to first!
Who would have thought I would be so close after a few races?
Living the dream
Sincerely, VD53
