WFO!!! Komodo secures 2nd in class (A Superstock) in the CMRA Big Bike Endurance 2008.
The last race of the season was at one of the fastest tracks, Texas World Speedway. It’s a large track at 2.9 miles and has some very fast sections. It’s a track that welcomes a big bike and encourages the rider to go for it. Being the last race of the season, WFO!!! Komodo knew it was going to be an aggressive race; other teams would be fighting for overall standings and pride. Otter was first in the leg for this 6 hour event and managed to get a great start. Going into turn 1 Otter was clearly in the top 5, a great beginning for a long race. Otter managed to keep WFO!!! Komodo in the top 5 for the first hour. He was running a very quick pace (1:49), which is a couple of seconds faster than the last time he rode at Texas World. In the first hour Otter was being challenged on the back straight by a couple of very fast expert riders making for some tense moments as they were elbow to elbow before diving into turn 1 at over 140 mph. This is not the turn to fight for position as a crash here would definitely create carnage and major injury. Back in the pits we were carefully watching Otter’s times and knew tire life would be a real concern at that pace. Texas World is a fast, flowing track and it is hit and miss on tire wear. When Otter completed his first hour and came back into the pit the left side of the rear tire was clearly stressed; we’d probably make it to hour three if we slowed our pace down. Otter said, “It’s fast out there! I knew I was going faster than usual, but the top teams are hauling ass today and I got into a battle with one of them for several laps.” Strategy plays a role in these long races and tire life has be taken under consideration if you want to last the entire race. Wayne knew he’d have to run conservative times and in hour two rode the bike at a more sedate pace averaging 1:55 – it was after all a 6 hour race with two riders. WFO!!! Komodo had second place well cemented and were several hundred points ahead of third place. At this pace, Wayne could ride comfortably and with confidence while keeping WFO!!! Komodo in the top 10 overall for the last race.Thirty minutes into the second hour of the race Wayne was in the carousel and while exiting the corner grabbed a handful of gas and in the process low-sided the GSXR 1000 on the ride side doing about 70 mph. The GSXR 1000 slid off the track tumbling over a couple of times with Wayne following it and cart wheeling head over heels. It made for a great crash, but when Wayne stopped and picked the bike up it was clear the damage had been done. The rear brake lever was obliterated and the clip on’s were nicely bent at an awkward angle. Thankfully, the bike started and Wayne was able to ride it back to the pits, but clearly, the race was over for WFO!!! Komodo.According to Wayne the bike was running very fast and turning in very quickly; faster than usual. He thinks the colder temperature had an impact on the bike that day as the temperature was in the 70’s that morning. Wayne admitted the crash was due to operator error as he typically is not a crasher. “The bike felt great! It was pulling hard and turning in quicker than usual. My confidence was high and I just got on the gas earlier and in the process lost the front end”. Thankfully, it happened in the carousel because if you’re going to crash at Texas World, that is probably the safest corner to do it.WFO!!! Komodo secured 2nd in A Superstock for the Big Bike Endurance at CMRA. Since they missed the Hallett race completely due to an injury, they ended up 11th overall. Finishing in the top 10 was always the goal and easily within reach, but to make it to the top 10 you must finish every race.For the 2009 season, WFO!!! Komodo has already secured its rider lineup, which will consist of Ottis “Otter” Lance, Wayne Wilder and Danny Kelsey. The chemistry amongst all three is very good and with the addition of Danny to the team, the racer DNA is now complete and promises to bring excitement every race and success for next season.
Riders come and go. This is a known fact. The average racing career spans a short 3 years, but that’s not the case with Joe Prussiano. Joe is a racer who has covered a lot of tracks over the past 18 years. Not only is Joe fast, he’s smooth and he’s not a crasher. Joe has quite the racers’ resume: WERA, CMRA, AMA, Pike’s Peak and even World Endurance. Wow…I think Joe has earned a lot of racer’s respect and doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. Joe is a Pro who KNOWS his craft.
