Witchkraft Racing: The Search for Speed

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Latest Synopsis

This past Monday and Tuesday we were at Mid-Ohio for some track time. Dad, myself, Aaron, Jeff, Rob and Doug – as well as Brian from STG. Technically these were the last days AMA riders could be at Mid-Ohio before the AMA event in July. There's a 30 day testing window and this event was just outside of it. Fortunately we had good weather and aside from the normal speed differences you see at a track day, the conditions were great and we were able to get in a lot of laps over the two days.

Over these past two days at Mid-Ohio, along with the last Barber trip pointed out two things to me. One, racing is expensive. Who knew, right? And two, racing at less than 100% and trying to go at a speed one might be accustomed to can be a very daunting task. All in all this year, I've been to Barber a few times, at Nelson Ledges for a day, and Mid-Ohio for two days. The bike is solid, the team and knowledge is all there. It's really just one broken piece (or pieces, depending how you look at it) that's the issue. We've thrown setup at the bike, different tires and the struggles still persist with one constant remaining the same – me. And I'm not gonna lie. It's been a lot of time and money spent lately to go slow, so I'm pretty frustrated about it. I don't think a lack of effort or committment is the problem – especially with all the driving and preparations that have been done so far.

In trying to pin-point the problem, it's more than not having wrist extension and being able to turn the throttle – that's the least of the issues (but still a significant one). It's really the lack of strength in the wrist and not being able to support myself on the bike. Once I play the laps back in my head, it becomes more apparent. The transitions from left to right and visa versa, where you can normally quick-flick the bike from side to side, that's now become difficult and fatiguing after just a few laps. Braking zones and right-handed corners where you need to support your weight – the strength isn't there and then the right arm becomes almost locked on the bar because there's little strength there, where it's hard to relax at all. The hand hurts, goes numb, falls asleep. It's all bad stuff. The latest official diagnosis reads something like:

- The bones are in many pieces and were severely impacted.
- Multiple fracture lines still exist.
- Still considerable deformity of the distal radius.
- Soft tissue swelling above the wrist joint still exists.
- Lots and lots of athro-fibrosis (joint-scar tissue) exists.
- The test they did with the dye – the dye couldn’t diffuse properly due to the extensive scar tissue build up.
- Almost impossible to undo what was done, by the way it was healed.
- Two surgeons have said this is the worst wrist injury they have seen.

I've seen three doctors who said they can't do anything. I've now looked into two other doctors. One out west and one down south. I've got my fingers crossed and prayers sent in hopes to find someone who can help do something to make it better.

On a brighter note and onto the other half of the team, Jeff is doing real well. He rode great recently at Barber, Nelson Ledges and Mid-Ohio. He's going to do real well at Barber next weekend and represent the team well like he always does. And with Mid-Ohio up shortly after Barber, he's pretty dialed in there too, so I'm pretty confident he's got what he needs to run close to the front. While I can't be out there racing with him at the moment, that time will come. For the meantime though, I'll be rooting for him and doing whatever I can to help him get where he wants to be with his results. I won't be able to go to Barber with him, but we will have the whole team at Mid-Ohio ready to go.

Thursday, June 9th, 2011 | POSTED AT: 5:31 AM
FILED UNDER: General

2 Comments on “Latest Synopsis”

Doug wrote on 9 June, 2011, 7:57 AM
It was obvious you were going to go all out trying to get a handle on the issues. It looked like you were giving it everything you had on the track (that I could see as you went by). I saw the old Eddie fire again when you came off the track after a good run. I can’t imagine how monumentally frustrating it must be for you when all the pieces and desire are there but just out of your reach. One of your strengths is your focus. Play to your strengths. We all will help.
Eddie wrote on 9 June, 2011, 8:03 AM
Thanks Doug. Another mountain to climb right? :)