“This morning we tried a new tire, and it didn’t really work out,” explained American Superbike series points leader Sean Dylan Kelly after his Saturday victory for Orange Cat BMW Motorrad at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. “So, we were having some questions on the grid (pre-race). So, we went to a harder compound (rear Dunlop spec), and I’m obviously glad we did.
“Those first few laps, Ben (Benjamin Smith, surprise pole sitter on War Horse Ducati v-4) and Bobby (Fong, Attack Progressive Yamaha), had a really good pace. So, I just tried to be smart and keep their pace. I felt pretty good, but I started running into issues. But it was nice to make some simple, clean passes, and be up front – it felt so good, and then to be out front with just a few laps to go.
“Every time I passed by the pits, to see our Pit Board, the gap getting bigger, it just felt great. I was ready for a plus zero, but it just wasn’t there (advantage was growing quickly). So, then the goal was to just bring it home, and I’m happy, and really, really proud.”
The pace of Smith on the Ducati was certainly a talking point at Mid-Ohio, and while Smith had looked good at times, this performance was a major step. A close fourth, just eight seconds back, was a solid result for the rookie Ducati racer.
“Smith was defiantly…,” said Kelly, pausing while pondering his comments.” …he was fast, maybe faster than he expected. He wasn’t doing anything crazy.”
Talk then turned to the weather, brutally hot Friday, warm and overcast all day Saturday with occasional spits of rain and precipitation threatening, and a threatening prediction for tomorrow’s second Superbike race.
“I definitely don’t want it to be wet,” started Kelly of pending track conditions at the sometimes-slippery Mid Ohio. “Mabe J.D. (Beach, who made it to third after starting 10th) is the only one here who doesn’t mind it, because he has done so well in the rain – we all know that he rips. But it is what it is, you have to adapt to anything that comes your way.
“I feel really good on the BMW in the wet, but I have also had some pretty good crashes in the wet.”
The Mid Ohio AMA National Championship round was removed from the schedule for several years due to issues with racing on the course in variable conditions.
“I have never ridden Mid-Ohio is those conditions, but again, we just have to adapt.
“Being strong late in the race, that has been a goal of mine, since round one. Once I found that I was OK in terms of speed, but I was lacking a bit in pace late in the races at the end of last season. So, we started focusing a lot more on that.
“I think it has shown in my Qualifying pace the last few weekends, where I’m not that great – I qualified sixth at Laguna. This weekend, the focus was different. Yesterday (in two sessions) I only used two tires, two sets in the two sessions. We’ve been focusing on that, but it was scary this morning, we actually shredded a tire. I’m guessing it was because of the conditions.
“My personal focus is good. At the start of the race I got passed by two guys, but it was good – I wasn’t worried, because I had the feeling I was going to be strong at the end.”
Next up was Fong, who viewed the event as a return to form after several frustrating events for the man who almost nabbed the number one Superbike plate last season in his debut with the works supported Yamaha team.
“I thought it was a good race, and it is great to be back up here,” explained Fong, referring to the Podium. “All year long, I have felt pretty good when the pace flies, and this is our best qualifying – we really put our heads together and had a solid pace.
“The beginning of the race was smooth; we made some good passes. But the lap before I passed Ben for second, the rear tire just dropped off a cliff. It was scary! The Sean passed me, and I decided tot take some time, try and see what the gaps were like. I just wanted that feeling of getting back up on the Podium, getting that confidence back.
“I think we had a little bit more, but…woulda, shoulda, coulda. We need to start making up some points.
“Last year, we were strong at the end of races, and it is the complete opposite this year. There are a lot of things different with the bike, and we just gotta keep putting our heads together. We need to see how we can get better at the end, get to work.
“Right now, at the end of these races, Sean is a step above us. So, we need to continue working, but I’m just so happy to be back up here.”
And what about the tire drop off concern?
“Obviously, the biggest thing is to just start getting some confidence back. A lot of Fridays, we’re in tenth or twelfth position, and it we need to figure what the hell is going on! The biggest thing that can help me is absolutely just getting some confidence back. We’ll go over all the data and build some bridges.”
I asked Fong about his comments on the Podium, when he mentioned he had been up at 2 in the morning, wondering about a career change?
“In the motorcycle world, if you’re not doing your job, there is going to someone itching to take your ride. We’ve been struggling quite a bit lately, I have my boss back there (pointing to the media room back seats), so obviously he hears me.
“You’re always worried about your seat. If you are on a factory team, and you are running around in tenth or twelfth, it’s a problem.
“Who knows what the problem is? So, I was thinking, man, I better start looking for a job in case I lose my job! I got a kid now, gotta worry about a kid and diapers, a kid in diapers. So yeah, true story.”
Beach was coming off a double race weekend win at Laguna Seca, and at one point looked ready to earn pole until a small issue dropped him to 10th in the final Q standings.
“I like to make it difficult, I guess,” remarked Beach of his poor starting position. “We started out Friday, and I don’t want to say we battled the bike, but the bike wasn’t working great – we were struggling a little bit, so the team went to work.
“Then I was fastest, I was feeling good, but in Qualifying I made a small mistake, but the times are so close, I went from being fastest to tenth like it was nothing.
“Starting tenth is hard. I had to push the whole time, and this track, it is hard to pass on, the track flows, but it is still hard. I had to pass nine of the best racers, and I made it tough on myself.
“I worked every lap, I just kept pushing and pushing. I would say my tire dropped off before half race distance; they started moving around a lot. I was just holding my breath and hoping! It was hard, but it feels good to be racing.”
Reviewing his career trajectory, the sometime flat track commented that “I’ve been on a Superbike a few times (career seasons) and this is my best season by far. I am grateful for the ride that I’ve got, and grateful to be racing. It’s what I love to do.
“Before the race started today, if you told me I would have a podium, I would be third, I would be ecstatic. But right now, I’m frustrated, I just want to beat everybody!”
“Take it easy there, Turbo,” cracked Fong to his team-mate.
“We all just want to win. It’s crazy how your perspective changes, around racing. To be battling with these guys; they were so fast last year.
“We’re just going to keep working, and we ‘ll see what happens tomorrow. I’ll sleep good tonight, and obviously dogs, they like the water.,” finished Beach, referencing the rain discussions for Sunday.
Beach has been known in the paddock for the last 15 years as Jiggy Dog.
“I don’t care about the rain; I just get to ride my bike tomorrow. I’ll start from tenth, and rain or shine, I’m going racing on my bike. It doesn’t matter if it is wet or dry, it’s going to be a battle from tenth place. Honestly, I don’t care (about the weather); I just want to go racing.
“Luckily I’ve won in the wet and in the dry now, so we’ll start tenth, and we’ll give what we got.”
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