LAGUNA SECA 2024 - Fun is key!

Laguna Seca is an iconic track with it’s infamous “corkscrew” section (a 5 1/2 story drop in 450 feet). Wayne Rainey is a three time world champion, president of MotoAmerica, Laguna Seca even has a turn named in Wayne Rainey’s honor. Maybe it was all the nostalgia, but Blake was fast from his first practice session.

QUALIFYING 1 - Blake was by himself for the qualifying session Friday; he really didn’t use anyone for a tow or chase anyone down and still did a 1:27:2. That has been race pace for the Supersport class in previous years, so Blake felt like being at that pace in the first qualifier was a good place to be. He was third fastest. 

QUALIFYING 2 - Saturday morning was pretty foggy and cool, the team thought that it would be difficult for the racers to get their lap times much lower than Friday’s times. The qualifying sessions are 30 minutes long and as the timer wound down, the sun was coming out and many of the racers were getting faster. Blake got his lap time down to a 1:26:9, surely that would put him on the front row of the starting grid. Alas, it did not. The fastest lap time was 1:26:4, shew. If I haven’t said it once, I haven’t said it all, the Supersport class this year is full of some crazy fast talent! Blake would be gridding up in the fourth spot on the starting grid; row 2. Not what he wanted, but hey, it was better than the last few rounds. We’ll take it! 

RACE 1 - Blake knew that if he didn’t get a good start the top two in the championship would get too far ahead and Blake wouldn’t be able to catch them. Since moving up to the Yamaha R6 this year, his starts have been pretty good, but not Blake good, but this one was one of the best he’s had on the R6. The lights went out and he was up to third, but in turn 5 he “went in too deep, the back end started snapping, and he ran wide and two racers got by him. I reckon, he was slow to learn his lesson and went wide in a couple other places. Now, contrary to his original plan, he had to work to get up to third, allowing the two points leaders to finish 17 seconds ahead of him. But, boy was it good to see him on the podium again. 

Blake has grown up at the race track and from the beginning, there have been racers, mechanics, hobbyists, trainers, vendors/sponsors that have taken the time to invest in him and that hasn’t changed. Kyle Wyman is his coach, but you wouldn’t believe the others who generously share their knowledge and encouragement throughout the weekend.

The 15 minute warm-up on Sunday was foggy and cool. Blake decided to use the session to try some new lines and strategies based on the instruction and advice from his team, coach, and some of those others that so generously pour into him. I asked if those new ideas worked and he said, “Some did and some would if I could do it like they said.” He followed that up with questioning me about his schedule, so he can get in some practice when we’re home.

RACE 2 - Different race, same plan; get a good start and try to hang on to the leaders. His start wasn’t as beautiful as the first and it looked like he was going into one in fourth when another racer came in really late, deep, and pushed Blake wide. Oh that hurt his race, he was back to fifth or sixth and again had to work his way forward. He and another racer went back and forth a few times battling for third, before Blake finally broke away. Blake was running the same lap times as the leaders, but that wasn’t going to close the 7 second gap they had on him. He rode the rest of the race quick and smart, wanting to ensure the fourth place racer didn’t become a threat; finishing 6+ seconds ahead in third.

RESULTS - After interviewing Blake at one of the podium ceremonies, MotoAmerica’s Hannah Lopa, summed up his response saying, “For Blake, fun is key!” He definitely seemed less stressed this weekend and just more like himself and then he came home with two 3rd place finishes. I’d say for Blake, certainly, fun is key!

WHAT’S NEXT - N2 Track Days and WERA will be hosting an endurance race at Pittsburgh International Raceway with his Alpha Omega/Roller Die team on August 10. The following weekend, August 17th, MotoAmerica will host the Supersport race at Mid-Ohio Race Course outside of Columbus, Ohio.