VIR Race Recap: Big Speeds, Hard Lessons, and a Front Row First
After a long drive home from Virginia International Raceway (VIR) and an even longer week back at work, we're finally catching up on the incredible highs—and the gut-punch lows—of the latest race weekend.
Let’s dive in.
First Impressions: VIR Surprises Us All
VIR completely shattered expectations. Watching it on TV, it never really stood out—it looked a bit rough around the edges. But stepping foot on the facility in person? A whole different story.
The track is beautiful, nestled in the remote green hills of Virginia. It’s full of character, with technical bends, fast kinks, and dramatic elevation changes that make it a blast to watch—and from Carson’s feedback, a blast to ride too.
Same Setup, Different Story
We rolled in with the exact same setup that Carson rode at Mid-Ohio—literally not a single bolt turned. Same gearing, same suspension, same everything. But right away, we saw how drastically different track surfaces can affect performance.
At Mid-Ohio, we were working to speed up the suspension. At VIR? We had to slow it down. Same bike, totally different needs. That’s racing for you.
Carson hit the ground running, immediately setting fast times and staying consistently in the top 5 during practice. It was clear: this was going to be a big weekend.
New Tech and New Challenges
Between races, a new technical bulletin allowed for 55mm rear subframe extenders to help taller riders get more room. We found a shop in Martinsville that fabbed up a pair for us—nothing fancy, but they did the job.
Finally, Carson could tuck behind the windscreen for the first time this year.
But... in our enthusiasm, we also added a 2-inch foam pad to the back of the tank to push him a little farther backward. The result? A wheelie machine. Carson couldn’t keep the front tire down, and we wouldn’t fully realize the problem until it was too late.
Qualifying: Front Row Feels
Despite the pad mishap, Carson absolutely delivered in qualifying—3rd on the grid for both races. Standing with him on the front row, staring down toward Turn 1, was a surreal moment. That’s the kind of position we’re aiming to make a regular thing.
But the good vibes were short-lived.
Race 1: Up Front, Down Hard
With Carson’s seating position shifted back by the tank pad, his launch was a mess—wheelies off the line meant he was swallowed up by the pack heading into Turn 1.
By Lap 2, he saw daylight ahead—the group he should have been racing with. He made a gutsy move up the inside of Sam and Ella, but just as he tipped into Turn 1, Julian Correa appeared in the same real estate.
You can watch the footage frame by frame and still not tell who clipped who.
The result? Both riders down, sliding off into the Virginia grass and collecting a fresh batch of soil samples. Carson was a little shaken but thankfully okay—and cleared to race the next day.
Repair Sprint: Teamwork in Action
The crew didn’t waste a second. Travis had the bike stripped down within minutes, and the awesome team from Kramer came through with the parts list we needed. We got the bike back together in time for Race 2 and went to bed with high hopes and a freshly de-padded tank.
Race 2: Mechanical Mayhem
Sunday morning: clean start, no wheelies, and Carson stayed with the pack.
But as the field came around for Lap 2, #32 was missing. Moments later, Carson coasted into the pits. Something was off. The bike kept popping out of gear—into a false neutral instead of sixth. We’re still not exactly sure why.
And just like that, the weekend was over.
Packing Up, Looking Ahead
We loaded the trailer in record time and hit the road as the last race wrapped up, beginning the long 13-hour trek home.
Now begins the agonizing wait for the next round at Circuit of the Americas (CotA).
Final Thoughts
Racing will humble you fast. One moment you’re standing on the front row, ready to take the fight to the front. The next, you're watching from the sidelines, trying to figure out what went wrong.
But weekends like this remind us why we’re here—for the grind, the glory, and the growth.
Stay tuned—Carson will be back, faster and sharper than ever, for CotA.