We are racers, we can’t get out of bed early!
We always run the k27 needle around here, the k98 has always been significantly slower for us. We also run it in the 2nd clip down just like my dad said. The problem you described to me sounds like the normalities of a Rotax. With the hairpin at Centennial, its all about getting the low RPM up. In the CW direction it should be around 7500, and around 7200 in the CCW. As long as your above 7 it will pull great.