Looking for some feedback - panning technique

[GypsyEsq]

After seeing the motion assignment on DPS several weeks ago I got a little obsessed with trying to recreate the winning photo. I'm not sure if this is that good -- to tell you the truth I was a little disappointed with the entire set because I couldn't get my subject focused. This was the best of the lot in my opinion. Any advice on how to better set up the shot?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gypsyesq/2444556924/" title="Faster! by GypsyEsq, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/2444556924_b71e65fd17.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Faster!" /></a>

Shot with my D40 and kit lens.
EXIF:
Shutter Priority
38mm
1/40
f/16
ISO 200

Thanks for your suggestions!

[clockdoc]

Looking at you EXIF data you may want to try a lower ISO, a slower shutter speed and a larger aperture to make the background less apparent. I think you did a nice job with this one. It helps to prefocus or if your camera offers a continuous focus mode, try using it. One other tip is to position your body such that you can make a smooth arc of rotation through the action. Always to remember to keep panning after you have pressed the shutter release. Action moving perpendicular to the line of sight will offer the greatest background blur but also the greatest challenge to the photographer. You are on the right track. Keep shooting!

[chins]

I image looks very nice to me. May be if you had increased the shutter value (i mean like 1/15th of sec), you would have got much blurred background.

[chrismar]

I think it turned out pretty good. The subject is in focus and the background is nicely blurred.

[GypsyEsq]

Well thanks for the feedback everyone. I will try shooting it again with a larger aperture and play around with the continuous auto focus to see if I can get my subject a little sharper. The more I've looked at it the more I do like it. Thanks again.