Survival!!!!!
This was one tough track! Extremely unforgiving! Jump after Jump after Jump after Jump. Did I mention there were a lot of jumps! No Joke! All about riding smart, smooth, and being committed! Very technical. Not a track to show up to without practicing it beforehand!
Basically I hated the track after the first and only practice session before the Moto's began. Then by the last Moto(RACE), I was digging it! Go Figure?!?!?!
The track prep was good and the layout was a lot of fun. Well it was fun Once I got the hang of it! Even then though it was not easy and there were a section or two I was unable to get through smoothly. Now I was able to jump almost everything. Not that I cleared the jumps but I was doing them with the exception of this rhythm section consisting of 7 single jumps evenly space. Best way through was to jump 2 at a time and single jump the last. Unless you had the skills and guts to triple jump the first 3 then double out the last, but........ Anyway, without having practiced them prior to this event. I was unable to get it done so I had to single jump them and that was just slowing me down. Oh, I tried to do them, but it was a disaster. I almost killed myself. I over jumped the first set, cased the second set, bike got out of shape, the back end went side ways and by the 3rd set and I was on crazy train about to derail.... Those that witnessed, thought for sure, I was a dead man getting ready for another trip to the Hospital!!!!! Well Some how, I rode out of it (off the track by the way) and stalled the bike. Fortunately I was still upright on two wheels. HAHA!
Ok so Here's the Scoop...
I got there late, about 30 minutes before practice was to start. I had to unload, get the bike ready , myself dressed and sign up! Then go get my one and only practice in before the racing started.... I went out for the practice and just hated it.... I crashed in a corner, and got hurt trying to roll through a double jump rather than jump it. It was the second lap and I had not figured out the jump layout. The jump faces were steep as hell and without knowing what all the jumps were, I didn't try to jump anything till I got it figured out. Well when I tried to roll through this double I was going too fast and It through me up in the air. When I landed, I was in between the double. I flat landed, my whole body came crashing into the bike. Well my ankles took all the abuse. I felt it most in my left leg with the rod and screws. It felt like it was swelling and even like I had bent the rod in my leg. Not good..... So practice bit the dust!!! I was not happy!
Moto 1. 30+Novice class 5 Laps
I got 3rd gate pic so out I went chose an outside gate to play it safe. I'm still learning how to get good starts. So the gate drops and were off into the first turn. I went wide then cut to the inside. I was in the back of the pack and stayed there. I was 7th out of 8 riders. Well as the laps went on, I began to get confident and started jumping everything. Then I came to that rhythm section. You know the one I'm talking about. The derailed crazy train. Well my confidence was up from just jumping everything and as I came into that section I thought I would give it a try. Bad idea as described earlier. So now my bike is stalled and I'm in last.. With a couple laps to go, I start pushing the pace. The rider in front of me in the far off distance is starting to come back to me. The fitness workouts are starting to pay off.. With a half lap to go I'm in striking distance. I raced into this corner and...........Stalled the bike. Damn!!!!!!! Last place again?????
Moto #2
Of course I get last gate pic this time so outside I go. Oh and now its dark so we are racing under the lights! Cool.. well except for the fact that I'm wearing amber lense goggles. It was a bit hard to see in some spots on the track. Some of the lighting is not the best!! The gate drops and were off. Once again I'm in 7th of 8 racers. This time I rode much better. I didnt stall and held my position. Some areas were to dark to judge where the lines were going so I just went for it. I had the 6th place rider in my sights, but I just could not get close enough to make a pass. Oh well. That second moto I rode much better. I knew the track well enough now keep some rhythm going and minimize my mistakes.
Its been a bumpy road. This weekend was frustrating. I know I can do better. I'm in great shape from riding my bicycle and weight training. My skills on the MX bike have fallen a bit. Reality, after taking several months off during a career change then getting hurt right after getting back on the bike from that layoff, and suffering another 6 month layoff. The skill level is not where I would like it. I'm expecting too much from myself and am trying too hard. AS pointed out by my Motocross Mentor and Riding buddy Dan L. I think it is best I slow down and let the skills evolve and come to me. After all, In the last year, I've raced 7 times in my motocross career. If you want to call it a career!! As Dan likes to say, "BREATH!"
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