Posts
634
Joined
6/9/2017
Location
Temecula, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
7/22/2017 6:43am
I recently raced a 2 hour GP on my YZ 125 and lost my rear brakes about 15 minutes into the race. Although the track was brutal, I kept pushing and managed to pass other riders and continue going. I didn't win but I felt great because I persevered.
Anyways, share your best racing moments.
Anyways, share your best racing moments.
The Shop
Madera California "CMC Trans-Cal" I think...
125 Int
I was on my CR125 "stock" bike (really good/well maintained bike for the stock class at LL's, etc.)
Decent start that had me in around 3-4 in the 1st turn. Someone right in-front and inside of me fell and I ran right over his bars/front end...barely stayed on the bike...lost about 5-6 positions...
All of a sudden...the bike wouldn't shift: I was stuck in 2nd. Didn't care. I kept racing and I DID NOT bounce it off the rev limiter! I took pretty easy in the fast sections and railed the turns. It seems a bent shift shaft is responsible for me pulling my head out of my ass and FINALLY riding thru the turns "quickly". I had to pick really crazy outside lines that allowed me to stay pinned thru the turns. Jumping was interesting; yet, again...I seemed to do it better than I usually would!?!? It was a very SXish track. It was fun. I was stoked.
I took 3rd. My mechanic told me it was the best he'd seen me ride. Ever.
It was an awesome day.
After the race, an AMA guy came over to interview me for an article he was doing. His first question was "how did it feel to battle with Terry Cunningham?" I had no idea he was even there until then. He was probably 50 and I was 25 but hey it's still Terry Cunningham haha
Big 6 GP Gorman last November Heavyweight Novice. Got about a 5th place start and passed into the lead on the track before heading into the trails. I was pulling away from everyone and halfway into the first loop we got the red flag. Had about an hour delay before our restart. They cut the race to 2 laps. Got a 3rd place start, passed into the lead in 2 straightaways and pulled away a little bit. Got to the trails and around halfway I ran out of steam. Tried to salvage a top 5 but I was so beat and on the second lap I caught my foot on an embankment through some sand whoops. Still finished 10th out of 46 guys in my class. Not too bad for a moto guy who only rides once every two months if I'm lucky. But it sucked to be leading twice and then have issues
Won Moto 1 in open B on my 250F. Led all of Moto 2 riding the widest bike ever and got nipped on the last straight by 0.002 seconds. 2 effing milliseconds...
Pit Row
The first moto was on Friday night under the lights. I got a better start than I expected, and ran near the front of the pack. By the middle of the race I had caught a guy on a CR250. I knew I was a little faster but he had the lines covered pretty well. There was a sketchy double out in the middle of the track with crossing ruts after the landing that neither of us was jumping. It was in the shadows and I don't see really well at night, so I decided to keep it on two wheels and bring it home safe in 4th.
The second moto ran on Sunday and I was hopeful for a podium finish. I took a bad start however, and had to banzai. This is where a 125 is actually quite helpful, because you can take really crazy lines while everyone else is bunched up! Well, I got up to somewhere just outside the top 10, railed an outside corner to make a little double and then realized in the air that there was carnage all over the track. They had watered too much and somebody went down, taking out most of the field. I tiptoed through the whoops after bouncing off a bunch of dudes (sorry, whomever you are,) and found myself in 3rd, right behind the guy on the CR and the leader, on a KX500. I had noted earlier in the day that someone on a KX500 took 27th in the first moto so I wasn't too worried about him. CR guy passed him, then so did I. After one lap, I noted the guy who had won the 1st moto was still trying to start his YZF on the side of the track. Bingo! I trailed CR guy for a few laps, then set him up for a block pass and took the lead. I held it all the way to the checkers for a moto win at the World Mini GP! My 4-1 earned me......2nd place. (Wah wah wah.......) Someone else had gone 2-2 for the overall.
I often wonder what might have been if I had gone for that double in the dark...
I had been down from Washington state the year before with Doug Raines, who got 2nd behind Tim Hart in the mud. I knew I needed to race Hangtown the next year. All I had was a clapped out 74 250 Bul, but it ran so away we went.
Practice was ok, but I was still a bit intimidated, as those Cali guys...all fast, right?
Well I pull up to the line for my first moto, all the way to the right. The first corner was a right hander, so I hoped to have some luck inside. I'm sitting there and up pulls a 250 Penton/KTM that said "Carl Cranke" tuned. I thought holy shit - I am going to get killed....
The gate drops, I get a good jump. Lo and behold I got the holey. Now I am leading but waiting for all the fast guys to come blowing by.
One corner, then another then another. All is quiet and I am pulling a big lead.
I had a couple of uncles watching right about where the finish line was. I'm beginning to believe I can do this, as no one is even close. As I pass where my uncles are standing I decide to show off, ramming the left hand berm hard, intending to wheelie out in front of them.
Instead I wuss out and hi-side right in front of them. I pick the bike up and start kicking. Kickety kickety kick. Still no one has come by. Kickety kick - the damned Amal had loaded up and I COULD NOT get it started.
As shame descended upon me, the pack come flashing by, and my hopes of Hangtown glory vanished as they disappeared down the track.
If only I had stuck to business....
Moto two I got a second place start behind the Canadian pro and rode his rear wheel for about 4 laps. To this day it was by far the best race I have ever been in. It was awesome and it's the type of ride that keeps me coming back for more!
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