Diabetes Team Completes 277 Miles at Dirt Rider 24 Hour

The 2007 Dirt Rider 24 Hour Torture Test was nothing but fun for the Josh Summey-lead team riding to raise money and awareness for diabetes, a condition the top-level motocross and supercross racer suffers from. Suffer, though, isn't the right word for Josh Summey's way of dealing with the condition. Based on his speed, his attitude, and his strength and endurance, you'd never think he had anything that slowed him down - and he doesn't.

The idea behind the team was to get donors to pledge money for the American Diabetes Association for every mile the team completed on the bike. You can see a list of many of the donors on the message board at www.dirtrider.com. It is not too late to donate if you would like to help out. Above and beyond doing something good for a very worthy cause, Josh Summey would appreciate it. He agreed to participate in the Dirt Rider 24 Hour to raise money and awareness, so you would be putting a smile on one of our sport's top racers if you would like to pledge. The team covered 277 miles - a little shy of what was anticipated due to a slower course lay-out and the team's already exhausting training and racing schedule. Here's how you can send in your donation -

BY PHONE -

888-342-2383 ext. 7511 or ext. 7455 or ext. 7503
(Please be sure to mention the money is being given in the name of "Dirt Rider 24 Hour")

BY MAIL -

American Diabetes Association
Attn: Dirt Rider 24 Hour Torture Test
6300 Wilshire Blvd., Suite #100
Los Angeles, CA, 90048
(be sure to write "Dirt Rider 24 Hour" on the check's memo line)

The team was backed by Moto XXX, Honda, Josh's supercross and motocross sponsor, as well as Race Tech suspension and Akrapovic exhausts - both suppliers to the MotoXXX race team. Allan Brown, the race team manager, took the role of managing the Diabetes Team as well as being one of its riders. The other riders were Josh's race mechanic, Scott Roegner, Race Tech's Pro Support and R&D guy, Ronnie Williams, and the rider who came all the way from North Carolina to ride, Barry Summey. Barry's not related to Josh, but a good friend from back home.

MotoXXX, Honda prepped a 2007 Honda CRF450X and showed up bright and early to tackle Jimmy Lewis' 22 mile off-road course. Everyone was eager and enthusiastic, as heavy rains a few days prior put the trails in near-perfect condition. At least the course started out in great shape, but more on that later...

The first order of business was to pass the sound check. Jimmy Lewis believes in keeping bikes quiet, and enforced a 96db sound limit on all bikes in the closed-course Dirt Rider event. With a few Akrapovic techs looking on, the bike passed sound with flying colors - recording well under the limit. But the Akrapovic guys didn't come out just to watch the sound check - they were soon into riding gear and hitting the trail themselves.

The Torture Test itself got started at 10:00 am. Josh was in the first group of riders, all sent out at one minute intervals. The team spent the day and the night keeping the CRF-X gassed up. The only maintenance they did the whole time was change the rear tire at about 10:30 at night. The perfect trail conditions turned nasty when a rain came in around 10:00 and made the trails slick and challenging. When it was all said and done, the team had spun 277.3 on the Honda's odometer. All the riders were tired and muddy but still had big smiles on their faces.