Life has really changed for me this year. After a horrible supercross season, the outdoor season is really looking good and I am having fun again. This is my first full season on the AMA national tour. I have been looking forward my whole amateur career to riding some of the best tracks in the world.
I was a bit nervous for Glen Helen. I had been on the bike just over a month and was still recovering from some internal injuries that I suffered at Anaheims round three. I got through my heat races and made it to the point-paying motos, and at that point I was happy to be in the show-a bit of pressure off my back. The first moto went well; I rode a bit tight in the beginning but settled into a good pace. I was running 16th when I crashed at the halfway point. I ended up way back in the field, but I put my head down and worked myself back up to 21st. I was not too pleased with myself, to say the least. In the second moto I got a great start-I was in 12th and feeling good. But I ended up falling again. I picked myself up and rode to an 18th-place finish. I was really pumped because I scored points!
Hangtown was really fun. My heat races were good and I made it to the program easily. In the first moto I had a great start, but coming into the first turn I slid out with a few other riders-it was wet and slippery. I knew at that point I had nothing to lose, so I pushed as hard as I could. I went from 38th to 15th and was happy with my ride, and I scored more precious points. In the second moto I ripped a seventh-place start, but I rode horribly in the first few laps and hit the ground once again. I then tried to ride the same way I did in the first moto-push hard and try not to crash. I worked my way back up to 16th, and that put me in 15th overall.
After Hangtown I headed out on the road for Mount Morris. I played truck driver and did most of the driving; my mechanic, Eddy, helped out a little. My teammate Klody is from Japan, so he can't drive the rig here in the United States, plus he's got no clue where he is. After three days of driving we finally arrived at the track. It had been raining and I had been driving for too long. Three days off the bike was not good-I am one of those riders who has to be riding all the time, and it's hard for me to get going when I haven't ridden in a few days. Saturday's practice was hard; it had been raining and I got sucked in the mud because I have never ridden in it and was a bit thrashed from the drive-it all just added up and I was riding like crap. But by Sunday I had pretty much dusted off the cobwebs and was ready to race. In the first moto I had an OK start and worked my way up to about 13th; and with a few laps to go Kelly Smith decided to clean me out so again there I was, laying on the ground. I got back up, and a few corners later Smith fell on his own. I rode to a 16th-place finish in the first moto and I was happy with that, considering I didn't feel 100 percent. The second moto was really interesting-I got a 12th-place start and began pushing and passing guys. I was in 10th after the first lap, but I had a huge swap and went off the track, dropping to 29th. I rode hard the rest of the moto and on the last lap I caught Daryl Hurley; and with a few turns to go I passed him for 13th, but going into the last turn he decided to put me in the fence-once again I was on the ground. However, I was able to get up quickly enough to get a 15th-place finish. So far this year I have hit the ground in every moto, but that's racing. I don't hold grudges; I have to race smarter.
I am really looking forward to Southwick. I have never ridden most of these tracks, so I just go by what people tell me; and what I hear about Southwick makes me nervous. I really like sand tracks, but I hear it can get really rough. All in all I am really happy with some of my results. I have been training hard so I think if I can stay off the ground at Southwick I can put in a decent result and stay in the points-paying position. Wish me luck and I hope you enjoy ready my adventures that I will bring to you every Tuesday here at mxraceronline.