This was my second year racing the MTA World Vet Nationals and let me tell you, the whole weekend is just an awesome experience. I may be biased since this race acts as a reunion for some of my oldest racing friends from Montana, but just a spectator there is plenty of race action, a pile of MX celebrity sightings and more friendly faces in the pits than you'll know what to do with.
The whole weekend starts with a Vet-only practice session on Friday. Here you get to tackle the Glen Helen track (designed by the creative, yet slightly sadistic mind of Jody at MXA) and find out just how much your hands will hurt. This year's course had plenty of ups, downs and tights to keep it interesting. And the bumps definitely showed up. But if you're racing Glen Helen and you don't get bumps, something is wrong. So all was good and the racing was even better.
The highlights of the weekend are always the Pro classes. Doug Dubach is the king and tore away two more championships from this year's event making 17 crowns in his vet wardrobe. Ryan Hughes should have taken one of those from Dubach, but a flat rear tire threw a heartbreaking wrench into those plans.
Check out some of my favorite photos from the race. I even put some of Jimmy Lewis in there since he rode so well (before getting a flat tire in moto one and getting really tired in moto two) on our 2010 YZ450F. For the record, Jimmy owes Dubach $2 for losing the holeshot game.
Venezuela's Pedro Gonzale...
Venezuela's Pedro Gonzalez
Nitro Circus' own Kurt Nicoll...
Nitro Circus' own Kurt Nicoll came to the World Vet's with little practice and dropped some smoothest lines going 3-3 in the 40+ Pro Class. He was charging!
You know how some guys are...
You know how some guys are just silently tough? Well, Kevin Foley (1985 Rookie of the Year!) was parked next to the Dirt Rider crew at Glen Helen and woke up Sunday with a tweaked back so severe he could barely walk. He suited up and went 2-1 for the 45+ Expert class championship. Badass!
Suzuki-mounted Chris Young...
Suzuki-mounted Chris Young put in the most consistent rides of the weekend, in my opinion and with unbreakable style fought off a hard-charging Kurt Nicoll in the 40+ Pro class and finished second (only to superman Doug Dubach) overall. DRD is one of Young's (and his son's) sponsors-you think he held something back for a pipe discount? Nah.
Another shot of Foley. Just...
Another shot of Foley. Just because he's a cool dude.
Even Pooh-Bear got to ride...
Even Pooh-Bear got to ride around the famous Glen Helen track. Thanks, Santa!
Montana's Dean Olsen kept...
Montana's Dean Olsen kept it super-duper real on his KTM 144 two-stroke. He and Captain Joe Melton had some epic small-bore battles.
Doug Dubach is the holeshot...
Doug Dubach is the holeshot king. Only Ryan Hughes could beat him to the first turn over the weekend (in the 30+ Pro Class on Sunday)
DR's Jimmy Lewis snuck onto...
DR's Jimmy Lewis snuck onto the track aboard our 2010 Yamaha YZ450F to see if he could beat Dubach on his 2010 YZ450F. He couldn't. But he did hang in there for a surprisingly long time in 3rd before getting his fade on.
Decal Works made Doug some...
Decal Works made Doug some funky stickers
See that little speck on the...
See that little speck on the right? That's Joe Melton and a YZ125. Glen Helen got ROUGH!
Dirt Rider's 2010 Yamaha YZ450F...
Dirt Rider's 2010 Yamaha YZ450F with Jimmy Lewis on board.
These two guys drove together...
These two guys drove together all the way from Montana only to get this close on the track. Joe Robbins (33) and Olsen battle it out through an early winter.
Captain Joe Melton had the...
Captain Joe Melton had the 125 singing!
When you come for the MTA...
When you come for the MTA World Vet's you get to run the whole track.
That means going uphill, ...
That means going uphill, too.
Ryan Hughes was so dominant...
Ryan Hughes was so dominant in the 30+ Pro Class on Sunday that it took a miracle to beat him. His last lap tire explosion (after riding 20 minutes on a flat) opened the door for Dubach to grab his 17th World Vet title.
Hughes laying it down. His...
Hughes laying it down. His speed was ridiculous. One of these days, luck will fall on his side at the MTA World Vet Nationals.
See you next year!