____________________________________________________________
Coming into the day I had decided with Ryan and Aaron to race the AA class since we were locked in points for the A class. This being my first time on the front row, I didn't have many expectations other than to ride smart and safe.
After the riders meeting I scrambled back to the truck to get my Halloween race costume on (Lauren and I were Batman/Batwoman). I lined up off to the right (outside on the first corner) and was able to get a good jump into 3rd at the tilled corner track. By the time we exited the track I had moved up to 2nd after Darin went down.
Aaron hung on my rear tire for the next two laps. I felt like I could gap him on the first half of the track only to have him track me down by the finish line in the last half. I could see that he had his hands full with Isaac and then Darin on his tail for laps 1 and 2 though so I knew he was busy too. By lap 3 Darin had made his way around me and I gapped Aaron but was having trouble staying focused which allowed Tanner to creep up on my rear tire.
Once Tanner was on me I did my best to get my head back in the game and charge. Tanner hounded me for about half a lap before making a pass at the little grassy motocross track section. I was almost too focused on getting him back to notice that Ryan had caught up to us in our battle to make it a three way fight for 3rd!
Tanner led us into the final lap and the three of us were glued together until Tanner stalled his bike coming out of the creek. I jumped at the opportunity to have the lead back and kept it until one of the tight corner before a chat hill where I made an error and downshifted into neutral which allowed Ryan to take the lead! I was able to stick on Ryan's rear tire until I had a little trouble with a rider we were about to lap. To no fault of the rider, Ryan made the pass and on him and he went to pull back in the trail as I was attempting to make the same pass. My right forearm caught his handlebar and pulled me to a stop, sorry for that (whoever you were)! I was able to cruise to the finish with Tanner giving me a little breathing room and take 4th place. Nice racing Ryan/Tanner, and congratulations to the guys racing AA, that's a whole different level!
____________________________________________________________
Race report being said, I'd like to give some kudos to all of the guys in the A class for making this year awesome and exciting. I had a lot of fun battling it out every weekend, and there were lots of guys that had some fantastic rides: At the beginning of the year Kasey and Issac were front runners before moving up to AA; then there's the solid A class guys like Ethan, Brennen, Dylan, and Tanner; plus the fresh faces of Jared, Remy, and Logan; and nearing the end of the year with Ryan and Aaron hitting their stride. It feels like everyone has been a contender at some point. With the closest margin of victory in the A class since 2007 I feel confident in saying that it took a lot to win the championship (Something I'd never accomplished in my racing career until now), so thanks to everyone in the class that made this year memorable. And a special thank you and congratulations to my wife on her first championship. She had a rough go at her first 600 class race, but I'll let her get into that.
I hope to see everyone at some rides/races through the winter months, if not I'll see you at the banquet!
