Don't even know how I am going to top Dennis' post, he summed everything up pretty good!
My weekend started saturday, arrived there a little after 5pm and got in a ride before dark. Yup, I was back at Walters, rocks brought back memories of last years race! Did some grilling and sat around the campfire with Pam and Dennis, good relaxing night.
Up in the morning and ready to go. Looks like the weather forecast had changed a little, it was now a bit chilly and the wind was picking up, what happened to 70's and sun?
Went out for practice with Brad, figured I had to show him the wrong way to hit the first rock ledge section, and dumped the bike right in the middle! Always good to get the first crash out of the way during practice
Noon time came quick, so it was time to hit the line. I lined up on the left side of the 800 stake, thought I made a bad choice at first cause no one else was on that side. Grayson was lined up on the other side of the stake so I knew I was in the right place, been battling with him quite a bit this season.
The board goes sideways and gun goes off, one good kick and I am off. Got a great start, out in second, right on Grayson's rear fender as we hit the first corner. Kept the bike stuck there just waiting for the right time to pass. Ended up making the pass at the first rock ledge section (took the same line I crashed on earlier in the day, but the bike stuck this time
). Now with a clear course in front of me I started making as much time as I could. Came through scoring in 1st on the first lap (still cool to see "Class Leader" on the board
).
The second lap I got held up a little with a rider from a different class, tried a few times for a pass, but he wasn't letting me pass. Guess he thought we were in the same class. I knew the longer i waited the closer Grayson was getting so I had to do something, tried for a pass on one of the sweeping corners in the woods. I could have sworn those saplings were a little farther apart
one ended up grabbing my bars hard and down I went. As my left handlebar hit the ground the clutch lever caught my pinky finger between the clutch and grip, felt like it ripped it off. Didn't even bother looking at that time, bike was still running, I think I was back on the seat in about 3 seconds and making up for lost time. About a 100ft further down the trail I looked at my hand and saw all my fingers were still there (or atleast the parts were still in my gloves). I caught back up to the rider I had been stuck behind, he moved right over and let me by, guess he figured out I really wanted to pass him. The adrenalin from the crash pushed me through the rest of the lap pretty quick. Back through scoring in first.
Took a breath, banged my levers straight and headed back out for the 3rd lap, nothing really happened this lap, kept it clean, bike on 2 wheels and pretty decent pace.
Here is where it gets a little interesting, coming through scoring at the end of lap 3, still showing I am in first but there is a bike right behind me. As I round the corner of cones, I see it is Grayson, he caught up to me! I exited scoring quicker than I had all day, had to light the fire, there is no way I am going to give up first place, especially on the last lap. Through the ditch hard in second, clicked into third as I hit the downhill start section and kept the throttle pinned (not at all joking, it was pinned!) hit the whooped out section, kept the front end light and pushed towards the woods. I knew I had to make it to the woods before he did. Came up on another rider just before entering the woods, I was reving the bike like crazy, luckily he saw/heard me and knew I ment buisness, he moved well out of the way as I blasted through. I hit that first section of woods fast ........very fast, I don't think I backed off the throttle for about 3/4 of a mile, and that was only cause I had to slow down to make the corner! I kept the heat on, ran a good clean lap, kept the bike on 2 wheels and pushed as hard as I could. I left everything I had left on the course and hit scoring in 1st Place, boy I was glad to see the checkered flag!
After the race Dan called me over and told me what had happened when we exited scoring. I guess Grayson was determined to make a pass on me in the deep whoop section, and as Dennis described, he went for a pretty good rodeo ride. I gotta give Grayson some credit here, he is one pretty fast kid! Look forward to battling more with him the rest of the season.
Dennis, as for the cut, don't really know what happened. Once back at the trailer getting my riding gear off, I had a pretty good wack on my thigh, looks like someone nailed me good with a broomstick, broke the skin and swelled up a little. Didn't even notice it when I was riding, most likely it happened when I went down in the saplings.
Thanks to everyone who put on this race, the course flowed great and it was a blast!