Big races are great. They`re a lot of fun, you get to travel to some  of them...it`s a big hurrah. But....

They aren`t the be all, end all of BMX. Most of us race a whole lot more local races than nationals, and we develop as riders at the locals. For me, a great performance at a local race means a lot more than a national. Of course we EXPECT a great performance at nationals. But we grow together at the local track. Our peers develop more or less as we do, which is why it`s so much more meaningful when you get that perfect lap and run away with the lead from gate to finish line.

I had that race the other night. We had a crazy, mixed up class that put me in a rack with everything from one of our faster 15X riders to an out of state 44 year old Novice. It was VERY cold outside, and I`m not fond of cold weather at all. When the main came around it had the 15X rider in gate 1, my biggest local rival in 2, me in 3. I just sat there and relaxed, waiting for the cadence. I don`t remember the cadence starting. I don`t remember making the decision to snap. All I remember is the sweet sensation of my front tire ever gently pushing the gate down as my body rolled into the perfect snap. I looked over and saw that I was a full bike length ahead and realized I had just gotten a perfect gate. The best gate I had EVER gotten in a race. I kept the horses running in a stream of bliss.

It was nothing more than a 7 moto local race, but it was more of a shot in the arm for me than any national. I`ll carry that feeling with me for a very long time. It was surreal, and I will pursue that sensation every time I`m on the gate.