This past weekend was a rare weekend off for me. So I spent all day Friday driving in traffic in beautiful L.A. I had to visit some sponsors and pick up my motor and suspension for my other bike. Lucky for me, my buddy Matt Henderson went with me to keep me sane for the drive. I left Las Vegas at 5:30 am and didn’t get back to Matt’s house where I was going to spend the weekend until 8:00 pm. It was a really long day but I accomplished a lot. So we worked on bikes for a couple hours and then went to sleep. Saturday morning we drove to the new track Adelanto Motoplex. We got some good riding in since I haven’t been to a regular practice day all year because of are really busy racing schedule. It was fun putting in some good moto’s and just playing around with some friends. The track is really good, the dirt is nice and loamy and they have some big jumps that are a lot of fun. It’s nice to see new tracks doing well because it gets boring riding the same tracks all the time. We left kind of early because we heard about a grand prix that was at competitive edge Motocross Park the following day. We went back to Matt’s house and prepped our bikes and just hung out for the rest of the night.
Sunday was the race but our race wasn’t until 1:30 pm and the practice was at 11:30 so we didn’t have to get up early at all. We got to the track around 10:30 signed up and waited around. It was very windy but the track looked like fun. For practice we got about 3 or 4 laps and the track was about 5-6 minutes long. It was mostly motocross with two short straights. I liked the track a lot. About 1:15 I went to the line and got ready to race. There were about 10 people on the line and I believe 6 or 7 people in my class. It was a flag start with a live engine. I got a really good jump and pulled the hole shot. I took it easy for the first lap and just tried to get my lines down. About the 3rd lap I started putting in some fast laps and tried to pull away. I had about a ten second lead. I kept charging and pulling 3-5 seconds a lap. The course was rough but I had really good lines and just kept charging. I just started to think how long we had been going when I got the white flag and realized the 45-minute race was already over. I took the last lap real easy and just cruised in. I finished with about a 30 second lead. Matt finished 3rd and I was happy for him because he made some of his money back too!! I felt really good about my race because it was more of motocross then a grand prix. My stamina was excellent and I feel that I am getting close to being ready to charge for two hours. I will continue to work and hopefully after summer be ready to go to a worcs race and challenge for the top 5. I just want to thank all my sponsors for helping me out. My parents, for driving down to the race and taking Matt and I out to lunch afterwards. I couldn’t do anything without my Dad he keeps my bikes running perfectly and he keeps me motivated to do better each week even after such a disappointing race last weekend. This weekend coming up is the next AMA national hare and hound and I am hoping to put in a really good ride. See everyone at the races.
Nick Burson#657

April 14, 2007 Sage Riders National Hare and Hound Jericho Utah My dad picked me up in Las Vegas Friday morning and we drove to Fillmore Utah and spent the night at a Best Western Motel. We got started the next morning at around 6 AM. We jumped back into the truck and drove to the race. It took about an hour. We got our pit set up and I went and signed up. The race didn’t start till 11:30 AM. We checked over the Kawasaki KX450F and checked the air pressure in the tires. The sun was out and it was warming up. The dust seemed very bad. There hasn’t been any rain for a while. At 11:AM I rode down to the riders meeting and after the riders meeting we all went to the start. At 11:40 the start banner dropped and my bike started first kick and I got to my line first. It seemed like a battle zone out there. I saw Russ Pearson crash and Kamo crash. I managed to stay up and was running in fifth place about five miles into the race. David Pearson was running first with Kendal Norman and Destry About and myself in tow. I was right the dust was awful. I stayed right behind Destry till I made a mistake and he pulled away a little bit. The 40-mile loop was very tight. It took an hour and a half to finish the first loop. In the pits I took on gas, fresh goggles and a drink of water. I told my dad something was wrong with my front end and he checked the tire and couldn’t see anything wrong. So off I went for the second loop, which was 47 miles long. A few miles into the second loop my stomach started to hurt. I just kept pushing thinking it would go away. I started getting chills and than I barfed. I kept going and I barfed a second time. I started getting weak and couldn’t stand up on the bike. I stopped thinking I could rest for a minute and I would be all right. I kept feeling worst. I decided to quit and find my way back to the pits. I hated quitting but I needed to get back to the pits before things got worst. I was a little lost but managed to make it back. My first stop was an outhouse. You guessed it, now I had diarrhea. My dad loaded the truck while I made frequent visits to the outhouse. It was a long trip home. Next race National Hare and Hound in Lucerne Valley April 29.

April 8, 2007 Round 4 USDR Series

On Saturday my dad and I drove out to Searle’s Station near Ridgecrest and rode practice.  The course was 12- 15 miles long and very fast.  I enjoyed the course but knew dust was going to be a factor.  I checked in at sign up and drew my starting position.  I drew start position 4.  Justin Morrow was first followed by Anthony Modica, Matt Henderson then me.  Matt decided not to race after practice and this moved me up one position.  The rest of the day was spent on prepping my bike, new tires, oil change, new clean air filter and checking for loose bolts.  Sunday I awoke and my dad had pancakes ready and we ate breakfast.  We loaded the truck and drove out to the USDR race.  We drove to the pits and set up.  Check my bike over one last time adjusted air pressure in the tires.  I had some water and waited.  At 11:15 I rode up to the starting line.  At 11:30 the first rider left, 30 seconds later Anthony left and I moved up to the starting gate.  The starter gave me the 5 second warning and I pulled in my clutch lever and shifted the bike into second gear.  I held the throttle open and had the motor running at a high RPM.  I  watched the starter and he waved the Green Flag!  I dumped the clutch, dust and dirt went flying.  I went through the gears 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th.  Toped out in fifth gear I was traveling around 70 miles an hour.  The course lead us up a hill and down the other side I went.  I was in my zone and everything was clicking and I was making up time on Anthony.  I caught Anthony Modica near the end of the first loop.  Going back up the start hill I almost passed him.  It took me 10 more miles till I was able to make the pass.  As I went by the pit area my dad gave me the signal I was in second and Justin was a minute and a half ahead of me.  I lost 30 second to him the first two laps.  I dug deep and found another gear.  I was pushing and attacking the course.  At the end of the third loop I had caught Justin on time and was 2 seconds ahead.  I kept pushing and by the end of the fourth loop I had extended my lead to 20 seconds.  I knew Justin was pushing just as hard as me and I couldn’t let up one bit.  On the fifth lap I was encountering more lappers and having to take different lines to pass them.  As I passed a lapper off the regular line I hit something, probable a rock, which put me on my front wheel.  I wasn’t going to let this cause me to crash so I just hung on and got both wheels back on the ground and kept motoring on.  At the white flag and heading into the sixth and finale lap I still had the lead by 20 seconds.  A flawless last lap took me to victory.  I won my second USDR race.  My dad came up to me and gave me a bottle of water which I needed really bad.  We celebrated with each other and shared close calls with the other racers.  After a few minutes and all the Pros had finished Dave Earl, the promoter, made it official, Nick Burson 1^st, Justin Morrow 2^nd, Ryan Kudla 3^rd and Modica was fourth.  With this win I took over the points lead in the series.  I now had a 35 point lead.  Next race will be a National Hare and Hound in Jericho UT Saturday April 14. 

Race results, pictures and race reports can be seen at this web site:

http://www.usdesertracing.com/

My dad and I left Friday morning (3-30-07) and it took over three hours to get to Twenty-Nine Palms.  We drove up to the gate to pay our gate fees and get our weekend wrist bands.  We picked our camp spot and set up camp.  I unloaded my bikes and removed my Scotts steering stabilizer and took it to Jim at BRP to be serviced.  I spent the evening visiting with friends and getting signed up for the weekend races.  Saturday morning I got suited up for the unclassified race (practice).  On the first lap something hit my front brake caliper and broke it off.  I pulled over to my dad next to the course and he just removed the entire front brake so I could continue.  After practice was over my dad repaired my bike and got it ready for my first race.  At 12:30 PM I drove to the starting line to stage for my first race, Four Stroke Pro.   When the race banner dropped I was forth going into the first turn.  I made some quick passes to move into 2^nd.  I was 15 seconds behind Mark Tilley at the completion of one lap.  On the second lap we started lapping slower riders and I pulled within four seconds of Mark.  The next two laps Mark was able to extend his lead to 15 seconds.  I wasn’t getting by the lappers as fast as Mark.  At the finish Mark stalled his bike at the enduro section thirty feet from the checker flag.  He was able to get back going right in front of me and he won.   My dad had 30 minutes to get my bike washed and prep for the Pro Team Race at 2 PM.  At 1:55 I drove up to the start and was staged for the Pro Team Race.  This time when the banner dropped I was 2^nd to the first turn.  The rider in first went a little wide and that was all I needed to pass him on the inside.  I came out of the first corner in first.  I started opening my lead and when I enter the pits at the end of lap one I was 90 seconds ahead.  Matt and I alternated laps and were able to finish way ahead of the field.  I think we did 9 laps on a eight mile course.  I cooled down in our air conditioned trailer and took a shower.  Mark Abbatoye made dinner and it was great!  He had steaks, pork loins, shrimp, bake potatoes and some vegetables.  Those of you who know me and my taste know I had meat and potatoes, no shrimp or vegetables.  After dinner we visited around the pits and went to bed early.  Sunday we got to sleep in because my race wasn’t till 3:30 PM.  We prepped my Kawasaki KX450F and gave it a bath.  At 3:15 PM I drove to the start and was staged for the Open Pro Race.  This time when the banner dropped I was first to the first corner.  Mark Tilley passed me about a mile into the race.  I stayed on his rear fender for the first lap and at the end of the second lap I passed him and started pulling away.  Sometime after that Mark got a front flat and pulled into the pits to changed his front wheel.  I pulled away from second place and had over 3 minute lead.  At the end of the forth lap I was expecting the white flag indicating this was the last lap.  There was no white flag and I could hear the announcer saying there was too much time left and I would have to do one more lap before they would put out the white flag.  I guess I was burning up the course and put in some of the fastest lap times for the weekend.  My dad wasn’t sure I had enough fuel to do six laps when we thought I would only be doing five.  He went back to the trailer and put a gallon of gas in the quick dump can and ran over to the pit area.  When I came around he had Brian, my cousin, flag me down and I entered the gas pit area and took on some fuel.  I finished the race way out in front.  You can see how vital it is for my pit crew to recognize a possible problem and react to make sure I win.  If I ran out of fuel on the last lap my lead wouldn’t have matter, it would be a DNF.  (Did Not Finish)  Next Race USDR Ridgecrest April 8, 2007. 

http://www.big6racing.com/schedule.htm       www.usdesertracing.com