May 27, 2007 USDR Round 5

This round brought some serious competition looking to claim the $1000 dollar first place money. There was Bobby Bonds, Mark Tilley, Ryan Kudla, Mat Henderson, Justin Morrow, Dylan Murdock, Anthony Modica and Jeff Truelove. I drew my start position and picked the second start position. Before the race my dad and I discussed some race strategies. Ryan Kudla was starting first and I was starting second. Ryan is a really fast and good desert racer and hard to pass. Also due to the lack of rain the dust is worse than it has been in years and this makes it extremely hard to pass a rider who has good speed, like Kudla. With Bobby Bonds, Mark Tilley, Mat Henderson, Justin Morrow, Dylan Murdock Anthony Modica and Jeff Truelove starting behind me I needed to get around Ryan and pull out a good lead. My dad suggested that if I catch Ryan and can’t get close enough to make the pass safely, then I should pit early, at the end of the second lap. We knew Ryan would probably pit on the 3rd lap so at that point I could get in front and hopefully pull away without the dust. The race began with the Pros starting one at a time on 30-second intervals. Ryan started and then I started 30 seconds later. I was able to catch Ryan and as we completed the twelve mile first loop I was 13 seconds behind Ryan. I tried hard to get close enough to pass but the dust would slow me down because I couldn’t see. As Ryan and I came around to complete our second lap I pulled into the pits and my dad fueled my bike and I took a drink of water. The pit took about 10 seconds or less and I was back out on the track. Now I had to get close enough to Ryan so I could pass him when he pitted. At the end of the third lap I was back to 10 seconds behind Ryan. My dad was right! Ryan pulled into the pits and I went right by for the easy pass. This was a nice change I had clean air (no dust). Now I was able to ride my pace without dust slowing me down. At the end of the fourth lap Ryan was hanging tough and riding really good and was only 10 to 15 seconds behind me. Our plan was working; Ryan and I were pulling away from the other pros with third place over four minutes behind us. My hands were starting to hurt but I kept concentrating on the course and riding as fast as I could. At the end of lap 5 I had put a little more distant between Ryan and me. The white flag was out and this was the last lap. My hands still hurt but I wanted to win and I put the pain out of my thoughts. The last lap was really cool because people were cheering for me as I made my way around the track. At the finish I had pulled a 35 second lead over second place Ryan Kudla. Add my start time of 30 seconds and I had won by one minute. Third place Bobby Bonds was five minutes back. I waited at the finish line for all the pros to finish and Dave Earl (promoter) announced that I was first, Ryan Kudla second, Bobby Bonds third and Mat Henderson fourth. I took my gloves off and I had huge bleeding blisters on both hands. The course was fun but demanding due to the high speeds and rough trails. The next race won’t be until September as it is too hot in the summer to race in the desert. I’ll do some motocross to keep busy until September. There are four races left in the series and I expect more great races with Ryan Kudla. The purse will keep attracting fast Pros and every race will be very competitive.

This weekend was round 4 of the Big 6 Grand Prix Series. My Dad and I loaded the trailer Friday morning and headed to Palmdale, CA. We had a little detour on the way because the wind was so bad that Highway 14 was closed. Instead of taking an Hour and a half it took four hours. Oh well we were there and the drive wasn’t too bad. We got our pit set up and got signed up. My dad cooked dinner and we hung out with the Henderson’s. We all went to bed pretty early that night because the unclassified race started at 7:30am. In the unclassified race I started in the last row just so I could take it easy and learn the course. My first real race was four stroke Expert. It started at 10:30am. We got lined up and ready to go. Finally the race got started. I got a really bad start. The start was on asphalt, which made me a little cautious. I came around the first lap in about 5th place. I could see the leaders getting away so I started charging. I made my way into 3rd quickly. The leaders were battling hard and I could see them opening a big gap on me. I put my head down and charged. I made up a lot of time quickly. I got right behind the two leaders and then I blew a corner!!! Man I was mad at myself for making a mistake. They pulled out a big gap again so I had to work even harder. I noticed 4th place Bobby Garrison catching me quickly. He was really putting in some fast laps. While I was charging to catch the leaders he caught me and made a good pass at the end of the drag strip. I tried to stay with him and it helped me reel in the leaders. The white flag came out and I was right behind Mark Tilley who was in Third place. I made a couple pass attempts but failed to make them stick. I ended up 4th but I was happy with the way I rode and finished strong. My next race was on Sunday at 2:30pm, which was the Open Expert race. This time I was going to try and be more aggressive on the start. Well I was a little too aggressive with the gas and spun like I was trying to do a burnout for the crowd. Another last place start. I made some passes down the drag strip and then at the end of it a rider hit me from behind and pushed me off course. I was even farther back now. I pushed really hard through the motocross track and worked into 3rd by the 2nd lap. The leader had a huge gap already and 2nd place was about 15 seconds ahead of me. I pushed hard but seemed to make up no time at all. About halfway through the race I found some better lines and started riding really well. I could see I was closing the gap on 2nd place. I got right behind 2nd place and again it was Mark Tilley. The white flag came out and it was a repeat of the day before. The race was on. I tried making a pass in the off road section but he blocked me. I made a little bobble and Mark pulled out a couple bike lengths. I gained right back up on him. There wasn’t much track left, maybe 7 or 8 turns. I came underneath him in a corner and couldn’t make it stick. So the next corner I dove underneath and took his line away from him. He didn’t let off at all and we collided. I had a wheel on him so he got the worst of it going out of the rut. I still had my work cut out for me. I pushed hard to the finish and made my pass stick. I was still bummed about my starts but really happy I finished 2nd. It was another great weekend and I extended my points lead in the Open expert class. My fitness is getting really good and I charged the whole race. Thanks for everybody’s support and I will see everyone at the race’s.

This weekend was another AMA National Hare and hound. This race was held in Lucerne Valley, CA. Unlike the last National in Utah this one was going to be really hot, fast and rocky. Usually we go out Saturday and practice the bomb and hang out. One of my good friends brother was getting married this weekend so instead of going to the desert early I went to his bachelor party. We held it at Pole Position raceway in Corona, CA. It is an indoor go-kart facility that is owned by the motocross industry. We had a great time and my buddy Matt Henderson and I took first and second in our main with myself coming in 1st. Then it was out to Lucerne to stay with the Abbatoye’s and get some sleep. We woke up early and my Dad showed up about 6:30am with my bike and I went and practiced the bomb. I felt I had a good line so I rode back to the truck to get my last minute preparations ready. We checked the bike over, prepped some goggles, got the dump can ready, and filled the bike up with gas. I went to the starting line about 9:15am to get ready for the 9:30am start. At 9:30am the banner went up and I was ready. My Kawasaki 450 fired up first kick and I was gone. I saw Destry Abbott off to my right so I knew I had a good start going for me. My line Crossed with another and I got dusted out pretty good but started moving right to get out of the dust. Finally once I got going I think I was about 17th or so. I made a lot of passes right away in this really rough sandy valley. I made a few more in the rocks and a couple on a dry lakebed. Before I knew it the first loop was over. I came into the pits and got a fresh pair of goggles, a drink of water and a tank of gas. My Dad said I was 10th overall. I really wanted a solid top 10 finish so I pushed on. I caught Kendall Norman who was having some troubles right away. That’s when I realized the front end was all over the place and I had a front flat tire. I figured I could still push and be under control so I still charged on. Then I caught Brett Saunders and made the pass on him. As soon as I passed Brett, I realized the back end was handling really bad. I looked down and now I had a rear flat tire also!!!! Man I was bummed!!! Right then Kellon Walch passed me. I figured if I could stay with him I would be ok. I pushed hard but was fighting the bike really bad because of the two flat tires. Kellon pulled me but I kept pushing. Finally after forever we hit the final valley. I saw some guys closing in behind me but I wasn’t going to lose my top 10 finish in the last 5 miles. I pushed as hard as possible hanging on for dear life with the flats it was really scary. I finally made it to the finish. I finished 9th overall first Open Expert. It was a good day and if it wasn’t for the flats I believe I could have been close to a top 5. I just need to thank all my sponsors and My Dad for prepping my bike. My next race will be a District 37 AMA Big 6 Grand prix at LACR.