deal for a 2010 Husaberg FX450. What an incredible bike. I was able to take a test ride on one in NJ. I fell in complete lust with the bike. I purchased mine from Appalachian Offroad MC in West Virginia. The guys there are great. They run www.ktm-parts.com and have tons of stock available. I've had the bike out twice now and can't believe how much faster I am instantly on this bike. It is so smooth with the fuel injection and with the relocated crank shaft makes direction changes seem effortless. I can't wait to get the suspension broke in and sprung for my weight.
We'll be heading to the Poconos this weekend for the Northeast Offroad Championship banquet. Should be a really great time.

wait for next year. Towards the end of the year, I felt some of my prior speed start to return. There were still bad days when my head would interfere with my ability to go fast, but they are getting less and less. I will be picking up my new bike, a 2010 Husaberg FX 450, this Saturday. Can't wait!

Well, 2009 has started and so has the racing.  I travelled to Millville, NJ to participate in the North East Offroad Championship event held at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds.  The length of this course is limited by the surround city streets.  The promoters were able to sqeak out a course just over four miles long.  I've never been a fan of racing very fast courses or motocross tracks and this course was definitely open, fast, and has many motocross elements in it.  I did have a great time riding this event.  I was able to push hard all day and my conditioning seems to be right where it needs to be.  I was really riding well and continued to move forward from tenth place on the first lap.  I had made it up to sixth place and was closing on fifth when I got impatient trying to pass a lapped rider.  I took a line I hadn't taken all day.  I ended up hitting a tree in fourth gear and breaking many things on my bike.  After recovering for about two minutes, I remounted and figured I'd at least finish this lap.  When I reached the scoring area I saw the white flag out and decided to finish the event.  I started pushing again and was able to get back up to seventh spot after falling back while on the ground.  I was happy to have rode well but wish I could have finished the race without any incidents.  So far the damage on the bike is mostly cosmetic although the hydraulic clutch still isn't working correctly.  The left side bark buster is bent into the shape of the tree and pushed back against the clutch resevior.  The radiator was pushed back into the water pump cover and the overflow bottle was destroyed.  Of course the radiator shroud didn't survive either.  So much for my graphics.  I can't wait for the first round of the VCHSS to arrive.  It is a new location and promises to be an event to remember. 

The summer break is over and we're back to racing again.  The VCHSS returned to racing at Blue Ridge 2 in Martinsville, VA.  The weather was great although the dust was pretty thick.  It seems there hasn't been much rain in Virginia lately.   I had my bike prepped with new tires, sprockets, chain, etc and was really looking forward to riding again.  At the start, my niece Alexandra was my umbrella girl.  I got a good start, about fifth and was riding well.  Just before the mile four marker, the front sprocket bolt decided to take a vacation and the front sprocket and chain jammed against the swing-arm.  I came to a screeching stop.  I searched as best i could but never found the bolt.  I used a check-point worker's cell phone to call the pits and let my wife know what had happened.  My friends were able to scrounge together a bolt and washer and one of the marshals brought it out to me.  I was down over a full lap.  I knew if I wanted to get any points for the day I had to complete two fo the three laps.  I went out and was pushing really hard to keep the AA riders from lapping me.  I ended up dumping the bike in a rocky corner and really tearing up my left elbow.  I ended up with about a three inch gash that was a half inch deep.  I picked up the bike to get going and noticed the right side radiator shroud was ripped in half and the front wheel was twisted way off center.  I banged the wheel against a tree and kept going.  I kept pushing hard and was able to reach the scoring trailer before the AA riders lapped me.  I went out for the next lap know I just had to finish and I was going to get points.  I ended up being the last rider to complete that lap as the AA riders lapped everyone else. 

I was disappointed with my mechanical problem but have no one to blame but myself. 



We're traveling to NJ this weekend for a NEOC event.  Wish me luck!

The season has continued and I'm happy to say it seems some of my MOJO may be returning.  I have been able to catch and compete with the riders in my class instead of just slowly dropping back all race.  On June 8th, my club Tidewater Dirt Riders promoted the Tidewater 100.  We spent all kinds of time working on the course in the incredible heat we have been having on the east coast.  On Sunday, the heat index was over 110 degrees.  On Saturday night I was definitely feeling tired after having worked on the course and dealing with the heat.  When the hat dropped I had a decent start.  Entering the second turn, someone next to me plowed into the hay bales.  This caused their bike to jump left, taking out my front wheel.  I was disappointed to be on the ground so early but picked up my bike as fast as I could and hit it hard.  I was able to catch the back of the class in the first mile and was surprised to catch the riders so quick.  I was able to push hard the entire race and actually climbed to thirty-first overall, fifth in my class.  I did wear out towards the end and dropped back one spot to sixth.  I was very pleased with the way I was riding.  I was able to keep pace with riders I competed with in the past.  This felt awesome.  I can't wait to keep improving my riding and picking up speed again. 

Blue Ridge 1 was a great ride for me.  I had my suspension redone by Randall Ellison.  I have also been continuing my work outs.  I was able to push hard for most of the ride and really show some speed.  I actually earned seventh instead of just finishing as the last guy in my class who finishes all the laps.  I'm looking forward to continuing my improvements on the course. 

Well, I've started back trying to compete in the Vet A class with the rest of the VA Championship Hare Scrambles Series.  It seems Mother Nature has decided we should all be better mud riders and she is doing her best to provide more mud than any of us could ever want.  We are four races into the season and I can finally say I'm feeling better riding.  I had to drop out the second race when I couldn't keep my head focused enough to stay safe on the course.  I was very disappointed as this was the first race I have ever quit.  Now, at the fourth race I couldn't go out for the last lap.  I had a tumor removed from my right hand and it swelled up.  I was unable to use my thumb at all and couldn't hold on in the muddy, rutted up conditions.  I am really not happy to say now I have two races I didn't complete by quiting.  I hope to continue to improve as I am starting to have more fun.  I was able to hit a groove on Sunday and enjoy some of the trail.  I'm looking forward to competing in the class and I am now listed a sixth in the points. 

Well, this was my first official event back on the bike.  We took a very large group of riders from Virginia down to round one of the National Enduro Series at Sumter, SC.  I entered the Vet A class even though many of the regular AA riders entered that class.  It seems in AMA National competition, if you don't hold and AMA Pro card you don't have to run AA in a national event.  I wasn't worried as I knew I was not up to race speed yet. 

I started off running a very good pace and keeping up with another Virginia A rider until my arm pump set in.  I decided to back off and not risk a big wreck by pushing too hard through the arm pump.  I rode well all day until the last section.  The whoop sapped the last bit of energy I had and I was forced to trail ride to the finish.  I was happy to return home with my body and the bike in one piece.  I finished 36th in Vet A, 170th Overall in A and 193rd overall in the event.  There were over 600 registered riders. 

Well, it seems the series is in need of someone to deal with the AMA paperwork.  The series board decided to create a new position to assist the president in handling the paperwork.  I was nominated and then elected by the board.  I am looking forward to helping our series continue to grow!! Thank you to the board.