Still trying to figure out what i'm missing to catch that front pack. I hole shot my race about mid pack, did the first table top and washed my front end out in the left hander just before the second table top. I picked up my bike and was kicking away as the line behind me was getting started. My bike fired to life just in time and I was off. I felt good and my pace was strong but never came up on the faster guys in my class. I passed up to fifth but those top four were just out of reach. I found out through lap times that the front runners were a full minute faster per lap. I have done some homework by riding Chatsworth and focusing on the turns that resemble the wide open grass sections at  Barnegat. I have also been working on endurance by cross training on the mountain bike. I guess we'll have to see how that works. See you at Barnegat.

     ernie738

     This race was once again in the Pine Barrons in south Jersey. Sweet track but the dust was a major problem. Lap one was pretty kaiotic. With a mid pack start visibility was almost zero.  These conditions improved as the riders spread out but the damage was done.The track had some pretty nice fast tall grass sections which got pretty rough as the laps wore on. This section was probably my strongest point. There were also miles of woods and some sand portions. Overall I scored a 44 out of 125 which is my best finish yet. In my class I was 4th out of 9. Round 3 is at the same track so I'm hoping to use this experience there.

     My first  race of the season began as a surprise. I got a decent start in about 5th. I went into the woods and began swerving and weaving around downed riders.  The surprising part is that I came out of the woods in 1st place. I was promptly passed by a guy that obviously belonged ahead of me.I had a 10 second lead on the rest of the freight train that was coming. As I was telling myself to stay calm and be smooth, I promptly stalled my bike  in a turn  half a lap into the race and blew my second place standing. This did not come as a surprise. By the time I restarted,  that previously described "frieght train" had gone by knocking and bumping me back an forth as I kicked and kicked. I kept moving up as the race progressed, just to make the same mistake of bogging down and stalling again. This happened about 4 times. When it all ended, I could only wind up in 7th. I'm gonna have to miss round 2 but i am going to work on my sand skills which will consist of keeping my bike running in the turns. I feel confident about improving for round 3. I know what i have to do. See you there.

     ernie738