- Oct 20, 2000
- 2,969
- 2
Just made it home from the 2nd night of AX in the Heart of Texas. I'm pleased to say I had the same results as last night in the over 30 class. With the exception of myself and 2 other riders there was a whole new bunch of racers in my class.
Practice was uneventfull again but when it was time for my heat/qualifier, I think I rode the best I've ever riden. Even Tigger said I didn't suck and looked very fast & smooth, that's a lot coming from her :p . I got so engrossed in watching the 125 pro main, which was the race just before mine, that I was late getting to the gate for my good gate pick I had coming. Didn't matter though, I still got to get where I wanted but just about the time we were getting the signal my bike died, forgot to turn on the gas. I think that was an omen. I turned it on and kicked like hell before she finally fired up. The gate dropped and I got a pretty good start untill the two fastest guys laid down in front of me in the first turn. I managed to get around them but the half dozen or so other guys did too and they were faster at it than me. From an almost stopped position I went for the 1st double and made it, so far so good. Around the next turn and over the catapult (I don't jump that thing) I went. The next turn and I was looking at the rythym section. I hadn't seen the track since my heat and there have been 23 races before mine, including 3 pro races. They all must've been hitting the rythym section in the exact same place because it was worn down really good in the middle, I was on the left. :eek: I went ahead and doubled 3 times and made it through, moving up a couple of spots. Around the next corner and through the whoops, it was really rough tonight. The next lap was going well, I passed a couple more guys and was getting pretty close to the front when I heard a bike behind me headed back into the rythym section, this time I was going to hit the center. The 1st one was great but then the dreaded false neutral reared it's ugly head. As I gassed it to do the second set all I got was a panic rev. I repositioned myself and just as I went to kick it back in gear I felt the bike lunge forward but not in time to stop my foot from kicking it back down into neutral yet a 2nd time, just in time for the 2st set of doubles. Both feet came off the pegs and think I may have exposed my BVD's. I somehow managed to save it but not untill after I had entered the whoops again. I felt both shoulders pop and it felt like I had no upper body strength at all. It took a second to get it back together and to loose a spot or two.
The next few laps things started coming back together. That is untill I made a pass in the air in the double / tabletop section. The guy in front of me didn't double and favoured the middle of the track. I jumped to the side of him and caught a hay bail with my peg. I was told I tore the heck out of that bail of hay but it didn't seem to affect me too much.
I felt like I had really struggled in the main event especially after having such a great ride in the heat. I finished up in 4th place and am still healthy, had a lot of fun and that's what it's all about for me. :yeehaw:
Practice was uneventfull again but when it was time for my heat/qualifier, I think I rode the best I've ever riden. Even Tigger said I didn't suck and looked very fast & smooth, that's a lot coming from her :p . I got so engrossed in watching the 125 pro main, which was the race just before mine, that I was late getting to the gate for my good gate pick I had coming. Didn't matter though, I still got to get where I wanted but just about the time we were getting the signal my bike died, forgot to turn on the gas. I think that was an omen. I turned it on and kicked like hell before she finally fired up. The gate dropped and I got a pretty good start untill the two fastest guys laid down in front of me in the first turn. I managed to get around them but the half dozen or so other guys did too and they were faster at it than me. From an almost stopped position I went for the 1st double and made it, so far so good. Around the next turn and over the catapult (I don't jump that thing) I went. The next turn and I was looking at the rythym section. I hadn't seen the track since my heat and there have been 23 races before mine, including 3 pro races. They all must've been hitting the rythym section in the exact same place because it was worn down really good in the middle, I was on the left. :eek: I went ahead and doubled 3 times and made it through, moving up a couple of spots. Around the next corner and through the whoops, it was really rough tonight. The next lap was going well, I passed a couple more guys and was getting pretty close to the front when I heard a bike behind me headed back into the rythym section, this time I was going to hit the center. The 1st one was great but then the dreaded false neutral reared it's ugly head. As I gassed it to do the second set all I got was a panic rev. I repositioned myself and just as I went to kick it back in gear I felt the bike lunge forward but not in time to stop my foot from kicking it back down into neutral yet a 2nd time, just in time for the 2st set of doubles. Both feet came off the pegs and think I may have exposed my BVD's. I somehow managed to save it but not untill after I had entered the whoops again. I felt both shoulders pop and it felt like I had no upper body strength at all. It took a second to get it back together and to loose a spot or two.
The next few laps things started coming back together. That is untill I made a pass in the air in the double / tabletop section. The guy in front of me didn't double and favoured the middle of the track. I jumped to the side of him and caught a hay bail with my peg. I was told I tore the heck out of that bail of hay but it didn't seem to affect me too much.
I felt like I had really struggled in the main event especially after having such a great ride in the heat. I finished up in 4th place and am still healthy, had a lot of fun and that's what it's all about for me. :yeehaw: