- Oct 20, 2000
- 2,969
- 2
For 3 years now I've watched AX from the sidelines wondering what it would be like to be out there. This year I got to experience it 1st hand. I've been racing MX for little over a year and thought perhaps I would be able to do an adequate job on an indoor track. Here's my story.
I had pre-registered so I didn't have much to do Friday morning but marvel at the track. They actually used gates this year for the 1st time. It was a typical start, the length of the coliseum and then left turn across a whoop section. There were 4 whoops and then on to a 25' double where the face of the jump was at the end of the turn. From there was a jump that was real fun. It had a face that was about 4' high and a tabletop attached that was about 3' high and 35' long. Following that there was a double and a zig zag under the support columns to a tight 90 turn. Immediately out of the turn was a single and then on to a triple, probably about 65'. It looked hard because of the short run at it. After that was the big turn and on to the catapult jump and then start all over. On to the heats!
There were a bunch of 125 riders in my class so the heat races were to eliminate the masses down to 12. I had to place 6th or better to make the main. In my heat I got stuffed in the 1st turn, 2 riders crossed from each side of me and both clipped me. I didn't go down but I did stall. After I got it fired back up I started in dead last. I managed to make the 1st double from the inside which gave me an advantage over some of the other riders, most were having to rail the outside berm to make the double. I think we ran 9 laps. On about lap 7 I hit the triple, which I had been doubling, and over shot it. I planted my front wheel into the face of the 3rd jump, slammed my chest protector, chest enclosed, into the bars. I must have hit the kill switch because the motor died. It took a minute for me to get it restarted, had to juggle the switch a bit. After being passed by several riders I managed to make up some time on the remaining 2 laps and made the cut. I was on to the main.
I got spot 11 on an 11-gate start with 12 riders; it was the inside next to the board. There was not enough room. My bars were against the board and behind the handlebars of the guy next to me. I let him go and chased the pack. I managed to pass a few down the start but got behind some slower riders for the 1st 2 turns. I felt real good the remainder of my race but got behind a guy that spent a lot of time blocking me instead of going faster. After a little "love tap" under the support columns I made my pass and on to the finish where I got excited and over jumped. I flat landed the catapult on the balls of my feet and sprained both ankles. Needless to say I didn't get to race Sat night. The ankles are better now, I can walk without to aid of crutches.
I have no idea what place I finished. Even though the announcer called my name and number, commenting on my passes, I didn't show up on the score sheet. what's up with that??? They had to know I was out there! If I can get the rest of the sheets I can tell how I did, I remember the bike number of the last guy I passed resulting in 2 sprained ankles.
What I think I learned about AX.
It isn't all about speed as much as it's about finesse. I only got out of 2nd gear on the straight. These races are definitely won in the corners and not in the air, there are not enough straight runs to pass anyone. I didn't get tired at all from the races but the constant sit and stand definitely plays it toll on the thigh muscles in the following days. AX is dominantly a younger person's sport, the promoter told me I was the oldest person entered in the event and right now I'm feeling it. Wouldn't trade the feeling for the world.
I had pre-registered so I didn't have much to do Friday morning but marvel at the track. They actually used gates this year for the 1st time. It was a typical start, the length of the coliseum and then left turn across a whoop section. There were 4 whoops and then on to a 25' double where the face of the jump was at the end of the turn. From there was a jump that was real fun. It had a face that was about 4' high and a tabletop attached that was about 3' high and 35' long. Following that there was a double and a zig zag under the support columns to a tight 90 turn. Immediately out of the turn was a single and then on to a triple, probably about 65'. It looked hard because of the short run at it. After that was the big turn and on to the catapult jump and then start all over. On to the heats!
There were a bunch of 125 riders in my class so the heat races were to eliminate the masses down to 12. I had to place 6th or better to make the main. In my heat I got stuffed in the 1st turn, 2 riders crossed from each side of me and both clipped me. I didn't go down but I did stall. After I got it fired back up I started in dead last. I managed to make the 1st double from the inside which gave me an advantage over some of the other riders, most were having to rail the outside berm to make the double. I think we ran 9 laps. On about lap 7 I hit the triple, which I had been doubling, and over shot it. I planted my front wheel into the face of the 3rd jump, slammed my chest protector, chest enclosed, into the bars. I must have hit the kill switch because the motor died. It took a minute for me to get it restarted, had to juggle the switch a bit. After being passed by several riders I managed to make up some time on the remaining 2 laps and made the cut. I was on to the main.
I got spot 11 on an 11-gate start with 12 riders; it was the inside next to the board. There was not enough room. My bars were against the board and behind the handlebars of the guy next to me. I let him go and chased the pack. I managed to pass a few down the start but got behind some slower riders for the 1st 2 turns. I felt real good the remainder of my race but got behind a guy that spent a lot of time blocking me instead of going faster. After a little "love tap" under the support columns I made my pass and on to the finish where I got excited and over jumped. I flat landed the catapult on the balls of my feet and sprained both ankles. Needless to say I didn't get to race Sat night. The ankles are better now, I can walk without to aid of crutches.
I have no idea what place I finished. Even though the announcer called my name and number, commenting on my passes, I didn't show up on the score sheet. what's up with that??? They had to know I was out there! If I can get the rest of the sheets I can tell how I did, I remember the bike number of the last guy I passed resulting in 2 sprained ankles.
What I think I learned about AX.
It isn't all about speed as much as it's about finesse. I only got out of 2nd gear on the straight. These races are definitely won in the corners and not in the air, there are not enough straight runs to pass anyone. I didn't get tired at all from the races but the constant sit and stand definitely plays it toll on the thigh muscles in the following days. AX is dominantly a younger person's sport, the promoter told me I was the oldest person entered in the event and right now I'm feeling it. Wouldn't trade the feeling for the world.
