Second year in a row I DNF my first race of the year

Last year our first race was at Sunset Ridge (Walnut, IL). I was pumped and got the holeshot out of a 30+ rider field (Women and 125C combined) and lead both classes for a lap until I was hit from behind in the air and crashed hard. Tore my rotator cuff in a few spots and went on to miss several months of racing last year. :|


So my shoulder is feeling better now, still not strong, but doesn't hurt as much. And we have our first race of the year this past weekend at LTM (Casey, IL) - home of DW00 and DW01. I'm real happy because I finished the first moto in one piece and got second outta seven of us. So second moto, I wanted to give it a little more and maybe try for the moto win and overall. I pulled the holeshot with the first place girl right on my butt and I went into the first double-double section. I've done the section probably a hundred times over the past years, but it wasn't built up this weekend and it was hard to get the lift on the first double (and the landing was peaky and tall). Well I decide to go for it and I remember landing the double (I got my front tire over) and next thing I know everything goes black and I wake up with my face buried in the side of the track and four EMT crew surrounding me.

I think to myself "oh no not again". The EMT's were freaked because they saw the whole thing and I hit hard and face first since I had no clue I was about to crash and couldn't break my fall. I slowly picked up my upper body and raised my arms and was relieved that they worked, even though I couldn't feel my face. Then I got up and was assisted back to the pits but was able to walk on my own. I get to our trailer and poor Red sees me with the EMT crew, a mouth full of blood, a banged up face, and a broken helmet.

Luckily I only ended up with shiners under each of my eyes, a mark/bruise on on my forehead, some other face scratches and marks, a chomped tongue (thats now purple and black and red), four loose front teeth, a busted up lip, some neck marks, a bruised and bleeding hip bone, and a bruised knee. Nothing that a week or so won't heal (unless the hip is worse that I thought) although the people at work are gonna freak when they see my face tomorrow. Red says it looks like Mike Tyson and me went a few rounds.

Saturday was a little rough after the crash but I went to bed around 8 pm and woke up feeling a little better Sunday and decided to give it a go again. First moto I had a bad start and passed up to third to battle with the second place girl for two laps and gave up and settled into third. Then second moto I wanted to push a little harder and I got the holeshot, but got passed after a few turns, and held down second for a few laps, then dropped back to third again for third overall outta nine.

Next year I will make it a personal goal to finish my first race or else. This has gotta stop! :debil:

Thanks everyone for the replies :)

I've already had a few coworkers freak out.... I think I'm gonna start telling them I got in a bar fight - easier to explain.


Although a few of them seem motivated by the whole riding thing - and feel that they need to find a passion like I have with riding/racing MX. So that's kinda neat.... I guess.

I think I scared Red when I told him to take pictures - and if he ever made me mad, I could use them against him. :ohmy:

It was a joke - but I think he missed the humor. Although my old boss at work is now referring to me as "battered wife". Go figure.

The teefers still have a little wiggle and my mouth is sore. Got a few holes in my inside lip/gums where they hit my teeth so eating and drinking and brushing my teeth is a little challenging. :|