Rider Updates
May 31 2010
We started the weekend with racing at LogRoad and wanted to make sure the new bike was dialed in. Sure enough, the bike suspension was a little stiff since we had it set for a supercross track that we ride every Tuesday, so we had to soften it a bit and by the first moto, things were great! It was a pretty easy day with no hitches, the bike is incredible! I ended up 1st overall for the day. On Sunday, we headed over to SunsetRidge for a day of practice and the track was great! I rode a total of 5 motos and my mom and dad said I rode flawless! Well I do not know about that but I rode well I must say. My mom snapped some great photos of the day and for the rest of the weekend, I think we are going to relax. RedBud next weekend. See you there!
May 26 2010
We finally took some time off. This past weekend was the first that we did not do anything. We finally sold my 07 and 08 bikes and planned on picking up my new 09 on Tuesday, so basically, I rode my bicycle all weekend and did nothing. It was nice just to sit around and relax. We drove down to Indianapolis yesterday and picked up my new bike. I rode it last night and it is awesome! The power is everywhere and the bike handles great! I will be riding SunsetRidge on Saturday and racing at logRoad on Sunday with another practice there on Monday so I will be making up for the layover for sure. se you at the track!
May 19 2010
We raced all weekend at logRoad in coldwater Michigan and it was great! The weather finally gave in and the track was nice and prepped. I raced the 7-9 class but was left alone in second. The first place rider has some fast wheels so my dad decided to race the 7-11 class on Sunday. I finally got to battle a couple of older riders which makes for a fun moto. My mom and dad were impressed and so it turned out to be a great weekend. finally, it looks like I will be riding a 2010 next time out. See you soon!
May 10 2010
Well, the weekend didn't turn out as we liked. We were planning to drive to SunsetRidge on Friday for an open ride but the rain would not stop, so we were going to ride Redbud on Saturday but it was rained out too. Sunday comes along and we decided to try MX Extreme that used be called MX 131. We were told that the track was changed for the better but it wasn't. The track has no flow and is basically set up for big bikes only. The owner didn't even prep the track and it was a swamp. by midday, i started hitting the harder jumps and there is this one section that is difficult because it turns as you jump. The face was shorter than the landing and I crashed hard twice in a row. My dad was freaking out because they were bad. I hit the double 3rd gear pinned and still cased the landing and it flipped my rear end up and slammed me over the bars. I did it a second time with the same result. I am really sore today with bruises on my chest. Needless to say, we will not be going back. The track is not safe. We will be heading to log road this weekend so se you there!
May 3 2010
Well, we decided to head over to SunsetRidge MX in Walnut Illinois and found the trip well worth it. I headed out for the first moto and immediately realized that track flowed really well. I took a hot lap and by the second lap, I started to hit all the jumps. The track is certainly one of my favorites. I ended up running five motos and my mom and dad said that I was running the fastest lap times so far this year on any track. I said that I felt really comfortable and my riding showed it. I even tried airing out the finish line jump which is pretty big, I came up about 3 feet short and cased it hard, but I didn't go down but I decided not to try it again because I was tapped out in third gear the last time. Anyway, we are going to come back in a couple of weeks to stay the weekend. I had alot of fun and the facility is great! So see you soon!
Apr 26 2010
Well, we decided at the last minute, (literally), to race Redbud on Saturday. We pulled in and rushed to sign in just in time for my practice. They were already lined up to go off so we made it just in time. Anyway, the track was extremely slick and soupy but I made the best of it. I carved some good lines and tried airing out Laroccos double on the first lap and cased it hard! It was way too slippery on the face so I tried another line and barely made so I decided to hold off until the track dried out but the practice went well considering. But while I am waiting to be called for my gate, my bike losses compression so my dad had to rush to get my other bike which is set up for supercross only. The gearing, suspension, pipe is all for low-end but I had to run it anyway. My first moto was great, I got into turn one in second and had trouble with some usally slower rider, he kept pulling from me but I plugged away and passed him on the double, so I finished 1st. The second moto went well, my dad replaced head seals in my outdoor bike and it was running great! A cobra rider got ahead of me most of the race but I pulled him in on the last lap but came up short at the finish. I still finished 1st overall for the day. I rode great and got off the track in time. It started to rain pretty hard so it was a good day. I will be practicing a couple of times this week and maybe head over to Illinois to sunset for an open ride. See you soon!
Apr 19 2010
After a short practice week, (I only rode once this week), we headed to LogRoad for a day of racing. It was kinda chilly, but my practice went great and I felt pretty good. In the first moto, I came in 2nd into the corner and had good rythm so i thought, but right after turn 1, my clutch handle stuck so i did not have a clutch and so I had to take a dnf. The second moto was no better in that I went down on the last lap and couldn't start my bike because I didn't have a kick starter, anyway, It wasn't too bad, I rode well so we packed up to get ready for RedBud on Sunday. Practice went great and my speed was awesome, so my mom dad said. Anyway, I will ride probably twice this week to get ready for this weekend. Redbud has a district qualifier but I will only race the local race. See you there!
Apr 12 2010
Well, the first Redbud race of the year went without a hitch, with the exception of the wind. It was so bad that when I would do the jumps, I would get blown off my bike. During the first moto, I hit Laroccos Double and the gust were preventing me from clearing the jump completely, normally, I do not have any problems whatsoever, but today, I struggled bad. I cased the jump almost everytime and the last lap of the second moto, a big gust caught me in midair, and I was hanging off the side. I landed with my left foot dangling and fortunately, the bike had a good suspension setup because it compensated for the miscue. Anyway, I endend up 2nd overall any it turned out to be a good day. My dad said that I road awesome and he was happy, so was my mom. We decided to not race on Sunday and went out to FMX paradise in Madaryville. It was a great day and they changed a few jumps with this massive 120Ft stepup Quad. I decided to hit it on the second lap and the jump sends you about 15ft in the air to almost triple it. It is a big jump but by the 4th lap, I had the timing right to land on the downside of the triple about 70ft. It is a cool jump! anyway, we will be racing at LogRoad next Saturday and hitting RedBuds open ride on Sunday, See you there!
Apr 5 2010
Well, we started the weekend with an open ride at log road, unfortunately, my bike was overheating all day and my dad was doing everything to keep it running. We finally had to replace o-rings and that took care of the problem. It endend up being an ok day but we were getting ready for RedBuds open ride on Saturday. Saturday came with a big chance of rain but we rode the first moto while it was raining. I went down 2 times and it was a mud fest. We left early and sure enough, late in the afternoon, it stop raining, but it was too late, the track was crap. Anyway, Sunday came and we went to M-40 and rode there all day. I rode well, and the track was great. I have to continue to work on my speed but that will come in time. My mom took some great pictures! See ya at Redbud this weekend!
Mar 27 2010
Well, we were riding LogRoads open ride on Saturday and everything was going well. It was the 3rd moto and I had great rythm and speed and out of nowhere, a kicker develops on the last stepup triple. I hit the jump as usual but got kicked over the bars and landed head first at the bottom. I felt like I was knocked out but managed to get up and crawl to the side. My dad was there before I moved over and he was scared. The flagger couldn't believe that I walked away but I was shaken up and decided to call it a day. I hate those kind of days but I have to take the good with the bad. We got up to ride on Saturday but the ride was cancelled. Oh well, we will be back on Friday and ride RedBud's open ride on Saturday. See you there!
Mar 24 2010
Well we finally made to the first open ride of the year and Log Road did an awesome job with the track. The track was the best I have ever seen it and my bike was running fast! The weather was a bit chilly, but I dressed for the occasion and all went well. We went back on Sunday and the track was even better along with 55 degree weather and sunny! It was an awesome day and my speed has increased substantially. All of my hard work over the winter looks like it will be paying off. This week, I started riding our supercross track and have finally linked all of the track together. also, I will be preparing for RedBud in a couple of weeks. See you there!
Mar 15 2010
Well, because of the weather, we had to ride indoors one more time. I will begin to ride a private outdoor supercross track this week to keep fresh for indoors and will ride outdoors as well. I ride both type of tracks year round to keep fresh. The weather looks good so see you at the track!
Mar 2 2010
Well, it has been a long winter but I have taken advantage and have logged in many hours riding. I am at a different level now and getting prepared for outdoors soon. It looks like a couple of more weeks of indoor and then we are off to Log Road for opening day. I have been riding at Ram Jam in Ohio and that track will definitely prepare you for outdoors. It has a 4th gear straight and a couple of big jumps. I am certainly ready for this season. I have worked really hard finishing up my 2nd year on 65's and have a new confidence that will enable me to compete up front. See you at the track!
Jan 16 2010
This weekend was the annual Bad boys of Arenacross race in Chicago and was my first time racing it. I entered two classes, 65 7-9 and 65 open. I had good practices both nights but the whoops were awful. If I could have blitzed through them, I would have won both classes, I ended up taking the 7-9 and finishing 2nd in the open class. But I was the only rider doing a section of the track, so that made me happy. Oh well, next year!
Nov 19 2009
Since the outdoors is all but over, I took a stroll up to Chicago to check out this new indoor track called Chicago mX. The track is set up tight with too many corners. They brought some sand and threw it on top of the hard packed base and it makes for a difficult ride. I rode it all day and decided that it was ok. I hope that they change the track into a more supercross style without so many corners. Anyway, I am getting ready for some races that start in January and that is about it. Talk to you soon!
Oct 17 2009
Well here we are, the last ride of the season and it isn't the nicest day. I had to wear a heavy coat and latex gloves under my regular gloves but I made the besto of it. I only rode 3 motos but I practiced corner speed and rode as fast as I could. We had a little problem in the first moto with bog so I couldn't do any of the jumps because i wasn't sure what was wrong. My dad figured that it was the fuel petcock and we had to switch tanks from my other bike. The second and third motos went great and my dad said that I was "haulin the mail" anyway, we will be riding two more outdoors at LogRoad as long as the weather is good and continue with indoor practice. See you in March!
Sep 22 2009
Well, it was the final race at Redbud for the year and the weekend went smooth. It was a poor turnout on Saturday but I made the best of it and laid down some hard laps to finish 3rd overall. My dad and I decided to try to increase some speed and go for it. Of course without going Banzai or anything like that. I just laid down some consistent laps and made some passes where I knew that I could. I had some new suspension set up and it was working great! With the exception of some fast Kawi"s and we all know that they are not fast, I was able to hold off some KTM's and place pretty good. Sunday was the same but we went off with more riders, like some 10 and 11 year-olds with some fast set-ups but I rode the best that I could and my dad and mom were happy with the results. Oh yeah, so was I.
Aug 30 2009
After a long summer of pounding laps at a friends supercross track, my dad and I finally felt that it is time to move on to bigger and better things, such as Laroccos double. We raced this weekend at Redbud but my dad felt that maybe we will focus on the jump. So I rode ok just to keep my confidence up and I hit the jump on the second lap. My bike was a little high up front but I pushed my front end down and knew that I had to make an adjustment. So, the third lap, I moved my body a little forward and nailed it perfect! Now the jump isn't as intimidating as before and I feel real comfortable doing it. The rest of the summer is basically for indoor preparation and just trying to improve in all aspects of riding. I have worked really hard this summer and now feel that my confidence has increased substantially. I almost forgot, This weekend at Redbud, I was practicing in my last moto and hit a kicker on the finish line jump, and incidently, my front end dove and so did I. Over the bars and hard into the ground. Fortunatlely, I wear a brace and one of the best helmets that money can buy. I was a little shaken, but I went back out to finish. So, I will talk to you later!
Jul 24 2009
Saturday went awesome with some of the hard work that I have been putting in finally paying off. I ended up with two holeshots and and a 4th overall. My starts have been incredible and I am finally feeling comfortable on my bike. First moto went great and I was leading the pack for about the first 3/4 of the first lap until I went down into the monza wall. I still finished 4th. The second went great with another holeshot and I just tried to keep it on 2 wheels and still finishing 3rd. All in all, I had a great day! Sunday was another story. With the momentum from Saturday, I go off the gate with the 7-11 year olds and while in 3rd going into the first corner, someone clipped my rear tire and I went down hard and as a result, was run over by another ride. I have never been in so much pain and that was something that I do not want to experience again. My dad was freaking out but I managed to go out and finish 6th after a hard charge. The second moto wasn't bad. I endend up in third again into turn 1 but didn't seem to get a good line and got crossrutted and was in 6th heading onto the ski slope but overall I had a good race and finished 6 for a 6th overall. I now know that I have the speed to run up front and will continue to work on basics and fundamentals. I have been riding a supercross style track for practice and it has certainly been helping me with timing and throttle control.
Jul 9 2009
Well, July 4th came and went without too much drama. I practiced the pro track on Thursday and all went great. We managed 4 rounds and I struggled a little at first but by the las 2 rounds, things started to fall into place. My speed has increased and so too has my stamina. I seemed to be able to either keep up or pass some of the riders that I struggled with earlier in the year. So, I think that practice set the stage for racing on Friday and Sunday. Friday went great and I finally finished close to top ten but I could have pushed a little harder for sure. At least I finished and didn't go down. Sunday was a different story. First moto I am in the lead into the first corner and I drop my bike. I hurry and start picking riders off but I came in hot on an off camber with 2 riders down and I go down 2 for the second time. I then come in hot in the corner before the ski slope and for the 3 time go down. By this time I am fustrated and realize that I need to finish. I end up 22 out 26 and get a bad get pick for the next moto. My dad is convinced that I am going to sweep the outside and pass everyone trying to enter the inside, and sure enough, he was right. I sweep and end up in 4th going into the corner and the rest of the moto was nothing more than keeping it on 2 wheels and finishing 9th. This was a good weekend and now we can continue to work on basics and fundamentals each week. Oh yeah, It looks like we might be on some new machinery pretty soon, so stay tuned!
Jun 8 2009
Here we are in June already and the Red Bud National is just around the corner. I have been practicing alot and racing a few races. I am building some speed and working on some technical aspects such as cornering and throttle control. We had to rebuild the top end on my mod twice this season and rebuild my suspension. I have been riding great and I am starting to feel more confortable on my bike even though I cannot touch the ground completely. I am getting ready for Red Bud next month and I know that I will do well there this year!
Apr 14 2009
I have been looking foward to this day for a while and I wasn't disappointed. The first moto was tough and the track was decent condition. I put in the usual 5 laps without a problem but it was real difficult to get up laroccos leap because of the two whoops that developed in front of the face. The second mot was ok because I chose some different lines and the track was definitely getting rougher. By the end of the day, I was getting super tired and my dad had the flu all week but he tried to ride but ended up getting sick after the first moto so he called it a day. Tomorrow I am heading to DirtMx in Kingsbury to practice all day. I need to work on using 5th and 6th gear so this track will help out alot. My dad is taking my bike to get a complete revalve and have it sprung for my weight which is 53lbs. All three of my bikes are sprung for 75lb rider, so we are going to lower the suspension and hopefully that will allow for my bike to handle better and increase my speed. My dad feels that it is time to try to ride a little faster! Talk to you soon!
Mar 23 2009
Outdoors opened up this weekend at a local track in Coldwater Michigan called Log Road. This is an excellent track with great dirt. This is my 2nd year riding there and this weekend went great! I definitely felt a little tight the first couple of moto's, but later in the day, I started to loosen up and put in some good laps. I rode all day Saturday and Sunday. My dad rode both days too, so that took some of the pressure off me. Not to say my dad pressures me, but he can get a little critical at times. Anyway, we will be riding there again next weekend and I can't wait!
Mar 3 2009
After a great indoor season, I am ready to start the outdoor season. I have been riding my pit bike everyday for a couple of months, at least when there isn't any snow on the ground and it isn't below 20 degrees. So, I have at the very least, been practicing corners and have picked up some speed. I just have to carry the speed over to my 65. My dad has always made sure that I ride within my comfort zone because he says that there is no reason at this level to push it. I did break my arm last year because I didn't listen to him. Anyway, I cant wait and I feel that the 09 season will be great! Talk to you soon! By the way, Here is our new addition, his name is moto.
Feb 7 2009
I raced the Bad Boys of Motocross at the the weekend of Jan 16th and things went way better than last year. I raced all weekend from Friday night to Sunday morning. I felt really good all weekend and was working on my starts. I finally got them down! I pulled two good holeshots towards the end and that made me feel great! The track was pretty easy and I finally decided to try a double coming out of the far corner. My dad would not let me do any of the other jumps because he felt that they were a little sketchy, so we settled on the easiest one. All in all the weekend went great! I got alot of indoor experience and closed my 3rd indoor race of the season. I am probably going to finish with indoor practices before outdoor starts, so no more racing. Can't wait till April for Red Bud opening day! Also,we had a new addition to the family, his name is MOTO