I Freaking Won!
I have been a fan of motocross ever since I was a young boy. A neighbor kid raced eighties back in the late 1970s and I always helped him work on his bike during the week. I still remember the two times as a kid that I got to go to a local race, great memories. My dad wouldn't buy me a real dirt bike back then so I saved up my money and bought a mini-bike for $25 when I was in sixth grade. That was my start. After graduating high school I had a few dirt bikes on and off throughout the years, although I never raced back then I rode at a few local trails. I got back into it about ten years ago and started riding at some actual tracks. I was a pro-practicer, in 2002 I actually decided to give racing a try.
I raced at a local track called Countyline. They had very low turnout and I was usually the only guy in my class. I accumulated quite a few trophies that year but they had little meaning. Any time that I would go to a real track I was a lapper. After getting frustrated, I thought about what I was doing. I have a wife and two little boys that need me so I needed to see if I could still race, be safe and have fun. So far it has worked out pretty well, I could race in the back of the pack but still have fun. I made my goal not to win, but to try and beat at least one guy and do it without getting hurt.
I normally race the +30C Class on the big bikes and the Mid-size Production Class when I race my pit-bike. On the big bike, I have actually scored a legitimate second place finish a few times but never a win. On the pit-bikes I have never even been close. That class is usually pretty stacked with some fast riders. None the less I still have a blast racing. They came up with a new class at the Mini Supermoto races at The Lube in Sharon, PA. It is called The Sportsman Class, specifically designed for the slower guys that usually are the back markers.
I lined up for the first moto third from the inside, I only recognized a couple of the other guys so I didn't know what to expect. I was optimistically hoping for a third so I could get a trophy. Well, starter, Rob Buydos waved the green flag and we were off. Guess what? I got the Holeshot. I have only gotten a Holeshot a couple times before and my lead was always short lived so truthfully I was waiting for some one to pass me. After the first lap, I was still leading, I'm thinking holy crap! This is for real. The white flag came out and I could hear another bike right on my tail. I thought OK, nice and easy, take all the inside lines and I will be alright. Heading into the dirt section, I bumped a tree with my handlebar and it kicked me outside a little coming into the next turn. I was able to reel it back in and held on for the win. I was in shock, I found my wife and kids in the crowd, and they were going nuts jumping up and down. I pushed my bike back to the pits and I was getting all kinds of high fives and atta-boys. I am in no way used to this stuff, usually I get the sympathetic "good job" as I come off the track. I wandered back over to sit with the family, my son Joey said "Dad, you beat those guys", unreal.
Time for the second moto, I had all kinds of new things to worry about, what gate to pick, and who I needed to beat for the overall. Well the flag dropped and I got the Holeshot again, oh boy, here we go. Once again I heard another bike right behind me, I held him off for a couple laps until he got by me on the long straight and took off. It was RacerX's Jason Weigandt, he was on Rob Buydos's factory KLX110 and had way more power than me. I did what I could, be he got the moto win. I finished second. Quickly some of my buddies came up and gave me the news. My one-two finishes gave me the overall!
I watched the rest of the races and hung around for the trophy presentations. They called my name and I took my two boys up with me and got my prize. I know that it is not a big deal but after four years of racing this is my first real win. I probably sound like I am gloating, but that's too bad, I guess that I am. This is just an unreal feeling, thanks Buydos!
