Unreal??..that?s about the only word I can describe the way things have gone here in the past week and a half or so. After Phoenix last weekend I wasn?t too bummed out but I was not exactly a happy camper. During the week I am feeling better every time out which is great but that doesn?t matter unless I can apply that to the races. Yes I know it has been a while since I was racing SX but with the way things feel and where I am at out at the Yamaha track I expect more than probably anyone. I got a really good weeks work of practice in with Josh Hill and some of the other guys, I made sure I did a 20 lapper this week so that I knew I could at least do one, but it was far from being at the speed I have for 5 or so laps at the moment.

We got down onto the track for track walk and everyone I looked at or talked to just was not too thrilled about the layout, it just had no flow and nothing that really gave us more chances to get around people without putting them down (well I got passed most of the night and didn?t do much passing). We had our first practice session and I felt decent, not great but better than last week where I nearly had pee running down my leg before going out!! That was just a joke by the way but I was a bit nervous. We made a few changes for the second practice that I didn?t dig to much and I think it showed, especially with me going down twice in about 3 laps. We ended up going back to my first setup with minor changes and decided to go racing with that.

With my stellar rides in the practices I had a pretty poopy gate pick but still thought I could make something of it from the outside. As soon as the gate dropped I was starting to get pinched a hair but I just clicked 3rd and that thing felt like I hit the nitro button!! I ended up in about 5th or so and just didn?t want to screw it up!! I did get passed by a few guys but didn?t feel too bad and put her into the main in 8th. Yeah inside I was pretty relieved and stoked.

Now here comes the main, I was nearly in the same spot as I was in my heat on the gate and was next to none other than the energizer starting bunny, Mike Alessi. This time out of the gate I messed up a bit and got pinched off , so I just had to follow everyone into turn one. I was with a few guys at the beginning and felt great with the flow I had going then by lap 12 I made the mistake of looking at the board and saw how many laps left I had. Never going to do that again!!! That?s when everything came undone like a dress on prom night. I struggled bad with just mental fatigue and tried to ride it out, I made some mistakes and that never really helped at all. By the end I was an awe inspiring 18th, which is a hell of a lot better than being where I was 2 weeks ago before the call and that was making sure no one was going to steal my couch, I was holding down the fort.

So there you guys have it. it?s a bit earlier than last weeks because one I cant sleep all that well and I wasn?t on a plane first thing this morning. I really want to thank the guys at Yamaha for the opportunity and support, no one is putting pressure on me from anyone there and that is cool. Also GL for coming out this week and getting my ass in gear to put more laps together which in return worked out for the best. Last but not least all of you for reading this thing I do and the support you give me no matter the circumstances I am in or where things are going, my hat is off to you!!

SH 105