District 16 Hare Scramble – Arkansaw, WI

We made the trip back to the western part of the state to Arkansaw, WI for the third round of the District 16 Hare scramble series. We haven’t been to this venue for a few years and everyone was looking forward to the excitement of something new again. This was a dual district race with district 23 and 16. The forecast was calling for rain at some point for the weekend and they were right because it poured all night Saturday. This made it extremely muddy for Sunday’s race! The morning races had it the worst as they were the ones drying the track out each lap. When two o’clock rolled around the moto track was looking better, but I knew the woods was going to be very rutted because most of the course took place on the side of the hills.

When the gun shot went off my bike fired up and I was second into the first turn and raced off the track in that position. My bike was a little fidgety with the humidity and I felt like my jetting wasn’t perfect for the temps/humidity. I sucked it up and rode the best I could. I had a lot of trouble throughout the day with catching lappers in all the wrong spots. It definitely was a race about where you caught lapped riders and made it through all the tough sections clean with no mistakes. Unfortunately, I was on the losing side of both today. I couldn’t catch a break with all the lap traffic. I was catching second place at one point and just entered the woods and there was a bottle neck with at least six guys with nowhere to go. I got through that jam but fourth and fifth place caught right up to me after that. The next section of the race the same thing happened (I got caught behind a stuck rider and a guy got around me). Towards the end of the race Matt Stavish and myself where going back and forth - I would get by him and then he would get back by me. It was a lot of fun but everyone was getting tired. I ended up Fifth overall for the day. I was able to keep the Wisconsin riders behind me to get good points for our series.

I would like to thank everyone that is helping me this year- especially my family for all that they do on race day and throughout the week. And to all my great sponsors! Without you it would be tough to do what we do. Thank You!

Remember to keep it between the Trees!!

Let summer begin!

 

 

 

Round #5 National Enduro - Park Hills, Mo

Sunday May 17, 2015

We arrived early Friday afternoon to the primitive camping site at the enduro. In between the rain storms I went on a bicycle ride with my family around St. Joe’s state park. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery and it was nice to stretch our legs after the long drive! Then on Saturday I participated in the “Peddle with the Pros” bicycle ride. It was approximately an 11 mile ride on paved paths around the state park. This enduro location offers many recreational activities.   

Just like the last few rounds of the National Enduros the weather didn't want to cooperate with us- rain seems to be the pattern. I blame this on my good friend Jubal - A little side joke between us. It has rained in Park Hills MO since Thursday so the ground was saturated making the course very slippery and technical. I was on row 18 and glad to be an early minute in some of the tests because it was going to get really rutted by the time the later rows hit the trail.

My day had a lot of ups and downs. I just couldn't get comfortable. When I would try and push like I knew I could I would make small mistakes or have some close calls in the slippery conditions. I backed it off a notch knowing I wasn't going to get the results I wanted, but it would get me to the finish in one piece. I had already had one bad get off in the third test trying to miss a rider that had fallen in front of me and I ended up colliding with a tree that unloaded me off the bike. I knew that the conditions were affecting everyone a little, but I just couldn't put it together enough to ride where I wanted. At the end of the day my results were not what I wanted, but not that bad considering the conditions and competition that I was up against. I came home with a 9th in Expert AA and a 32 overall. Nothing to complain about, but I’m hard on myself and want to do better because I know I can. 

Thanks to my Family- you guys are the best traveling across the country to help. Also, thanks to everyone of my sponsors for all your help.

Remember to keep it between the trees!!!

 

 

District 16 Hare Scramble – Adams, WI

Sunday May 3, 2015

  

The first local race of the season has come and gone and it was an exciting opener for the year! We had warm temps and dusty conditions for the two hour race and just over 120 riders for the day.

For something new, the start took place in the sugar sand of one of the old cranberry bogs. This deep sandy condition was going to make the start interesting. I was pretty excited for the start since this would be my first dead engine start with the new TC 250 two-stroke (I haven’t had a hole shot since 2009 when I started riding four-strokes. I was hoping to get a good start).

At 12:59 Bob Kau said "Shut Em Down". I was waiting for the 10 second signal and was ready for the gun shot sound. The gun went off, my bike fired, and I was off and at the front of the pack heading first into the first turn. Then the excitement started. Chase and I started to pull away from the rest of the field. We were right on each other for the first hour switching lead positions a few times. He stopped for gas and I was determined to put some time between us. I put my head down and stayed focused. It paid off because I was able to put 30 or so seconds between us and kept that lead all the way to the end. Chase and I were the only riders to do ten laps today. It was exciting to have a good start and to be able to battle and push for the whole race and come away with the win!!

Thanks to my family for all that they do each week and at the races to help me out and to all my great sponsors- couldn’t do it without you.

Remember to keep it between the trees!!!

 

  Photos courtesy of Brian Mullane