Fun in the dirt, sand and the sun!
What a great time to be alive! Another WORCS race and another fantastic couple of races. Sure, I’m still learning every time I’m riding but I’m happy in putting in the seat time in order to get better. Coming to the sport a couple of years ago after playing Accelerated Baseball I’ve got a long way to go in order to play catch up with the good riders. I honestly feel comfortable racing the “B” classes on my Yamaha from Karl Malone Power Sports in Hailey, Idaho and my two races in Blythe showed that. Sure, I’m not sitting on a podium yet and sure it might take a little longer but I love the sport and will continue to get better. It’s not only the practicing, the racing or even working on the bike that makes me happy but is also the feeling you get talking with all of the other racers and share their experience, thoughts and ideas. That is what makes this sport GREAT!
I was running a new front and rear tire from Rocky Mountain ATV featuring the new and amazing TUSK. They look and feel great on the bike. I had Rocky Mountain ATV in St. George mount them for me due to the lack of time getting to Mesquite prior to the race. I also installed my new Flexx Bars from FASST Co. I knew what to expect because I actually had a set on another bike; my 2021 Yamaha YZ250f and loved them. I also installed a new set of pegs from FASST Co; their Impact Moto Peg. I’m sure glad I did because this course was really gnarly, sandy, rutty and I needed to keep my boots on the pegs; that’s for sure. I went with a new TUSK aluminum throttle tube with the bearing and immediately felt the difference; no arm pump! Also went with a set of Pro Taper Pillowtop Grips that helped a ton. Seat Concepts is sending me a new seat to ride on for my next race which will be WORCS Rnd 5 at the famous Glen Helen in California. Anything is possible. Maybe I’ll watch Bennet’s War and ride my 2022 Yamaha YZ450f into a championship; if only the movies were actually real. But as they say, “so you think I have a chance?”
Blythe is in the middle of nowhere. It is hot! Saturday race day was in the 90’s by the time I had to get to my second race of the day at 2:25 p.m. for my 60 minute 450 B. By the way I had a top ten finish coming in with a 6th. Did I mention that it was really, really hot. Hey, I left Utah and there was still over a foot of snow! So, from freezing to blistering was pretty dramatic. My first race was at 10:25 a.m. It was the 60 minute Sport 15-24 B race. This was a super competitive field but feel good coming in with a 11th place finish. The Pro 125 guys were in line right behind me and it’s amazing how fast those guys ride but felt that the bikes were a little squirrely in the deep sand at that speed. Overall I loved the race and will be back in California in a few weeks. Oh, I guess I’ve got a couple of things to do before that like my Senior Prom with my girlfriend, Graduation from Springville, Utah High School (yeah, I’m a Devil); getting my diploma on the way out as well as getting my hard earned Welding Certificate from a great welding teacher. Then I’m going to try to get some seat time in while still trying to keep my job at Napa in Springville. My boss is fantastic allowing me time to race my bike, go to high school and just being a great Boss!
Here are some photos of my race:
