TIME FLIES WHEN YOUR HAVING FUN

It has been a year!!!!  and it’s not over yet!

I have raced several supercross events already with another one coming in Vegas to end out the supercross year.

Several national races including Mammoth…….

Lorettas…………..

Fly……………

I even had a little fun on trick ramps.

I have done some awesome events with 51 Fifty Energy Drink…..

Wienerschnitzel…..

….and Fly Racing has kept me looking “fly”

Throughout the year like all motocross racers I have had some injuries, worked hard in practice, and raced hard at every event I attend.  Looking forward to the next race!!

See you at the finish line!!!!

JANUARY AND SUPERCROSS

In January I raced three supercross events.  One in Arizona, one in Anaheim and one in Oakland.  I really wanted to get some more practice time on supercross tracks before these races but I was still really excited to get back to racing.

My starts were pretty consistent and I had some really good battles with a couple people.  I made a few mistakes but overall finished consistent and safe with 2nd and 3rd place finishes.

I also did an autograph signing at the 51 Fifty Apparel store with Blake Baggett and Justin Bogle.  It was really fun to see everyone and get to hang out with the guys.

       

Now it is back to practicing outdoors until the next supercross races in Vegas.

See you soon!

GUESS WHO’S BACK!!!

I have big plans for 2019 and I want you all to be able to go through it with me so I will be giving monthly updates throughout the year.

I think it is important to first take a look back at 2018…..

I started out the year racing Yamaha 85’s switched to Yamaha Supermini’s after my first time racing a supermini at Monster Cup in Las Vegas.

I was in a video game.  The guys at MX VS ATV added me as a profile in the new video game released in April.

I went to several pro races and had a lot of fun with all my sponsors.

I had fun riding bikes and doing tricks on my Oset

Made the now famous “robe” videos.  lol (Part 1, 2 and 3)

In July I got a KTM 125 and switched to big bikes.

In July I also filmed the infamous KiKi video…. Can you tell I just like to have a good time?

I did a lot of practicing on the 125 and did several races.

I released my second song to help my buddy Weston Peick after his motocross crash.

I helped my Mom make a dirt bike video for her work

…and lots of time racing and practicing

SEE YOU IN JANUARY…. Happy 2019

Road 2 Recovery Jessy Nelson MX School

I recently traveled to LA for the 2nd Annual Road 2 Recover Jessy Nelson’s MX school. 

We spent the day at Pala and everyone got to practice at different stations with some pretty awesome motocross racers and trainers like Ryan Villopoto, David Bailey, Destry Abbott, Jeff Ward, Grant Langston, Kris Keefer, Jessy Nelson, and more.

I was very excited that Wienerschnitzel was there providing lunch for everyone. I got to have my favorite chili dogs and see my “best bud” Joey

Speaking of hot dogs…. My buddy Rico was also there with Chili  😉     aka T-Rex

Road 2 Recovery is an amazing non-profit organization founded to help professional athletes with financial, motivational, and emotional support and  assistance if they sustain career-ending injuries.   

I have to tell you when I was in Texas and broke my back my good friend Rico called his friends from Road 2 Recovery and they contacted my parents immediately.   They knew exactly what we had to do and what we should ask the doctors and what we shouldn’t do to ensure that I was able to make a full recovery.  I am not a pro racer and the people from Road 2 Recovery took the time to continue to talk with us and help us through everything.  They truly care about helping everyone and it is such an amazing foundation.  I owe them so much and I am so thankful for all they did for me.

We had a fund day of motocross

and a fun day with old and new friends.

More information on Road 2 Recovery can be found at:

https://road2recovery.com/

LAS VEGAS – MONSTER ENERGY CUP

Last week was the big event!  I did my first ever supercross race on TV at MEC in Las Vegas.  The week before the race I had several sponsors that helped me get myself and my bike ready for the race.  I am very thankful for all the support I get throughout the year!!!!   I was able to get a private ride day at the Yamaha track to help get prepared which was awesome.  The guys from Bills Pipes came out and worked on my bike.  The Grindstone Compound gave me lots of tips in tricks that I would need for the race in Vegas

When we got to Vegas we had a day to relax, do virtual reality games, get a henna tattoo and have a little fun.

 

My Dad had my bike looking awesome and when we got to the track all my sponsors gave me all my gear and I was looking pretty good!

In the morning I had a track walk.  We walk the track and figure out what the strategy will be for practice and the race.

We had two qualifying sessions that we were practicing while trying to qualify for a gate position for the race.

My bike and I were under the 51 Fifty Energy Drink tent and after practice we signed autographs for people.

I filmed a video for Wienerschnitzel.

I got advice and help from several people helping me throughout the day.

 

When it got dark the lights come on in the stadium and the place was packed with people cheering very loud.  We waited for the camera because the race was aired live and then it was time to race.

In my first race I didn’t get the best start but was able to stay on two wheels and finish in 10th place.  In the second race I got a better start and finished in 7th place for a 7th place overall.

The whole event was so much fun!  I learned a lot and can’t wait until next year!

 

FLY AMATEUR NATIONAL RACE

This last week was the Fly Amateur National Race in Sacramento.  The race was great timing for me because I have never before raced a Supermini and I am getting ready for Monster Cup so it was a good time for me to get some extra practice.The race was really fun and I did a lot of testing on my bike.  I struggled a little with the suspension and we made changes after each race and continued to get it better each time.

I wanted to race an extra class so I signed up in schoolboy but I rode my Supermini and they combined my class with Vet 30 plus A and Vet Master 50 plus.  It was awesome because I got to line up next to Arik Swan with was so funny to see me on a little bike and him so tall.

In each race I was pretty consistent on my starts and got several hole shots.

Because we were close to my home, a lot of my family came out to visit and to watch me ride.  Thank you to my sister Hailey, my cousin Darrian and her boyfriend, and my Aunt Cheryl.

Also, I have to thank Cari Schehr from Grindstone Compound for all the support and help.

We also had fun off the track.  In the Karaoke contest I sang the new song I wrote and recorded that is coming out soon and gave everyone a preview.

I also took a picture with a lot of my friends that are all supported by Honda, Kawasaki, KTM of Modesto

I finished out the event with two 2nd place finishes in Supermini and 5th place in the Schoolboy class.

I can’t wait to get back on the track for more!

2017 NATIONALS.. TO GO OR NOT ???

Since I got back from Mammoth I have been training hard for Nationals at Loretta Lynn’s.  During my training I fell on my bicycle and broke my collarbone.

10 days before my first race at Nationals I went into surgery to plate my shoulder.

After my surgery my parents cancelled our trip to Tennesse but I kept telling them I was going to be able to race.  I worked really hard and did everything that Doctor Ting said so I would have a chance to still race.

Dr. Ting had me do Chryo therapy, arm therapy, lazar treatment, etc.

Two days before sign ins Dr. Ting told me that the plate was good and that if I ride I will be in pain but won’t hurt my arm.  I really wanted to try to race and knew I would be able to fight through the pain.  My parents were not as convinced as me but they decided to try to get another room in Tennessee and that they would drive me out.  We hit the road and drove 34 hours straight to Tennessee and got to the track just in time to sign in.

I was very excited to be at Nationals!  I got my #71 Bib and my bike and my gear was looking amazing!

 

After getting signed in my Dad did some finishing touches on the bike and I tried to do some fishing in the river…. I didn’t catch anything.  Then I went to the pool to get cooled off and to do a little more therapy on my shoulder.  It was fun to hang out with friends and get ready for racing the next day.

 

When I was in my first race I tried to focus on my laps.  I started off OK but I did start to fade back as the race went on.  I was able to finish my first two races in the top 10 which wasn’t bad for only being 10 days out of surgery.

In my third race I started with a great start out front.  I was in 2nd place and putting down great lap times.  I jumped when I landed in a cross rutt I wasn’t able to hold on and when the handlebar ripped out of my hand I went down.  With my handlebars bent and mud in the throttle cable I wasn’t able to finish the race.

That night I rested my shoulder and the next day I to race but my shoulder was hurting too bad to continue.  My parents and I decided that it was time to call it.  I wasn’t able to compete up front and I didn’t want to do any harm to my body so I decided not to race in my last motos.  It was a really hard decision but I was happy I was even able to race at all.

I have the most amazing sponsors!!!  Everyone is always so supportive of me and my racing.

YAMAHA  –  FLY  –  LUCAS OIL

SOBMX  –  2X PROMOTIONS  –  JMS  –  GRINDSTONE COMPOUND

WES KAIN MAFIA – MOM AND DAD – BILLS PIPES – LEATT

51 FIFTY ENERGY DRINK – WIENERSCHNITZEL – SCOTT GOOGLES – DUNLOP TIRES

CANDACE – JOHNNY – DR. TING

So many other sponsors that were not at the track but they help me throughout the year.  I wish I was able to compete up front like I should have been but happy I was able to make it in the top 10 twice considering.  After the races my family drove straight back home so I can start high school on Monday.

Every year Yamaha has a dinner for all the riders and families.  We get to take a team photo and every year Yamaha picks one person that wins a prize.  This year they called my number and I won a Yamaha pressure washer.  It was so cool, I have never won a raffle.  My Dad was SO excited!!!!  He can’t wait to use it.

Can’t wait till next year!!!!

WITH THE #WIENERFAM AT THE MOTO AMERICA RACE

This weekend I went to the Moto America race at Laguna Seca to watch my friend and Wienerschnitzel teammate Josh Herrin race.

Josh races for Meen Motorsports and all the guys there were really nice.

My Wienerschnitzel family was also there to watch the races.  It is always a lot of fun to get to hang out with all of them.

The team had the dogs flowing and they were so good!

We had to hike up a huge hill to watch the races and I was very glad I brought my energy with me.

 

The team and I all hung out together to watch the races.

Josh started out really good.  He was in 4th and battling for 3rd when his bike stopped running.  When we got back to the pits he showed me that his pipe broke and had a huge hole in the side and lost power.I wasn’t able to go back to watch him race again on Sunday but he finished on the podium and had a great race.

While I was there I also had to go visit my Yamaha team.  I said Hi to the ladies.

I also got a private VIP tour of all the Yamaha bikes from Keith McCarty who was the head mechanic for Bob Hannah and helped him win 4 championships.  He was so nice, and it was very cool to learn all about the bikes.

If I ever wanted to get on these bikes, this is the size I would start out racing.  Not a bad fit.

My family and I had a lot of fun at the races.

Always fun hanging out with the #wienerfam

I did a video blog of my day at this event.  Check it out here and if you would like to watch more videos about my life, subscribe to my youtube channel CROSS71

This is the link to my Youtube Channel so you can go and SUBSCRIBE

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwys_aZxOnGXEO6S40gMZTQ

 

 

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN RACE

My first big race back from my accident was this week.  The race at Mammoth Mountain is like a mini Loretta Lynn race, everyone goes to this race…. and this year was the 50th anniversary so it was bigger and better than ever.  We had to drive all the way around this year because roads were still closed from all the snow that we got this year.  We stopped for some fun in the water and snow on the way to and from Mammoth…. it was really cold!

The next day was Father’s Day and my Dad spent the whole day working on my bikes and getting everything ready for the race…. He is the best!

I tested my bike on the road a few times just to make sure we got the jetting the best we could.  The elevation is so high on the mountain we have to change all of our settings from what we run at home.

Practice day went well.  Worked on getting my flow down on the track and fine tuning the motor.  I couldn’t wait to get on the line and race!

I was really lucky to have Josh Boykin with Boykin Suspension spend a few days with my family and I and make sure my bike was ready for each race.  Josh worked with Dom and I before each moto and my bike never felt better.  I really appreciate all your help and hard work Josh!

I had a lot of my sponsors at the event to support me… Thank you Yamaha, 2X Promotions, Fly Gear, Scott Goggles, and so many others that I didn’t get pictures with like Leatt, Dunlop, Mylucasoil, Americoresmx, Addictionindustries, Mika, etc.

The first day of racing I was in the top 3 in every race.  It was really cool to be on the line with so many awesome racers and be able to battle up front with them.  The track was awesome, and I was really happy with my results because I feel like I am still getting back up to speed.  I finished day 1 with Heat race 1st and 2nd and main event 2nd and 3rd place finishes.

Day 2 the track got a little more rough and my lap times got a little faster.  I didn’t have better results but had even better battles than the day before.  Finished the Heat races with two 2nd place finishes.  I finished one main event with a 3rd and the second main event I got the hole shot and was out front but crashed really hard.  I crushed my pipe all the way in and my throttle was totally broken.  I was able to battle back from 26th to 8th place.

After my races my family and I did a video testimonial for Leatt.  They wanted to have myself and my Mom and Dad talk about my accident when I broke my back and how because of the neck brace and chest protector I was able to get back on my bike and ride this race.  I’m not too sure how the video is going to turn out.  I did my part and told them what happened on my bike.  Then when my Mom and Dad told their part, both my parents cried which made all the film crew and Leatt reps cry, which made me cry.  I didn’t realize my parents were so upset about everything.  And my parents said that it was really hard to talk about because they have never told the full story out loud before…. and it has only been two months.  I guess I will have to update you all and let you know how that turns out. lol

I also did a video shoot for Yamaha up in the trees.  I always like to talk about how much I love my bike!

I also want to thank the Vacarello family for letting us share a cabin with you.  Always fun hanging out with friends.

Now it’s time to get ready for Loretta’s!

 

LORETTA LYNN REGIONAL IN WASHINGTON

I got cleared from the doctor two weeks ago after breaking my back in March.  I was able to practice at my local track a handful of times but time is running out to qualify for Nationals in Tennessee.   This weekend was the first round of qualifying at Washougal MX in Washington.  I was feeling good on my bike and ready to get back to racing and asked my parents if I could go.  My Mom thought it would be good to go and get a gate and a practice in on a large track…. I was going to race!

I had my bike looking good.

I was looking good.

I had my WIENERSCHNITZEL DAWG, my 51 FIFTY ENERGY DRINK, and it was time to race!

I had some really good starts and I rode hard even though the track got a little sketchy from time to time.  I finished out the weekend with TWO TICKETS TO LORETTA LYNN’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE!

I was happy to get my tickets to Nationals at the first round.  My parents couldn’t believe that after just a couple of practices I was able to take so many wins over the weekend, but I knew I could do it.  Now I can take some time to practice and get more and more comfortable on the bike.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

HANGTOWN PRO RACE

Last week was the pro motocross race at Hangtown.  My family and I were excited to get to the track, see everyone and watch some amazing races.

First I saw my friend Kelly at the Wienerschnitzel pit.

After practice was over I went over to Yamaha to hang out with the guys on the Yamaha team.  I was able to visit with a lot of my friends walking by.  The team had me help them dial in Coopers bike…. your welcome!

Then it was time to get a seat for the main event.  Lucas Oil gave my family some really awesome tickets.  It was really cool of them….BUTT….. does their pit area have to be at the top of the tallest hill?  Good thing I brought my own 51 Fifty Energy Drink, or I might not have made it to the top.

The Lucas Oil spot was an awesome spot to watch the races.

ROLLING AROUND THE TRACK

A week ago was the final Loretta Lynn area qualifier race for the southwest region.  Because I had not yet qualified for that area the rules say if I can complete half the laps of the race I can sign into the regional race as an alternate.  We loaded up the moto van and drove to LA to “race”.

It was really fun to be back at the track and see everyone.  It was strange to be at the track and not to ride in the morning practice but I watched everyone.  The track looked so fun!

I got dressed in my new fly gear

Took some pictures with my bike.  Of course I had to make a few wardrobe changes.

Then it was time to get on the line for my race.

It was so hard when the gate dropped I wanted to take off and race with my friends.  I just stood up and rolled over all the jumps and around each turn.

It was cool to be back on my bike and riding around the track but it only made me want to race even more.  My parents were very proud of me that I went really slow and I got last place.  lol

I did hit one turn that was really sick.  Just one!

I am going to the doctors this week and hoping to get release.  fingers crossed!

THE CRASH THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

So it has been 26 days since I broke my back in Texas.  I had severe back, neck, and mouth pain.  I couldn’t move my jaw at all for two days.  After checking everything out in my mouth they found I had no broken bones but it had a lot of trauma and took a while to feel better.

So now after almost a month I was back in the doctor’s office.  This time I had to sit in the dentist chair because my front tooth was starting to turn brown.

Lucky for me my neighbors own a dentist office so I had them take a look at it.  They told me my tooth had such severe damage that the root of the tooth had died and I needed to get a root canal.  So yesterday it was time to get it fixed.

I was a little nervous because I have never had anything like this ever done to my teeth.  I was very happy that it wasn’t too bad.  Everyone at The Martin Family Dentist Office were so nice and they did it very quickly and I really didn’t have any pain.  I will see how I feel tomorrow?????

I have to give a huge thanks to Rigo and Martha and everyone from their office for taking such good care of me.  If you need a great dentist, make sure you give them a call.

Martin Family Dentistry

Brentwood, CA

925-420-6850

WEARING A LEATT NECK BRACE AND CHEST PROTECTOR

Several months back I did a post about how my Leatt chest protector saved me from getting really burnt during practice.  My bike was stuck on top of me and the pipe was burning my back.  I had to wait for someone to come and help me get my bike off me and my jersey and back brace were all burnt.

Leatt sent me out a new neck brace and chest protector that looked like this.

I wear the back brace under my shirt so this is what it looks like when I am riding.

As you know I was in a bad crash in Texas and I broke my back.  The doctors said if I would have had any more of an impact I would have a lot worse injury and a very different recovery.

After crashing head first into the face of a jump and having my bike land on my back, I am lucky I was wearing my Fly helmet and Leatt neck and back brace.  I did break my back but imagine how bad it would have been with no safety gear.  Very scary!

I am very grateful for the support from Leatt.  The products they provide for our sport is very important and I know it saved me twice already.  I was very happy to do a photo and video shoot for Leatt even before this accident…… I am happy to do anything I can to get the word out and tell people to wear all your safety gear when you put your leg over a dirt bike.

….and all the people at Leatt are awesome!  When I got home they sent me a gift box with shirts, hats and a very nice card with notes from everyone in the company.  Thank you to everyone who wished me a speedy recovery, it was very nice of you all.

AUTISM, SWEET POTATOES AND AUTOGRAPHS

This weekend I went to a really cool 51 Fifty Energy Drink event.  First I met with the guys from the supercross team.  (Hayden Mellross, Tyler Bowers and Noah McConahy)  We met at A.V. Thomas Produce.

We took a picture with everyone that was working at the plant and we were all wearing blue.  A.V. Thomas and 51 Fifty Energy do a lot to help families with Autism and April is Autism Awareness Month.   Look at how many people they had in the picture.

I took a long time to get everyone in place for the picture.  The team and I stood in the front with a dirt bike and the Autism sign.

After we took some pictures, Carlos gave the team a tour of the plant and we learned a lot about how the sweet potatoes get to the stores.  I had no idea it was so huge.

And the have so many different kids of sweet potatoes.

First we saw how the machine cleans the potatoes and they get dried and hand sorted into different packages.

Then we went to another building where they were doing dry packaging.  If the potatoes are washed and packaged they don’t last as long as the ones that are packaged without being washed…..I never knew that.

In another building they had a machine that wold package individual portions that are shrink wrapped.

We also saw the storage facility that has cases and cases of potatoes that have not yet been processed.  These come straight from the farm to storage until they are processed and ready to ship to stores.

We learned that the potatoes that are scratched or broken get sold to farmers and they use them for pet food.  All of the potatoes in the fields are used someplace.

We toured the offices and met all the people behind the scenes that help get the sweet potatoes to the stores.

After the tour we went to the 51 Fifty clothing store and Fitness Center in downtown Livingston.

They have a full gym and every day from 3-6pm the place is FREE for all kids in support of the Gloves Not Drugs program.  Kids come and practice boxing so they are not getting into trouble around town.  The place was so cool.

The apparel store was having a raffle and autograph signing so we all got ready to sign autographs.

It was really fun to say HI to everyone, sign autographs and take pictures.  Everyone was very nice.

And of course I had fun hanging out with the 51 Fifty Energy Drink Girls.

 

RACING, TEXAS, AND HOSPITAL VISITS

I had a race in Texas so we left on Thursday and headed to Los Angeles to race the Loretta Lynn qualifier on our way.  We had practice on Friday and raced Saturday.  The race was at 333MX and the track was very different from what I am used to racing.  I was able to finish out the day with two 1st place trophies.

As soon as the race was over my family got into the van and drove 24 hours to Texas.  My parents took turns driving and I slept most of the way.  We were all very happy when we got to Texas and arrived at the Freestone track.

We had a day to get settled, sign in and walk the track.  I also did a photo shoot and video for Leatt.  (I will have a separate post about Leatt later and how wearing a neck and back brace saved me again)

We got a really good nights sleep and I was ready for practice on Tuesday.  My bike was looking awesome with the new graphics, Fly hooked me up with new gear, and I was ready to go.

My first practice was great.  I was getting used to the track and put down some great laps.  In my second practice things did not go as well.  On the second lap my bike didn’t seem like it was running very well.  I thought it would clear out and I kept riding.  When I was going through the rollers my bike bogged and I didn’t clear the jump.  I went head first into the face of the jump and my bike hit me in my back.  I immediately knew that I was pretty hurt, but I wasn’t sure what was wrong.

After going to the hospital, getting advice from some great friends and some new friends, I got transported to a Children’s Hospital.

I was strapped down and they did a lot of tests.  I had and MRI, CT Scan, and X-rays.

The doctors found I had a fractured T1, T2, T3 and T4 vertebrae, a broken T5 vertebrae and pulled ligaments in my neck….. along with a lot of cuts and bruises.  The doctors said I was very lucky that my break did not move any farther at all.  I am so lucky that I was wearing my safety gear.

After a couple of days they finally let me sit up but I still couldn’t get out of bed or walk.  The doctors did more and more tests to make figure out what they needed to do to make sure my back and neck were stable.  Donnie from Yamaha drove for hours just to come and check on me which was very awesome!

The next day I finally got to get out of bed and move around a little.  I was able to go sit in the team room and play video games.

The doctors finally released me to head back to California.  My parents took turns driving but we had to make a few stops along the way for me to rest a little.  I really want to thank everyone for all the get well wishes.  So many people reached out to myself and my parents and it meant a lot to all of us.

Now I am in a back brace and I have to meet with my doctors in California so I can figure out what is next for me.

#WIENERFAM JOSH HERRIN SUPERBIKE CHAMPION

This last week I found out that one of my #wienerfam guys was going to be practicing close to my house and my family decided to go check it out.  Josh Herrin  is a 2010 Daytona 200 Champion, 2012 AMA Superbike Rookie of the year, 2013 AMA Superbike Champion, and 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion.

I met Josh when I was hanging out with the guys from Wienerschnitzel a few months back.  It was so cool to go and watch what he can do on two wheels.  The Meen Motorsports team was working hard doing some testing on the bike with Dunlop.

Josh took time away to talk about how he was feeling on the track and what they were working on.

Watching him ride was so crazy.  Those bikes are so000 fast!

I got to sit on his bike…its a little different than my bike.  How do you think I fit?

Thank you Josh for letting my family come out and watch you ride.

…and thank you to Meen Motorsports for the hospitality!

#WIENERFAM

CONSISTANT FINISHES THREE WEEKS IN A ROW

Two weeks ago I raced a Loretta Lynn qualifier at DT1.  It had rained a lot right before that so the track was a little muddy for practice and got really rough throughout the races.

I had a few really good starts and some good battles out front  I was able to finish up the day with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

The next weekend I raced a Road To Mammoth race at Oatfield.  Again the track got really rough as the day went on.

I battled back and forth with my friends and for the third week in a row I finished with an overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finish.

Both weekends I had a lot of fun racing and pushed myself to get back up to speed after being off my bike for so long.  Getting my starts back and my speed consistent has been tough but I am working hard to get better everyday.

I am happy to be back at the track!

 

ROAD TO MAMMOTH RACE AT LACR

It has been raining a lot at home which is good because we need water, but it is really bad for a motocross racer.  I was excited to race this weekend and not only did we get more rain but I also got really sick.  I wasn’t able to go to school on Thursday and Friday, and on Saturday I still felt a little sick.  Because we got a lot of rain the practice on Saturday was cancelled and everyone was going to show up on Sunday and race.  I was feeling better Saturday evening and I really wanted to race so we drove to LACR.  Sunday I wasn’t 100% but I was feeling a lot better.  It was fun to hang out with my friends and get back on my bike.

A couple quick laps of practice and then it was time to start racing.

My starts were much better this weekend and I was able to get a few holeshots.

The track got really rough towards the end of the day.  My dad made changes to my bike before each moto and I was feeling very comfortable.

I had a few good battles with my friends on the track.

I finished with a 1st in Mini Sr 1,  2nd in Mini Sr 2 and 3rd in Supermini 1

I can’t wait for the next race, hope I am feeling better!

 

First race of 2017

So after The Mammoth race last year I started traveling and practicing for nationals.  As you know I got hurt and had two surgeries and have not been able to race in the last 8 months.  This weekend was my first race back at Glen Helen.  It was a Road To Mammoth qualifying race and there was a ton of people there.  The track was really deep and very, very rough.

Practice on Saturday was great.  A lot of riders on the track so we I had a lot of different battles and practiced hard to get back into race mode.

Sunday I was ready to get on the track and race!

My first gate in 8 months was not the best!  I was racing in the supermini class on my 85. (I practiced on my supermini but felt more comfortable on my 85 on the track) I came off the line great and when I shifted I hit neutral.  By the time I got going again I was really far back in last place.

I was able to battle for all five laps and made it up to 6th place.  Not bad for the start and being down on power.  I guess I have to remember not to hit neutral on the start!!!

It was fun to see a lot of my friends back at the races.  I had a lot of friends cheer me on at the line and watch the races throughout the day.

It was really fun to be back at the races and I had some great battles throughout the day.  I was able to finish the day on two wheels and with…..

6th place in Supermini

3rd place in Mini Sr 1

4th place in Mini Sr 2

I am ready for the next race!!!!

 

MY TRIPS TO LA

Since most of our tracks are under water, I have taken a couple of trips to LA to do a little riding and to start getting into race shape.

Because I have been in LA the last two weekends I was able to catch a couple supercross races.  Because I have been doing more practicing than playing I haven’t been able to spend the day playing at supercross but I have been able to watch some really great racing.

This weekend I was able to hang out just a little with my Wienerfam.

And my 51 Fifty Family

It was so fun to be able to say Hi to everyone before the races started.

Then it was back to riding again early in the morning.

It has been a long couple of weeks.  Really Fun, But Really Long.

GOODBYE 2016… HELLO 2017

I finished out 2016 with my leg finally healed.  After my two surgeries and 6 months of not moving my ankle, it feels amazing to be able to walk again.

I am now able to climb rocks with my friends, go indoor surfing and ride my Oset that I got for Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas…every year my family plays a game to “win” our presents.  This years game was extreme target shooting.

My blindfolded shot didn’t even make it on the board, but my between the legs and over the back shots were pretty close.  At the end of the game I got my new assault riffle.  Now it’s time to make a trip to the shooting range.

My sister took me to a G-Eazy concert that was off the hook.  We had a ton of fun.  Thanks Sis.

Of course I missed my baby!!!!  It is so much fun to be back on the bike again.

Riding and getting into shape has been fun.  Of course it has been raining a lot so I haven’t been able to ride as much as I want.  When the weather clears up you will see me back out on the track.

While I am at home and it is raining, I have been hanging out with my new dog Abby.  She is really fun.  Check out her eyes, they are two different colors.

I got a really awesome special delivery just in time for Christmas.. Thank you Yamaha!

Now it is time to go racing!

Wild Wienerschnitzel Weekend

This last week I traveled to sunny Southern California to visit my Wienerschnitzel family for the weekend.

They picked me up in the Toyota truck and we headed out for the day.

My first day I got to visit the Wienerschnitzel headquarters.

The office was huge and they had so many people working.  It takes a lot of people to run such a huge business.   I took a picture with a few of the guys from the front office.

I put together some “big deals”

I walked to halls in The Delicious Ones shoes.

Then an amazing message.

The guys had my #71 plate on the shelf with some of the other sports stuff.

After the rest of the tour and food, it was time to get some rest until my ride the next day.

The next day we drove to a track to hang out with Jeremy McGrath.  I had never met him before and it was so cool to hang out with him and to watch him ride.  He was so nice! I got some great riding tips from him.

There was a couple other racers at the track including Josh Hill.

I couldn’t believe how awesome Jeremy McGrath rode.  He was on the gas and did several 20 minute motor.  He even out rode all the other guys he was riding with and they were even younger than him.  McGrath has always been my Dad’s favorite rider so we was also very excited to meet him.

It was such a fun day hanging out at the track and talking with the guys and getting lots of tips.

The next day the Toyota truck picked up my bike and I got to ride to the track with Chili

Sadly I am not yet cleared to ride so my bike was on display next to the wienerbago

We were at the Transworld Mini Major race.  It was fun to watch my friends race, but it is also really hard to watch and not be able to be on the track with them.

I helped my friend The Delicious One race my Oset in the mini race.  I got the gate prepared perfectly for him and when the gate dropped he took off.  Great TDO!

In between races I played extreme Traxxas racing with the guys.  Played been bag toss, and of course got Wienerschnitzel off the food truck!

The guys at Transworld got some awesome pictures and videos of my bike and I even did an interview with Wienerschnitzel.

I also got to meet another Wienerschnitzel rider Josh Herrin.  Josh is an AMA supersport champion.  It was really cool to meet him and have a chance to hang out.

It was such a fun weekend, I can’t thank everyone enough!  I had an awesome time hanging out with everyone.

Then it was time to head home.  What a weekend!

 

Trying To Keep Busy

A few of the things I have been doing while I am getting better…..

After I had my first surgery, my Dad had surgery on his shoulder then right after that I had surgery again on my leg.

When we are not in the hospital… I have been having a lot of fun with the Traxxas car I got from my #Wienerfam  and the guys at Wienerschnitzel.

I went to the shooting range and got to fire some guns.

I got a knee scooter so I can get around a little easier.  I had to make a number plate and put a lot of my sponsors on it.  I can’t help but to ride it on two wheels.

Went to the races to watch my buddy Dillon and my 51Fifty teammate race.

I have been eating a lot of Wienerschnitzel and drinking a lot of 51 Fifty Energy Drinks.

My mom got an awesome dune buggy and we have been going on rides in it.

We went to the drag races which was awesome.  And I saw some of my 51 Fifty friends there.

I got a cast cover so I could go in the pool and play with my friends.

We got a new chair for the lake but it is really a boat with a motor so I am able to cruise around the lake on it.

I have been catching up on football / Sleep with my Dad.

I can’t wait to see what we do next…..Including getting back on my bike soon!

Leg Update

I know I told you that I broke my Tib/Fib when I was in South Carolina.  I thought you might want an update on my leg.

Broken Tib/Fib in South Carolina

I went into surgery to fix it and I got 3 screws and a few really good scars.

When I got back home I knew that something wasn’t right….this was one clue

The doctors at home saw that my fib was never fixed and that the bone was actually short and had pulled away from my ankle.  I wasn’t happy, but it was back into surgery

The doctor had to re-break my bone, stretch it out and put a plate in it.  I got more hardware and a new scar.

I am thinking about being Frankenstein for Halloween….

what do you think?

2017 FLY GEAR SHOOT AND PICTURES

A few months ago I went to Chaney Ranch for a photo shoot for Fly Gear.  Now that the gear is ready for release I can share pictures of the shoot.

I got to wear the new Fly gear and it was all really sick.   My Dad got my bike all clean and shiny for the pictures.  I got to ride with Weston Peick, Davi Millsaps and Zach Osborne.

Peick’s girlfriend Kelly was there and I had fun hanging out with her also.

We took still pictures first.

Then we got out on the track to ride.

The brochure just came out and three of my photos made the cut……

It was a fun day of riding and showing off the new Fly Gear.  Make sure you check out the full line of 2017 gear thats available now.   http://catalogs.wps-inc.com/2017/flyracing/#

Thank you Fly Gear and Chaney Ranch for having me out to ride!

UPS AND DOWNS OF MY 91 HOUR ROAD TRIP

I had planned a 91 hour road trip over the last few weeks that included a dirt bike summer camp, my niece’s birthday party, lots of riding, and nationals.  The trip did not go as planned…….

PART 1:  MotoPro Graphics worked around the clock to get our moto van wrapped.  It turned out really cool.  Throughout our trip I got a lot of thumbs up and people and had a lot of conversations with many different people at each stop we made.

PART 2:  I first set out to Missouri for the Boom Diggity dirt bike summer camp.  We drove 27 hours to Missouri and signed in for the best summer camp ever!

We broke off into small groups and went to stations.  Each station had a different trainer that would give us a drill and tips as we rode.

 

We worked on turns, starts, jumps, and interviews.  They had a little bit of everything.

After we were done riding, they had a pit bike track, oset track, a huge waterslide and swimming pond, and dodge ball.

 

The only bad thing was that a storm came in and ended camp early.  We got so much rain that everything flooded and the party had to stop before planned.

It was time to get back into the moto van and drive another 15 hours to South Carolina to live and train at South Of The Boarder MX.

South of the Border is the coolest place.  It is a huge “little mexico theme” place with rides, pee-wee golf, reptile museum, arcades, restaurants, hotel, campground…….

and in the back of everything is motocross tracks!

Everyone that is there to practice motocross stays in the back rooms on the facility.  We ride our bikes around the place and go from our rooms right to the tracks.  After practice we would go swimming together, out to eat, ride bikes, and some of my friends would go fishing.

When I first got to SOBMX it had rained a lot and the tracks were really muddy.  It was really different to ride in the heat, the humidity, and the muddy tracks.  I took a little bit to get adjusted and then I was getting more used to everything.

On the weekend we drove an hour to North Carolina to visit my sister and her family.  I played with my niece Lola and we celebrated my niece Vivian’s first birthday.

A few days we had so much rain that we couldn’t ride the tracks at SOB and we had to drive down the road to a sand track.

My neighbors at SOBMX was some of my friends I have raced with before, some new friends that I have never met before and some pros…… Cooper Webb, Aaron Plessinger, Jimmy Deceits.  They would come to SOBMX and practice all week and then fly out to the races each weekend.  It was cool to live next door to my Yamaha teammates and to watch them practice.

Things were going great and I was getting used to the weather and the tracks and feeling really good about my training until……

I broke my Tib/Fib.  I had to be transferred to a bigger hospital, they set my leg for the night and the next day I went into surgery.

They kept me at McLeod hospital for several days and everyone was so nice.  The people in the hospital where awesome, you know we race motocross to meet girls……nurses!

Then I was able to be released and travel back home….. 42 hours straight home so I can go to my local doctor to check my leg.

First I went back to SOBMX to say goodbye to everyone.

This is a picture of everyone at the camp and the three trainers that helped us everyday.

Of course I had to say goodbye to Cooper Webb and get my cast signed.

After 42 hours of driving back home, I got to my doctor’s appointment.  He took my cast off and I was able to see my leg for the first time since my surgery.

I was more upset that I would be missing Nationals for the first time in 4 years than I was hurting.  I was making sure I did everything I needed to do well at Nationals this year and bring home a win for all my sponsors and I didn’t have the result I was expecting.  I will heal up and be ready for the next big event!

 

BEAR HUNTING IN MAMMOTH

This last weekend we left to go to the 2x Promotion race in Mammoth Mountain.  When we got to Mammoth the first thing we have to do is figure out the jetting on my bike because the altitude is so high the bikes run completely different.  Since I had won the King Of The West Championship, I had new graphics for my bike with red backgrounds on my number plates. My bike looked really sick!

After working on the bikes, we tried to get used to the altitude.  We went for a walk and even had a friendly game of “who can throw the pinecone the farthest”  I got close, but I think a few of the other players may have cheated a little – Todd.

When I got to the track, I found out that I had my picture in the event program.

Then it was time to start practice.  Look at that bike…..RED, white, and BLUE!

Practice went well.  My Dad worked on fine tuning the jetting and the guys from Thousand Oaks Yamaha even helped get my bike running perfect.

The Mammoth race is a little different than any other race because there is so many racers in each class.

• We have two divisions and the finish of the division races determines your gate pick for the main event.
• If you don’t transfer from the division race they have an LCQ race to give you a second chance to get into the main.
• The main event is the finish for the day.
• We repeat the entire race day, the same way, the second day to get day two finishes.
• Then they give an overall finish for both days combined.

Day 1 I got 2nd and 1st in 85 9-12 and 4th and 4th in Mini Sr 1.  At the awards ceremony that night not only did I get the famous “BIG BEAR”

I also got my custom Americore SMX scooter for winning the King Of The West….  See there are two #71 scooters because I was able to get both championships.

Day 2 I got 1st in both my heat races but had bad luck in both of my main event races.  In one race my bike was not handling well enough to let me get through the corners as fast as I wanted to and I was only able to pull out a 3rd place finish.  In the other race I had my bike handling better and I was heading to the front and and the bike in front of me went down and my bike got stuck in his bike.  I was able to race back from last place to 12th place.  I finished with an overall 2nd and 6th place.

Off the track we had a lot of fun at the Americore SMX and Lucas Oil Bowling Tournament.

All my friends from the track bowled but we should all stick to racing dirt bikes because we didn’t do very well.

It was really cool to have a lot of my sponsors at the track to support me and cheer me on for each race.

And they were on the podium with me after the race to congratulate me.

All my friends and sponsors also showed me a lot of support on social media.  Here are just a few of the posts……

Thank you to all my sponsors who have supported me and continue to help me do what I love.  Now its time to get ready for Loretta Lynn’s.

MAKING MUSIC WITH THE SEVEN-DEUCE-DEUCE

For those of you who don’t know….. Adam Enticknap races motocross as a pro.  They call him the Seven Deuce Deuce because his racing number is 722.  Adam is ALWAYS the life of the party and a fun guy to hang with.  In his spare time Adam records sick songs that have been hits and he even makes intro songs for other pro racers, he was featured on the Moto 7 movie and was asked to record the song for the movie that is a huge iTunes hit.  I have rode with Adam several times over the past few years and we always have fun hanging out.

When I first met Adam Enticknap (The Seven Deuce Deuce) a couple years ago we talked about racing and all the music he was making and about the song I had recorded (The Show- which is a song with good words but horrible music and beat….Adam will have to fix that song one day).  We said it would be cool to do a song together and I started working on some words and ideas for a song.  A few months ago while Adam was still recovering from his injury I called to see if he was around to get together and my Mom and I went on a 5 hour road trip to his house.

First we listened to a million different starting beats and tried to pick the one that would work best on my song.

Then it was time to get to work in his “beat laboratory.”  First I laid down some of the track.

Then he would add sounds, I would record an echo, he would record an echo, he would put down more sounds, etc.  He has an amazing ear for the smallest change in the music and the way he works on the computer is crazy.

Adam literally spent all day helping me with my song, he was so awesome.  He taught me a lot about making a song and how to flow….which I have a lot of practicing to do to be like him.  He has the attitude, the voice, the confidence, and the skills.  We worked together for about 7 hours and finally had a finished product.

Although I recorded a song before, this was really my first song.  It was crazy how he made everything sound so good and flow.  I learned a lot and I can’t wait for the next song, it will be so much better.

It was so Sick to work with Adam for the day!  On the long ride back home I was exhausted and my Mom took this picture of me.

Then it was time to make a cover picture for the song and put it out for people to hear.  Everyone has been so nice to me.  It is crazy that people actually know the words to my song and are singing it.

It was really cool that Adam spent his day hanging with me and helping me learn about making music.  You can check out my song on iTunes if you haven’t already downloaded it, here is the link.

http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1113090044?ls=1&app=itunes

Hope you like the song.  The next ones will get better!

RACING AND SCHOOL

Because I race Nationally, I spend a lot of time traveling.  Many of my friends that I race against are home schooled and don’t go to school every day like I do.  I am not able to travel to go to different places and practice everyday like a lot of them, but I do have to miss a lot of school for big races.  When I go to big races some of my friends will race and then stay the night and go home the next day or travel half way and then stop to get a hotel.  My family and I always travel throughout the night so I get home just in time to go to school the next morning.

Some of the things I have to do…….

• I miss my entire first week of school because I am at the Loretta Lynn Nationals.  It has been a little interesting coming into school a week late and not knowing any of my teacher, the rules of the classes, or all the homework I have to make up.
• I miss Friday’s when I have regional or area races for Nationals
• When I went to Texas to race my family drove 24 hours straight to get to the track and home so I could go to school on Monday.
• When we come home from Loretta’s we drive 36 hours straight so I can get to school on Monday.

Although I do everything I can to not miss school, It is in my contract that I have to be at some events, photo shoots, appearances, etc.

When I miss school I have to come back and make up all the work and tests from when I was out.

I am very proud that every year I have gone to Nationals, I have been a full time student, and on the Honor Roll….. and this year is the same.  Today is my last day of school and these are my grades.  Not bad for missing the first week and several times throughout each month.

NOTE:  A couple of the teachers have not yet put my makeup test into the book yet so these grades will be just a little higher on my actual report card.

LORETTA LYNN REGIONAL RACE IN WASHINGTON

This last weekend was the first round of regional races to earn a spot in the Loretta Lynn National Race.

My family and I drove to Washougal Washington and I practiced on Saturday and raced one class on Sunday and raced the second class on Monday.  Because they expected some rain on Saturday and Sunday they did not prep the track like normal.  We did not get any rain but the track got really slick throughout the day.

Sunday I raced Mini Sr 1, I had some great battles with some of the older riders.  I was able to finish up the day with the 4th place spot and earn my first ticket to the Loretta Lynn Ranch for Nationals.

On Mondays race the track was totally different.  They did not expect any rain and they did a full prep on the track.  Because I don’t ever ride in Washington, the morning of the race I had only three laps of practice to get used to the different track.  On the first lap I could tell that something was wrong with my bike and I wasn’t able to jump anything.  I stayed on the track to look at lines but could not practice at my normal speed.

My Dad was able to fix my breaks and the rotor and everything was ready for the first race of the day.  Since I didn’t get much riding in my practice my Dad and I walked around the track and talked about lines.  Because it was Memorial Day, I made sure to wear my Red, White and Blue gear.

In the first race I got a good start and heading towards the back of the track I was making a pass for the lead.  I railed the outside and hit a kicker that put me on the ground.  By the time I got back up I was in 14th place with a lot of work to do in the next four laps.  I was on a charge and was able to back it back into third place and missed the pass for second place by .006 seconds.  I was lucky I was able to come back close enough to have a chance for my second ticket, and I knew what I had to do to get it.

The second race of the day I had a good start and on the first two laps the front guy and I stretched out a lead and we all stayed consistent to get to the checkered flag.  Considering how my day started I was happy to get out of Washington with a second place finish 85 9-12 and another ticket to Loretta Lynn’s.

With my two tickets it is now time to practice for Nationals!  See you all in Tennessee!

HANGTOWN AMATEUR AND PRO RACE

This weekend was the Amateur and Pro race at Hangtown.  They made some changes to the track to get ready for the pros and I was excited to race on the new track.

 I was able to race my 85 age class and I wanted to race a second class so I also signed in to race the Supermini class.   I had to race my regular 85 in the Supermini class but I had fun battling with all the faster bikes.  I struggled a little on the starts and the up hills but was able to battle around fourth and fifth and finished with a 5th place overall finish.

In my 85 age class I came in second in the first race and was able to win the second race for the overall 1st place finish.

During amateur day some of the pro racers watch us ride on the track to see how the track is setting up and watch our lines.  Then it was time for Pro day so I could watch them and see what lines they take.

My friends at Lucas Oil hooked up my friends and I with VIP passes and not only had a great spot to watch the races

We also had indoor seating and televisions so we were able to watch the races and stay dry even when it started to rain

My family and I had fun watching the races and hanging out with friends

Thank you Lucas Oil and Americore for hanging out with us…its always fun!

See you at the track…….

 

WINNING 2 NATIONAL TITLES THIS WEEKEND….

This weekend was the last Road to Mammoth race at Lake Elsinore.  Going into the last round of the race each of my classes had 3 or 4 racers that were in the points chase for the King of The West Championship.  Because the last round is a double points race, it came down to whoever won each race would win the Championship Title.

In the first round of races I got a 1st, 1st, and 3rd and knew that I had to win all the second round races to get the titles.  In my first race (Mini Sr 1) I battled through every turn.  I started out in second and passed for the lead.  I held the lead for three laps but I made a mistake and got passed.  I held pressure on the leader and set up three really great passes but got pushed out each time and was not able to make the pass stick.  I was very frustrated I wasn’t able to get around the leader and I finished in second place.

 

I was mad at the finish of the race but I had to get right back out on the starting line for my next race (85 9-12) and I was determined to get out front and stay out front.  I was able to win the race and take home the King Of The West Championship.

Right after I was on the podium I had to hurry back to the starting line for my next race (Mini Sr 2).  I knew what I had to do to finish first in points and I rode consistent for 5 laps and was able to get a second Championship.

I was so excited to bring home the two wins and have a chance to stand on the podium twice and thank all my sponsors that have helped me over the years.

I can’t wait to run the red #1 plate at Mammoth this year!

Now it is back to practice so I can go win more titles for my sponsors!

Mammoth Race at Oatfield

This last weekend was the Mammoth race at Oatfield.  I went to practice on Saturday to see how I felt on my bike and get a little practice in since my injury.  I was very excited that my arm felt pretty good and I knew I was going to be able to race on Sunday.

I was so happy to be back on the bike and I was excited to race.  The turn out at the event was crazy.  I had 34 racers in my class and I was ready for some good battles.  See me, I have the blue fender…..lets go Yamaha!

There was full classes in every race and the track got really rough.  The front racers in my class were putting down some really fast laps.  I had consistent starts all day and a couple of hole shots.  Getting good starts set me up to battle up front each race.

I finished out the race winning a couple and coming in second in a couple of races.  I got overall 1st – 2nd – 2nd place finishes.

Several Weeks Back……

I had to take some mandatory time off and this is why…….

The Cal Classic at Pala started out awesome!  My Wienerschnitzel family hooked me up with the Wienerbago.  My parents and I got to live in the Wienerbago for the weekend.

It was really fun staying in the hauler.  Everyone at the track loved The Delicious One on the side of the wienerbago and they were taking pictures with him.  Wait, who’s that inside the window?  lol

I thought since my Wienerfam hooked me up for the weekend I would make a special dirt bike with new numbers.  What do you think of this 71?  The bike was a huge hit!

Practice started off great and I felt really good on the bike.

My Dad had my bike handling and running great.

During my last practice the rider in front of me fell and I had no place to go but right over the bars.  I got up and thought I was ok, but as soon as I moved my arm I felt something and Mom and I were on our way to the doctor.

My blood pressure was 117 over 71 which you would think was a lucky number for me but the doctor said I couldn’t get back on my bike.  I was so frustrated because I was excited to have some good battles and now I had to hang out and watch.

I felt really bad for the Wienerfam that came out to watch me race and didn’t get to see any races.

Until next time…..

SANTA CLARA SUPERCROSS

Saturday was the supercross race at Santa Clara and I went with my family.

The guys at Yamaha set up a meeting with Chad Reed and I.  He was so nice!  We talked about racing and his kids and took some time to take a few pictures.

I hung out with the 51 Fifty Energy Drink girls

51 Fifty does a lot for families with autism.  It was World Autism Awareness Day and they invited a local family to the supercross race for an all access experience.  I got to meet the family, and they were having so much fun.  I met Adam on the track walk and when we got back to the 51 Fifty pit we got to take a picture together.

I had a ton of fun with my #wienerfam.  We went on the track walk which was very cool.  I was surprised how many huge rocks were in the dirt on the track and the rutts and jumps were huge.

 

Chili-Dog is a 10 week old puppy (Wienerschnitzel mascot) that went on the track walk with us.  He is awesome but he slept through most of the day.

Later in the night we rode back down on the track in the wiener truck for the wienercross race.

The wienercross race is so much fun.  The dogs each wear a number and go in a gate on the starting line.

When the gate opens the dogs run across the track to their owners.  People love these races….everyone in our suite had money on which dog was going to win.  Chili did race across the track behind the other dogs for a practice race, he is still in training.

Of course before I went back to watching the races I had to get a picture with “The Delicious One”

In our suite we had our own party going on. #livethemadness

We even had the Moonshine Bandits “rocking out” with us.

I have to thank all my sponsors for giving me and my family the VIP experience at the race.

Yamaha   –   51 Fifty Energy Drink   –   Wienerschnitzel