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!

 

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!!!!

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!

 

ROAD TRIP TO TEXAS…

This past week was a lot of traveling, and lot of racing.  We left last week and drove to Kern County for the SW Loretta Lynn qualifier race.  It was a fun weekend with some friends and one of my sponsors 51 Fifty Energy came out to support the race.  Skye came out to give away free products and prizes.

I was able to talk with he announcer about the track, my racing, and let everyone know they could come and see Skye from 51 Fifty.

2X Promotion was putting on the race and they had another great event.  2X Promotions offered all the racers a FREE extra race to run for fun.  Everyone was very excited to be able to race an additional class and they even gave out trophies.

I was able to win all my races on Saturday.  On Sunday I won my morning races and in the afternoon my race bike that I was getting ready for Texas stopped running.  My Dad had to work on it and he tried everything to figure out the problem and get the bike ready for the next race.  We stayed at the track late and finally got the bike running.  We got in the van for our 24 hour road trip to Texas.

We had to drive all night to get to Freestone Raceway in time to do the track walk on Monday afternoon.  My parents took turns driving and I slept through the night and when we got to Texas I was ready to go.

We had thought we were ready for the race but had several problems throughout the week.  During the timed practice sessions on Tuesday my bike stopped running again.  After working on the bike more, we took the bike to Yamaha to work on it and see if they could find why it wasn’t working.

Again it looked like the bike was working fine and again it stopped working.  That was the problem….sometimes it worked and then sometimes it didn’t.  Because it was so inconsistent we parked the bike and decided to ride our practice bike.  It was very disappointing because I was not able to use my race motor and we had the race bike all set the way I liked it.  Half way through my first race my clutch went out on my bike.  My Dad put in a new clutch for my second race and again the clutch stopped working.  The bike went to Yamaha and they found that the new part we put in the bike was bad and fixed it.

The next race my clutch was working and I was late off the start.  I was racing to the front and when I was making the past for second place I crashed.  I went down really hard and destroyed my bike and my body was pretty bruised up.

This was how my week kept going….  I had bike problems in the beginning of the week, mistakes by me in the later races and not able to use my race motor.  Throughout the week I had so much support and help from the entire Yamaha team!

I didn’t have the results I expected but I did share an energy drink with my friend Wes Kain.

My family and I enjoyed the FAMOUS Big Al’s track side Texas burgers.

I got my new Leatt neck brace and chest protector.  They are great!  More about them later…..

With my new Leatt chest protector I wear it under my jersey and everyone can now see my Fly Gear and all my sponsors.

I also did a photo shoot with Yamaha.

Then it was time for the 24 hour drive back home.  Now its time to get myself and my bike ready for the next big race!

THANK YOU….

I am a very luck kid and I have so many people who support me and my racing!  I am very thankful and appreciative of all the support that allows me to continue racing each week.  A few of my sponsors have been getting me ready for my upcoming races……..

I met with 51 Fifty Energy Drink and we signed our new contract.  51 Fifty is one of my very first sponsors and have always been there for me.  Their energy drinks are amazing!  The people who work for the company are like family!  …and they give so much to local charities including kids with Autism.  I look forward to my  continued relationship with 51 Fifty Energy Drink!!!!

This week we got a box in the mail from Yamaha.  My family and I got our team shirts in the mail.  They are very cool!  I have been riding 85 Yamaha’s since the beginning and to have factory support on the bike that I love is very lucky.  I have done some amazing things with Yamaha on and off the track already and I look forward to more moving forward.

Fly has such amazing gear!  Fly has the best gear, helmets and gloves.  I love the colors and designs and they are so easy to work with.  The summer gear that has all the air holes for when it gets hot is amazing.  I got a special delivery with some new gear lines and colors that you are all going to love….wait till you see me at the track.

 

As you know….my favorite food is hot dogs.  I was very excited when Wienerschnitzel decided to sponsor and support me.  Everyone on and off the track has been asking when we are going to go get hot dogs.   I look forward to many more hot dogs in my future!

This week I got a box in the mail from Nihilo.  I am part of the Nihilo Tribe and I got all the coolest accessories for my new bikes.  Nihilo has everything you need to bling out your bike, you have to check them out.  I can’t wait to see my bike next week on the line.

Mika Metals has come out with new bars.  They are fatter than the normal bars I usually have on my bike and are made to hold up better in big crashes.  I have had a lot of people notice them and ask me about them.  If you don’t have the new fat bars, you have to check them out!

I have to give a shot out to 2X Promotions.  The race this last weekend through the rain and everyone was finished before the big storm hit the track.  We raced the Road to Mammoth race at DT1 and the weather was coming in fast.  2X Promotions was able to run the race with a ton of riders and they got it finished faster than normal.  The DT1 track held up great with the weather.  I was able to leave the weekend with three 1st place finishes.

I know that my sponsors have many options and I want to thank each of them for choosing to offer me support.

THANK YOU….Yamaha bLUcRU, 51 Fifty Energy Drink, Wienerschnitzel, 2X Promotions, Fly Gear, Nihilo Tribe, Mika Metals, Dunlop, Von Zipper, Thousand Oaks Powersports, Americore SMX, Acerbis, Crushed MX, Lucas Oil

 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day….and say Thank You to all past, present, and future military!

I know that Memorial Day is to honor the people who have died serving our country and it is very sad that there has been so many.

Now that I am older, and my brother-in-law is in the Army and my sister lives in another state, I know a little more about the sacrifice everyone in the military makes.  It is sad that so many great people died to protect our country.

A FEW RED, WHITE AND BLUE PICTURES

 THANK….

YOU…

FOR…

YOUR…

SERVICE !

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY