TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE….NATIONALS!

This last weekend was the last stop to qualify for Nationals at Loretta Lynn’s.  The race was at Hangtown in Sacramento and only the top 4 kids in each class will get a ticket to nationals.  During practice I didn’t feel comfortable on my mod bike and I wanted to race the open class on my practice bike.  The guys at Thousand Oaks Yamaha did a new top end and clutch on my bike to get it freshened up and ready for the race.

It was cool to have Thousand Oaks, and all my Yamaha teammates at the track and get to cheer them on throughout the weekend.  When it was time for my race, I was ready to go……..

I raced the stock class to get practice starts but because I was already qualified in that class I pulled off the track to give the other kids a chance to qualify.  I the first stock race I had a great start but got pushed out and fell in the second turn.  I was able to get back up and race from 24th to 5th.  The second race I had another great start and lead the first three laps of the race.  Then it was time for the mod race……

My mod race was the last race of the day and by the time I got on the line for my first race the track was already really rough.  In the first mod race I did not get off the line well and was in the back of the pack.  I quickly tried to move up to get myself into a qualifying position.  I was able to work my way into second place.  The second race the track was really dry and rough, I got a better start and was in a solid third place.  I finished the race with an overall 1st place finish and qualified for my second class at Loretta Lynn’s.

There are so many people who support me and my racing every day and at the track.  I can’t thank everyone enough for all the help and support.  I really appreciate it and I am excited to go to Nationals and race hard!

Nationals only allows racers to compete in 2 classes.  Even if you are able to qualify for more classes, you have to pick only two classes to race at the event.  I officially now have my two tickets to my classes and I am excited to go to Tennessee.

LORETTA LYNN REGIONAL RACE AT WASHOUGAL

Because I was hurt a few months back I wasn’t able to qualify to race in the Los Angeles Loretta Regional race.  So, this last weekend my parents and I drove to Washougal Washington to try to qualify for Loretta Lynn’s.

We parked right next to the track and we watched all the different classes riding on the track on practice day.

It had rained in Washington during the week and the weather was in the 90’s on Friday, Saturday and Sunday so the track was very hard and slippery throughout the weekend.  They kept putting water on top of it because of the heat and people were having a hard time getting through the track and especially on the whoops.

On Saturday I raced 85 7-11 Limited which is a stock 85 class.  There were 26 bikes in that class and to qualify I had to get in the top 4 for the day.  In both my races on Saturday I had really bad starts.  See…

I had to work my way through a lot of racers to try to get up to the front.  While I was passing people the front racers were stretching out and I was doing my best to work through as fast as possible.  I was able to finish both races in 3rd place which gave me a 2nd place overall finish.  This is a picture of me in the top 5 tent after the race.

On Sunday I raced 85 7-11 Mod.  After the bad starts I had on Saturday, I was ready on Sunday to get great starts and be up front battling for the lead.  I came off the line in the first race and had a great start I was in 3rd place going up the hill and then my bike jumped into neutral and I almost went over the bars.  I put it back into gear and kept racing around the turn in 4th gear and then the bike went into neutral again.  I wasn’t able to jump any of the jumps or go too fast because the bike would keep going into neutral and I didn’t know if the bike was going to go forward or stop.  I finished the race but with each lap I would get passed by riders that were clearing the jumps.  Something had broken in my transmission and my hope to finish in the top 4 was over in that class.

I was super upset that I wasn’t able to qualify in the mod class and very excited that I was able to get a ticket in the stock class and will be able to race at Loretta Lynn’s.

When I got home from Washington it was like Christmas……I had deliveries from Von Zipper Goggles, DVS Shoes, Lucas Oil, and 51 Fifty Energy Drink.  Thanks for all the great swag, I have the best sponsors!!!!!

See you next weekend at the races!

LORETTA LYNN REGIONAL QUALIFIER

This last weekend was the Loretta Lynn regional qualifier race in LA at The Ranch in Anza.  The riders that get the top 5 finishes overall for the day will earn a spot at the National Loretta Lynn Race.  Kids come from all around the world to race the regional qualifiers to try to make it into the National race.  This weekend I raced against kids in my class from Hawaii, Japan, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, etc.

The first day of racing was all the stock classes.  I was able to finish both of my races in first place and I was able to get a 1st place spot into the 2013 Loretta Lynn National Race.

For winning in the race I got a qualifying ticket to Loretta’s and for winning the 1st place spot I got a first place plaque and a championship bottle of apple cider.

Day two at the race was the Open Mod Class.  In this class I would race against kids a few years older than me and all the bikes have really fast motors.  In both races I got really bad starts off the line but I was able to fight to get close to the front.

I finished the first race in 6th place and the second race I was able to finish in 5th place.  With the way all of the other kids finished the races, I finished the day with an overall 6th place finish.  The top five in each class win a spot to Loretta’s, so in my second class I missed it by one spot.  😦

Even though I didn’t make it in both classes, I was able to get the 1st place spot in my class….

Can’t wait to go to Nationals again this year!

 

LORETTA LYNN….HERE I COME

This last weekend was the Loretta Lynn Regional qualifier at Comp Edge Mx in Hesperia, CA. This race was another three moto format race and kids in my class came from places like Utah, Colorado, Hawaii, Arizona, Washington, etc.

My bikes looked sick thanks to Moto Efx Graphics

….and 51 Fifty Energy Drink got me ready to go racing.

I was able to get much better starts in all 6 of my races and I was able to stay competitive and battle with the guys up front. When all the races were over I finished 2nd in my class and 6th in the open class. Considering my experience and age compared to the rest of the kids in my class, I was really excited with my finishes and super happy I made it into Loretta Lynn’s……now I just need to find someone who wants to help us get to Tennessee!   🙂

I also have to thank my Dad for all he does for me and our family! HAPPY FATHER’S DAY DAD!