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I have two minds about this weekend. It was a blow to be sure. I fell behind Eric 3 points in the chase. Still a good position for the championship, but I SHOULD be in the lead… Doh!
On the other hand, I rode what was my best race ever by 4 seconds over race distance, and lost by .5 seconds. One or two more laps and it was mine. It’s coming to me slow but sure.
Here’s what happened: Doug Henry (national supermoto champ, world motox champ, and my childhood hero) lines up on the grid behind me on his factory supported Yamaha 450 motard. Todd Puckett lines up next to him on the home built racer which he has gotten up to the pace of his 125 this year. It’s gonna be a RACE!
I get a good launch, but Henry gets the holeshot and Eric slots in behind him. I’m running third in a shower of sparks as Doug decks his Yamaha’s titanium foot pegs and possibly the barends! Eric pushes past him early and has pulled out a little gap by start finish. I’m a little mesmerized by the fiery show and the crazy sideways antics being displayed by my hero just a few feet in front of me. I can’t find a way past. He gets it sideways at 100mph in T8!!!
I’m buzzing around this bucking, squealing, sparkling beast like a hornet. One lap, two laps… Eric has pulled out a 1.5 second gap and I feel the race slipping away from me. On the third lap, I brake late into the T3 chute and I’m closing fast. Doug steps the rear out three feet and I’m sniffing up the inside. He slides right past the apex and I see my chance. Despite what might happen when his bike hooks up pointed straight at me, I put my bike in front of his and drive up the hill. I run it out to the dirt to make sure he can’t squeeze past, and put my head down to catch Eric.
I dip right into the low 17s and I’m carving chunks out of Erics lead, but every lap he steps it up and the white flag flies. I put in a scorching 17.2 on the final lap, but Eric manages a 17.3 and it’s not enough.
I dragged Doug into the 17s but still managed to put over a second gap on him. I have beaten one of my icons! It’s a ride I’m proud of.
I talked to him after and he was apologetic for holding me up. He was there alone wrenching on his own bike. Quite a humble guy. He went on to win the supermoto event. He’s still one of my heroes.
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