Heh, MX racing with AMP was really really hard.

The Hollister GP track, a few miles further down the road from
Hollister Ranch, isn't as technical as I had hoped. It's fast with
sweeping corners and most of the jumps are loooong tables. There's a
whoops section that I never figured out and then the elevator, from
the saddle it looks like a 50 foot cliff you ride off of in 4th or 5th
so that you have enough speed to clear the next longish table when you
finally hit the bottom, and then your back at the finish line. Wash,
rinse and repeat.

I was put into the "big bike" practice group on Saturday and was being
eaten alive out there on my little CRF230F. So much so, I began to
question if I should even be out there at all. The track was muddy, I
was riding lousy and the group was soooo huge that we looked like a
swarm of bees descending on to the track. All I was really doing was
trying not to get run over. Bleh.

...But, on Sunday they seperated us out into our classes for morning
practice and I was pleased to feel like I was holding my own in the
"Old fart" group (anyone over 25) and not too lousy in the 125cc
group. Wheh.

My first race was 25+ run whatcha brung. I was a little nervous but,
while we were waiting around on pre-grid a bunch of the guys gave a
run down on how things work in MX and some of advice which helped put
my mind at ease. In the start I got a surprisingly good launch but
quickly succumbed to the sheer horsepower (and skill) of all the other
bikes and was pretty far back by turn 2. No biggie, I thought. I'm
just here to try it out - let's stick to the goals: Don't crash, don't
come in last, try not to get lapped and have fun!

Somehow I make some passes and end up in the money running 5th. Golly.

I pull into my pit utterly exhausted, down a gatorade in a gulp a hear
'em making first call for my next race. Pull my helmet back on, crawl
back into the saddle and head down to grid.

Wow, there's ALOT more people in this one, gulp. Mass chaos ensues
but, that ends up working in my favor as the wipe outs propel me
further up the pack. I'm still getting the bike (and me) really bent
out of shape through the whoopses. So much so that the crowds lets a
big "whoooah" escape almost everytime I go through that section. Oh
well, at leat I'm putting on a show. On the last lap the guy next to
me looses it after dribbling his head against his handlebars a few
times and that lets me sneak across the line in 20th.

I'm drooling from exhaustion by the time I get back to my pit. I
swallow another gatorade, set the alarm for an hour and pass out. When
I wake up I stiffly make my way up to scoring and see that they
recorded basket ball head as finishing in front of me but, decide to
let it go 'cause ...well, whatever.

Lounge around for a couple more hours then head out for my race #3.
I'm riding a little better for this one and end up 5th again. Go me!
Swallow another gatorade and run out for my race #4. This one is
another huuuuuuuge grid but, I'm feeling more confident now and I'm
riding the best I have all weekend. I'm grabing a higher gear
occasionally, finally clearing most of the tables, getting some really
good dicing in and generally bustin' my ass, yehaw! I loose my race
long battle with this other rider at the finish and come in 17th. Did
I say yehaw yet?!?!

Anyway, it was pretty cool - y'all should try it out.

-Rick
AFM, AMP & CCS #219