Fast forward 16 years, and after a short retirement, I have achieved a dream and goal. This past weekend I once again missed Turkey dinner with the family to travel to Tulsa for the Grands. It was the largest BMX race in the history of the sport and to be honest, my nerves were shot. I have probably been the worst person ever to be around for the past month or so. My thoughts were consumed with fear, excitement, doubt, and anxiety. My gym sessions got longer and longer, as well as harder and harder. By the time I had my last session of training, I was spent. I told myself, there is nothing else I can do. If Im not ready now, I never will be.
I went in pretty excited. Once I saw the track, I felt good about it. They had built a fun little option on the second straight that seperated the meat heads from the people that like to ride their bikes and it shows. So I like to be able to jump, and the second straight suited me. Gotta follow in my boy Nick Vs steps and get on with some bikes skill, minus backflips, tailwhips and barspins. I can however throw some mean turnbars.
Friday nights races were kinda rough and I didnt do as well as I had hoped in cruiser, but class I was able to come away with a clean second place. Had a great gate and just never looked back. Just saw the guy in pink that was unbeatable on his 20" all weekend.
Qualifying for the grands is a huge process. starts saturday and ends sunday around six, and thats just the qualies. Stressin for almost two days, I found myself in the main on both bikes and with a great gate pick on cruiser, I felt good about my chances.
The gate drops and Luke and I drag race to the first corner, with me getting the inside I had a slight advantage and took it the wire. So PUMPED!! I crossed the finish line only to get mobbed by my TM steve spencer. It was awesome and all I could think about was calling my girls.
After a quick facetime with the girls, and what seemed like a billion hugs I was back on the gate for my tweny inch. I found my self in lane seven next to two powerhouse riders. I knew what was coming. I was getting shut down 5th pedal in for sure. So I game planned. high in the first corner to dive bomb to the second straight. Just as I had thought, I was shut down 5th pedal in and moving my way to the outside to set up for the corner. I started my dive in the corner as the rest of the pack went up high, and just as I passed by they all blew up. I was now in third and that is where I would finish. Never could I imagine getting two podiums at the grands, let alone in the same day.
I ended up the season NAG 1 on cruiser and NAG 2 class. Pretty excited about that.
