Daytona Bike Week
 
We left Willow Street, PA and headed down for a two week long trip in Daytona. We headed to Neeses, SC to a short track to do some testing on our stock frame motorcycles because that is what we would be racing this year at the Daytona Beach Stadium Nationals. I wasn't sure how I would like to change but I knew I wanted some seat time before heading down. We tested in SC for two days and I felt really good. The track had some descent traction and I felt like I would be a strong competitor come race time in Daytona.
 
After two days of testing in SC, we headed to Savannah, GA for a test on thursday night and then a race on saturday. The test on thursday went very well. I rode my new XR 750 and my CRF 450 stock framers. I felt really strong on my 750. I am not sure if we could have done anything else to make me go faster on it. I felt I would be in the strong running for a podium finish at the hot shoe on this bike come saturday night. I felt pretty solid on my 450 too. A top 5 finish was looking pretty good on that bike too and that is saying alot with the competition I would of had in both classes.
 
Unfortuntely, mother nature rained out on us saturday night and we didn't get to race the hot shoe national in Savannah. I was pretty bummed because not only did I want to see where I stacked up against everyone this year on the 750, but it is also one of my favorite tracks. We left Savannah and headed down to Daytona.
 
We raced the Short Track stadium national on Wednesday and Thursday the 4th and 5th. On wednesday I felt pretty confident for a good finish. I went out in qualifying and that is when we started struggling. Right from the first practice. There were about 80 riders and they were only taking 48 to the show and 18 to the main. This is a new thing, because last year they took 60 to the show and 16 to the main. I qualified 38th the first day. I got stuck behind a bunch of riders in each session and didn't get one good lap in which was a bummer. I started on the 3rd row in my heat race. Nothing eventful happened. I was up to about 6th or 7th and I got my foot ran over and stalled my bike and everyone passed me. I got going and passed a few riders but I felt like crap. I was fighting for traction all the way around the track and I had an even bigger problem in the apex of the corner as my bike would try and high side me literally ever corner. Semi, I started on the 2nd row outside and I struggled again with the motorcycle for a mid-pack finish in my semi, 4-5 spots out of the national. Between the super slick track and my motorcycle that wasn't handling one bit, I felt really crappy all night long and it was a disappointing day for me and my sponsors, but these things happen, especially in Daytona. Onto day two where I hoped things would be better.
 
I switched bikes at the start of the day and changed alot of things looking for an answer to why the bike was struggling to do what I wanted. I felt better, but still not comfortable one bit. I qualified 36th which was a smidge better then yesterday. I was really disappointed again with that. I know we could of qualified at least top 16, but that part was on me and I blew it. Lined up on the outside 2nd row in my super stacked heat race consisting of about 14 national numbers including myself. I got off the line good both days and that continued but I was struggling like crazy in the middle of the corners again and the motorcycle almost spit me off a few times. I had both feet flying off the bikes just about every corner and I was so frustrated with the bike/myself I think it made things worse. I switched bikes and started from row 4 in the semi. 18 guys in my semi and they took top 3 and I was starting 18th. I got a great start again and was up pretty good but there was nothing I could do and started going backwards. The harder I rode, the worst things got.
 
It really stinks having to write a race report for a race you struggled at, because it's a painful reminder of what happened. My buddy Jake Johnson who won 3 times at Daytona said that one year here, he got 2nd the first night in the main event and the 2nd night he didn't make the 60 rider cut. Everyone was saying how rough the track was, but I didn't think it was rough one bit. I know if we had things even close to being dialed on the motorcycles, I could of been in the main events. My strength/conditioning was awesome and I would pick the gas up as soon as the riders in front of me or sooner and it would just spin me right around. I wasn't a huge fan of the stock frame thing at Daytona this year. Everything else I thought went well. The show was good and things were run pretty well I think. I really hope they come up with some more races for us this year as I hear alot of them are being deleted off our schedule. I am excited to get home, re-group, continue training and building my 2009 honda's for Springfield memorial day weekend which is our next nationals. The Springfield TT and the Springfield Mile which are my two favorite tracks to race on. I want to thank all of my sponsors for all of their support and to everyone else that stopped by at the track and said hello. We quite a few local races coming up I plan to attend and race my new 09 stock framer at. Check the schedule to see where they are and come support the sport.
 
-CTex