Galesburg, IL
 
We headed to Peoria on friday night. We took our time because we knew we weren't going to race until sunday. We decided we would go to Galesburg to watch the race they put on their every year. I was going to race it, but then when we pulled in the gates, the told me sign closed in 5 minutes and I had time to ride. The race pays pretty good but it's not one of the easiest to make with only a 12 rider main. We decided I would race and get some laps in on Shayna's new 08 RM-Z 450. The bike is literally bone stock besides an exhaust pipe. I took it out for practice and it wasn't handling super great and I was loosing alot of time down the straight-aways and off the corners. I lined up for my heat and was running in 2nd behind Wiles when I was taken out from behind by another rider. I don't know what he had in mind, but obviously it didn't work out too good. I lined up from the 3rd row and rode hard and as smooth as I could and still managed to finish 2nd and grab the last transfer to the main. In the main event, I got a pretty good start and was running the first half of the race in 7th behind Wiles and then the track slowly started greasing up and the suzuki just wasn't working the way I needed it to on such slick conditions. It wasn't turning very well and the bike just wasn't set up for me and I finished 12th. It was good to make the main on a bike I only ever rode once before, but we definetely need some tuning and testing on it in the future. It just has been a back-up and practice bike for Shayna, but I had fun and met alot of great new fans at the track.
 
Peoria, IL
 
Like almost all of the races this year, this was going to be my first national at Peoria. Peoria has been around forever, literally. Dick Mann use to shred peoria back in the day. Chris Carr has won it 14 times, and god knows how many laps him and 95% of the riders on this day have turned there. I knew it was going to be a big learning experience because Peoria is one-of a king. It's like a half mile with a jump on the back straight-away you hit going 75-80mph. On this the day, the track was very very slippery. I qualified OK. Right around 33rd spot or so. The good thing was I dropped almost a second a lap each time I got on the track. I lined up for my heat race was Kopp, Halbert, Pearson, Lewis, Burton, Sweet, and some more good guys. I felt like I was learning alot each lap, but just had to be on the front row. I ended up a pretty close 9th. In the semi, the track got super super slick. I was struggling like crazy in the middle to the exit of the corners. Just couldn't get hooked up on the slippery groove. I was running 7th or 8th in my semi til on the last lap, I got t-boned from the inside of me. When this happened I got pushed way high off the track and lost 2 more spots and finished in 10th. I guess rubbing is racing, but leaving tire marks a foot up and down my leg is another thing. Anyway, I know with a better track and some better starts we can contend at this track in the future. I know what I need to do to practice for this track next year and we will be good.