Round 1 AMA Endurocross Series
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Date: July 25, 2009
Summary:
Jason Raines has been struggling in the opening rounds of EnduroCross. It's only a matter of time before the former multi-time Hare Scramble champ figures out the indoor format.
Round one of the series saw all the riders ready to take on a tough track and the competition was super tough.
During my two 5 minute practice sessions, I tried to get in tune with the bike and the track but was struggling to get comfortable and get in a good flow. I made some adjustments to the bike that helped but still needed to just ride and not be so tense.
My hot lap where you run one lap to determine your gate pick for the qualifiers went ok; I rode good but had a few bobbles and wound up with around a mid-packed time.
My first heat (they take the top 2 to the main) I got a bad start, but in the first section of logs made a few passes and was up to 5th. Then in the next section, a rider that was in front of me got hung up on the tires and I had no where to go and got stuck too. I got going again and lost a few spots, but quickly worked my way back into the top 5 again, only to have another rider fall right on the face of the log section right into me. I had to turn around and go backwards on the track and turn around again to get another run at the log. I got rolling again and finished out the 6-lap heat in 7th place.
In my semi race (winner goes to the main) I got a great start and ran 2nd for the first 2 laps. The leader fell and I was able to get into the lead. I was in a good rhythm and was riding smooth, but with one lap to go, I made a big mistake in the slick logs and fell down. My fall caused me to drop to second (1 place out of the transfer!) and that is where I finished after the 5-lap semi.
The LCQ (top 2 go to main) was right directly after my semi and since I got no break in between races, my arms where still hard as rocks! I got a decent start and was running in 4th spot until more mistakes caused me to drop back to 6th by the finish of the 4 lap LCQ.
The first round didn’t go as planned, but being only me second Endurocross race, I felt I rode a lot better than I did at the round I rode at the end of 2008.
Round 2 AMA Endurocross
Location: Guthrie, OK
Date: August 15, 2009
Summary:
Mistakes like this one by series leader, Taddy Blazusiak, can mean the difference between glory and miserable failure.
This arena was huge compared to round one and had a lot of high speed obstacles, a huge set of tires, a MX style rhythm section, a chopped wood pit, a vertical dirt wall with a log at the top, and a big jump into the water hole. The rock section was split in two and it also had 2 big logs laid at angles back to back that made this track tough.
The competition was tough as usual and everyone was focused and ready to tackle the track come Saturday morning.
During my two 5 minute practice sessions, I felt good, smooth and figured the track out pretty well. I felt a lot more comfortable than the previous rounds.
When I took my hot lap, I was going really good, I was only one of 3 riders to do one of the jumps in the rhythm section so I felt confident my time was going to be good. I was on my way to having what I though to be a great time but when I jumped form the log into the rock section I hit a rock on the landing wrong and went down. I re-mounted quickly, but lost valuable time. My time was hurt by the fall and I was mid-pack again. In the hot-lap, since it is an all out sprint for one lap, one mistake costs you dearly.
In my heat, I got a horrible start but made some aggressive passes right away and got into 5th. I stayed in 5th for the first few laps and then made my move into 4th. I caught up to the rider in 4th and we battled it out until the end of the 6-lap heat with me finishing in 4th. Since they only take 2 riders the main, I was off to the semi.
In the semi I got a decent start and moved into second right away, right behind the leader. I made a move for the lead and I fell. That dropped me to 5th. Over the next lap and a half, I worked back up into 3rd. I knew time was running out so I tried to make a push to the front and got a little too over aggressive and fell again. That dropped me to 5th. On the last lap, 2-6 where all together and having an intense battle. In the last rock section before the finish, I was sitting in 3rd and got messed up in the rocks and fell, which dropped me back to 6th by the time I got going again.
Since they only take 2nd –5th to the LCQ, my mistake caused me to finish just outside of going to the LCQ so my night was over.
I was really disappointed how my night went, I made big improvements over my speed, aggression, and technique from the last round, but mistakes ruined me.
This form of racing is so intense and one mistake is all it takes to go from being in the main to sitting on the sidelines watching. But that is what makes it so fun at the same time!
We have a couple more weeks before the next round in Florence, SC so I have a few more weeks to practice and get better. Just like anything new there is a learning curve and I have improved each time out so I am going to keep at it until I get it figured out!
