MotoUSA test rider and ISDE competitor, Chilly White, checks in with a quick update after a tough Day 2.
Hey, all is going good.
Day 2 - Starting podium. It must be good luck for the umbrella girl to rub your number prior to the race, right?
Rough day for some of the bikes and riders. Ryan Powell, who was our top club rider yesterday, siezed his Yammie. Husky-mounted Ben Smith crashed hard in the first test. The paramedics held him for about half an hour before they would let him continue. So I believe Ben is still in (he didn't finish the test) but down on time. And then David Kamo cooked the ignition on his 530 KTM ending his Six Days ride. The deep sand tests are just really hard on the bikes. I am so glad I am not running a 250F, it would be killing me!
Things are ok for me, no issues. One tip-over in a test was all I had for the day. It has been very dusty and silty, so I am glad to see a new loop tomorrow. The
CRF450X is running good and I am wringing it pretty hard in some of the sand tests. I made a few suspension changes today that helped. The whoops are so deep in the sand that I had to stiffen everything up a little.
Team USA's Chilly White takes some time and chats with one of the riders from Mexico.
I told you I struggled with brakes a little yesterday. I had put a solid rear rotor on in anticipation of muddy conditions. With it so dry I decided to swap it for the stock rotor last night and my rear brakes worked much better today. I could still use a little more power on the front, but it is better now.
I am sitting in a little cafe by the beach watching the sun go down, it is about 70 degrees right now. Got up to about 90 yesterday, but just a little cooler today
Ciao from Figueira.
