It’s that race that everyone that’s over 30 wants to race but the reality is that it takes way more work then you really want to put in. I guess I shouldn’t speak for everyone but this was most certainly the case for me. It was 15 years straight that all I was worried about was making KTM motorcycles better and now I’m trying to raise a Family and get my passion project The Pinnacle Nutrition Group off the ground and making money while squeezing some motos and testing for 100% and Swapmoto Live.

Simi Valley Cycles stepped up last summer and asked if I would be willing to be an ambassador for the shop and race a YZ450 at select events for them. I was more than grateful for the chance to ride a Yamaha and represent a shop like Simi, but with that sponsorship comes with a deliverable and that’s for me to do some racing. I still love racing it makes me really feel like I have a purpose and where I can pretty much control my own destiny. I had been using stock suspension on my bike since I got it in June and after putting 25 plus hrs on the bike it was time to get the suspension done. I reached out my longtime friend Rick Gilmour who works for KYB to lend a hand. Rick knows how I ride and what I’m looking for, so he got me dialed in. 

My first day on my new chassis set up was Friday practice before the race Sunday. It was exactly what I was looking for and it gave me confidence to attack the hills and bigger bumps without having to worry about the bike getting away from me. The track was long and hard pack and I was honestly disappointed with Jody Weisel’s overall track layout. It was very one line and with the power going out for almost a week straight and no water being availabel at Glen Helen prior to the event I don’t feel this was the time to reinvent the wheel and make a new layout. That’s Jody for you and we can’t change him. 

Sunday’s race came and I was excited and nervous and those are all the things we look for in race weekends isn’t it? The 30 pro class was stacked!!! Ivan Tedesco, Gary Sutherlin, Mike Brown, Mike Alessi, Kris Keefer and multiple other old fast fuckers were all on hand for the event and with that amount of talent I knew I wasn’t going to be in the hunt for a win or even podium so that took the pressure off. I was excited to be back at the races on my terms. 

Practice went well, I felt smooth and fast. The bike was working great and I was ready as I could be. I was on the line with my Family laughing and packing my gate when I had to take a moment and reflect on how lucky I am. I’m really living a dream. My Wife by my side and kids packing the line for me it was time to pull a holeshot and let the rest figure it’s self out. The first step was getting a start that’s worth talking about and I did exactly that. I came up just short from getting the holeshot with Kris Keefer nailing the start. I made a mistake at the bottom of Mt. St Helen that allowed Brown and Alessi to go by me and I was ok with it because I wanted to settle into a pace and let my fitness do the work towards the end of the race. A few more guys got by me and I was settling in and my bike quit just passed the half way mark of the moto.  It gave me no warning and I was glad that it happened up the hill and not off a jump. My first reaction was a bunch of curse words and disappointment, but it quickly became clear that my day was done and I need to just focus on the positives. I was healthy and not hurt. I can fix my bike and come back swinging. As I sat on the side of the track watching the last half of the race it was so gratifying to see the names in the 30 pro class. Tim Tremblay from Canada was one of the guys that shocked me. He had great speed. Mike Brown at almost 50 years old is so bad ass and well Mike Alessi… I wasn’t that impressed with his speed for being an active racer still. Brown had his speed and gave him a run. I think Mike should have had a bigger gap but hell it’s hard to win that race even when you are a active racer.

My standard OEM piston breaking ended up being the problem with my bike and Yamaha made sure it was under warranty so that was nice that cost of the weekend wasn’t so bad. Thank you to Dubya USA the Anderson Family and of course Lori and the Glen Helen staff for making this event bad ass! It’s growing each and every year and I hope it keeps trending this way because I sure do love races like this. You get to see people you don’t always get to see and most off all we all get to share bench racing stories that can last forever. I’m looking forward to the 40 class next year that’s for sure.

Thanks to my sponsors- 100%, Answer Racing, Simi Valley Cycles, Maxxis, Maxima Racing oils, FMF, Split Designs, Sidi, Works Connection, Pro Taper, Fasst Co., Dubya, Motion Pro, Pinnacle Nutrition Group, Pro Filter, ASV, and Bell Helmets.

 The Bike

Simi Valley Cycles 2019 YZ450

• Maxxis Tires

• Maxima Racing Oils

• Pro Filter Filter

• Split Designs Graphics

• Twisted Development Vortex Ignition

• FMF Exhaust

• Hinson Clutch System

• Works Connection Skid Plate

• Works Connection Clutch Perch

The Old Guy

• Answer Gear

• Answer Apex Chest Protector

• 100% Sling Gloves

• 100% Armega Goggles

• Sidi SRS boots

• Asterisk Knee braces

• Nezium riding short

• Bell Moto 9 w/ Mips

• Camera GoPro

• PNG Nutrition