Hi guys,
After our boring 9-hour flight to LAX we were back in full training mode. My mum had flown out with us to help sort some bits out, which was great because we could have some nice food!! Haha, but unfortunately she was only staying for 2 weeks.
Competitive edge, some of you who have been to California may have heard of the fast, more natural track in the high dessert. We were here for the Golden Cup showdown finals. With some heavy showers early in the day the track was in perfect condition! (For an English rider)
I was riding 4 classes which meant I had to race 8 motos!! Also with it being the golden cup finals there was a lot of front runners from nationals, so it was going to be tough.
Supermini
In moto 1 with the concrete being really slick due to the rain we made a dirt start on the concrete. It sort of worked! I was running in about fifth, I made some fast passes and eventually took the lead with a few laps to go. In the second moto I switched to a normal concrete start which worked. I got out to the early lead and managed to keep it that way.
125cc schoolboy
In moto 1 I didn’t get of to such a good start. I was in fourth and made some moves to get to second. I didn’t have enough time to catch the leader.
In the second moto I got a terrible start!! Haha.
“Just the day before, Jordan and I were having take out wars on the 110cc pit bikes, we thought it might come in handy some day”
I was in 8th and with a fast outside smash attack on the second turn I moved up to 6th, just getting around Jordan. A few turns later Jordan managed to push me over!! So our trusty skills we had been using just the day before on the 110s came in handy. I rammed him causing him to spin sideways to the left going up a ramp where as I had rebounded and span to the right!! We both came over the step – up side ways and looked at each other!! Haha
I just squeezed in front going through the whoops and set my sights in front. I quickly caught the next bunch and got in amongst it. I ended up fourth.
Still a really fun race!!
85cc age group
SMALL WHEEL!! Two good starts put me up front and with a good ride, that’s the way stayed.
125cc open
Another two good starts placed me up front. Having fun on the big bike and keeping it smooth kept me out there.
Only being back in America for a week, kept me a little jet lagged. So after the race had finished and we had our drive home, Jordan and I had a bit of fun on the 110s to finish the day off. Haha.
Then before we knew it we were back on the road. A 28-hour school lesson in a motor home was all that was waiting for us, on our drive to Texas. When arrived we met up with KTM to do some last minute testing before Lake Whitney. Funnily enough, just after mum left it started snowing! Mental!
The lake Whitney track was surprisingly not like any other in American that I had been too! It was more of a natural European track with some American sections. The first day of practice was cancelled because of heavy rain but they managed to get the track in perfect condition for Tuesday morning. After a good day of practice I was ready for the racing. I seemed to get into the track pretty fast considering that it was my first time here, which was cool.
Wednesday
I was out on my 85cc first for the 14 – 16 age group mod class. Just before the race the little 0 – 6 age group 50cc class was racing. Taylor my brother will be racing that class at the Worldmini at Las Vegas in April!! Unfortunately for us they made the track into a motorway with some hidden sinkholes! What I mean is that, from the races before the track had got really bumpy and some deep ruts. So when the digger groomed the track they just got covered over. I got of to an ok start and moved into third pretty fast, Tomac was out front and I had another Suzuki just in front of me. I managed to catch the Suzuki guy but with a few mistakes I sat in third. Not bad for my first race here!!
Then… came one of the best races I have had for a little while. I was out on my 125cc and had a hell of a race. I got out to a good start and moved into second behind Landon Currier, I quickly got around him to begin my battle with Blake Bagget and Justin Barcia. Bagget managed to squire around me so began my lock on sequence, I stayed with him until Barcia closed in on me an I began “go faster or be passed” sequence. I managed to hold him of for the remainder of the race which was awesome!!
So for my first race day at lake Whitney, it wasn’t bad!!!
Thursday
It was like being a 100-meter sprint runner at the Olympic games. I was up at 6am ready to go, doing warm – up laps on the test track, spinning it out on the stationary bicycle. Only to wait all day for one 5 lap sprint race! I done the best I could to prepare myself for the race but seeing that I hadn’t been out on the track, I was going in a little cold. Unluckily I got 30th gate pick to the line and with it being a bit of an unfair start I was coming from behind. I moved as fast as I could and actually really enjoyed the race. I made some good passes and eventually finished 4th. Which for the position I came from was excellent.
Friday
This time my moto was early. It was the final of my heats so I was out to make it a good one.
I got of to a good start taking the lead on the second straight. I managed to break away from the pack picking up the win.
Saturday
The finals!
The first day of the finals consisted of my 85cc mod race and 125cc race. In the 85cc moto I didn’t get of to such a good start, buy the time I reached second Tomac had a lead that I couldn’t close.
Going inn to the 125cc race with a second it was going to be a good race. I didn’t get a good start! Again. But had some fun moving through the pack. I eventually ended up 4th,which was a great result for my first big race on the 125.
Sunday
It was the last day of racing at the lake Whitney spring classic and after a long week I was ready to win some titles. I had two more races left, both of them supermini but one age group and one open. My first race was the supermini age group. Once again I didn’t get of to a great start and once again Tomac was out in front, and “yes” once again when I got into second he had pulled out a big enough lead so I couldn’t catch him.
So now with two seconds and a fourth under my belt I was ready to bring home the bacon and put a win on the table.
It was the last day, last race and last fight of the week. The track was mega rough and I was “ready to race.”
I didn’t get a good jump of the gate but pushed hard in the first corner. The team counted me in 15th position going around the first turn, which wasn’t a good sign. I could see Tomac about six in front of me and I was “cumin like a freight train.” After only a lap I was knockin at the door of Tomac and then got the sling up the hill to take the inside on the next corner putting me in 5th. I then made a brake for it. It was who ever won the race out of Tomac and me. I caught the leaders… FAST and quickly got around them to take the win and the SUPERMINI TITLE!!!!!!
After my long speech exclaiming that I couldn’t have done it with out all my sponsors, KTM, ALPINESTARS, FMF, SPY, DUNLOP, WP, FACTORY CONNECTION, Image Werx, Motorex, Twin Air, KTM Hard Equipment, Renthal, Regina, Motion Pro, Ogio, Airoh helmets, Monster, ABS, and that it was nice for me to get my first American title at lake Whitney Texas with it being my first time here. The organisers had done a great job with the track and making sure it all was a great experience. Ohh, and I’d like to say hi and thanks to all my English friends watching this on RACERXFILMS,COM.
Thanks guys
Max