Monster Moto

Monster Energy Cup Photo by Chris Ganz - Brown Dog Wilson

Well, the Monster Energy Cup has cometh and goneth.  I put down some solid preparation leading up the event, but I wasn't really sure what my expectations were going in.  It had been a while since I have lined up next to the best riders in the world.  I emerged pretty happy with my progress.

Good points: I charged forward in every race, despite taking a spill or two along the way.  I was very in the moment every time I was on the track.  This may not seem like a big deal, but honestly it has been a while since I have been able to focus my mind on racing and racing alone.  I was looking forward to each drop of the gate, where as for the last two or three years I was looking forward to just getting home.

Bad points: I need to pick up some speed between now and January.  I was about a second off from being a legitimate threat to make the main.  It was possible that I could have snuck in, but it would have taken a stroke of luck, or at least a great start.  I want to be to the point where I can pick off riders and earn my way in each week, regardless of my start.  I also had a few little fire-drills with my bike, from a broken fork guard/holeshot device to a small electrical issue.  We were able to deal with them quickly, but you never want that on race day.

Our M.E.C. set up.  Thanks to Kyle Defoe for use of his truck. 

Stunt bikes and drift cars ALL DAY LONG.  Drifting is stupid.  There, I said it.

After the race, we jumped in the truck and pinned it back to Phoenix.  Did I mention we left for the race Saturday morning at 5:30 AM?  It was a very long day for all involved in the Clark program.  We arrived safely back in Phoenix at 1:30AM Sunday morning.  Five and a half hours later, my alarm woke me up.  It was time to head to my soccer game.  I know, it doesn't sound like a great idea, but honestly, it seemed like a good idea at the time.  Plus, I really enjoy soccer and I didn't want to let my team down.  It was a good thing I ended up going because I scored on the best goals of my young career.  Of course, then I rolled my ankle so I probably should have just slept in.

Sunday was a sobering day for motorsports.  We lost four prominent figures in the same day.  Dan Wheldon, the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, lost his life at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a horrific crash that involved fifteen cars.  In addition, Nick Hoffman, who was a fixture on the professional scene as a mechanic for Butler Brother MX, passed away.  He was engaged to be married next week.  Lastly, Rick Huseman (Off-Road Truck Driver) and his brother, Jeff, died in a plane crash just outside Barstow while returning home from the Monster Energy Cup on Sunday.  Such a truly sad day across the board.  It really puts things in perspective knowing just how fragile life can be.  You truly never know when your number might come up, so live each and every day to its full potential.

What is really important in life.

Looking forward, I have a lot of work to do in the next three months.  I hope to have you along on my journey.  It isn't going to be easy, but it is going to be worth it.  RC

Montreal Supercross - The Trilogy

It was a good weekend in Montreal for many reasons.
Awesome photo by my old friend JGR (Johnny G Rollin). 

Back to the story. This be the final installment of my Montreal 2011 adventure. When we last conversed, I was delirious and in bed (which is the best place to be delirious, by the way). I slept better than a baby, because as anyone with children knows babies don't sleep for shit. I slept like a teenager, despite the fact that my mattress was harder than Ron Jeremy and older than, well, Ron Jeremy.

The next morning I awoke excited to ride my Laliberté-supplied 2012 Honda CRF450R (shameless plug). Practice went really well again, and I was able to set the fifth quickest time in the final qualification session. This left me with a good position on the gate for the night show. The only thing I was worried about at this point was my back, which started nagging me about a month ago after picking something up, and my right arm that seemed to be pumping up and/or hurting after a few hard laps.

At around 18:30 (do the math) we walked the track and started getting geared up for the show. I was in the first heat and gated fairly far inside. I cleared the first turn in fourth, and would have passed into second in the next corner if not for a little miscue. I stayed on Cole Thompson, nearly passing him before the whoop section. The race was short, but on lap four my arm literally exploded. At that point I had to back down my pace significantly and just ride it out while jumping through the whoop sections. I held off a hard-charging Chad Johnson for fourth and rode back to the Laliberté Honda pits to regroup.

I don't normally get arm pump. If I do get it, it isn't usually very bad. I used all my little tricks - Aspirin, compression, ice, massage. None of these things seemed to be helping. The only thing I could think of was that my back issue was somehow connected to my arm, since only one arm was having problems. I headed to the gate hoping for the best, but fearing that my time was limited.

On the line before the Main Event.  Photo by James Lissimore www.directmotocross.com

Right out of the gate I locked bars with Jason Thomas, and we both bobbled and nearly crashed. I rounded the first turn much closer to last than to first. I was quick to begin picking off riders, grabbing lines anywhere I could find them. My aggression level was high, much higher than it has been in the past few years. In one corner, the sand turn entering into the longer of the two whoop sections, I knifed under two riders in one fell swoop. By the halfway point, I found myself in sixth place. It was at that exact moment that my right arm gave up on me. I tried to hold my pace as best I could, but it was getting downright difficult and dangerous. In the sand corner before the whoops, the one that I was coming out of and manualing the first three bumps, I was now reduced to single/doubling and just riding through as safely as I could. Three riders, all riders I had easily passed on my way to the front, creeped back by. I limped it in for ninth, both back and arm in rough shape.

Although my finish in the main could and should have been better, I left Montreal very excited and motivated. My speed is better than it has been in a while, and my aggression is finally back. I know there wasn't the talent level of an AMA Supercross at the event, but there was definitely some talent and it was a great opportunity to see how I stacked up against them. I was pleased with my progression.

As Danny and I crossed the border back into the USA, we were already reminiscing about the weekend. The Laliberté family took us in as one of their own, and made everything about the weekend easy and predictable. The promoters and track crew did an amazing job with everything, and the show went off without a hitch. If I have the opportunity to do Montreal SX again next year, show me where to sign up. I will be there as long as they will have me.

My Sunday travel day was long, but not nearly as long as on the way up. I made it back to Phoenix around 5:30 (17:30) in the evening. My beautiful CC was waiting for me at home with dinner and some kind of delicious Pumpkin Monkey Bread. I fell asleep on my 800-thread count sheets and my Posturepedic mattress and slept like I was home. And all was right in my world.