"I Can Still Get Down Like Frank Poncherello on a Motorbike"

I have had the chance to ride my Kawasaki KX450F three times now, and I can honestly say that I like it better than any other bike I have ridden. The engine is ridiculous, and it is still stock inside with a Leovince Full Titanium system and a 51 tooth Vortex sprocket. To me, the chassis feels very similar to my 2011 Honda as far as ergonomics.  The one marked difference is that it seems to track a lot better exiting the corners.  I only have one complaint so far, and that is that the increased horsepower is wearing me out a little quicker than the Honda.  I hope after a few weeks, my body will have adapted to the power and ten pounds of extra weight.  I have yet to ride the bike on a Supercross track (since the suspension is still stock), but I believe the power will come in quite handy there as well.

Other great things seem to be happening, as well. I have picked up some support for Supercross, although a lot of the companies that have supported me in the past are still non-commital, so I am worried about that a little.  I am hoping that next week will bring some great news.  I do want to give a huge thanks to all involved thus far.  I am going to list this if that is cool, because these are the people that have enabled me to even race this season.

Rich Moss from Mastel Linens - Title Sponsor of my efforts
North Valley Honda/Kawasaki - Great group of guys to works with, and they stock a ton.
Leovince Exhaust/Ted Campbell - A great friend, fast rider and amazing products.
Enjoy Mfg - They supported me back in the early days, and we have re-united the team.
RK/Excel - They have supported me for almost ten years with the best products and support.
Steve Fox/Hoy-Fox Toyota - does anything he can to help, and has since 1999.
Dunlop Tires - the best tires available.
Dragon Optical/Kenny Adams - one of my best friends and longest supporters.
MotocrossCoach.com/Justin Buckelew - Justin is an amazing coach, friend and person. No better.
SpeedworldMX/Dan and Randy - enabled me to have a facility to prepare for SX.

I know this list will grow before the season, as it takes a village to support a Supercrosser.  I want to also thank my family, especially my girlfriend and my children for believing in me.  I am also blessed with so many great friends who support me through thick and thin.  My turbulent few years have weeded out my true friends, and I am grateful to know there are many that will never leave my side.

This is going to be a whirlwind of a week. For those of you who don't know, my girlfriend and I are expecting a baby any day now.  It will add more chaos and craziness to our lives, but I am so looking forward to meeting my new little one.  Being a father is what I am best at, and it is what I enjoy more than anything in life.  Thanks to Captain Morgan and Rainbows at the Aloha Grill in Huntington Beach, I get another child to practice this parenting thing on.

There's a contraction, I gotta go.

The Beginning of the End

View from the top of the ski ramp.

Overlooking Iron Mountain, Michigan.

There is so much that has happened in the last six months (the last time I updated this blog). In reality, there is so much that has happened in the last three years of my life that has changed me (for the better, at least that is what I believe). I titled this post the beginning of the end because I know that my days of competing as a professional at the top level of this sport are numbered. According to many, they have already passed. They may be right, but I believe I have one good season left in these old, pinned-together bones. This industry is as shallow as a shower, and someone my age with my results would be lucky to a free set of gear let alone some budget to go racing these days. I am fortunate that I have forged a few strong relationships, and enough people still believe in me that I can make a go of 2012 on an actual current year bike.

I was prompted to begin blogging again after going through old papers and photographs in a marathon organization session yesterday. I came across some printouts of my old website, TeamSolitaire.com, which chronicled my day-to-day training and personal life. I enjoyed reading it, and seemingly so did the thousands of people who frequented the site. Team Solitaire was huge back then, not just because of my results but because of the "do it yourself" attitude and against-all-odds mentality. Well this season is definitely going to be against all odds, and if I am going to do anything I will have to do it myself. No matter what anybody says about me, I believe in me. I believe I can have a successful season and live my life on my terms. That is what I am setting out to do.

Today wasn't exactly day one of training, I have been pretty focused for the last couple of months. I swam just over a mile this morning at the local country club (which, btw I do not belong to but has lackluster security in the pool area). I don't condone this type of behavior, mind you, but I am broke and I need large amounts of water to navigate. My fitness is pretty good right now, but it needs to be amazing.

I am actually still sore from my Saturday morning training up in Iron Mountain, Michigan. I ran the local ski area, Pine Mountian, which dons a giant ski jump that stretches up toward the clouds in an impressive manner. I ended up traversing it three times, top to bottom, which left my calf muscles feeling balled up and barely functional.

And thus my morning concludes at Starbucks with my amazing gestational partner and a Artisan Breakfast Sandwich. This day is far from over, as I have some afternoon activities planned, including an indoor soccer game and my son's Karting practice. Check back often or follow this blog as I will be posting a lot of useless (and useful) information here. RC

Stuff and things

2008 Hare and Hound Champion Destry Abbott

My attempt at a scrub

Taylor Roberts is fast.  Lookout for this kid in the very near future!

Hello world wide web.

One thing before I get started on my things.  Josh Morros, who is one of the most naturally talented people I have ever witnessed ride a motorcycle, is in bad shape right now.  He crashed hard while running second in the National Hare and Hound last weekend and was injured very severely.  Destry went for help upon finding Josh, but being out in the middle of nowhere, it was some time before medical attention arrived.  He was airlifted to the hospital where he remains.  Please keep Josh in your thoughts and hope for the best possible outcome.  This is the kind of stuff that makes me wonder about dirt bikes.

I have been working pretty hard this week, trying to get my shit together and finish out the season with a couple of decent finishes.  I sit here wondering what happened to this train wreck of a season I have had, and I can trace it back to a lot of mistakes made.  But I can either dwell on that or do something to fix it, and I have been trying to fix it.  I will go into Southwick with a better attitude, as I worked on my technique with Destry Abbott this week and feel confident I will be better that Millville.  Thank you Destry for helping me out.  Us old guys need to stick together.

Below are a few photos from riding today.  Check out this new track in Arizona @ www.grindingstonemx.com.  The track is amazing.  It doesn't feel like an AZ track, as they brought in sand for the entire track and picked almost every rock that did make its way through the thick sand.  Kudos to them for a great new place to ride.