San Diego Supercross Event Update

Awesome shot by Austin White. Check out www.insidermx.com
for more of his work and race updates.

Ryan Clark Event Update

San Diego Supercross

Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA

February 11, 2012

Round six of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series rolled South to San Diego for the final event before heading East. I had a decent week of training, cut a little short by a broken radiator on Wednesday which left me scrambling and unable to ride on Thursday. I was able to repair the radiator before the weekend, and was really looking forward to a positive result. On top of that, Ross Miles lent me a hand with the mechanical duties and freshened up my trusty steed before battle.

Saturday was an early morning, as my family and I were staying in Huntington Beach with a friend. I got through tech inspection and sound with ease, and headed out to the track walk. The track looked fairly technical, with a really long whoop section and a few treacherous rhythms. I was excited to get on my 2012 Kawasaki KXF450 and get it dialed in.

Practice went a little better this weekend, and I was easily into the program with a 50.3 lap time. This left me with the 14th gate pick in the first 450cc Supercross Heat Race. I had a couple good laps in practice, but I was having a tough time finding a flow around the track.

The first heat started off great, with a solid jump off the gate and a great position around the first corner. Unfortunately, the guy ahead of me opted not to jump the rhythm section and I went from around fifth back to 12th in one fell swoop. It was really frustrating to be up that far and lose it all at once, but I guess I should have chosen a better line. From there, I was just off my rhythm, much like in practice. My lap times were okay, but I made mistake after mistake, and failed to make the transfer with a 14th place finish.

In the LCQ there were quite a few solid riders, so I knew I would need the start if I had any shot at the transfer. Out of the gate I was decent, but going into the first corner I got pushed wide and was near the tail end of the pack. I started picking off riders right away, but being that buried in the pack never leaves you a good line choice. I was able to methodically work up to eighth place by lap six, but that was six places shy of the transfer to the main event. 

I was extremely disappointed with my ride at San Diego. I felt that I had a really good opportunity in the heat race, and I was unable to take advantage of it. My arm is now almost 100%, but my mind is still struggling to get in the racing groove. I am hoping that a change of soil next week at Dallas will give me the boost I need to pick up my pace and get in the all-important main event.

Thank you to all my supporters for sticking with me through the injury and recovery. I am doing all I can to get back on track as quickly as possible.

All the best,

Ryan Clark

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I use and endorse the following products:

Motivite Nutritional Products, Mastel Linens, M2R Helmets, HoyFox Toyota, LeoVince Exhaust, Nuclear Blast Records, Enjoy Mfg, FLY Racing, Vortex, RK Chain, Excel Rims, Dunlop, Graeme Brough Suspension, Hinson Racing, North Valley Racing, The Dirt Lab, All Balls, Motion Pro, Dragon, Leatt Brace, DT1 Filters, CP Pistons, ARC Levers, ITAS, Rockwell and Gaerne.

"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.

If I Shave My Mustache, Hawaii Will Sink

Time lapse of me at 28 and 33.

Halfway through Movember and I am feeling pretty good.  I mean, at 33 years old, one would think that growing facial hair would be kind of an afterthought.  Keeping in mind I hit puberty around 28, this whole facial hair is new to me.  I had a pretty wicked pisser handlebar stache for the FLY photo in 2010, which is likely why there were no photos of me in the casual wear catalog that year.  That is likely one of the many reasons I wasn't asked back for the two subsequent shoots.  But seriously, my facial hair is a bit sparse, so I am fairly proud of what I have working right now.  I still have a solid 17 days of November left of grooming this baby into something that Tom Selleck would be proud of.

Tom Selleck is my facial hairowin.

I have been working quite a bit this week.  I feel spread pretty thin, however.  I can't really focus on one thing in particular, which is frustrating.  I spent a few hours on the tractor, putting some finishing touches on the new training area.  I am looking for some suggestion on what to name our new training facility, so if you have any good ones please submit to me for consideration.  If I choose your suggestion I will give you some shit that will blow your mind.  Promise.  My personal best thus far is The Moto Asylum, with the tag line "commit yourself".  I know, I am pretty awesome.  I am also upgrading our marketing proposal for Team Solitaire (read: me).  If you have some money burning a hole in your pocket and want to support the oldest guy in the Supercross Series, give me a call.  You may get some free perks from AARP or Good Sam travel vouchers for your next visit to Luby's Cafeteria.

My dog sleeps a lot.  She also smells a lot.  I will bathe her today.

Unamused by your shenanigans.

My kids and I have been having a lot of fun lately.  If you have kids, you can relate to just how amazing the little moments are.  Things like falling asleep while watching a movie on the couch, cuddling first thing in the morning, or cleaning up piss off the toilet seat.  Strike that last one.  They are also a lot more independent than ever, and this only leads me to believe that sooner than I am ready for, they will want to be at their friend's house rather than watch Despicable Me at home.  But for now, they are content playing in the backyard with broken beer bottles and dirty syringes.  Capricious youth.

I will leave you with something my dad used to always say to me, which has been my mantra over the last several days.  "All there is to it is to do it".  I am sure he stole that, the plagiarizing bastard, but it stuck with me.  Tomorrow I am buying a new Kawasaki KX450F from North Valley Kawasaki.  I am working on my Supercross track.  I am finishing this god forsaken proposal.  I am cuddling with my clean Boston Terrier.  I am updating my blog.

 Click this link to be dazzled by my performance in this video. 

I Didn't Say I Was Powerful, I Said I Was a Wizard

The last three weeks got away from me.  I am the first to admit that it didn't go exactly as planned.  The important stuff in life is grand.  My girlfriend is amazing (and very pregnant), my kids are the eternal holders of my heart and I am still feeling physically strong.  On the flip side, I am not amassing enough money to launch a serious push for 2012 Supercross or really begin to claw my way out of post-marital-monetary-debt.  I am also in mental purgatory.  I need to get a job to earn money to get to Supercross, but doing so would surely eliminate any chance I have at making Supercross my job.  It's a bit of a conundrum.  At this point I just have to believe in myself enough to go with my gut instinct, which tells me that if I just twist the throttle than all the other things will work themselves out.

My view over the last two weeks has looked like the photograph above.  I have spent many, many, many hours in everything from a Skid Steer to a Skip, a Water Truck to a Rubber Tire Loader.  I have built a new Arenacross track, rebuilt my Supercross track, pounded dozens of T-posts, set concrete poles, strung wire, graded roads and picked up trash.  All of this was done to improve our training compound in hopes of having a better facility to prepare for the rapidly approaching Anaheim 1.  The tracks are all but complete, the fencing is nearly congruent and the concrete for the new gate posts is set.  I am excited for this place, there is much potential.  Potential far beyond what I set out to create.

Vet Rider Clinic participants Chris Kelly and Michael Larance talk lines.

In between all day tractor sessions, I have been doing some group and private training sessions at Speedworld.  It is rewarding for me to see riders improve, especially when they may have been stuck in a bad habit that I was quickly able to correct.  Like anything, it takes consistent training and a lot of repetition to break bad habits, which is why I decided to focus on small group training as much as possible.  For $100 per month, you get two, three-hour small group sessions.  With continued training, we can address issues and keep focused on improvement throughout the year for a much more reasonable cost.  If you are interested in joining either the Vet or Young Rider group classes, please e-mail me at mxculture@yahoo.com.  We meet every other Thursday at Speedworld.

Colonel Clark commands his little sister's attention.

I will leave the best for last: my kids.  Although they wear me out, they also keep me grounded and focused on the future.  I realize how fortunate I am to have them, and how much motivation they give me to succeed.  Three years ago I loved them and enjoyed being their father, but I didn't exactly know what that meant.  Today, a little better for the wear, I understand the things they need from me as well as the things I get from them.  Every day I am thankful to know them and, hopefully, lead them toward their own successes (and failures). I am so excited to add to my family a new baby boy.    

I try to teach my children to reach for the moon.

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.

Montreal Supercross Part Deux

This is my Friday outfit.  I really like the new FLY Kinetic gear, it looks even better in person than photos.

Well, I made it to Montreal.  You know the problem with being broke?  You have to half ass everything, and it just makes you more broke.  Last time we spoke, I was sitting in the airport in Phoenix feeling all warm and fuzzy about being early, getting to Montreal and having a nice afternoon/evening with my friend Danny Nappi.  Since I have more friends than money, a good friend of mine is kind enough to donate his buddy passes to me so I can get to races.  The problem is, I am always on standby.  My easy PHX to Chicago to Albany flight turned into a PHX to Houston to Newark to NYC via train and then up Albany.  Once in Albany (my train arrived at 1:20 AM), Danny Nappi picked me up and we pinned it in his FJ Cruiser the rest of the way to Montreal.  We checked into our room at 6:00 AM.

The alarm went of at 9:00 AM, and we headed to Timmy Horton's for our morning nomulence.  It only took us about an hour to get the suspension and other parts on the bike.  I was really disappointed to find out that my head pipe was stolen out of my gear bag, so I have to run a stock exhaust instead of my bad ass LeoVince.  I am guessing a stoner somewhere is working on a sick new bong.

We pretty much sat around all day waiting for practice, but when it did finally arrive things went pretty well.  I was obviously a little tired, but I managed to set seventh quickest time in practice.  I am really pleased with the way I felt on the bike, and I have a few changes in mind that I think will help my lap times a bit.  I think my forks were a touch stiff, and as a result I was having a few issues holding a tight line through some of the corners.  Other than that, though, my bike was working great.  Thanks to Honda Canada for supplying me a brand new 2012 CRF450R.

Dinner at Pacini Langelier.  They have a bread bar, or at least they did before I got there.

After practice we grabbed some dinner at Pacini Langelier, a tasty eye-talian joint.  We are now back at the hotel watching the tele and on the verge of passing out.  Tomorrow will be a good day; A day that starts with a solid nine hours of sleep.

Bon Soir,
RC

Montreal 2011 Part One

Back in 2007 I won the Montreal SX.  To date, it is my biggest win.

A look at the very impressive stadium.

I am writing this update from Gate D-7 at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.  Bound for Montreal via Albany, it is only 6:30 AM and I have already been up for three hours.  I am fighting coffee at this point, in hopes of getting some additional sleep on the plane.  This weekend will be my first time racing my dirt bike since basically April.  If you have been keeping updated on my blog, you already know that I have been steadily increasing my training, with Anaheim1 being my ultimate test.  The race this weekend should be a good measuring stick to see where I am at and what I need to improve on.  I am excited to be back on the bike and living my "Peter Pan" lifestyle.

The things in I brought are as follows:
MB1 Supercross Suspension
ASV Clutch Perch
Vortex Bars/Sprockets
Leovince Exhaust
Breathe-Rite Strips
All my gear (hopefully), including the new 2012  FLY Racing apparel.
New Dragon/FLY collaboration helmet
MacBook Pro
Neck Pillow
iPod mini
Clothes
Baby Wipes (The best thing I've learned as a parent)
Camera (for this blog)
Passport

That doesn't sound like a ton, but it took me a while to get packed last night.  As a result, I am at a mere five hours of sleep right now.  I will post some updates over the course of the event.  I don't have too many expectations, but I obviously want to do well.  I could use some of that purse money right about now.

I have to board my flight now.  Peace.  RC

Prep work

Sanding the stretch limo fenders and running boards

The time is moving right along and Anaheim1 is inching closer and closer.  I feel like I am really starting to  see some improvement in my fitness, as well as my riding in the last few days.  I had some great workout sessions in the pool, on the running trails, and mostly while playing soccer on one of my two league teams.  Soccer is brutal.  I feel like I just run wide open for hours on end, but somehow I still have fun.  If you can find a way to run yourself into sheer exhaustion and actually enjoy it, you might be on to something.  Maybe Seiji can chime in here, but as long as I don't get kicked in the face or roll an ankle, soccer seems like great training for moto-athletes.

Unfortunately, I only have my kids 50% of the time.  When I don't have them, I have enough time in the day to get my training/riding done and also work on some other projects.  Lately, I have been spending a good bit of time at my friend's shop, TM Customs.  Travis McGuire builds some ridiculously amazing hot rods and custom cars.  He is a really talented fabricator, and has been kind enough to help me with my welding and other trades of use.  Today, I helped him do some sanding and prep work on the stretch limo pictured above.  It is tedious and time consuming, but I am really looking forward to getting another coat of primer on, then paint.  When the car is finished, I will shoot some pics for everyone to see.

Does anyone else use the Entertainment Book that school kids guilt you into buying?  I pretty much live my life by that thing these days.  Sorry for the random thought.  This is not a paid advertisement.

Well I am off to soccer (again).  Rock on with your bad selves.  RC

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