What a Great Day!

It's been a little over a year since my accident that almost ended my riding and my life. Since then I have sold the bikes, rehab'ed the body and bought a couple of used bikes. Full circle. Well not quite.

After the accident it became clear to me that riding at the level I was riding at was far too dangerous and the risk was just too high. It's not like I was 18 with no obligations. My wife didn't deserve to be stuck with a cripple for life. My three kids still needed their dad around. So the new bikes were an attempt to get back to the life of dirt bikes with a bit less risk. Trial riding seemed to be the answer.

Unbeknownst to me, a bunch of Christian dirt bikers put together a club called www.five8mx.com . Each month they rent out a track, invite a limited group of riders to join them, give a short message on what it means to be a Christian, and ride. It happens that they rent my friend's track, Baggeland. It's a great place to ride. The mx track is a blast. The grooming is the best. And there is never more than 25 bikes on it at a time.

On March 4th I joined them for a day's riding. But, as is the story here in Southern California this year, it poured on the way up to the track. By the time we got there the track was under water. Not to worry, Josh has a sand track at his place, too. The clouds parted and we had a great day racing around in the sand. What a blast. It was perfect. Deep loamy sand. No need for brakes. Just sit back on the seat and hold it wide full open.

Scott & John Parkinson of www.panicrev.org were there to capture it all on film. They took some awsome pictures of us guys roosting all over the place. Finally someone had taken a picture of me NOT on the ground. So I sent it over to Transworld for their show and tell page. Here's the photo. I think if you click on the photo you will be directed to the web page.



Take a moment to check out www.five8mx.com and www.panicrev.org . Good people doing great work.

Good to be back on the bikes.

Dark Clouds over Bubba's Return

With all the hype of Anaheim One, you’d think we would be over it by now. Bubba is going to race this weekend in what may be an Anaheim One repeat. The series, up to this point has been boring. Sure Chad won Daytona, ending Ricky’s win streak. But over all Ricky has walked away with everything. Try as he might, Chad just doesn’t seem to have Ricky’s number this year. Just the opposite, Ricky is all over in Chad’s head.

Now enter James “Bubba” Stewart. Arguably the most fun to watch rider, Bubba brings new life to the series because many believe he can and will challenge for the top podium honors or fall trying. His flamboyant style, his Bubba scrub, and his in front of the mic persona demands attention. And everyone is listening.

Now say hello to more rain. Friday’s practice has been scrubbed due to rain. Saturday’s schedule is still in the air because of impending weather. This year has seen more rain than anyone can remember. Most of the California races were threatened or ruined (depending on how you look at it) by rain. And in the rain, anything can happen.

At Anaheim One, Chad Reed lost his front brake due to a mud virus. Ricky was docked five seconds for going backwards on the track after struggling to remount after a crash caused by the slippery gods of mud. Then he fell again trying to turn around. James went down repeatedly from front-end washouts. And in the end, it was slow and steady Kevin Windham logging his only win of the season.

So, heading into the weekend, the forecast is clear skies. But what will happen, only Mother Nature knows. One thing is for certain, there will be a main event, Bubba will thrill us with something, and Ricky and Reed will be more concerned with finishing ahead of the other. See you after the race.