SEVENEIGHT

Bubba 7 brought us back to Concordia. Great place for a CX race. Felt more like a MTB race and running from the cops than it did a CX race.

Buddy gave a history making short speech. And then blew the whistle. All over the brakes the first few turns. All the twistys kept the group together going through the first lap. First time over the log Rock(Hub) went down kind of.


Photo - Dennis Fickinger

I got around him and settled in. After a few laps I found myself in 8th place. I was in a group with Mike Hill(Wheel Fast) and Rock for a couple laps. We were gaining on the 7th place rider. We dropped Mike and then Rock attacked the shit out off me bridging up to the 7th place rider. Then I flatted my rear tire and had a very slow lap getting back to the pit. Lost 3 positions in that time.


Photo - Dennis Fickinger
Riding the log.

On my back up bike I started riding pretty aggressively through turns taking lots of risks. I caught and passed Mark(708), and Dennis(Dogfish) pretty quickly. I had Mike Hill back in my sites with 2 to go.


Photo - Dennis Fickinger
Early on in the race. You can see my gloves in my glasses. Im that awesome.

At 1 to go Mike was about 10 seconds up. Almost went down a few turns trying to get up to him. Coming out of the last turn he was only 2 or 3 bikes lengths in front of me. Lucky me I have a good sprint. Got around him for 8th place. My best results in the A's.

Threw some stans in the rear tire at home and it held. Plus, my ryno's would be on my pit bike for Sunday.


Sunday had us back Creve Coure down by the lake.

Pre-riding the course Schottler pointed out the holes at the beginning and how he would probably hit one and crash on the start.

When the race started I found myself following Schottler. Going into the section where the holes were he had earlier mentioned, he hit one, and crashed. But, he was very quick to point out only one foot came unclipped.

I was now sitting 4th wheel. The next person to pass me was Schottler. I actually had enough in me to hold his wheel for 2 laps. But, during that time I learned every bad line to take through the corners. NOTE TO ALL: DON'T FOLLOW SCHOTTLER. Kidding... kidding. But seriously....

3rd lap Josh Johnson came by me on the pavement and I couldn't muster up the legs to hold his wheel. After a couple more laps I was in a group with Chris Cleeland and Sam Moore.


Photo - Chris Creed

That lasted only about 2 laps. Sam actually went on the attack and I did my best to follow. I gotta say it though, Sam was riding really well. He was up about 3 seconds on me and I did everything I could to stay with him but ultimately lost contact.


Photo - Chris Creed


Photo - Chris Creed
Close to Sam but couldn't keep it together.

From this point on I was pretty much in no mans land. With about 4 laps remaing I noticed Rock Wamsley taking time out on me but from pretty far back. At 3 to go he had taken a ton of time out reducing my gap on him from probably 40 seconds down to about 20. We were now close enough that he was heckling me as we passed going opposite direction. Don't recall exactly what he said... but something about loosing my virginity and my 401k being in the tank. Or something like that...

Rock kept it real. He never gave up and made me ride my ass off to keep my position. Which I did do. I crossed the line in 5th place out of 13. My best finish again.... and I got 10 bucks for my efforts. Which is a 15 dollar loss on the day. Great weekend of racing in STL. I know a few guys were out of town for some cx race in Florida or something but I still got 5th in the A race. You cant take that from me.



Photo - Chris Creed
Dwayne racing the 2 hour category.