It is Already halfway through the year and there is a lot to be said about the season so far. It has been a bumpy ride for me this year making my way back from a couple preseason injuries. I am still making progress and improving as the year goes on. The FMF/KTM Team has put a great amount of effort in supporting me through my recovery and doing as much as they can to get me back to speed and comfortable on the bike. This is the first year that I have committed full time to the OMA Nationals, in addition to the National Enduro Series. Needless to say many of my weekends are taken up!
The OMA Series has been really enjoyable for me so far this year. The laid back feeling at the races mixed with technical and fresh singletrack make for really fun weekends! Being my first year following the circuit it has been a great experience riding all the new venues that I have never raced before. Bill Gusse and his crew put together great races, and do it out of pure passion for the sport. My main duels at these events have been battling with Nick Fahringer, and Paul Whibley. Both riders have been strong competitors and we have all been trading positions and a little paint! I am currently sitting 3rd in the Championship just shy of the runner up spot. Need to limit my mistakes and have a strong finish at the races to finish up front!
The National Enduro’s have been a work in progress for me as well. Steadily improving every race has led me to be in contention for the championship still as I sit in 3rd in points. The competition is rising every year and there is a stacked field that continues to grow. Just this past weekend was the 6th Round, which took place in Upton, WY. I finished 2nd behind Mike Lafferty by 15 seconds. It was a super lose race overall and I was happy to be challenging for the win. This was the first time racing a 300 here and the additional torque was great. The altitude at this race always makes for a tough bike setup. Both my past mechanic Tony Hall, and current tech Tanner Harding, helped get my bike dialed for the event and it was the best bike I have ever had there.
Now, that there are a few weeks between my next races I am taking the opportunity to visit some friends in Boulder, CO and do some fun mountain biking for a week. We have been having a blast riding downhill, parks, and cross country. Seems like a small altitude training camp really! I missed having my biking buddy Carl Clapsaddle with me this year aka (Cole Kirkpatrick,) but had Nick Fahringer and Geoff Braico come along for the ride instead! So far no crashes! Nick just likes to demonstrate his awesome dead sailor jumps to flat, Geoff likes to take woodchips to the face, and I seem to like riding down the mountain on rim or with a flapping dérailleur. Some goooood FUN!
Next week is the Annual KTM Dealer Show, which is taking place at Hangtown this year! I will be arriving in Sacramento, CA Monday and am super excited to ride all the 2013 models! I’ll be the inner circle informative on how good the new bikes are!!
