Practice, Practice, Practice!!! 07/11/10

July 11th was the only day during the NESC race season where there was no scheduled race. I woke up Sunday morning and it was kind of weird not being up at the crack of dawn getting ready to head out to a race track. Instead, I slept in until about 8AM, had a nice breakfast, and then got the bike ready for some heavy-duty practice.

My good friend Dan and I along with a few others set out for some practice at a private track a couple of towns over from my house. At first, I just practiced laps around the track. But I kept thinking about how much practice I needed on cornering. So instead of just doing laps, I got Dan to help me out with sections.

For about 2 hours with Dan's help, I just worked on cornering. It was hot and humid as hell, but I didn't care! I wanted to improve my cornering skills and take it up a notch. I knew from Jolly Rogers that if I had been able to rail some of the turns I could have finished in the Top 5.

So we practiced 3 corners over and over again. I learned to stand up longer and only sit after the bike went over the very last bump before the corner. This helped me get the bike seated correctly before the turn and not get that unwanted bounce. Dan was awesome at telling me when to sit down on the bike as he stood on the edge of the corner and signaled to me to sit.

I also learned that aside from sitting too much, to be in the attack position! Elbows up, head low, chin up, and using my head to point the bike to where I want it to go. After a few runs, this worked great! It felt like in one motion I would go from standing to sitting, to turning, and then to exiting the corner- all smoothly and quickly. It felt way more natural than what I was doing before.

I can't wait to try these new skills out on Sunday!!! I am definitely sure that they will help shave a couple of seconds off my lap times. Corners, Corners, Corners!!!! And I owe Dan dinner for all the help!!!!

-Patrick

Jolly Rogers- Back on The Saddle! 07/04/10

Before the race that was about to take place at my favorite track (Jolly Rogers) this Sunday, I spent a couple of days recovering from my crash at Middleboro last Sunday (both mentally and physically). It took me a while to get over the fact that during one of the few opportunities that I had to impress my parents, I ended up crashing! And crashing right in front of them! That was a blow to the ego that hit me hard. But by Wednesday, my legs were feeling pretty good and my head was clear again. I was ready to redeem myself.

It was in the 90’s at Jolly’s on Sunday and I spent two days prior just focusing on hydrating my body and getting race ready. I kicked ass. I did the 200+ class and the open class instead of the vet class. In the open class I finished 6^th- and beat the #1 championship points rider!!! I took 6^th overall in the 200 class. Usually I wouldn’t be this excited over a pair of 6^th place finishes, but you know what, after my crash last Sunday, and competing in much larger classes this Sunday, I was pleased with my 6^th place finishes.

It was a well needed confidence booster man. After last week’s crash, I needed to be able to get back on the saddle and feel fast and rebuild my confidence. And that is just what I did.

Til next time,

Patrick

Middleboro- A Bad Day 06/27/10

This past Sunday’s race at Middleboro was probably one of the more challenging days of my racing career. I was a bit nervous and uptight since Monday. I was uptight because I knew my mom and dad, and my oldest sister, and my two nieces, and two of my closest friends would be there to spectate. I was concerned because the last thing about motocross that mom and dad remembered was my awful crash at a track up in Maine that caused me to crush my right heel bone. That was about 10 years ago. And Sunday would be the first race that they would be brave enough to go and watch me race.

So to say, I was nervous, I think that would actually be an understatement. I was almost sick to my stomach to know that of all days, today just had to go really well. My first two motos were great. I got 1^st in one class and 7^th in the other. They saw both of them and were very happy. Then came the second half…

The gate drops and I had a beautiful start right out in front with another racer to my left. We both approach a large spectator table-top jump (right in front of where my parents were sitting) and then catastrophe strikes. Although I hit the jump straight on, the guy to my left hits it at an angle pointed at me! We make contact in mid-air and we landed, my front tire touched his rear tire and then it was all over. We crashed hard and I blacked out. I hit my head so hard on the dirt it fractured my helmet. I cracked my chest protector, my goggles, and ended up taking a chunk out of my Asterisk knee braces.

So when the dust settled, I stood up and saw stars. My mom and dad were yelling to see if I was okay, which I turned to my dad and gave him the thumbs up. I was in a lot of pain but got back on the bike and tried to finish the race. Unfortunately my clutch lever was meshed into the bars and I was forced to pull off the track.

I learned a lot that day. I learned that it really pays to have all the protective gear you can get. The gear I was wearing- my Leatt brace, my knee braces, my HRP chest protector, my Arai helmet, and my Tech 10’s saved my ass! I am very grateful to those companies who developed outstanding products that allowed a guy like me to sustain a crash like this and be able to walk away.

As for mom and dad, they actually dealt with the whole situation pretty well. They felt kind of bad, but knew I was okay and that this was just a freak accident. I on the other hand felt good that I wasn’t badly hurt, but felt really bad that of all days, they had to see me crash. I really wanted to put on a stellar show and felt as though I failed. But, I’m strong and I’ll get over it. That which does not kill me makes me stronger.

See you Sunday,

Patrick

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