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Three months ago, when the doctor told me I was sick with a severe flu and unable to race, I was very upset. I knew that my season was at risk and all of the hard work that had been done might go to waste. 

Unfortunately I was unable to continue racing and had to forfeit any chances I had at a number 1 plate.  In November, once my body was somewhat back to normal, I made the decision that I was going to be the best desert racer on the west coast. I want to win a national hare and hound, and I knew that I needed to train hard for that to happen. This weekend at the Jackrabbits Hare and Hound, round one of the District 37 desert series I proved that I was ready for the task.

Pre Race

I spent the day on Saturday preparing as I usually do. Ryan and I went for an early morning ride, and then I came back to the truck and had Ed do some work on my bike.  With Tuner from TBT on hand I decided that I needed some last minute adjustments made to the suspension.  After a quick bite to eat and lots of work from Ed and Tuner I was back on the bike and happy with the set up. 

The 2010 is almost identical to that of the 2009 except that it hits about three times as hard. This bike is a freaking rocket ship. Suspension and tire selection are key to keeping the rubber side down and me atop the podium. As the ambulance arrived I was on my way to the bomb and ready to do business.

Judging by the direction of the pits, and the location of the legal riding boundary, this course had to go left. So I chose a line to the right! Really, the start was so gnarly the best line I could find was completely away from the direction of the course.  I ran the bomb about four times with Kyle, and then went back to shower before dinner and Supercross In my motor home with about 40 other people. Colton Sanders and his family joined us as well as many other 100’s MC members.

Race Day

I woke up Sunday morning feeling great. I had plenty of rest and ate a good breakfast to ensure that I was ready for the day. After running the bomb one more time it was clearly evident who my competition was going to be. Quinn Cody from JCR Honda had a line on the left side and looked like he was really going to cook it. I had beaten him before, but it was definitely a struggle so I knew that it would be a rough day with him on the course aside me.

After returning to the truck for a final run through of the bike, Brandon Merbach (one of the Off Road Support team riders) was there and we gave each other words of encouragement.  It was his first Ami race, so the best thing I could tell him was, “Don’t kill yourself. Just ride and finish this one, then next time you can try to win!” He did that and finished well. I know it was because of my instruction!

Then the banner went up I was mentally ready. All of my preparations, and practice, and bike prep came down to this moment.  I had gone through my start procedure 100 times. I was sick and tired of watching Ryan drop his arms for me as a fake banner drop. My dad was out at the end of the bomb and I wanted to be the first one to him!  Then as the banner fell my leg fell and the bike was off!

It was easily one of the best starts of my career on a 4-stroke. The KX450F launched and I was already 10 feet ahead of everyone around me. I put my head down and just two miles into the race I saw my dad jumping around and yelling as I passed. Getting back to that left turn I had talked about earlier. Quinn and I both got there at the exact same time! I felt like we crossed paths like 4 or 5 times!  I cut to his inside and barely edged him onto the trail. My dad said at this point we had about a 20 second lead already!

Just one mile later I found myself off the ribbon. That happens sometimes when you are leading with some one hot on your tail. I was lost and before I could make up my mind of where to look I saw Quinn bending back towards the ribbon. I tried to jump a ravine but didn’t quite make it! I was forced to ride it out and setting into a giant rain rut and return to the course behind Quinn.

I followed him across the valley and into the hills where I knew he was going to be fast. I just kept telling myself that he had finished Erzberg and that I needed to push him as hard as I could. He was NOT going to make a mistake unless I forced it. As we worked our way through the ups and downs, which at a couple points got a bit hairy, he just didn’t seem to make a mistake.  I remained about 5 seconds back but the single track made it impossible to make up any time. 

Dust was a big factor, and I knew that out of the pits things would open up, so I knew that staying close was the best thing I could do. I was riding faster than I have ever gone, but so was Quinn so where ever we went we were in it together.

Into the pits they said he was about 10 seconds ahead of me.  I took my goggles and pulled out before Ed had event finished fueling the bike. I needed to catch Quinn and I wasn’t doing it sitting in the pits. 

What got me was his speed on the open. Normally I can pull on him a bit when it opens up. I don’t know if it is my stupidity as a kid or his bike as a Honda (Just Kidding!) but that is where I can count on putting time on him. Today he was just on fire.  The open trails allowed me to pull within a few seconds of him but his exiting the turns before me allowed him to work the lead back up. 

As we came through Charlie’s place which I knew was close to the end of the loop I knew it was now or never. I was a good 5 to 10 seconds back and I had to push it.  I blew a turn trying to read off of his dust and dropped back a bit further at a point where I needed to be gaining.  The best was yet to come, however, as my dad and Jerry (D37 President) were sitting atop a mountain with just two miles of trail left. Quinn got there first and I followed, and from then on it was a sprint to the end.

Coming across the valley, with Quinn within striking range I saw what could have been the funniest parts of the day. A TRAIN WAS HEADING TOWARDS THE ROAD CROSSING WHERE I KNEW WE WOULD HAVE TO STOP. So here we are both thinking that it would come down to a road crossing where we would both be sitting having to wait.  Quinn just barely made the train and I wasn’t going to stop and let him have it easily.  He knew I was back there and I figured he might think I had gotten stopped. As the course worker was about to life his stop sign I shook my head and crossed the tracks! Mind you the train was going about 4 miles per hour knowing that there was spectators close by.

Into the finish Quinn had me by about 5 seconds. It was a great ride and the first thing I said was, “I know we could win a National at that speed!” Quinn agreed and we waited to see who would finish third. 

About three minutes later, after speaking with Johnny Campbell about our ride, another JCR rider, Colton Udall finished third overall. Colton was out at a D37 event for the first time and he showed that he really knows how to ride a dirtbike! I was happy as was he with the way that he rode. It was cool to see him do that well.

Although I started the season out with a second, I feel very positive coming into round one of the National Hare and Hound Series. If you haven’t heard my dad and Ryan are board member s for a new organization called the National Hare and Hound Association and they have big plans for the series in 2010.  I now have a couple weeks of training to get ready for the National and I am looking forward to my friend Josh Morrows coming back to help train with me.

Josh is the same Kawasaki rider who was involved in a horrific crash in 2008 that left him hospitalized for weeks. He is back to racing form, and was actually here his weekend.  It sounds like he was doing really well but crashed somewhere in the tight stuff. Kyle Bristol helped him up, and he decided to call it a day knowing that his health was more important than his finish position.  

My main focus for 2010 will be District 37 as it sounds like a lot of bigger names should be joining me on the starting line for the rest of the season.

As always I would like to thank my sponsors whom without I would be unable to compete at such an elite level. Thanks to Kawasaki of Simi Valley, Kawasaki Team Green, Monster Energy, TBT Racing, BRP,FMF,IMS, Fastway, Pro Moto Billet, Rekluse, and of course Off Road Support

My next race will be Desert MC National in Johnson Valley, Ca

See you at the races!

Jake-Jacob 911